Filter Tips / Crutch / Cones
A filter tip (also called a crutch) is a cardboard or paper insert you place at the mouthpiece end of a hand-rolled preparation. It stabilizes the structure, prevents material from reaching your mouth, and provides a solid surface to hold onto without crushing the end.
Key features:
- Stabilizes rolled structure and maintains shape
- Prevents loose material from pulling through
- Provides comfortable, cooler mouthpiece
- Improves airflow consistency
- Available pre-rolled or as flat cardstock for custom rolling
The structural support matters more than most people realize. Without a tip, the mouthpiece end gets soggy from moisture and collapses, restricting airflow and making draws difficult. The filter tip maintains a consistent diameter throughout your session, ensuring smooth airflow from start to finish.
Material and thickness affect performance. Thinner cardstock is easier to roll tightly, but it may soften more quickly with moisture. Thicker cardstock provides better structural support but requires more effort to roll precisely. Some tips include perforations or folds that create specific internal patterns — spirals, accordions, or W-shapes that increase surface area and improve filtration.
Pre-rolled tips offer convenience — they're already shaped and sized, so you just insert them. Flat tips (also called filter booklets) let you customize the size and shape, and many people develop preferred rolling techniques for consistent results. Glass tips exist as reusable alternatives that provide similar benefits with the added advantage of being cleanable.
Using filter tips: If you're using flat tips, roll them into a cylinder or create folds for internal structure before inserting. A slight spiral or accordion fold increases surface area and prevents material from pulling through. The tip should fit snugly but not so tight that it restricts airflow — test it before sealing your roll. Many people roll the tip along with the paper and material simultaneously for a more integrated structure. For pre-rolled tips, just insert one end into your partially rolled paper before completing the roll and sealing. Keep tips dry before use since moisture affects their ability to maintain shape. Some rolling trays include compartments specifically for storing tips.