Typically early on, every smoker invests in a grinder to set the foundation of their sesh and get the most out of their bud. Using a grinder is the only way to guarantee even pieces of weed and a truly smooth, slow burning hit. In addition, you won’t have to deal with sticky fingers! With a grinder, instead of washing off all the gorgeous pollen and oils from your hands, youʻll get to smoke them.
Grinders are an essential piece of gear for a smoker's collection. But did you know that there are different kinds of grinders? Not all grinders are created equal and no, weʻre not just talking about size. When choosing a grinder it’s a good idea to first think about how you plan to use it. Will you be taking it on the go in your backpack? Do you want something extra discreet? Or will the grinder only be used for your at home smoking sessions? These are all great questions to ask yourself before making a decision.
Hereʻs a quick breakdown of the most popular types of grinders and the benefits of each so you can find the perfect one to fit your smoking style.
Mini Grinder
Sometimes you might want to be extra low-key. That’s when you can pull out your mini grinder and inconspicuously prep your bud no matter where you are. The smallest grinders are typically two pieces, but mini grinders can also come in three or four piece varieties as well. The main benefit is size and convenience since these tiny grinders fit in your pocket or can easily dangle from your keychain. Because of its size, the compartments may only have four or five teeth making it difficult to shred large quantities of weed at one time.
Jar-Style Grinder
The jar-style grinder has three separate pieces; a moving top and bottom with teeth to grind the herb, and a jar. It’s essentially a 2-piece grinder with a jar attached to it so you can carry and store your weed all in one place. The jar section completely screws in so you can throw the grinder into your bag and never have to worry about losing your precious weed. Smokers on the go may like this style of grinder better than the travel kits that have an embedded strip grinder since jar grinders are more robust and you don’t have to touch the weed.
Travel Grinder
If you’re a fan of rolling and always on the go, a travel set that comes with a grinder may be the right choice for you. For convenience, many of these travel kits come with a plastic or metal grinding strip with little pyramids instead of a multi-piece rotary style grinder like the rest of the grinders on this list. The downside of strip grinders is that you’ll have to touch the bud a lot in order to get it fully shredded, getting your fingers sticky and losing some of the pollen in the process. But the upside is that it’s super convenient and you’ll be able to grind and roll your joints anywhere in seconds. These kits have everything you’ll need and are so small that it can fit in your wallet or pocket. If you’re sold on the travel kits, a good option is the Rowll All in One Rolling Kit which includes rolling papers, a metal grinder strip, filters, and a fold-out rolling tray.
Two-Piece Grinder
This kind of grinder is the most basic type you can get and usually one of the cheapest options if you’re looking for one that is full-size. This simple grinder has just two pieces; a top and a bottom. Both sides have interlocking teeth that grind up the bud when you move them back and forth. It may be extremely rudimentary, but it gets the job done.
Three-Piece Grinder
The additional compartment on a three-piece grinder collects fine particles and kief. One of the sides with the teeth will have holes with a screen directly below it. The screen allows the minuscule cannabis crystals to fall through and get caught in the lower second chamber. This kind of grinder is the least common since most people opt for a two-piece grinder because of its cheap price or a four-piece grinder so they can collect trichomes.
Four-Piece Grinder
Veteran smokers will appreciate a full four-piece grinder which has three chambers. Just like the previous style, the four-piece grinder has an upper chamber with teeth for shredding bud and a second chamber to collect the kief. The bottom of this second chamber has an extremely fine screen called a kief catcher that only lets trichomes fall through into the final third chamber. This allows you to decide exactly how much of the trichomes you want to add every time you pack a bowl. These grinders often come with a tiny scraper to help you easily get out all of the fine particles.
Choosing a Material: Wood, Plastic, or Metal Grinder
In addition to the different styles and sizes, you also need to choose the type of material you prefer. Grinders are made out of plastic, wood, or metal. Plastic grinders are the cheapest and lightest to carry but are not as high quality and the lid can fall off. With metal grinders, there is often a magnet holding the lid shut while you grind and they are extremely durable. Because of the screens, three and four-piece grinders are never made of plastic.
Now that you have an idea about all the types of grinders there are to choose from, you can decide which one is best for you. From small mini grinders to the full four-piece varieties, thereʻs a grinder out there for everyone.