RAW vs OCB Filter Tips for Joints: Pick First

Both brands sell unbleached paper crutches and both do the job. The real split comes down to shape and stiffness, not paper purity. RAW tips fold into a wide W or M and open into a barrel, so the draw stays loose and airy. OCB tips are cut narrower and creased firmer, so they hold a tight cylinder and resist collapsing when you pinch the mouth end.

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Our pick: RAW if you roll cones or want maximum airflow. OCB if you roll standard 1 1/4 joints and want a tip that holds its shape without a second fold.

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Head to Head

Material and Processing

RAW filter tips are unbleached and unrefined, with visible fibers and a light brown tone. OCB makes plain unbleached tips plus an organic hemp line. Neither brand uses chlorine bleach, so the difference here is mostly texture and color.

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Width and Length

RAW tips ship in 1 1/4, King Size, and wide booklets. The paper is soft, so you set the final width by folding. OCB tips come in slim and regular cuts already sized close to the finished diameter. If you dislike folding twice, OCB removes a step.

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Draw and Airflow

A wide rolled tip gives a cooler, looser pull. RAW wins on airflow because the barrel opens further. OCB gives a tighter pull that some rollers prefer for flavor concentration.

Roll Feel

RAW paper is thin and forgiving. It bends around the mouth end and stays put. OCB paper is stiffer and creases sharply, which keeps the tip from unrolling but takes more finger pressure to shape.

Filtration

Paper tips are crutches, not filters. They keep flower and ash out of your mouth and add a little cooling distance. They do not remove tar or vapor-phase irritants in any meaningful amount. Charcoal tips do more, and even those do not make smoking safe.

How to Fold and Roll a Tip

  1. Peel one tip from the booklet.
  2. Fold the tip in half lengthwise so the long edges meet.
  3. Fold it in half again the same way to make a narrow strip.
  4. Roll the strip between your fingers into a tight spiral or an accordion W.
  5. Slide the rolled tip into one end of the paper.
  6. Pinch the tip to set the diameter you want.
  7. Fill the rest of the paper with ground flower.
  8. Roll the joint and tuck the near edge under the far edge.
  9. Seal the gum line and pack the tip end down with a poke.

Best RAW Options

RAW Classic Filter Tips

The default choice for cones and wide rolls. Buy this booklet if you want the airiest pull and you do not mind shaping the tip yourself.

RAW Perforated Gummed Tips

The gummed edge seals the roll without extra tucking, which helps new rollers keep the tip from springing open mid-joint.

RAW King Size Tips

Longer stock gives you more room to build a barrel that matches king size papers. Good for slow-burning sessions where the joint runs hot near the end.

Best OCB Options

OCB Virgin Unbleached Tips

The best all-around pick for 1 1/4 joints. The firm crease holds a clean cylinder and the regular width suits most grinders and papers.

OCB Organic Hemp Tips

Hemp paper with a slim cut and a softer hand than the virgin line. Pick these if you want a slimmer tip for a tighter, more controlled pull.

OCB Slim Tips

Narrow stock built for pinners and small sessions. Pair with single-wide papers when you want a low profile mouthpiece.

Which One to Buy

Buy RAW Classic if you roll cones, want the widest draw, and like shaping the tip to your own width. Buy OCB Virgin Unbleached if you roll standard joints and want a tip that creases sharp and stays round.

Both cost little, so keeping a booklet of each covers every roll you make. Whichever you choose, remember that combusting plant material creates irritants, and a paper tip does not change that.