Das Filter Blog
What Does a Filter Tip (Crutch) Actually Do?
Quick answer: A filter tip, also called a crutch, is a small tube at the mouth end of a hand-rolled roll. It gives the roll structure, keeps the mouth end open for a steady draw, stops loose bits from getting into your mouth, and lets you finish the roll without singeing your fingers. It's a mouthpiece, not a health device, and it doesn't make smoking safe.
We named the company Das Filter, so we get this question a lot. Here's a straight answer about what a tip does, what it doesn't, and whether you need one.
Crutch, tip, filter: are they the same thing?
In rolling, yes. "Crutch," "tip," "filter," and "filter tip" all mean the same thing: the small insert at the mouth end of a roll. Which word you use mostly depends on where you learned to roll.
The one word that causes confusion is "filter." On a factory cigarette it means something specific. On a hand-rolled roll, it just means the tip. When you see "filter tips" in a shop, including ours, read it as "mouthpiece," not as a promise about what's in the smoke.
What does a filter tip actually do?
A tip has four jobs.
1. It gives the roll structure
A paper tube with nothing in the end tends to go floppy, pinch, or bend where you hold it. A tip is a stiff core at the mouth end, so the roll keeps its round shape and stays straight. That matters most on bigger rolls and on anything passed around a circle.
2. It keeps the mouth end open
Without a tip, the mouth end gets squeezed, and damp, and eventually closes up. A tip holds an open channel so the draw stays even from the first pull to the last.
3. It keeps loose bits out of your mouth
Loose material creeping toward the mouth end and ending up on your tongue is the classic complaint about tipless rolls. A tip, especially one with a folded or spiral inside, acts as a barrier.
4. It lets you finish the roll
With a tip, you smoke down to the tip and throw it away. No tiny stub to pinch, no burned fingertips, no roach clip needed.
What doesn't a filter tip do?
A tip isn't a health device, and nothing about using one makes smoking safe. It shapes the roll and keeps it open. That's the job. Be skeptical of any tip marketing that promises more, and don't take "filter" on the pack as a health claim.
What's the difference between a roach and a crutch?
A roach is the leftover stub of a roll that had no tip. It's short, it's hot to hold, and people used to hang onto them with roach clips.
A crutch is the tip you add up front so there's no roach at all. The last bit of the roll is the tip, which you throw away.
Some people call the crutch a "roach" too, which muddies things. If someone asks you to "put a roach in it," they almost always mean a tip.
Do you need a filter tip?
No. Rolls work without one, and some people prefer the look or feel of a tipless twist.
But a tip makes a real difference for most people:
- Easier rolling. A tip gives you a firm point to roll the paper around, which makes a beginner's roll much more even.
- Better shape. The mouth end stays round instead of collapsing.
- Better for sharing. A firm, open end handles being passed around.
- Less waste. You get to the end of your roll without a stub.
If you've never rolled with one, try it for a week. Most people don't go back.
What are filter tips made of?
Tips come in a few forms:
- Folded card (DIY crutches from card stock or tip booklets).
- Pre-rolled tips, ready-made tubes you drop in.
- Glass, wood, or other reusable tips that you clean and reuse.
Das tips are ready-made, disposable tips in set sizes. If you're weighing the options, we compare them in pre-rolled tips vs folding your own and glass vs paper filter tips.
What size filter tip should you use?
Size matters more than most people expect. Diameter sets how wide the roll is at your lips and how much paper you need to wrap it.
| Das tip | Size | Pairs with |
|---|---|---|
| Slim Jim | 6mm x 28mm | Single wide, slim papers |
| Midway | 7mm x 28mm | 1 1/4, king size slim |
| Big Boy | 8mm x 37mm | 1 1/4, king size slim, king size |
| 12mm | 12mm x 30mm | King size, cones, big rolls |
The full breakdown, including signs you picked the wrong size, is in our filter tip size guide. Wide tips get their own post: 12mm filter tips.
How do you put a filter tip in a roll?
- Put the tip at the mouth end of the paper, flush with the edge.
- Load material along the paper up to the tip.
- Shape the roll, tuck the paper around the tip first, then roll it up.
- Seal the gum line, starting at the tip.
- Pack the open end gently so you don't push the tip out.
The tip goes in first, and the roll is built around it. Trying to add a tip to a finished roll is a lot harder.
How do you pick your first tips?
If you roll 1 1/4 papers, start with the Midway (7mm). For a fuller roll, go Big Boy (8mm). To try more than one size without committing, the Higher Values Package pairs Big Boy and Slim Jim tips with rolling booklets, and the DAS SAMPLER gives you three 20-count tip packs plus Nanner Barrels and booklets.
Frequently asked questions
What is a crutch on a joint?
A crutch is a small tube of stiff material at the mouth end of a hand-rolled roll. It keeps the end open and round, gives the roll structure, keeps loose bits out of your mouth, and lets you finish the roll without burning your fingers. Crutch, tip and filter tip all mean the same thing.
What's the difference between a roach and a crutch?
A roach is the leftover stub at the end of a roll with no tip. A crutch is the tip you add on purpose so there's no stub: you smoke down to the tip and toss the tip.
Do you need a filter tip to roll?
No, a tip is optional. But a tip makes rolling easier, keeps the mouth end from collapsing, and holds up better when a roll gets passed around, so most rollers use one.
Does a filter tip make smoking safer?
No. A tip is a structural mouthpiece. It shapes the roll, keeps it open and keeps loose material out of your mouth. Don't buy any tip, ours included, expecting a health benefit.
Which size tip should I use?
Match the tip to your paper: 6mm for single wide and slim, 7mm or 8mm for 1 1/4, and 8mm or 12mm for king size and cones. See the filter tip size guide.
Shop Das filter tips. Products are for adults 21+.
