Hand Rolled vs. Machine Rolled Hemp Wraps

When choosing the perfect hemp wrap for your smoking needs, there are a lot of things to consider. One of the things that gets talked about the least is how the wrap was rolled by the manufacturer. A wrap can be rolled by hand, or it can be rolled by a machine, and you might be surprised by what a difference this can make.

Hand Rolled Wraps

Hand rolled wraps are rolled by human hands, and this takes a lot of time and precision in order to make sure that each wrap is wrapped securely. Some form of an adhesive is applied to one end, with Arabic gum being one of the most common choices. Then, the wrap is rolled to the perfect width and adhered to the adhesive to stay put.

Pros:

• Each is Unique: With wraps that are rolled by hand, each one has subtle differences that makes it unique. These differences aren’t great enough to change the quality of your smoke, but they do give it a human touch.
• You Usually Get a Better Flavor and Aroma: Many people find that with hand rolled wraps, you get a better flavor and aroma, likely because companies that hand roll their wraps happen to be companies that also go to greater lengths to maintain an artisanal quality level, choosing the finest papers and weeding out any poor-quality leaves/fibers.

Cons:

• They Can Cost More: Hand-rolled hemp wraps do have a tendency to cost more than those that are rolled by a machine, because they require more labor, which brings up manufacturing costs.
• There’s More Room for Error: Of course, whenever we do anything by hand, we bring up the risk of mistakes caused by human error. Someone who is rolling hundreds of wraps per day manually may rip some and not even realize it, or roll one without enough adhesive, causing it to split open once you try to fill it.

Machine Rolled Wraps

Machine rolled wraps are rolled by a machine that can speed up the manufacturing process significantly. Human hands are understandably slower, and that’s the main reason why it’s used. It also saves on labor costs. An adhesive is automatically applied to an end of the wrap, and it’s rolled precisely by machinery to be sealed.

Pros:

• Each Wrap is Exactly Alike: A benefit of machine rolled wraps is that they are all uniformly identical to one another. This way, you don’t have to worry about them coming out looking different from one another.
• They’re Less Expensive: Because machine-rolling saves time and labor, they usually cost less, which is definitely handy if you happen to be on a tight budget.

Cons:

• They Lack the Human Touch: Maybe you like the idea of hand rolled wraps because of the human touch element that they offer. Some people prefer pre-industrial manufacturing methods, and even want to support companies that use human labor over machinery for ethical reasons.
• Small Mistakes Can Be Overlooked: Machine-rolling does a great job offering consistency, but sometimes, machines malfunction, and since there’s no actual human rolling each wrap, defective products can slip through the cracks without anyone noticing. An example would be a pack of wraps that are all wrapped at an angle rather than straight along the seam, because of a misalignment in the machinery.

The Choice is Yours!

Whether you choose a machine rolled or hand rolled wrap is totally up to you. While the difference between the two isn’t massive, it’s different enough that it’s something you should consider more carefully the next time you go wrap shopping.