Follow these dos and don'ts to keep your hard-earned supply in perfectly smokeable condition.
Now that you've learned the roll-your-own basics of how to equip your smoking kit and roll a smoke, it's time to cover proper storage and carry techniques so you can protect your precious supply. If you care about maintaining the consistency, aroma, and flavour of your smoking products, don't skip this article!
We've distinguished storage tips from carry tips because it's important to do the same with your smoking materials – that is, keep your daily supply separate from your long-term storage.
While tobacco doesn't have an absolute expiration date, your considerations for daily and long-term storage are different – like fine wine, your product ages best in a cool, dark place, so the less time you spend opening your long-term storage, the better. The best way to do that is by having convenient and effective short-term carry storage, so let’s dive into that first...
How to carry your smoking supplies on the go
We can not understate the importance of a good smoking case. The quality and appropriateness of the materials and components makes a huge difference to how well your carry case will work – and keep working. So here's how to pick the good stuff, and how to keep it working well every day.
Do – Use a metal case for your rolling papers to protect them from bending and tearing.
Do – Carry spare paper. Gummed strips torn from a spare paper are great for mending tears, leaks, and gaps.
Do – Keep your daily smoking material in a sealed container separate from your other supplies to preserve freshness.
Do – Carry your smoking papers or cones, filters or tips, and product together with a lighter in the same case so you don't leave behind one essential component to your smoke.
How to store your smoking supplies
Storing your materials in the right containers with just the right amount of air is crucial to keeping them fresh and flavourful for your smokes.
Proper humidity control will keep mold, mildew and other nasty contaminants at bay. Excessive heat can dry out the flavours that have taken months to develop. When these essential oils get too dry along with plant material, it can result in a hot, harsh smoke.
Do – separate your products/brands to maintain their individual flavour profiles.
Do – store out of direct sunlight in a cool, dry place (mildew and other molds on organic matter thrive in temperatures between 25° and 30°C / 77° and 86° F).
Do – control relative humidity (RH) levels to stay between 59% and 63%, warm air holds more moisture than cold air - which brings us to the next consideration...
Do – keep humidity under control using products like hygrometers or humidors (commonly used for cigars), or vacuum sealed jars and containers to minimize oxygen exposure.
Still not sure where to store your stuff? Follow these tips on what NOT to do.
Don’t – store in the refrigerator or the freezer.
Don’t – store in plastic bags.
Don’t – store in the kitchen or other warm rooms in your home. Find a spot in a low cupboard, shelf, or your basement if you have one (much like a wine cellar).
Don’t – store glass tips, pipes, or other paraphernalia together with your tobacco. The ash and resin left over from smoking will alter the profile of your unused product. It's a good rule of thumb to keep supplies separate and clean.
These factors are also important for your day-to-day smoking kit, but reconsidered for portability, so we'll cover those below.
What to look for in your daily smoking case
Full disclosure – this is the blog of a brand of smoking carry products, so we will be talking about all the features and considerations that went into creating our Traveller case and how it covers the fundamentals of good functionality and design, all put together for the style-conscious smoker.
To carry your smoking essentials wherever you go, you need purpose-built storage that conceals scents while preserving flavour and freshness – right-sized for your pocket, jacket, or purse.
We designed the Traveller case with compact compartments to keep your supplies separate, but sized that storage appropriately to suit a range of needs – whether you roll, pre-roll, or dabble in both. With a built-in flameless rechargeable electric lighter and streamlined storage for your papers or cones, tips, and product, it's a carry made for the everyday.
Once you experience the convenience of carrying an all-in-one case, you will never leave home without it. Learn more about The Traveller here and write to us if you have any questions. Next up, a post just for the ladies – stylish smoking accessories thoughtfully designed with women in mind.