A quality weed grinder is an essential smoke stash accessory. Grinders break down buds in a way that makes for a more even and potent smoke. They also passively collect kief—a concentrate you can sprinkle on top of your bud for an extra kick or collect and press into hashish. There are a lot of grinders out there to choose from, but these are the 10 best grinders on the market.
1. Sharpstone
Sharpstone has thought of everything. The aircraft-grade aluminum grinders come in 2, 4, or 5 pieces. You can opt for a clear top or a hard top. One of the most interesting features of all is the Hard Top 4 Piece Vibrating Grinder’s lithium battery operated vibrating function. It vibrates to encourage kief to sift down into the bottom chamber. The grinders also have magnetized lids to ensure an airtight closure.
2. Cali Crusher
If you like variety, Cali Crusher grinders are for you. The grinders come in medium and large sizes. If you want to see what’s going on in your grinding chamber, you can opt for the clear top. If you want discretion, you can purchase a hardtop. If you like the traditional method of grinding, you can purchase rotating grinders. However, if you’re looking for an easier route, you can check out their crank top grinders. All of these options are available in an array of vibrant colors.
3. Kannastör
All of Kannastör’s grinders deserve an honorable mention, but their GR8TR line offers features that truly shine. The 8-piece grinder contains multiple sifting and storage options for an exceptionally customizable grind. If the abundance of options offered by the GR8TR line overwhelms you, check out their single chamber and less complex multi-chamber lines.
4. Zip Grinder
Discretion is not Zip Grinder’s forte. These grinders have extra-large storage chambers and come in unique designs, many of which include clear tops and clear storage chambers. These grinders are attractive, affordable, and come with a lifetime warranty.
5. Black Tie Grinders
The quality and style of Black Tie Grinders have repeatedly earned rave reviews. The anodized aluminum grinders are equipped with micron mesh sifters and come in black, white, and pink. This brand is so confident in its product that they offer a 100 percent money back guarantee.
6. Phoenician Engineering
Whether it’s the gold or the price tag, Phoenician Engineering grinders are luxurious. Their most expensive grinder—the Elite Series large 4-piece Grinder—is $1,499-worth of plated gold. In addition to their lavish aesthetics, Phoenician Engineering also offers medical-grade quality. For those of you who don’t want to make a mortgage payment for your grinder, don’t worry—they have less expensive options in a host of other colors that work just as well as their elite series grinders.
7. Space Case
This grinder has been around since 1998 and continues to be one of the most popular choices because of its stellar quality. The grinder is made with high-grade American-milled aluminum. The owner of Space Case, Tim Brady, has over 35-years of experience working with materials used in machinery ranging from surgical equipment to the Space Shuttle. Space Case offers 1-piece and 4-piece grinders, each in small, medium, or large sizes.
8. Santa Cruz Shredder
It’s all about the teeth for Santa Cruz Shredder, a company that promises that “our teeth are guaranteed for life.” The teeth are not sharp, but are designed to last and to cut in various directions for a fluffy mulch. Like Phoenecian Engineering, Santa Cruz Shredder claims to manufacture medical grade grinders.
9. Mendo Mulchers
You can be confident that your bud will break apart in a Mendo Mulcher grinder—the 88 teeth in one of these high-quality aluminum machines guarantees that. With their sleek, metallic look and affordable price-range, these grinders are a smart addition to your smoke regimen.
10. Chromium Crusher Tobacco Spice Herb Grinder
The Chromium Crusher Tobacco Spice Herb Grinder is made with heavy-duty zinc alloy, setting it apart from the other grinders on this list. The extremely affordable grinder is best known for its hand crank feature. The Chromium Crusher is a great option if you’re looking for a grinding mechanism that goes easy on the wrists.
What Makes a Quality Weed Grinder?
There are three components of a grinder to consider when evaluating its quality: teeth, material, and compartments.
Teeth
Without its teeth, a grinder would be nothing more than a portable pot container. The teeth fulfill the grinder’s purpose: to break buds apart. Grinding nugs to smaller, even bits of flower make wrapping a joint a cinch and smoking a bowl a smooth hit. While it’s possible to manually grind your weed, a grinder with an abundance of sharp teeth expedites the process.
A grinder measuring a 2.5-inch diameter should have at least 50 diamond-shaped teeth that are equally distributed throughout the grinding chamber. The teeth should be sharp enough to cut through dense buds without also being a deathtrap for your fingers.
Material
Grinders are made with acrylic, wood, or metal. Acrylic grinders are the cheapest, but that is also reflected in their shoddy construction. If you smoke regularly, don’t expect your acrylic grinder to last very long.
Wooden grinders aren’t very practical, but the aesthetic of their texture and appearance make them an intriguing addition to your collection. Wooden grinders only come with one compartment, and they must be made with raw, unfinished wood. Traces of paint or other chemicals could contaminate the weed.
The most common, high-quality grinders are made from one of these metals: aluminum, titanium, or stainless steel. Aluminum is the cheapest of these metals, so it is the most common. The best aluminum grinders are made with anodized aluminum or other high-grade aluminum varieties.
Compartments
Grinders come with either 1, 2, or 3 compartments. A 1 compartment grinder has only the grinding chamber. You put your weed in and take it out of the same compartment.
A grinder with 2 compartments is a bit more convenient. You place your weed into the grinding compartment, and the ground up weed falls through evenly shaped holes into the second chamber. Removing the weed from that second chamber is extremely easy and avoids the nuisance of digging around the teeth.
The best type of grinder has 3 compartments. These grinders are known as 4-piece grinders because they are made up of a grinding chamber, the chamber from where you retrieve your pot, a fine sifting screen, and a third chamber that collects kief. 4-piece grinders allow you to enjoy the convenience of a grinder while effortlessly collecting kief. Every time you grind your weed, tiny trichomes fall through the screen into the bottom chamber. Before you know it, you will have a nice stash of the solvent-less concentrate.