If you’ve been rolling your own cigarettes for a while, you’ve probably come across Actitube active carbon filters. Over recent years they’ve become a benchmark in the roll-your-own tobacco world in Spain, yet it isn’t always clear what sets them apart from a conventional filter or how to get the most out of them. In this guide we explain everything from the ground up.
Note: the sale of tobacco products and accessories is strictly reserved for adults aged 18 and over.
What Is Active Carbon and Why Is It Used in Filters?
Active carbon is a porous material obtained by carbonising organic matter — such as coconut shell, wood or mineral coal — through a high-temperature activation process. This process creates an internal structure with an extraordinarily large contact surface area: a single gram can have several hundred square metres of effective surface.
This property gives active carbon a remarkable capacity for adsorption (with a “d”, not a “b”): molecules from certain substances are retained on its porous surface as they pass through it. That is why it is used in water filters, industrial masks, air-purification systems — and also in filters for roll-up cigarettes.
In the context of roll-your-own tobacco, the active carbon granules inside Actitube filters act as an additional filtration layer that retains particles and compounds present in the smoke that a conventional acetate or cardboard filter does not trap as effectively.
Actitube vs Conventional Acetate Filters
To understand what an Actitube filter brings to the table, it helps to compare it with the most common filter types on the market:
| Feature | Acetate Filter | Actitube Filter (Active Carbon) |
|---|---|---|
| Filter material | Cellulose acetate fibre | Active carbon granules + support |
| Primary mechanism | Mechanical particle filtration | Adsorption + mechanical filtration |
| Fine particle retention | Medium | High |
| Effect on flavour | Minimal | Can smooth the flavour of the smoke |
| Draw resistance | Low–medium | Medium (depends on size) |
| Cost per unit | More economical | Slightly higher |
Conventional acetate filters remain the most widely used owing to their low cost and ease of use. However, active carbon filters offer a more thorough level of filtration thanks to adsorption, making them the preferred choice for many smokers who are looking for a different result from the tip of their roll-up.
Available Actitube Sizes: Regular, Slim and Extra Slim
One of the most common questions when first exploring the ActiTube brand is which size is right for you. The range is divided mainly into three formats:
- Actitube Regular (8 mm): The standard format, designed for normal-width roll-ups. It contains a greater amount of active carbon and therefore offers a broader filtration capacity. Ideal if you roll with standard or KS-size papers.
- Actitube Slim (6 mm): Designed for thinner cigarettes. It fits perfectly with slim papers or for those who prefer a narrower roll-up. The draw is slightly more open than with the Regular format.
- Actitube Extra Slim: The narrowest format in the range, intended for very fine papers or for those who want the thinnest roll-up possible. Less common, but available for specific needs.
You can browse all available formats in the Actitube carbon filters section of our shop.
How to Fit an Actitube Filter Correctly
The fitting process is straightforward, but doing it properly makes a real difference to the final experience:
- Choose the right size for the paper you’re using. A filter that is too wide for your paper will make it difficult to close the cigarette; one that is too narrow will leave gaps.
- Place the filter at one end of the rolling paper before spreading the tobacco. This helps the cigarette take shape properly from the outset.
- Distribute the tobacco evenly along the paper, leaving a little extra space next to the filter so it doesn’t become compacted.
- Roll firmly but without over-tightening around the filter: if the tobacco is packed too tightly around the active carbon, the draw will become very resistant.
- Moisten and seal the paper as normal. The Actitube filter requires no additional steps.
A common mistake is pressing the filter too hard when rolling, which blocks the airflow through the carbon granules. If you find the draw is too tight, try leaving the tobacco a little looser in the area around the filter.
Actitube vs Other Filters on the Market
Beyond acetate filters, there are other alternatives worth comparing with Actitube:
Organic Filters
Organic filters are made from natural materials that have not been treated with bleaching agents or chemical additives. Their filtration mechanism is primarily mechanical, similar to acetate but using more naturally sourced materials. They do not incorporate active carbon, so their adsorption capacity is lower than that of Actitube filters, although they are highly regarded by those who prefer to avoid synthetic materials.
Cardboard Filters
Cardboard filters (also known as tips or cardboard roach tips) work in an entirely different way: they do not filter the smoke but simply act as a structural support for the roll-up, preventing the end from losing its shape or tobacco from entering the mouth. They have no meaningful chemical or mechanical filtration capacity.
Economy Filters
Economy acetate filters are the most affordable option on the market. They fulfil their basic mechanical filtration function but do not incorporate any additional technology such as active carbon. They are a perfectly valid choice for everyday use when budget is the primary consideration.
Who Are Actitube Filters Aimed At?
Actitube filters are aimed at adult smokers who roll their own cigarettes and who value a more thorough level of filtration than a standard acetate filter provides. They are particularly appreciated by those who feel that conventional filters do not retain enough fine particles, or by those who prefer a smoke with a different texture.
They are not essential for everyone: if you are already happy with the results from an acetate or cardboard filter, there is no compelling technical reason to switch. But if you want to explore more advanced filtration in the roll-your-own world, Actitube is undoubtedly the most established benchmark on the market in Spain.
Conclusion
Actitube active carbon filters represent a technical step forward compared with conventional filters, thanks to the adsorption mechanism of active carbon. With three main sizes — Regular, Slim and Extra Slim — they suit the majority of rolling paper formats. Fitting them is simple and requires no special technique beyond avoiding over-packing the tobacco around the filter. If you’re looking for more thorough filtration in your roll-up, they are well worth considering within the wide range of filters available on the market.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the active carbon in Actitube filters?
Active carbon is a porous material with a very large internal surface area that retains certain molecules and particles present in tobacco smoke through adsorption, offering more thorough filtration than conventional acetate filters.
What size Actitube filter should I use?
It depends on the paper you use. The Regular format (8 mm) is for standard-width cigarettes, the Slim (6 mm) is for thinner papers, and the Extra Slim is for the narrowest formats. Choose the size that fits your paper comfortably without forcing the seal.
How do you fit an Actitube filter in a roll-up?
Place it at one end of the paper before spreading the tobacco, just as you would with any other filter. The key is not to pack the tobacco too tightly around the filter, so as not to block the airflow through the active carbon granules.
How does an Actitube filter differ from an organic filter?
Organic filters use natural materials without additives and filter smoke mechanically, whereas Actitube filters incorporate active carbon granules that add an adsorption mechanism, broadening their overall filtration capacity.
Are Actitube filters compatible with any rolling paper?
Yes, provided you choose the correct size. The Slim format is compatible with most standard thin papers, while the Regular fits standard or KS-size papers. Browse the available formats in our shop.