What Does "Micron" Mean?
A micron (µ) is a micrometer — one millionth of a metre. The number on a bubble bag refers to the size of the mesh openings in that bag. A 73µ bag has holes 73 micrometers wide. Anything smaller than that opening passes through; anything larger stays behind.
Trichome heads — the resin glands you're trying to collect — range from about 25µ to 120µ in diameter, depending on the strain and the part of the plant. That's why bubble bag sets span that range. Each bag catches a different slice of that size spectrum.
Bigger micron number = bigger openings = catches larger trichomes and more plant matter. Smaller micron number = finer mesh = catches the smallest, purest trichome heads.
The 220µ bag is the exception — it's your work bag. It keeps plant material from getting into your collection buckets, not hash.
Every Standard Micron Size — What Each Collects
Here's the full breakdown from finest to coarsest:
Finest Grade — Full-Melt Potential
The 25µ bag catches the smallest trichome heads. These are the most mature, fully formed heads — the ones with the most resin and the least contaminant. Hash from the 25µ bag has the best shot at being full-melt (the kind that bubbles cleanly and leaves no residue).
In practice, yield from this bag is low. You might get a fraction of a gram from a decent wash. Treat it like a bonus, not an expectation. Strain matters a lot here — some cultivars produce very few small heads.
High-Grade Hash
The 45µ bag is where quality concentrates. Trichome heads in this range are fully formed and high in resin content. This is a keeper bag — collect it separately and treat it well.
Together with the 25µ fraction, this is your premium output. Press it into rosin, cold-cure it, or smoke it as-is. Quality will be noticeably better than anything above 73µ.
The Sweet Spot — Best Bang for Your Wash
For most home growers in Canada, the 73µ bag is the one that matters most. It collects the largest volume of high-quality trichome heads, and the quality is consistently good across almost any decent starting material.
If you're working with outdoor cannabis, trim runs, or mixed-grade material, the 73µ fraction is usually your best yield-to-quality balance. This is the bag you check first when a wash is done.
Second Keeper Bag
The 90µ bag collects slightly larger trichome heads than the 73µ. Quality is still good — this is another keeper grade. Some growers combine their 73µ and 90µ fractions if they're not going for top-shelf separation.
Not every set includes a 90µ bag. Budget 4-bag sets often skip it. If you run an 8-bag set, you'll get both, and the separation is worth it if you're grading carefully.
Second Wash Quality
The 120µ bag catches larger trichome heads along with some trichome stalks and finer plant debris. Quality drops here — the colour is usually darker, and it won't melt as cleanly.
This is still usable hash. It works well for edibles, pressed into lower-grade rosin, or mixed into joints. Most growers keep it but don't confuse it with their 73µ or 90µ output.
Lower Grade
The 160µ bag has coarser mesh and catches a lot of plant debris alongside trichomes. What you pull from this bag is low-grade hash — green-tinged, not great for smoking on its own.
It's still useful for edibles or cooking. Decarb it and add it to butter. Don't expect it to impress anyone. Some growers skip collecting from this bag entirely.
Work Bag — Not Collected
The 220µ bag is not a collection bag. It's a filter bag — you put your cannabis material inside it, and it keeps leaf chunks, stems, and plant matter out of your wash water. Nothing that comes off the 220µ mesh is worth collecting.
Think of it as a reusable cheesecloth. It holds your material during agitation and lets water and trichomes pass through freely.
| Micron | Grade | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| 25µ | Full melt / premium | Smoke as-is or cold-cure |
| 45µ | High grade | Smoke, press to rosin, cold-cure |
| 73µ | Sweet spot | Best yield + quality balance |
| 90µ | Good keeper | Smoke or press |
| 120µ | Mid grade | Edibles, joints, lower-grade rosin |
| 160µ | Low grade | Edibles, cooking butter |
| 220µ | Work bag | Not collected — holds plant material |
4-Bag vs 8-Bag Set — Honest Verdict
Most sets come in either 4-bag or 8-bag configurations. Here's what you're actually getting:
4-Bag Set
- 220µ work bag
- 73µ keeper bag
- 120µ or 160µ bag
- 25µ or 45µ bag
8-Bag Set
- 220µ work bag
- 160µ bag
- 120µ bag
- 90µ bag
- 73µ bag
- 45µ bag
- 37µ or 25µ bag
- Extra work bag or second 220µ
The honest take: a 4-bag set is enough for most home growers. You're not losing yield by using fewer bags — you're just combining what would have been separate grades. The trichomes are still there. You just can't differentiate your 73µ from your 90µ if they land in the same bag.
Where an 8-bag set earns its price: when you're grading carefully for pressing or cold-cure, when you want to identify your strain's best micron window, or when you're running large amounts and want to optimize every fraction.
Start with a 4-bag set. If you find yourself wanting more separation, upgrade.
What to Do With Each Grade
25µ and 45µ — Full-Melt Candidates
If you get full-melt quality from these bags, smoke it on a screen or in a quartz banger. It should liquefy completely with no char. If it doesn't fully melt, it's still excellent hash — cold-cure it in the fridge for 3–4 weeks and it'll develop flavour. Worth pressing into rosin if you have a press.
73µ and 90µ — Your Main Event
These are your best volume grades. Dry them properly (see the drying guide), then decide: smoke as bubble hash, press into rosin with a hair straightener or a proper press, or cold-cure for 4–6 weeks. Most growers combine these two grades.
120µ — Edibles and Joints
Decarb at 110°C for 45 minutes, then infuse into butter or oil. Works fine in a joint mixed with flower. Don't bother trying to dab it — too much plant material.
160µ — Cooking Only
Go straight to edibles. Decarb, infuse, use it in food. That's it.
Not sure how to grade what you got? See the hash star rating guide — it covers the 1–6 star system and how to test your hash.
Where to Buy Bubble Bags in Canada
Two reliable sources:
Trimleaf.ca — Bubble Bags Brand
Trimleaf.ca carries the Bubble Bags brand, which is one of the original ice water hash bag brands. Canadian pricing, ships domestically. Good option if you want to avoid Amazon and support a cannabis-focused Canadian retailer. They carry 5-gallon sets in 4-bag and 8-bag configurations.
Amazon.ca — Bubblebagdude
Bubblebagdude is well-regarded in the home hash community for consistent mesh quality at mid-range prices. Available on Amazon.ca with Prime shipping. Their 5-gallon 8-bag set runs around $60–80 CAD depending on the listing.
See the full brand comparison for side-by-side pricing and quality notes on both brands, plus budget alternatives.
Related Guides
Complete Beginner's Guide to Bubble Hash — the full process from start to finish.
How to Dry Bubble Hash Without a Freeze Dryer — microplane method, step by step.
Hash Star Rating Guide — how to grade what you made.
Home Lab Setup for Bubble Hash in Canada — full equipment list at four budget levels.
Bubble Bag Brand Comparison — Bubble Bags vs Bubblebagdude vs budget options.