What Each Micron Size Actually Catches
220μ (work bag) — This isn't a collection bag. It holds your plant material and lets water + trichomes through. You always need this one. Non-negotiable.
190μ — Catches large plant debris that got through the 220. Basically a pre-filter. Everything in here is trash — contaminant, not hash. Some people skip this and just use the 160 as their first catch.
160μ — Still mostly contaminant on most strains. Occasional large trichome heads. Generally gets tossed or mixed into edibles. You can skip this bag if budget is tight.
120μ — The "cooking grade" bag. Catches larger trichome heads and some stalks. Decent for edibles, not great for dabbing. Worth keeping separate from the 73-90μ range.
90μ — This is where good hash starts. A mix of complete trichome heads. On most strains, this is your second-best grade after 73μ.
73μ — The money bag. Highest concentration of intact, capitate-stalked trichome heads. This is your full-melt on good genetics. If you only buy one collection bag besides the work bag, make it 73μ.
45μ — Smaller trichome heads and broken stalks. Still smokeable, but won't fully melt. Good for pressing into rosin or making temple balls.
25μ — Mostly trichome stalks, tiny heads, and fine debris. Cooking grade. Some people skip this entirely — anything below 45μ isn't worth separating for many use cases.
The "Skip These Bags" Cheat Sheet
Real talk: Bag companies want you to buy the 8-bag set because it's the most expensive option. For most home hashers, you don't need 8 bags. Here's what you can safely skip.
Almost always skip: 190μ. It's a glorified debris catcher. Let the 160μ or 120μ handle that job.
Skip if budget is tight: 160μ and 25μ. The 160 catches mostly junk. The 25 catches material so fine it's not worth separating — just let it fall through to the bottom of your bucket.
The sweet spot for most people: 220μ (work), 120μ, 73μ, 45μ, 25μ = 5 bags. This gives you good grade separation without overspending.
Absolute minimum: 220μ (work) + 73μ + 25μ = 3 bags. Everything lands in two grades: good stuff (73μ+) and the rest. Works fine for edibles or when you plan to mix it all anyway.
Still not sure? Check our brand comparison to see pricing for different set sizes, or use the yield calculator to figure out if your batch is even worth running through a full 8-bag set.
Related Guides
→ Bubble Bag Brand Comparison — neutral pricing and quality comparison
→ Full Mesh vs. Bottom Mesh Bags — why mesh type matters more than brand
→ Complete Beginner's Guide — the full walkthrough from zero
→ Equipment Setup Guide — complete shopping lists at 4 budgets