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They say rolling your own joints is an art. Well then call us Michelangelo.

Smoking is bad. Period. That is true whether its cigarettes, tobacco, or weed. Any form of smoking that requires burning, which is just about any form, does physical damage. But if you’re reading this, you’ve probably already decided to set that aside and partake in one of the above. You'll find no judgement here. And if you’re going to do it, you should with the best smoking tools you can find. At Esquire, we have already covered grinders (even electric ones), vaporizers, pipes—even weed subscription boxes. But you need rolling papers.

Even in this era of high tech smoking and pre-rolled goods, rolling your own joints still brings a certain je ne sais quoi to the experience. It might be outdated, but it's all part of a ritual that resonates, especially with stoners: grind the dry nugs, roll them, then spark up. It's seamless, not to mention cheap. But one thing to note is that you inhale both the tobacco/cannabis contents and the paper (in the form of smoke) once lit. To wit, you’ll want rolling papers that don't interfere with the contents (taste- or smell-wise) of your cig or joint at all when they're burned.

Ideally, rolling papers should burn slowly and evenly to lend you a smooth, lasting fume with as little ash as possible. Which is why pros prefer thinner papers. They promise a slower burn and won’t hinder indulging the full taste of flowers rolled within (since thinner means less paper smoke). Materials also play a part, whether it’s hemp, flax, rice, or wood pulp. Some burn slower, some are thinner, and some are easier to roll—each has its own perks.

In addition, rolling papers' size—which often comes in either a regular 1.25 size good for one to three joints, or the largest standard king size, which is enough for four to five smokers—caters to smoking habits. Heavy smokers often cop the king size to get the most out of one single joint, and the regular size suits those who savor just a few puffs now and then.

We figure you won't turn down an opportunity to ingest the best. So here are 14 best rolling papers for weed and/or tobacco, each tailored to different smoking needs—and elevate them. But before you read on, here's a gentle reminder: be careful of who you buy from—marijuana is still illegal federally in the US, and only 18 states have legalized it as of now—but it also matters even if you are in legalized land.

Hemp often makes for sturdier papers that are easier for rolling and only relay mild taste. Sackville & Co.’s 100 percent pure organic hemp rolling papers are thin and come with Arabic gum adhesive to secure the closure. In addition to blue, the company also makes them in black, pink, and yellow to match your vibe.

You can rely on flax—a natural plant fiber—for a silky smooth joint since it absolutely will not impart any unwelcome odor. Flax papers from Z's Life are not only thin but also easy to roll. And like most flax rolls, they yield very little smoke. The elegant packaging, lastly, really tops it off.

Rice makes the thinnest paper and thus burns the slowest. It's also incredibly sustainable. Elements' rice rolling papers barely have any flavor and burn almost no ash for a totally satisfying inhale. The trade-off, however, is that they are so thin they can be challenging to roll for rookies.

In the biz of rolling papers, Odet Cascadet Bolloré (OCB) has been around for over a century. Which means they've had plenty of time to refine their papers to perfectly balanced in terms of thinness and firmness. And it certainly doesn't hurt that these are made in organic flax which ensures a slow, even burn.

Probably every smoker has used RAW's rolling papers before. They're available in almost every smoke shop, and tokers love them for being dirt cheap. RAW's Unrefined Classic—its most popular line—in natural hemp is certified by veterans and novices, alike.

Vibes was launched by a stoner—Berner, the Bay Area rap star—for the stoner. Its papers come in rice, hemp, and ultra-thin, each burning nice and slow and yielding minimum smoke. And they really let your tobacco or cannabis's own flavor shine through consistently. A definite value option.

What do British royalties' rolling papers look like? Probably these 24k gold-coated organic hemp wraps. (If we had to guess, obviously.) They're relatively safe, and burn slower than other hemp options because of the layers.

These hemp papers honor the marijuana world's most beloved musician, Bob Marley. (Or the music world's most beloved stoner?) To add, inside each packaging, there's a different quote from the reggae legend to light you up.

Zig-Zag was founded in 1855 in France, and, as far as we know, has since never let anyone who rolls their own tobacco down. The world of cannabis has since embraced them, and with good reason: Zig-Zag's classic French orange flax papers are pure quality.

Rizla is another legacy brand that makes rolling papers, with a French origin dating back to 1532. It's the brand that smoking savants know, use, and gatekeep to keep it "exclusive." These rolling papers by Rizla run smaller than size 1.25 which can be hard to maneuver, but they really hold and elevate a clean smoke well.

Whether you'd prefer to toke alone or in a group, the stainless steel wire handle in Randy’s papers is clutch for keeping your joint straight—and prevent the fire from burning your fingers.

Unbleached—or transparent—papers yield an all-natural smoke, especially when they're made with organic grain fibers, as in the case of Hornet. They will burn evenly and combust to smoke stably, much like RAW's rolling papers.

Flavored rolling papers? Isn't that counter to the whole point of rolling papers? Yes... but we can all make room when the flavors are actually good, like watermelon, green apple, grapes, and other fruity notes. And don't worry, they only add little zing to what you're smoking; you'll taste most of it if you're licking the papers instead.

If you can't spend'em, smoke'em. In this case, $100 "bills" that are meant to do just that. They're life-like, burn slow, burn well. No funky odor whatsoever. And thin. But, a word to the wise: There's no glue, so these can be hard to wrap. Thus, they're recommended for a laugh or gifting, not for regular indulgence.