Last reviewed November 3, 2026 · By the Native-Smokes.com team
Smokers talk about the draw more than almost anything else, and the filter decides most of it. The same tobacco can feel heavy or airy, firm or easy, depending on the filter it's paired with.
What the Draw Is
The draw is the resistance you feel when you pull on a cigarette. A firm draw gives a dense, full puff. An easy draw gives a lighter, airier one. Neither is better: it's personal, and it's the first thing most smokers notice when they switch brands.
Filter Density
Most filters are made of thousands of fine fibres packed into the tip. Packed tighter, the filter catches more of the smoke and the draw gets firmer. Packed looser, the smoke flows more freely.
Ventilation
Lighter blends have a ring of tiny holes around the filter. When you pull, air comes in through those holes and mixes with the smoke, so each puff is lighter and the draw is easier. That's the single biggest difference between a full flavour and an ultra light. Covering the holes with your fingers or lips changes the draw, which is why the same cigarette can feel different from one smoker to the next. See the strength scale.
Pressure Drop: The Number Behind the Draw
Cigarette makers measure the draw as pressure drop, also called resistance to draw: how much suction it takes to pull air through the whole cigarette at a standard puff. It's measured in millimetres of water, and most cigarettes sit somewhere around 90 to 130 mm. The higher the number, the firmer the draw.
Three things set it. The tobacco rod adds resistance, more so when it's packed firmly. The filter adds more, depending on how densely its fibres are packed. Ventilation does the opposite: the holes give air an easier way in, so some of each puff skips the filter and the rod entirely. That's why lights and ultra lights feel easier to pull: a larger share of every puff is fresh air coming through the holes.
Brands balance these on purpose. A light usually isn't just a full flavour with holes punched in it: the filter is often a little denser to keep the draw from feeling empty, so the cigarette still feels like a cigarette while each puff is lighter.
Filter Length
A longer filter puts more distance between the ember and you, which cools the smoke and softens it a little.
Charcoal Filters
A charcoal filter adds a section of activated charcoal inside the tip. Smokers describe the taste as cleaner and smoother, with less bite. Ours: Elite Charcoal, Rolled Gold Charcoal.
Slims and King Size
A slim has a smaller circumference than a king size, so each puff carries less smoke. Slims feel lighter and more delicate whatever the blend. Our slims: Elite Light Slims, Elite Full Flavour Slims.
Menthol and Ice
Menthol blends carry a cool, minty note through the tobacco. Ice blends push the coolness further for a crisper, colder feel. The draw depends on the filter underneath, just like any other blend.
Questions
Why does one brand feel harder to pull than another?
Usually a denser filter, less ventilation or a firmer tobacco fill.
Do charcoal filters taste different?
Yes. Most smokers find them cleaner and smoother.
From this guide: The strength scale: from ultra light to full flavour · What makes a good cigarette: tobacco, cut and care · Slims · Switching brands? Find your match by style
WARNING Cigarettes are highly addictive and cause cancer, heart disease and lung disease. Quit help: 1-866-366-3667 · gosmokefree.gc.ca/quit