menu_open Columnists
We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

I’ve Had My Santa Cruz Shredder Grinder for Nearly a Decade, And It Still Shreds

30 0
22.07.2026

Get unlimited access to everything VICE has to offer.

Turn off all ads on VICE.com

Exclusive New VICE Documentaries

Member Exclusive Features & Columns

Turn off all ads on VICE.com

Exclusive New VICE Documentaries

Member Exclusive Features & Columns

Turn off all ads on VICE.com

Exclusive New VICE Documentaries

Member Exclusive Features & Columns

4 Magazines Delivered to Your Door

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more here.

I’ve Had My Santa Cruz Shredder Grinder for Nearly a Decade, And It Still Shreds

This 4-piece grinder is expensive has lasted me through all my smoke phases.

By Maha Haq | Reviewed by Ysolt Usigan

Share on X (Opens in new window)X

Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Facebook

Share using Native toolsShareCopied to clipboard

A weed grinder has simple functions. It needs to break down flower evenly, twist without making you angry, collect kief, and not become useless after a year. My Santa Cruz Shredder aluminum 4-piece grinder has been doing that for over nine years.

I have the large size, and it’s still my daily driver. I still use it because it still works. The teeth are still sharp, the twist is still smooth, and the body still feels heavy-duty. It has survived years of flower, kief, occasional neglect, and enough cleaning cycles to prove that this wasn’t just an expensive grinder with good branding.

This review is on the 4-piece aluminum Santa Cruz Shredder grinder family. The small, medium, and large sizes all give you the same basic setup: a heavy-duty aluminum grinder with a grinding chamber, flower chamber, screen, and kief catcher. The small is the most travel-friendly, the medium is probably the safest everyday pick, and the large is the one I’ve personally used for almost a decade.

The size you pick depends on how and where you smoke, but the reason to buy the large version is the same across all three: it grinds smoothly, holds up for years, and gives you a separate place to collect kief instead of wasting it.

The Santa Cruz Shredder aluminum 4-piece grinder is expensive for a grinder, but mine has been in regular use for about nine years and still works like it should. For regular flower consumers, the Santa Cruz Shredder is worth the investment.

The teeth are still sharp, the twist is still smooth, and the kief catcher is more useful than it seems. You can sprinkle kief into a joint, top a bowl, or even press it into rosin at home if you have a personal rosin press.

Best for: Flower smokers who want a long-lasting 4-piece grinder

Not best for: People who want the cheapest or lightest grinder possible

Best feature: Smooth grind with built-in kief collection, and multiple color options

Biggest drawback: Heavier and more expensive than basic grinders

Aluminum 4 Piece Small Herb Grinders (opens in a new window)

Aluminum 4 Piece Medium Herb Grinders (opens in........

© Vice