Crossing over

[c.ortiz108]

In the past year I have definitely crossed over to pipes. I'm not a man of means, but I've been able to find plenty of pipes inexpensively on eBay that smoke great. I'm a smoker, not a collector. I have several MM cobs that smoke well. I have a lot of estate briars I love. I tired of chasing the HTF cigars. I have my favorite sticks I still smoke but personally I find more pleasure in the pipe blends that I enjoy and that are available. Even elusive products like Penzance can be gotten with a little patience. Pipes are my niche. And the folks who smoke pipes are much less obsessed with brands and image than cigar smokers. It's where I find my joy in smoking.

I find myself edging in this direction, too. I was lucky enough to have inherited a full rotation+ from my dad, so don't really need to be buying any pipes (not that I won't!), and tobacco is comparatively cheap. For $10 you get what, 15 or 20 bowls? But even if cost weren't a factor, I just find myself reaching for pipes more often and enjoying them more than cigars lately. Maybe it's noobish enthusiasm to try new stuff, but I've also found that bad tobacco is a little more forgiving than a bad cigar (except for Mixture No. 79).

 

[JGIORD]

Try GL Pease Haddo's Delight. Excellent VaPerDarkFired blend with a nicotine kick.

KW,

I tried Haddo's when it first came out a long time ago. I liked it but it also for some reason beat up my mouth. I found it a bit harsh, but it was tasty and smelled great. I seem to run into a lot of this with Pease blends. I guess there is some tobacco he uses that my palette just doesn't get along with.

 

[Shlippy]

I tried pipes at 19, 29 and at 39 years old. First two times didn't take because I didn't have the patience, or YouTube to show me how to properly pack a bowl.

Nothing will put off a new pipe smoker faster than packing bowls improperly and the frustration which results.

 

[danmdevries]

I went to pipes almost exclusively last year for reasons of cost, new experience, variety, and it don't stink.

Carried through most of the winter on an occasional cigar, but primarily pipes. Then when the weather broke, I pretty much only smoke my pipes in the truck.

Now that I've figured out how to smoke a pipe, I'll never go to cigars exclusively. But, the pipe still doesn't replace a good cigar.

 

[EO80]

I went to pipes almost exclusively last year for reasons of cost, new experience, variety, and it don't stink.

Carried through most of the winter on an occasional cigar, but primarily pipes. Then when the weather broke, I pretty much only smoke my pipes in the truck.

Now that I've figured out how to smoke a pipe, I'll never go to cigars exclusively. But, the pipe still doesn't replace a good cigar.

Amen!

 

[BrewinHooligan]

I still prefer my cigars but really enjoy my pipes. I too get tongue bite really bad and it seems to be with all blends, no matter how gentle or slow I smoke. Apparently my mouths chemistry and pipe tobacco don't get along real well, but I still try to get at least one bowl in a week or every other week. It's a completely different experience from a cigar for me and somehow more relaxing and a time to think about things. It's funny, I have an easier time with my smaller pipes than the larger ones so I am completely the opposite of the OP

 

[The_Rev]

Glad to see you branching out, Eran. In the two months I've been piping, I think I've spent around $350, but that is 5 cobs, two estate briars, and around 15 different tobaccos. Compared to my cigar smoking habits, that $350 would have bought less than three boxes of stogies and with at least 2 stogies a day, I'd be out of cigars. I have over a pound of tobacco now. I love both pipes and cigars, but pipes are a fraction of the price, as long as you keep the pipe acquisition disorder under control. Lol. I had a little trouble with packing a bowl and tongue bite at first, but have found several English blends ( which I prefer anyway) that don't bite, no matter how fast they are smoked. Packing a bowl now is a no brainier. I don't overthink it, I just fill it up in thirds, tamping a little each third

Which English blends do you find bite less?

 

[redneck_toy]

Which English blends do you find bite less?

I haven't had tongue bite from larry's blend, any Frog Morton's, McClellands Dark English Full, or Boswells Northwoods. Magnum opus seems a little "bitey" if pushed too fast. Nightcap and EMP, on the other hand, will bite the crap out of my tongue unless I absolutely sip on it. I'm fairly convinced that my body's pH isn't compatible with something in the Dunhill mixtures.
Im a real fast smoker. My ADD kicks in full gear while I smoke, so I have to force myself to slow down. I haven't had tongue bite in a while, even with the Dunhill mixes. Granted, I now know the warning signs about a sore tongue coming on if I don't slow down. It's been a huge learning experience smoking pipes, but have a cadence that works well with the above mentioned blends. The bald headed teacher I've been burning these past few weeks doesn't bite unless pushed pretty hard, and I'm enjoying it immensely. It's the first burley blend that I've absolutely loved.
All in all, pipes have been a wonderful experience for me and my ADD fixations.

 

[redneck_toy]

And by fast smoker, I mean two or three bowls in 30-45 minutes. Even when I " slow down" my largest bowled pipes only last 20 minutes or so.
Yes, I know I have a problem. Lol

 

[plumber1965]

And by fast smoker, I mean two or three bowls in 30-45 minutes. Even when I " slow down" my largest bowled pipes only last 20 minutes or so.
Yes, I know I have a problem. Lol

Yep that is fast........ I am slow
Mine last 45 to an hour

 

[EO80]

I go at about 30 to 45 mins on a bowl. Just got some of the locals vanilla blend. Wife wanted more aromatic. Doesnt seem to be that much more. Oh well, smokes well.