As cold weather approaches - what to do?

jaydublin · Sep 29, 2015

This is my first year of smoking a pipe regularly, and I smoke exclusively outdoors (I just have an aversion to smoking indoors after 50 years being a non-smoker).
I'm guessing there are others here who only smoke outside, and I'm wondering what you do in the winter. Do you just bundle up and brave the elements as I'm planning on doing here in the DC area (we have real winters - not brutal, but many sub-freezing days). Or do you just put away the pipe in the cold months and hibernate until spring?
Or, even better, do any of you have creative ideas that you've come up with over the years like hanging out in the shed?
Many thanks in advance!!

eriksmokes85 · Sep 29, 2015

I live in the PNW by the canadian border.. during the winter months here i sit outside on my porch with a space heater or little fire in my fire pit and drink hot toddy while sipping my pipe.. a little cold weather is good for the soul :wink:

stanlaurel · Sep 29, 2015

I bundle-up and smoke in the garage. I have a space heater out there but it does not do much good. The garage floor is a real cold-sink. I don't smoke any less in the cold months.

jaydublin · Sep 29, 2015

I'm thinking a space heater in my shed might be a good idea. A lot smaller than the garage so easier to heat. Then again, if ericsmokes85 can tough it out in the great white north, so can I. : puffy

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eriksmokes85 · Sep 29, 2015

thats the spirit jaydublin! plus a nice hearty non-aro will warm you up.

stanlaurel · Sep 29, 2015

Not having the wind to deal with is something to be considered. In the garage there is no wind-chill and I can blow smoke rings.

aldecaker · Sep 29, 2015

Winter is the best time for outdoor smoking here in Tucson. It's the 100-degree plus summertime that's the bummer for us. Sounds like the hot toddy is the way to go.

skraps · Sep 29, 2015

I'm fortunate enough to be able to smoke in the house, so this is never much of an issue. I think it is important to remember though that there are additional considerations to smoking outside in cold weather, especially if you have not been at this for long.
1.) You are going to likely find increased condensation in the pipe, aka, more moisture that you might accidentally suck into your kisser. (Keep lots of pipe cleaners handy)
2.) I think the cold can change the flavor of tobacco.
3.) Wind, as mentioned before can be a pain.
3.) The goal of avoiding frostbite might impact your ability to be able to enjoy a bowl to completion.
Lots of variables at work, so just keep that in mind. You gotta do what you gotta do, so prep for it as much as possible.

deathmetal · Sep 29, 2015

Winter is the best time for outdoor smoking here in Tucson.

Same situation in Texas. Winter... I mean "winter"... bring it on!

foolwiththefez · Sep 29, 2015

I'm fortunate enough to live in Florida so a heavy coat and good company is usually enough to make the cold to pleasure ratio work out in my favor.

ember · Sep 29, 2015

I'm in Pittsburgh so our winters are about the same . I fold up shop and call it quits till spring I like smoking the pipe but it's not that important to me to Make an area in the garage or shed or go out side and freeze my a butt to smoke .

stanlaurel · Sep 29, 2015

When it is freezing cold, nobody follows me outside and I am guaranteed a solitary smoke.

lordofthepiperings · Sep 29, 2015

I just brave the cold. Usually I put a sweater on. I live in Vegas.

cosmicfolklore · Sep 29, 2015

Get you a 700 cfm inline vent fan, go into the attic with about $50 worth of vent ducts, a wire and a rheostat to install in the wall. In two hours you can have a fan that will evacuate 700 cubic feet of air from your room where you smoke every minute. For me, that means no smoke ever hangs in the air in my house. The fan is on a rheostat, so I can turn it down if it is just me, or up if I have company. Even if my pipe club meets in my living room, we can all smoke without any smoke hanging in the air, and no residual smell. Well, except for Fred, but we don't talk about him like that.
Anyways, for under $200 and less than two hours, there's no reason not to. Unless of course you like smoking outside in the cold like bum.

av8scuba · Sep 29, 2015

I live in MO and exclusively have to smoke outside year-round. I just put on dedicated sweat pants, sweatshirt, and a coat. I can usually brave it down to about +10F. After that, I will either fire up a space heater or fire pit.
As others have said, you will find the winter air more dry and your burn rate and/or taste can/will be affected. But you'll likely get used to it quickly, and I really enjoy the solitude winter brings.
There is no need to "fold up shop" unless you just cannot handle the cold at all. : puffy

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elbert · Sep 29, 2015

Northwest Iowa here--I'll be taking another winter off. If it gets up in to the forties I'll head back out, but those days are few and far between.
I might pick up a box of cigars--they're less hassle, easier to smoke with gloves on. Otherwise my winter leaf is tea.
Edit; I forget that there's a new casino in town exempt from the Smoke-free Air Act--so that's another option.

aldecaker · Sep 29, 2015

I love smoking outside in the cold like a bum! Especially if I can have a trash-can fire to turn my backyard into a hobo jungle, and get my wife to pretend she's a railroad bull. Good times.

cosmicfolklore · Sep 29, 2015

There is a certain mystique to it I guess. Gloves with fingers missing, a stick with all of your possessions tied in a bandanna, and lice.... mmmmm, especially the lice.

drezz01 · Sep 29, 2015

Being Canadian, I just smoke in my ice fishing shack.

Ok, not actually. Though I would if I had one.
My smoking certainly tapers off past -10C or so. After that, I'll sneak the odd smoke in the apartment close to the window if I know it's got a tolerable room note. I'm sure this wouldn't please my landlord.

ray47 · Sep 29, 2015

I'm thinking a space heater in my shed might be a good idea. A lot smaller than the garage so easier to heat.

If your going to use a space heater inside a small shed, especially an oil or kerosene heater, make sure you have good ventilation or it may be your last smoke. We wouldn't want to lose you. Enjoy your winter.

As cold weather approaches - what to do?

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