Bents or Straights?

[changojoe]

Bents here

 

[frostyforge]

So far all my pipes (a total of...1) are straight, but I'm makin a few clays and at least 2 are going to be 1/4 bent

 

[menckenite]

It depends on the pipe. If I consider it a beautiful piece of art and can afford it, then I buy it; bent or straight.

 

[brazz]

I have both, but like the Bents more.

 

[pstlpkr]

It depends on the pipe. If I consider it a beautiful piece of art and can afford it, then I buy it; bent or straight.

I think that is true of most of us.

My taste in pipes tends toward moderately curved.

But, I do have a three or four straight and about the same number of calabashes.

The balance being somewhere in between.

 

[caliguy]

For me it depends on my mood and what I'm doing at the time. I've had straights, 1/4 bent, full bent, church wardens and so on. I do find the bents are easier to carry in my pocket, for obvious reasons.
I have yet to master the art of holding a pipe in my mouth while working with my hands doing something else, and not drooling all over the place like the village idiot. However when I do try, I find the bents easier to deal with.

 

[bubbadreier]

When I first started smoking a pipe I tended to lean towards the straights, but in the last month or so I have been looking to buy some more bent pipes. I still love my straights though!

 

[redfox]

I definitely prefer straights, although on occasion a 1/4 bent will catch my eye; but, that's a RARE occasion!!

 

[raf66]

Out of my modest collection of maybe 20 pipes, the bents outnumber the straights a bit. However, I don't think I prefer one type over the other. And in actuality, I hate that I can't get a pipe cleaner straight through really any of my bents whilst smoking, which is something I can do with ease with my straights. It sure helps the pipe from smoking too wet/gurgly.

 

[pens87]

1/4 to 1/2 bent here. Ditto on the other comments regarding looks. I think many of us see smoking the pipe as a hobby equal parts smoking and collecting pieces of "art" in a sense. For me a pipe also has to just feel right in the hand; just one of the intangibles of the hobby that are important for me.

 

[cortezattic]

Hi pens87 and welcome to the forums. I think you got to the crux of the matter when you said that the hobby is an admixture of interests: smoking; art collecting; tinkering and futzing with the associated toys; and constant exploration of new tobacco blends, pipe shapes and materials. There's so much more to this than a mere, vulgar habit. (I won't even go into the cultivation of personal skills like identifying leaf varieties, etc.!)

 

[scottabot]

VULGHAR!??? Thou Blasphemer! lol

 

[pstlpkr]

I hate that I can't get a pipe cleaner straight through really any of my bents whilst smoking,

Raf66 this is one area where higher end pipes tend to be superior. I have 5 or 6 high end bent pipes, all - through which I can easily pass pipe cleaners, and I also have several mid-range pipes that I cannot and some I can.

It is one test that I perform before purchasing any pipe (now). I simply pass a pipe cleaner down the air hole. If it does not progress smoothly I reject the pipe, and begin browsing again. For example: my Petersons (one bent, one straight); if I had attempted to pass a pipe cleaner through them, I wouldn't purchase them now. But, live and learn. My Cavicchi's every one is drilled beautifully (bent and straight), no problem with the cleaner test on any I have ever seen. That's one difference between a $50 to $80 pipe and a $250 to $350+ pipe that is quantifiable.

However: I will not say that mid and lower end pipes will always fail this test. It is however one test that I recommend. It is worth the effort when looking for a pipe, bent or straight.

 

[bronxbriar]

My first pipe (about 30 years ago)was a bent and that has remained my preference but I do get in the mood for a straight once and while.

 

[pipetrucker]

A few months ago I had a tobacconist ask me that same question while I was looking over his pipes for sale.
I told him "I started out buying only bents but lately I have been gravitating towards straights".
He asked me "Any reason why?"
I had to answer "Not really, I am just going through a straights phase I guess."
I enjoy them both.

 

[hobie1dog]

And I thought this thread had something to do with Monica and Bill.

 

[krgulick]

LMAO at hobie. I seem to prefer bends over straights, but have both really.

 

[whitebriar]

bents

 

[juni]

I have both but lately I seem to prefer straights. I think they look better and that you look better when smoking one. :D

 

[flanative]

I lean more towards Bents but one of my favorite pipes is a LHS Billard straight that for some unknown reason I am overly fond of.