Dilemma of Piping Decisions: Tobacco vs Pipe

[DanWil84]

An interesting inference here that a subpar just means not fancy.

If that’s the case there are plenty of non fancy tobaccos that are enjoyable and I’d take the exceptional pipe to enjoy them in.

Thank you for reminding me I have no 1 but 2 commissioned pipes running... I can buy a gazillion of corn cobs for that money!

But the topic said would you rather. To me that sounds like making a choice, which I don't have to as im in a lucky position my wife allows me to spend money on this money on this hobby (yeah yeah, I know....) instead of model trains. But my choice still stands, if I wasn't allowed to spend money on this hobby I'll be buying cobs and tobacco instead of commissions and tobacco.

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

It’s all about the ?. ?️

 

[Sweet Home Alabama]

How many enjoy smoking your finest tobaccos in a disliked pipe? There’s your answer!!

 

[gervais]

I'm not a tobacco snob. Ive never smoked a tobacco that I had to dump out because it was that bad. As long as it's not a goop-laden aro, I'm happy with most of it. What tobacco would be considered sub-par? I like natural tobacco flavours, so I find enjoyment with all properly dried/cured leaf. Now PIPES!!! I love staring at and admiring my pipes. I can definately live with a "sub-par" tobacco if I can keep my little beautiful briars. Put me on the other side of the majority on this one. Id just smoke cigars if I had to have an ugly, narly corncob hanging from my jaw.

I know. Them are fightin words!

 

[sandollars]

To me, Premium tobacco is essential and premium pipes are a luxury not to be missed.



So



I choose both...

 

[warren]

Given only those two options, I'd find another vice.

 

[fireground_piper]

Cobs being referenced as subpar is also interesting. I consider a cob on par with any pipe standard and would preclude it from being a subpar option.

A subpar pipe, to me, would be a drilling 1/4” off center, doesn’t pass a pipe cleaner and enters your tobacco chamber 1/4” high. I don’t care how exceptional my tobacco is, it’s not going to be great in a piece of garbage.

 

[gervais]

Cobs being referenced as subpar is also interesting. I consider a cob on par with any pipe standard and would preclude it from being a subpar option.

A subpar pipe, to me, would be a drilling 1/4” off center, doesn’t pass a pipe cleaner and enters your tobacco chamber 1/4” high. I don’t care how exceptional my tobacco is, it’s not going to be great in a piece of garbage.

I wouldn't say they are sub-par instruments for smoking, but in my opinion, they are downright hideous. I mean c'mon...it's a hunk of corncob glued to a stick for heaven sakes. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess

 

[Misanthrope]

If sub-par means the pipe ruins or detracts from the exceptional tobacco, then this seems to me to be one of those "same clown in different makeup" choices. There's no point in smoking terrible tobacco in a lovely pipe or smoking wonderful tobacco in a pipe that makes it unenjoyable. If those are my choices, I'm passing on both.

If sub-par just means "factory pipe that's not a $500 artisanal piece", then I definitely am fine with smoking good tobacco in a perfectly fine non-artisanal pipe.

 

[PipeIT]

Tabac all the way!

 

[trouttimes]

Tobacco hands down.

 

[Ahi Ka]

I’d throw my lot in with @saltedplug and go for the pipes and then start an instagram account

 

[jpmcwjr]

Tobacco.

A very simple but good question.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I’d throw my lot in with @saltedplug and go for the pipes and then start an instagram account

He left the building.

 

[Ahi Ka]

He left the building.

I wondered why I couldn’t tag him ?

 

[dog_park_piper]

If sub-par means the pipe ruins or detracts from the exceptional tobacco, then this seems to me to be one of those "same clown in different makeup" choices. There's no point in smoking terrible tobacco in a lovely pipe or smoking wonderful tobacco in a pipe that makes it unenjoyable. If those are my choices, I'm passing on both.

If sub-par just means "factory pipe that's not a $500 artisanal piece", then I definitely am fine with smoking good tobacco in a perfectly fine non-artisanal pipe.

Agreed.


If we place "sub-par pipe" on the spectrum of a functional & piece of art, "sub-par", for me, rests much farther on the functional side, but that doesn't mean "a piece of garbage"


I was thinking about what mug to use for black tea, hot coco, coffee, and green tea, and I immediately realized that it's the same. The "bowl" has to be big enough to coffee + cream but it doesn't matter if it was made by a famous clay turner.

I know you're all going to point out that a pipe's physics is much more of a factor for a good smoke than a mug's is for a good green tea, black tea, coffee, or hot coco. Those points are true - But I think the analogy can teach us something about pipes vs tobacco.

Could I drink Folgers coffee in a beautiful mug for the rest of my life? - Sure!

Could I drink my favorite coffee ever in a really generic mug? - Sure !


In the context of pipes & tobacco: I still lean toward "Folgers" (OTC tobacco) with a pipe that brings the experience up one notch more.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

A sub par pipe can be altered to be less sub par, but crappy tobacco will always be crappy tobacco, so I'll take the sub par pipe. Besides, what would be the point of having a great pipe just to enjoy crappy tobacco in it?

This, saves me time typing essentially the same thing.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Well, some of us couldn't drink Folgers in any sort of cup or mug!

And, o.p., do you have enough answers (on top of the ton of extra material?)

 

[bullet08]

Chewing gum. In case you run out of your stash.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I was thinking... I could just make me a better pipe... then I remembered that, hell, I also grow great tobacco. So... I'm just a DIY sorta guy. I also make wine, grow my own food, hunt, fish... so... “¯\_(ツ)_/¯“
I don't really rely on the world for much, except nice clothes and good shoes. Maybe some other stuff from time to time.