Do I Need a Big-Bowled Pipe?

[robwoodall]

Most of my pipes are Missouri Meerschaum, some cobs and some hardwood. I have a three briar pipes, either gifts or bought cheap, of varying quality. All my pipes have bowl diameters between .5 and .7 inch, mostly toward the narrow end.
Today, Pipes and Cigars has as "Eric's Lost It" sale, two pipes, two tobaccos and two tools for $99.96, so I decided to buy.
http://www.pipesandcigars.com/specials/you-pick/erics-lost-it-again/
I love my cobs, but they are wearing out. At the price, replacement is no problem, but I want some more "permanent" smokers.
Choices were, of course, limited for this kind of sale, but I picked up a Stanwell Vario Brandy, two-tone red and black. It's not expensive, but it's pretty and has good reviews. I was really planning to get another "normal" pipe, but I kept being drawn to the Big Ben Sandgrain.
This sucker has a .9 inch inner bowl diameter with a 2.1 inch depth. I figure that'll hold half a tin of tobacco! It's seven inches long, and weighs almost 3 ounces, so probably NOT a clencher!
Did I just get stupid? Are there advantages to a big pipe?
I don't know... maybe I can fill it every Sunday and smoke on it all week!
Who likes BIG pipes?

 

[tbradsim1]

Depends how big your tool is.

 

[warren]

When, at the end of a long day, you want a long relaxing smoke, bigger is better.
When the commanding officer of the firing squad asks if you want a last smoke, bigger is better.
Problems with self-esteem? Bigger is better.

 

[elpfeife]

:rofl:

 

[pipesmokingtom]

I like bigger pipes for tobaccos that need to "settle in." Aged Burley Flake is like that for me. A bigger bowl gives me a longer-lasting sweet spot between the first light and when I need to tip.
Also good for when I don't feel like repacking for a while! They'll find a spot for you, I'm sure!

 

[wyfbane]

Latakia blends tend to taste better in a bowl that is wider. I think depth of bowl is merely for length of smoke.
Of course some people need to have bigger bowls to compensate...

 

[robwoodall]

Well...
I'm gonna smoke it when it comes in. Maybe I didn't buy something just totally excessive...

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

The wide bowl will change the characteristics of some blends. The 1" bowl diameter is great but also I'm starting to find that I want a shorter smoke (beginner puffing cadence issues), so I've been looking at the wide and shallow pots lately.

 

[Chasing Embers]

When I was about 5 years in back in the '90s, I started to realize that larger bowls were going to have to be the way to go just because a chamber at 1 1/2 inches and less just wasn't giving me the kick back and relax time that I need. The majority of my collection, minus my cobs, tend to fall into the 2 inch range, with a 3 inch deep Moretti magnum. Really it just comes down to personal preference, and how you want to smoke.

 

[cigrmaster]

When I was smoking any type of blends that were not flakes, I would smoke them in large pipes. Blends that have multiple components in them do better in a large bowl to my tastes as it takes time for all of the components to get going while smoking them. A perfect example of a blend that I loved in a large pipe would be this.
Two Friends Deacon's Downfall.

Components: Black Cavendish Latakia Orientals Perique Virginia Family: English

Cut: Ribbon
Dark and mysterious! Rich with Latakia, Black Cavendish, dark stoved Virginias and Perique. A bit of Oriental leaf adds an exotic spice. This is a tobacco for those seeking a big, powerful flavor that isn’t harsh or overwhelming. One bowl, and you’ll know just what caused the Deacon’s Downfall!
When you have 5 different components to a blend a large pipe gives you the size needed to give the blend the time needed for it to smoke as it should. Now when it comes to flakes, for my tastes a big pipe does not work as well as I like it to. A flake in a pipe the size of yours is just too much of a good thing as towards the bottom it can get bitter. The largest pipes I have for a flake is a small group 6(.82 inside bowl diameter and 1.85 bowl depth), and I really have to be in the mood to smoke it because it will take 2.5 to 3 hours to smoke a bowl.
So depending on what you smoke, the pipe you just bought could be perfect for specific blends. It is definitely not a clencher unless you have some seriously strong jaw muscles. I have a buddy who can clench 150 plus gram pipes as he does use the softy bits and he does have some strong jaw muscles.

 

[ember]

I was looking at this deal as well but I'm not sure about the quality of the pipes offered. Some of the meer lined pipes interest me but that's about it. What do you guys think about the pipes ?

 

[robwoodall]

Ember,
I figured from the start that these wouldn't be the highest quality pipes they have, but there are several "known" names, and some have quite good reviews. I assume they will be a step up (in durability at least) from my cobs.
I also considered the meerschaum lined. There is just not enough of a description. I read that most meerschaum lined pipes use pressed instead of block meerschaum, which is supposedly inferior. I've never found anyone who has bought one of them, and there are no reviews, and P&C doesn't mention which type of meerschaum was used, so I decided against.
They do list one fully block meerschaum in the offer, which I considered, but went with the Big Ben, instead.

 

[stanlaurel]

I have a large Chacom Canadian that is this size. It works well with MacBaren Acadian Perique which is also a very busy blend with at least 6 ingredients.

 

[cigrmaster]

rob, I wouldn't always say that just because you see a name on a pipe, it makes it a better smoker than a cob. There are a lot of brand named pipes out there that do not smoke well at all and can be inferior to a good cob. I always recommend a Savinelli to any new smoker as for the money I don't think you can buy a better smoking pipe.
This pipe I believe will be great for English blends at it is the right size. I just toss the filter and smoke without it as it has a nice open draw and makes for a nice dry smoke. I don't think you can do better for the price.

http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/savinelli/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=164476

 

[pappymac]

To provide you a less loquacious answer to your post title question...
Yes.
I have three big bowled pipes and I like them.

 

[robwoodall]

Thanks again, all.
I'm actually looking forward to it. It just looks so big and cool! I'll reserve it for slow smokes with more complex blends.
cigrmaster - Yeah, I know that the name alone does not make the pipe, but I feel that it makes for a safer purchase when I'm buying from a picture online. I would always feel safe buying a Savinelli or somesuch recognized brand, while a "Fred's Pipe," might be awesome or might be crap.

 

[cigrmaster]

rob, I totally agree about Savinelli being a name you can trust.

 

[JimInks]

I believe a wide bowl is best for detecting and enjoying flavor nuance. I also say for a pipe at the $100 and under price point, nobody makes a better pipe than Savinelli. I own 18 of them and all are very good to great smokers.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Only one Savinelli here, but it is one of my best.

 

[mcitinner1]

I really like my Savinelli 320's a lot, but they're not clenchers.