Do You Prefer Briar, Meerschaum, or No Preference?

[SBC]

For smoking properties, I may like all three (briar, meer, and cob) equally but differently.

Yet if I had to give the nod to one for smoking properties, it might be cob (much as I hate to admit it).

I do feel that I get the most neutral smoke in a meer, and it does seem a tad cooler and drier than briar. But that may be a placebo - I don't know.

(But I keep meers at home. I get nervous about damaging them.)

But the aesthetic of briar wins, for me. The overwhelming majority of my pipes are briar, and that's how I like it. They look and feel like my idea of a pipe.

I do have a couple of meer-lined briars, and they've made me a huge fan of the combo. I feel that I get some of the best of both worlds.

 

[makhorkasmoker]

Hardwoods are my favorite.

I also smoke cobs and clay.

 

[The Clay King]

Hardwoods are my favorite.

I also smoke cobs and clay.

@makhorkasmoker Clays all the way for me!

 

[Doctor Chopper]

Briar by a whisker (which can be quite a bit for me) I must say that meers can be so fun that I like them as well.

 

[The Clay King]

Briar by a whisker (which can be quite a bit for me) I must say that meers can be so fun that I like them as well.

@Doctor Chopper Only smoked a briar 3 times

 

[The Clay King]

So you mean there are other things to make pipes from besides clay???

 

[OzPiper]

I’m not sure the three options offered (Briar, Meerschaum, No Preference) fully cover what I prefer, as my preferences are wide ranging and dependent on so many variables; limited to those three choices, “No Preference” might be the most fitting of the three.

The majority of my wood pipes are briar, but I also have ones made of cherry and olive—I smoke cherry blends in the cherry and vanilla blends in the olive. I smoke Prince Albert in Prince Albert (of Belgium) clay figurals and a Prince Albert/King George VI (of England and the Prince Albert in a can) Gutta-percha with Briar bowl. Corn Cobs, Porcelain, and Meerschaums all fall into the rotation depending on tobacco blends or how I’m feeling that day; I have Nylon pipes with Meerschaum inserts, as well as phenolic resin pipes with pyrolytic graphite sleeves that I use for Lakelands and other aromatics.

From an aesthetic point of view, the unique grain of briar is often what makes me gravitate towards a pipe—I love Birdseye, and appreciate Straight Grain; the variety of sandblasts and staining all have their appeal. The carving of a Meerschaum (or any pipe for that matter) factors into whether I might like a pipe or not. It all depends. I have many preferences.

I was just about to say that !
No, I couldn’t have said it as well.
Well put

 

[DesertDan]

I enjoy them all.

 

[Wet Dottle]

I only smoke briar pipes. Tried other woods, but they're not for me because I didn't find them neutral enough. Tried other materials, including meerschaum, some synthetic, and metal, but those never worked for one reason or another. Never tried corn cobs.

 

[Browny]

No preference.

I started with briar because at the time (from my research etc) the stronger mentality was "that's what pipes are made from, it's what a pipe is".
And because of that I have more briar than anything else.

But as you immerse yourself into anything you find out more and more, I now own and happily use briar, cob and meer without leaning in any direction more than another.

 

[DanWil84]

Meerschaum for me in general, but i've had certain blends (especially Va/VaPer blends) that taste better in briars.

 

[captpat]

I have briars, meerschaum, cob and morta pipes. They all have their pluses and minuses. I find I smoke briars most often. I probably over-worry about dropping, scratching, or soiling my meerschaums so they get used a bit less. Morta seems a bit sterile to me, cobs are great for working in the yard or fishing.

 

[KORNEY]

Always prefer briar for its spacial addition taste and durability’s!

 

[Uncle Ricky]

I must say Briar first then Corn Cob. Had a Meer but passed it on to my son. Not my style and always worried about breaking it.
Rick

 

[JTld]

I like them both! I love the wood grain on briars, but at the same time love how a meer colours the more you smoke it.

 

[orvet]

I definitely prefer brairs, I haven't counted them recently but probably have about 75 or 80 Briar pipes and two meerschaums. One meerschaum is an antique with an amber stem. It needs a new bone fitment for the tendon so I have never smoked it. The other meerschaum I have smoked probably less than two dozen times in 40 years. Meerschaums smokes dry and I suppose would be a good choice for a wet aromatic but I mostly smoke Virginia or Virginia / Perique flakes or blends and I just don't get much flavor from them in my meerschaum.
I like the flavor the briar adds to the tobacco and it's definitely my hands down preference. I have had corn cobs in the past that I smoked when fishing, but I have some inexpensive brairs that I much prefer over the corn cob. My inexpensive briars smoke so well after 30 years that I would be heartbroken if I lost one. Fortunately thus far, I have not lost a pipe overboard while fishing but have lost at least two cell phones! I would rather lose the cell phone then one of my fishing briars!

 

[haebar]

I smoke my briars most of the time, but smoke a meerschaum or a cob occasionally. Briars are more durable than meerschaums and I like the way they smoke.

 

[Jbrewer2002]

I like briar the most. I only received my meer a few days ago and so far like it. I have had a few cobs but the button is to narrow for me. Haven’t found one with a decent stem.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Haven’t found one with a decent stem.

 

[bullet08]

Briar provides what want, but never smoked meer before. I know I like cob, but not over the briar.