Filter Or No Filter?

[HitchensDog]

No filters for me. They definitely mute the flavor in my case. I've actually done a side by side comparison (a filtered pipe and one without) to test this once with the same straight Virginia. The tobacco in the filtered pipe tasted almost bland compared to the non filtered pipe. The Virginia had a much fuller and richer taste in the non filtered pipe.

 

[Bobby Bailey]

I have filtered pipes, non-filtered pipes, and Peterson system pipes. They all smoke with the same flavor if using a good tobacco.
The filtered ones smoke a little drier, and the System pipes smoke the driest, just better moisture management.

 

[Papamique]

I prefer filters (balsa) but 99.5% of my pipes won’t accept them.

 

[coming to_falling too]

I've never smoked with a filter or had a filter pipe, for that matter. But, if smoking with one is working out for you, then I say roll with it. You can always come back to a filterless pipe and experiment until you find something that works for you.

 

[huckleberry]

I don't usually use a filter in my pipes that accept them, but when I do use one I use the balsa wood. I put the balsa in the pipe and take it out after the pipe has pretty much cooled down.

I then can clean the pipe and run a pipe cleaner through it.

I let the filter dry and evaporate the moisture before I reuse it the next time I need it..

 

[zenistar]

Depends on the pipe, I have without, 9mm and 6mm. The balsa 6mm for Savinelis are really just moisture absorbers but I don’t particularly like using them, in my 9mm pipes I generally use the 9mm meerschaum filters which I find work really well and i much prefer them to the charcoal.

 

[warren99]

I have a few pipes made for a filter—a couple of Italians and a Dane. I have never used one and doubt if I ever will. The pipes all smoke well without a filter.

 

[OverMountain]

It’s totally a personal choice. My opinion is that I like charcoal filters a lot. To me, it cools and drys the smoke and I can’t tell any flavor loss is caused by their use.

 

[ADKPiper]

No filter.
It's much less fuss.

 

[smmirza]

I used to smoke without filters but in order to completely get rid of the tongue bite scourge I have started using them. They do work for that purpose but I find the flavor to be muted and the pipe just tastes off if I sit it down and come back to it later in the day. (I rarely smoke a bowl in one sitting).

 

[WerewolfOfLondon]

The only blend I use a filter for is Samuel Gawith Best Brown Flake. If I smoke it without filters, it is simply too tangy and bites my tongue even with the lightest cadence. But mostly i just avoid that blend, as I never know whether to reuse the filter, and if I do, do I clean the pipe and put a dirty filter back in?

 

[JOHN72]

When I started with the world of the pipe, I tried with and without filter. And to this day I smoke without filter. It gives me a more pleasant smoke, or more complete in general terms, more satisfying.

 

[brian64]

I have a few 9mm meers but never used a filter until about a year or so ago when I decided to experiment with them just to see for myself the effect. I tried carbon, meerschaum, balsa and Falcon filters.

The Falcons are the only ones I liked because they have the least effect on the draw...just absorb moisture. I only use them now when smoking fast burning blends.

The balsa filters may have been just as good, but they're too large in diameter for my meers. Have to either squish them down to make them fit or trim them. Not worth the bother given the Falcon option.

 

[Doctor Chopper]

+1 for no filters. Perhaps the filter is not the difference in heat, it may be that older estate pipes are smaller with thinner walls, smaller draft hole?

 

[Kingsley]

I wouldn’t smoke without my charcoal filters; I use both 6mm and 9mm.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

The few pipes I have that accommodate them I don’t use filters in them. Tried a couple times - like them better without.

 

[proteus]

On all my Sav I either replace the filter with a plastic hollow tube sold specifically for this purpose or just go without. Depends on the pipe and the tobacco. But all my Pete's are no filter. My meers and cobs too. Never filter. To me the draw is affected more so than the taste.

 

[stumichael]

I've never used a filter.

 

[Davy]

I tried filtered and non-filtered. 9mm, 6mm, Falcon. I much prefer a traditional 3 or 4mm boring. Any pipe well bored with the air channels aligned will give a good smoke, pending the basic rules are satisfied and the briar is, at a minimum, of half-decent quality.

 

[OverMountain]

I just tested bobs chocolate flake with my army mount. I get better taste with a filter. Weird!