First Pipe, Briar Or Cob?

[Epip Oc'Cabot]

Hmm…. for me, a briar pipe was my first type when starting.

Having a pipe smoking father, who had at least a few dozen pipes, with all the ones lying around the house being briar…. the choice was easy. As a kid, I could “surreptitiously borrow” one without it likely being noticed as missing (I chose one in a drawer, not on his pipe rack). In addition, I received the added benefit of it also being well broken in already.

Of course, I also would “surreptitiously borrow” a few pinches of pipe tobacco from his pound sized tub of either Sir Walter Raleigh or Prince Albert as part of my process too. And, I would shake the tub after “borrowing” some to fluff up the rest to keep it looking at its pre-borrowing level. ?

With that said…. I would think a cob could also be successful… but not for me in those first steps….. my father would occasionally purchase a dime store cob if he was fishing or hunting, but would usually toss it afterwards before he got home… even though not so common a thought today, he felt they were basically disposable.

 

[--dante--]

I started with a cheap cob off the drugstore rack, and was kinda turned off by it because of the filter, or the overly airy draw if the filter was removed. It just seemed to confuse matters for me. For that reason, I think a briar is best for a new smoker. On the other hand, a 'higher-end' MM that doesn't take filters wouldn't be a bad choice.

 

[sardonicus87]

I think what's best for a newbie isn't the pipe they start with (whether briar, cob, clay, meer or whatever), but having an experienced mentor is most important.

Years ago, that's how I got my start, with a mentor on his own briar pipes. I didn't even express an interest in pipes, he approached me and asked after he noticed that I was a tobacco fan (in general), that I rolled my own cigarettes. Even today I still LOVE tobacco, just this past November 2021 ago, one of the bikers I meet up with every year mentioned to me that I seemed different to other cigarette smokers, that I actually seemed to enjoy having a cigarette (rather than just having one for the sake of addiction). Regardless, somehow I exuded that in combination with the fact that I was meticulous with creating my cigarettes, that he approached me about trying pipe.

Whether you have a good smoking pipe or not regardless of what material it's made from, it will be an unpleasant experience if you smoke it with too poor a technique even in the best of pipes.

Reading up on technique helps, but no amount of reading beats an actual mentor that can coach you, give you instant feedback on where you're going wrong and when you're doing things right.

Though it can be hard to find an in-person mentor to smoke with. My opinion would be to encourage newbies to see if a pipe club exists, and to visit their local tobacconist if they have one that's good, to try and seek out a person that can show them the ropes.

I'm sure there's plenty who tried pipe smoking and thought it wasn't for them because it was a horrible experience, but that's because they did it wrong, despite following everything they read about it and how to do it. It's easy to tell a newbie online "smoke slower, sip lighter", but we can't see how slow or light they're going, and they may think they are going lighter or really light, but they still might not be going light enough.

I know I have heard stories before, not about pipes but about various hobbies in general, of people trying them again with encouragement and help after they had tried it in the past and hated it, but with a mentor, discovered that the reason they hated it before was not doing it right, but enjoyed it on a second chance with a coach to help them do it right.

 

[vosBghos]

I started with a Savinelli Linea Pui 5 Apple shaped. Best investment I ever made as it showed me what a good pipe is supposed to smoke like. This was back around 1997 I think. I tried my first cob in somewhere around 2013 as you guys just would not shut up about them.

So I got a pouch of Carter Hall and while not offensive, it was boring. I tried smoking on e of my best flakes in it and was totally underwhelmed. I tossed it in the trash and have never put my grimy paws on another.

Smoked a few baskets and a few cobs learning the ropes it was a bit frustrating at first but then I got a savinelli bings favorite and I was blown away by the first toke/bowl and I was like “ ok this is what pipe smoking is all about” So I’d say cut yer teeth on a cob/basket but definitely upgrade ASAP $50/60 makes a big difference I don’t own any really nice pipes yet but My birthday is coming up and my wife has seen a dunhill birth year pipe eBay tab open in my laptop and it’s no longer available, so here’s hoping ?

 

[cshubhra]

This time I will not play … as meerschaum was kept out of the options. I have opined multiple times in multiple places that meerschaum is an excellent choice for a beginner and possibly the best choice

?

 

[AppalachianPipe92]

First pipe was a bent briar billiard back in 2012 from a pipe shop in Savannah, GA

 

[OzPiper]

Briar, briar, briar all the way

Disclaimer:
I have tried meers, mortas, olive wood, cherry wood, clay and porcelain pipes.
I have yet to try a corn cob. Perhaps one day ?

 

[burleybreath]

Much as I like cobs (the high-end ones, heh), I'd probably recommend a Morgan Bones. Great pipe, if you can handle the imperfections. In days of yore, having an honorable, knowledgeable tobacconist in your locality was a terrific advantage. I had a few, and their imput was much appreciated. Those days are pretty much gone, unless you're lucky enough to live in downtown Boston (Peretti's) or Chicago (Iwan Ries). Really, success with a pipe is more technique than anything else, whatever the choice.

 

[LeafErikson]

I would recommend go with whatever pipe material is most appealing to the new smoker. The only caveat I would add is to avoid briar basket pipes as they can be a bit of a crap shoot. There are a multitude of brands offering quality briar pipes at $60 or under. It’s very hard to go wrong with a cob or a Turkish meerschaum.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Cobs to start with.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I think what's best for a newbie isn't the pipe they start with (whether briar, cob, clay, meer or whatever), but having an experienced mentor is most important.

Years ago, that's how I got my start, with a mentor on his own briar pipes. I didn't even express an interest in pipes, he approached me and asked after he noticed that I was a tobacco fan (in general), that I rolled my own cigarettes. Even today I still LOVE tobacco, just this past November 2021 ago, one of the bikers I meet up with every year mentioned to me that I seemed different to other cigarette smokers, that I actually seemed to enjoy having a cigarette (rather than just having one for the sake of addiction). Regardless, somehow I exuded that in combination with the fact that I was meticulous with creating my cigarettes, that he approached me about trying pipe.

Whether you have a good smoking pipe or not regardless of what material it's made from, it will be an unpleasant experience if you smoke it with too poor a technique even in the best of pipes.

Reading up on technique helps, but no amount of reading beats an actual mentor that can coach you, give you instant feedback on where you're going wrong and when you're doing things right.

Though it can be hard to find an in-person mentor to smoke with. My opinion would be to encourage newbies to see if a pipe club exists, and to visit their local tobacconist if they have one that's good, to try and seek out a person that can show them the ropes.

I'm sure there's plenty who tried pipe smoking and thought it wasn't for them because it was a horrible experience, but that's because they did it wrong, despite following everything they read about it and how to do it. It's easy to tell a newbie online "smoke slower, sip lighter", but we can't see how slow or light they're going, and they may think they are going lighter or really light, but they still might not be going light enough.

I know I have heard stories before, not about pipes but about various hobbies in general, of people trying them again with encouragement and help after they had tried it in the past and hated it, but with a mentor, discovered that the reason they hated it before was not doing it right, but enjoyed it on a second chance with a coach to help them do it right.

Many of us started decades ago, pre internet and without ever having met another pipe smoker and are still at it. The RYO crowd often transition easier to pipes than others.

This time I will not play … as meerschaum was kept out of the options. I have opined multiple times in multiple places that meerschaum is an excellent choice for a beginner and possibly the best choice

?

An awfully steep investment for something you may or may not like.

 

[captpat]

For a new smoker my usual recommendation is to try a cob and a codger blend. Cobs are inexpensive, and they are reliable smokers -- if the smoke isn't going well it's not the pipe. Can't always say that about low end briars. If someone insists on a briar I steer them to Morgan Bones, another inexpensive option.

 

[Bob the bear]

So I definitely agree there is a more nuanced art to smoking a briar but it does take a while to get to that point, so in saying that…start with a cheap cob, get the basics right, move to maybe a decent basket briar pipe and then a middle range briar once ready. On looking back on my pipe journey that’s how I would do it all again if I had to.

 

[Briar Lee]

I get asked this question quite often.

Somebody smells one of my Lees and wants to try pipe smoking.

I tell them once they start they can’t ever quit, it’s an addiction.

But if they must, go buy any Missouri Meerschaum, and any brand of cherry tobacco.

I’ve even given a few friends a cob pipe.

A cob pipe needs no break in.

It’s best for beginners, for only that reason.

 

[Searock Fan]

I get asked this question quite often.

Somebody smells one of my Lees and wants to try pipe smoking.

I tell them once they start they can’t ever quit, it’s an addiction.

But if they must, go buy any Missouri Meerschaum, and any brand of cherry tobacco.

I’ve even given a few friends a cob pipe.

A cob pipe needs no break in.

It’s best for beginners, for only that reason.

I might be risking getting banned from this site but, I disagree with every line of this post.

 

[mso489]

Some are put off by cobs because they are rustic and rural looking. Others like them for just that reason. I've always thought they are a small miracle of economy and style. Nothing balances getting all dressed up better than smoking a cob, or better yet, smoking a cob in the big city. During the intermission at the symphony the night they play Mozart. That's probably not allowed anymore -- maybe outside some places.

I did give a tip of the hat to Meerschaum, clay, and other materials. I just thought that briar and cobs are most available and known to most people trying out pipe smoking for the first time. Buying and smoking a Meerschaum or clay would take a little more research and patience for many (but not all) new pipe smokers. Remember, most people don't have any first-hand help, other than the pipe shop staff, if that.

 

[Grumpy11]

Cob

 

[TheDesertPiper]

I bought a cob, but VERY shortly after purchased a briar in the $80 range. I then bought a whole lot more of each. As a beginner on a budget I would probably recommend buying a cob. Cheaper, so if you burn it out learning to smoke properly you are only out about $10. I totally understand the argument that briar is a more classic and honestly looks way better.

 

[Wellington]

I think cobs are a great pipe regardless if you're new to pipe smoking or experienced. I started on a cob and still often use them if I'm smoking a codger blend. I used one a lot for latakia blends as well. However, part of the appeal of pipe smoking is the satisfaction of the pipe itself, so there is something to starting on a briar you like if you're set in that way. Overall, I would recommend a cob first, then if they like it and stick to it their tastes will mature and they will start to have more specific preferences with what they want in briars.

 

[Searock Fan]

It just occurred to me.,,, As to a first pipe I might suggest a Jobey. Years ago I bought a couple and I must admit I did because the finish was exactly like a Castello Searock, which I love .... also they were cheap. I didn't know what to expect from them but, what the hell, I'll give it a try. To my great surprise they were better than I hoped for. I still smoke them today and marvel at how good they are. Don't care much for the screw in stem but it's no big deal. So if you're looking to a good briar that won't break the bank, try a Jobey.