From cigars to pipes.

[Coreios]

I'm just sharing my experience. I've noticed during my pipe journey that I can get many bulk blends for cheap that I love and smoke great. But when I'm in the mood for a cigar the price goes up. For even a decent cigar in my opinion starts at around 40 bucks a bundle. Drew Estate Factory Smokes are a good example. The price goes up from there. I'm excluding gas station cigars because they're most of the time wrapped in paper not a leaf. It took me years to stock my large humidor. My pipe tobacco is well supplied in just a couple of months. I find myself reaching in a jar more than my humidor these days. The flavors are more bold and I never have a bad draw with my pipe.


For you guys who crossed into pipes from cigars, what's your journey been like?

 

[briarbuck]

I'm just sharing my experience. I've noticed during my pipe journey that I can get many bulk blends for cheap that I love and smoke great. But when I'm in the mood for a cigar the price goes up. For even a decent cigar in my opinion starts at around 40 bucks a bundle. Drew Estate Factory Smokes are a good example. The price goes up from there. I'm excluding gas station cigars because they're most of the time wrapped in paper not a leaf. It took me years to stock my large humidor. My pipe tobacco is well supplied in just a couple of months. I find myself reaching in a jar more than my humidor these days. The flavors are more bold and I never have a bad draw with my pipe.


For you guys who crossed into pipes from cigars, what's your journey been like?

Honestly about the same. I have 3-400 sticks in a humidor that I accumulated over 10 years. Took me about a year or two before I was all set on pipe tobacco.

Given the option, I will choose a pipe most of the time these days.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Pipe smoking is clearly way more economical. I enjoy it more. I smoked Cigars for so long because they were so easy. I still smoke cigars while playing golf exactly for that reason. I enjoy pipe smoking much more.

 

[warren]

For you guys who crossed into pipes from cigars, what's your journey been like?

If I had to factor economics into my wee vice I probably would choose to burn my moneys up at all.

Luckily the economics of pipe v cigars is not a concern for me. When I want a cigar ... I light one up. Smoking one now, right after breakfast. A meerschaum will be stuffed and lighted soon though.

 

[anotherbob]

even if they were 100 percent free I prefer pipes to cigars. I like cigars and if that was the only way I could enjoy tobacco I'd enjoy it. Pipes just have more interesting taste profiles and are more fun to smoke. Though like some have said a cigar is better with other activities. You can be much less mindful of a cigar then a pipe. I also like the continuity of pipes. Each pipe starts building it's own personal mythology with you kind of like a friend that's been through different things with you.

 

[warren]

An inanimate object building mythology. Fascinating!

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I was seriously into cigars in the early ’90s and smoked at least one a day, if not more, and a pipe occasionally. I slowed down quite a bit after my father died from lung cancer in 2002—he was a three pack a day smoker of unfiltered Pall Mall for more than fifty years, although he quit cold turkey when a tumour was found in his nasal passage; he went through chemo and radiation successfully and did well for a good number of years.

My passion for cigars and pipes reawakened a couple of years ago, when a good friend got interested in both. It was fun to have shared experiences hanging out (and still is).

I remember searching for a pipe tobacco that would deliver the fullness and boldness of flavour that a cigar offered. I was always disappointed until it occurred to me that I was comparing apples and oranges. Pipe tobacco was more about nuance and subtlety—it didn’t need to have the properties of a cigar. If I wanted what a cigar could deliver, I could just have a cigar!

Pipe tobacco is definitely more economical than cigars. A Churchill might give me one to two hours of smoking time. Depending on the stick, that could cost four, fifteen, or forty dollars. Depending on the size of the pipe chamber, I can get one, two, or three hours out of a single session. That’s a lot more smokes from a tin than a stogie.

I suppose I am still into cigars relatively seriously. I probably have more than fifteen humidors stocked with sticks at any given time. But, I tend to smoke cigars in the warmer months outside to keep the house from getting stunk up too much. Thankfully, Susan doesn’t mind pipe tobacco indoors, so I have a pipe year round inside.

I enjoy both equally, but, differently.

 

[NomadOrb]

They both have their place. I still enjoy cigars when the moment arises, but I do need to have a significant chunk of time set aside for the cigar.

Pipes are much more versatile for me, and I don't feel bad if I have to dump a bowl before I'm done.

Also, my wife doesn't mind a bit of pipe tobacco smoke in the house every once in a while, no chance with a cigar.

 

[bullet08]

I was done with cigar when I decided I didn't want to pay the price they were going at. Beside, never was big into cigar. Just around late 80's and early 90's before price started going up. Pipe is a completely different. I prefer pipe over cigar. But sometimes, I just want a cigar. And cigarettes all the time. Just too convenient.

 

[kcghost]

No doubt you can smoke premium tobacco in a pipe for a much lower cost. The expensive part of pipes is in the pipes. I have to tell you if you are smoking $40 a bundle cigar you weren't anywhere near to a proper cigar.

 

[Coreios]

No doubt you can smoke premium tobacco in a pipe for a much lower cost. The expensive part of pipes is in the pipes. I have to tell you if you are smoking $40 a bundle cigar you weren't anywhere near to a proper cigar.

I was just saying you can't even get an enjoyable smoke with a decent draw for under 40 a bundle. But yeah Ive had good cigars that were 10- 40 a stick. Which I can't afford as a daily smoker who smokes literally all day. Those were special occasion. Frankly I have 8 dollar tins I like more than those sticks. I'd rather smoke a bowl of Sutliff Molto Dolce over Davidoff Special editions.

 

[geoffs]

Pipes originally scratched my itch when I just wanted to sit down with a pensive cigar and didn't care much about the taste, more the experience. Today when I want a cigar a pipe won't do (unless it's freezing outside). Different taste, different experience. But a cigar can't fill in for pipe tobacco, either. Until they start making Virginia/Perique leaf cigars... then maybe we can talk.

 

[sigaholic]

I used to smoke cigars. I switched to pipes. Now I only smoke cigars on the golf course

 

[Smoke Wagon]

I smoke cigars when I have a couple of hours to mindlessly smoke and drink around the fire pit or the pool. I smoke pipes more when it gets cold because I can do that in the house.