If you've not had much experience with pipes, I recommend going to a good B&M tobacco store and checking out pipes first-hand. Ordering via the internet can be chancy, especially before you find our what you really like. For me, a pipe is a personal thing, and getting to touch and feel one before you buy can make all the difference between a pipe you love and one you happened to get. A good, knowledgeable tobacconist can explain some of the nuance differences in various pipes. That's not to say you cannot get a good pipe over the 'net, but you have a better chance of finding "that pipe" in person.
When it comes to tobacco, try as many different ones as you can. Recognize there are some good (not great, but good) "drug store" tobaccos. Carter Hall is one of them: a decent Burley, that you can smoke all day long. Then there are the Cavendishes, the Virginias, and the blends. At the top of the tobacco chain are the blends made by the master blenders, which are what you will see most pipe smokers (especially on this forum) recommend, and which are, indeed, very wonderful smokes. Key to satisfaction is finding what YOU like. Might want to check out Tobacco Reviews to see what others have to say about any blend you might consider.
Good luck, and welcome to the wonderful world of piping.
When it comes to tobacco, try as many different ones as you can. Recognize there are some good (not great, but good) "drug store" tobaccos. Carter Hall is one of them: a decent Burley, that you can smoke all day long. Then there are the Cavendishes, the Virginias, and the blends. At the top of the tobacco chain are the blends made by the master blenders, which are what you will see most pipe smokers (especially on this forum) recommend, and which are, indeed, very wonderful smokes. Key to satisfaction is finding what YOU like. Might want to check out Tobacco Reviews to see what others have to say about any blend you might consider.
Good luck, and welcome to the wonderful world of piping.