Hello! New to the forum, but have been lurking for a couple months and coming to the forums to seek advice. Relatively new to pipe smoking. I spent 25 years as a cigarette smoker and quit a few months ago. I managed to quit cold turkey for several weeks, but there have been times I've missed the "ritual" of smoking during certain relaxation activities. So I was looking to replace cigarettes with something that I didn't inhale, and didn't necessarily have to do all day, take breaks from work, etc.
I had fond memories of visiting my great grandfather's house, and he was a pipe tobacco smoker, and I enjoyed the smell of his home. I don't recall what he smoked. It came in pouches is all I remember. Probably some codger blend or something.
So anyhow, I started out by taking a trip to my local smoke shop, buying a dirt cheap plastic pipe with a metal bowl inside it, and buying a pound of cheap, bulk vanilla blend that is super wet and goopy.(This was all before my first visit to these forums)
The tongue bite on that plastic pipe with goopy vanilla aro was insane. I've since looked much more into proper methods of pipe smoking, and have got to the point where I can mostly keep a bowl lit almost all the way through without relighting, and without developing tongue bite, even with my goopy aro.
All that said, I'm planning on investing in a good briar pipe soon, and was hoping someone on the forums here could help a new guy out with a recommendation. I like the look of the smooth, glossy briars more than the textured pipes, and prefer a deep bowl that will hold a decent amount of tobacco, and a curved pipe rather than straight. Looking for something that could stand up to being an every day smoker. I'm working on a limited budget, and hoping to spend around $50 and not have to buy another pipe for quite awhile.
Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!