PAD Vs. TAD

[wingsfan]

I am new here and pretty new to pipe smokinh(7months). I was wonder what is better to spend my money on trying new tobaccos or new pipes. I have a couple of decent basket pipes that smoke good for me and I'll probably grab a couple cobs just to round out my rotation. I also have found a few blends that I know I'll always keep around like EMP and 1-Q, but I am always looking at different blend and just don't know where to focus my money pipes or tobacco.

 

[eaglerico]

The general recommendation (for those in the US) at the moment is if you have to choose one over the other, choose stocking up on tobacco vs new pipes. This is for a few reasons. The biggest is that many fear the current environment in the US regarding taxing pipe tobacco will change in the near future thus making it more expensive in the future to buy tobacco. Another reason is, many tobacco are best when aged and the only way to do it is to stock up now, so in 5, 10, 20 years from now you have a nice cellar of aged tobacco.
The pipes will always be there. Many today smoke pipes 50 to 100 years old and new carvers are coming out every day, not to mention you could make our own. Carving a block of wood to smoke out of is much easier then growing your own tobacco.

 

[fitzy]

+1 eagle rico.
Depending on what kinds of tobacco's you like I would suggest you have one pipe per type. So if you like only Aromatic's and Virginia's then you really only need 2 pipes. Then stock pile the tobacco.

 

[bigboi]

+4

I too am a relatively new puffer. I am stocking up on tobacco and trying new ones all the time. For the ones I like I try to stock up on.

Pipes are going to be around for a while, but prices are just bound to go up for tobacco

 

[fitzy]

Also as far as aging tobacco generally that works best with Virginia blends. So keep that in mind while stocking up.

 

[salewis]

I to believe that tobacco will be increasing in price, however, if I were to begin smoking I would buy myself a moderately price pipe in the $50 to $100 range plus some Missouri cobs. Pipe prices to have been increasing and as a new smoker I would suggest to you to forget the basket pipes and concentrate on the type of tobaccos you like the best between a latakia blend, Virginia or aromatic blends. With a moderate pipe supplemented by the cobs you can better taste your tobacco varieties.

 

[numbersix]

Welcome to the forums wingspan.
+5 on eaglerico's comment.
Tobacco is set to possibly increase dramatically, so many of us have been putting our funds towards that instead (one could argue that the value of pipes may even drop over time if tobacco dramatically increases).
But in a different time or place, I'd say that it's mostly subjective since both PAD & TAD impact ones enjoyment equally.

 

[wingsfan]

Thanks everyone for the advice, I will begin stock piling and trying new tobaccos. Sure is nice I decided start this hobby during a crackdown on tobacco. I will follow saintpeters advice and keep some money and my eye out for that pipe I just have to have.

 

[plateauguy]

Tobacco - buy bulk and store it in a cool, dry area. Then throw in a couple of MM cobs (don't forget the filters). Welcome to the forum!

 

[bigvan]

I don't disagree with what everyone has said, but when I think of all the $$ I wasted on cheap basket pipes during my first 10 years of smoking, I wish I would have spent that money on 1 or 2 really good pipes instead. But that's knowing what I know now.

 

[tbradsim1]

I agree with Big Van and Roth, don"t buy a lot of crap, I did, buy the best you can, smoke cobs and save for a good pipe, I have over 300 pipes and some don"t never see fire. It's been my experience and I know I"ll catch flak for it, but the by and by the Italians make the best pipes , Americans and British second and Danish after. There I said it.

 

[tbradsim1]

Amen Brother I have one that cost me big bucks and I swear it is a dehumidifier pipe, if you had that sob in the desert you could sell water to the Arabs.

 

[bigvan]

Bradley is always right. Except when he's so obviously WRONG. The Italians have never been known for their engineering (OK, I'll give you the Coliseum and the Aqueduct) Today, the best made pipes in the world are made in North America.

 

[judcole]

I'm personally of the buy tobacco school. I am building up a modest cellar ('cause I have a modest budget). I hope, before too long, I can upgrade my rotation a bit.

 

[weezell]

+1 Jud...

 

[bigvan]

No worries, Roth. Just giving Bradly some good-natured ribbing.

 

[flyguy]

I am scared to death that if I buy a high-end pipe I will be dissatisfied with the pipes I own. Maybe what I don't know won't hurt me!