Pipe Shapes

[carp rides again]

I'm a big fan of bent pipe shapes, just don't see the appeal of straight pipes, i own a few but dont find them easy to clench or nearly as comfortable. Am I missing anything something here?

 

[Chasing Embers]

I primarily find straight pipes easier to clench.

 

[bullet08]

It depends on how you clench. Bent pipes need less effort since they naturally hang over the lips. But if you try to actually clench straight pipe in a fashion it will stick out like a little general, it will definitely fatigue the facial muscles. If you let it rest on lower lip while parking the button on upper teeth, it would be lot easier.

 

[makhorkasmoker]

I like bent pipes too. That said, I like straight pipes too if they are 5 inches or less. The 6 inch straight pipe—there seems to be so many of them—is what I find less comfortable, and it tends to get in my way if I’m doing something

 

[kcghost]

I prefer bent pipes, but straight pipes have their place in my rotation. I find the two pipes equally clenchable.

 

[BingBong]

Prince is my preferred shape, for no particular reason. The bend is so subtle it's almost straight and really, clenching isn't a problem - in fact, my Peterson Cara 406 is so light and slim-stemmed it's the easiest of any pipe I have.

Pipe and especially bowl weight must be a factor.

 

[RookieGuy80]

They're both good. I like choices. I do find bents easier to clench for times I need both hands doing other things. But a light straight pipe can easily work as well.

 

[dottlejockey]

I enjoy both as well. Actually, i tend to clench smaller or lighter billiards even more often than my bent pipes, which are mostly larger, though there are a few full bents that are extremely comfortable hands-free.

 

[Roach1]

I have always gravitated to bent shapes.

 

[Grimlineman]

I perfer straight for the ease to pass pipe cleaners. I also only smoke cobs never tried one of those extremely bent briers.

there seems no advantage to the slight bend cobs come in to me.

 

[PaulRVA]

I prefer straights to smoke and bents to clench. My experience
has been that the vast majority of smokers start off with bents and some like myself breakaway or steer towards straight shapes over time.
I personally think the visual appeal attracts many to bents initially.
Nothing wrong with either and I own both and always will.
I have learned not one particular shape is favorable to all tobaccos and all situations. Each has their place and job to do and I guess what the majority of that job ends up being also ends up being the shape for that person.

 

[Sig]

I like them equally.
I really do not even have preferred shapes.
If you look at my amassed pipes, you would think I preferred Billiards.
But that is just how it worked out. If I see a pipe I like, I buy it.

 

[thomasw]

I’m with @Sig on this. Straight and bent are attractive to me. No question now that I tend toward billiards and that shape’s derivatives, especially dublins, canadians and lovats. Here’s my pipe drawer:



For me the issue is weight. I can handle a slightly heavier bent but a straight stemmed pipe i prefer to be in the 40g range at most.

 

[warren]

Am I missing anything something here?

No, most of us have preferences be it shape, finish, marque and, so forth. Everyone of my pipes is bent to some degree or another. I clench. Simply a personal choice.

 

[OzPiper]

I'm a big fan of bent pipe shapes, just don't see the appeal of straight pipes, i own a few but dont find them easy to clench or nearly as comfortable. Am I missing anything something here?

Straight pipes are NOT necessarily more difficult to clench than bents.
It depends on the length of the pipe, its size and weight and the button.
Try a nosewarmer or a short Lovat.
You may be converted
I smoke with pipe in hand mostly, so straights or bents don't matter much

 

[carp rides again]

I know the straight shapes are popular, every maker makes a sells multiple straight styles, maybe I need to try a few other styles and see if that changes things. I'm doubtful, but open

 

[PipeWI]

I have almost exclusively straight pipes, almost all over 7" in length, and I'm definitely a clencher... so yeah, we all find different ways into the club

 

[Pipke]

I believe having more weight makes it harder to clench, especially on a straight. I clench almost all my pipes and the straight pot is hardest if I had to rate them. Still no prob...

 

[VDL_Piper]

I like both but have far more straights than bents. My Castello’s are hefty but I find the highly controversial castello button makes clenching a breeze and I don’t feel like my teeth have been realigned but YMMV

 

[InWithBothFeet]

The first pipe I bought was a bent, but found that it put the bowl in my beard and relights came with the smell of burnt hair. Lately I've been leaning in to straight short pipes.