Pipe Smoking Upswing?

[puffy]

It seems to me that the more of us pipe smokers there are the more power we have to defend ourselves against those who would through us into a burning volcano which by the way puts out far more smoke than all of us pipe smokers ever will.Thus I'm always looking for signs that our numbers are on the increase.I think I'm seeing a great many new blends on the market these days.Also a good many more pipe carvers,and makers of tampers.There must be a market for all of this stuff.Either the internet has made me more aware or there's more pipe smokers coming on the scene these days.The latter I hope.

 

[lordofthepiperings]

I think a good sign of pipe smoking on the upswing would be Kevin having to extend the newbie thread to 20 per page so he could keep up with welcoming the new members.

 

[nathaniel]

I think a good sign of pipe smoking on the upswing would be Kevin having to extend the newbie thread to 20 per page so he could keep up with welcoming the new members.

my thoughts exactly... lets keep em coming! ::

 

[juni]

I have seen more pipe smokers around, but maybe I'm just more observant now that I am one myself.

 

[admin]

While hard numbers are difficult to come by, especially with the huge inaccuracies with RYO being packaged as pipe tobacco, there is much anecdotal evidence that pipe smoking has been on the rise for at least the past two years.
I believe this tiny little micro-niche market is growing for the first time since it's steady decline began in the 1970's.
That makes me happy. :mrgreen:

 

[lordnoble]

I saw two college-age guys looking at pipes to buy at a local B&M the other day. I was with my buddy from work who was getting cigars to hand out for his kid's birth, so I couldn't really talk to them. I was surprised and pleased. I hope they stick with it.
-Jason

 

[rigmedic1]

Here lately I am asked more and more about my pipes. A seaman on the rig wants to try it out, and my youngest son (20) also wants to give it a go. I think it will make a comeback if we can keep congress from wiping out the pipe tobacco industry. I have helped about a dozen fellows start up in the past 6 years.

 

[ace57]

I am starting to work on My sisters hubby as well.

 

[spartan]

My tobbaconist turned me onto pipe smoking. I asked about it...and he threw a lot of information at me that I couldn't say no to. Is there a thread where everyone shares what turned them on to smoking a pipe? If not there should be!

 

[ck12]

Its funny cause just the other night i was out enjoying a bowl with my friend who we used to smoke cigars all the time together and i picked up pipe smoking a couple months ago and i took him out to buy his first pipe and now he is in love just as much as i am with it. Its funny how little things like this can make the friendship stronger.

 

[schmitzbitz]

I've turned a few friends to the pipe, and on my most recent trip to the tobacconist (ostensibly for pipe-cleaners), I turned a cigar-smoking fellow onto the joys of briar; in fact, he is coming over this evening to delve into my cellar for something that tickles his fancy. With the cost of cigars and cigarettes becoming prohibative, more and more tobacco users seem to be drawn to the pipe - and, of course, once they realize its many merits, stick around.

 

[pipedisciple]

I had a friend get me interested again in my pipes,just bought a new one today and plan to buy more. I'm just wondering, will I still be able to smoke cigars and enjoy them?

 

[papipeguy]

pipedisciple, I smoke pipes and about 4 cigars a day. I enjoy both for what they are and never compare the two. FYI, my go-to cigars are Camacho. I have about a dozen Opus X for special occassions. So enjoy both and support the industry.

 

[davebell30]

A question perhaps for Kevin - Is there any hard data available from the tobacco companies that would indicate a percentage change in the demand for pipe tobacco over the last 3 to 5 years? Seems to me it would be a relevant metric to use in determining an increase of pipe smokers. Another piece of data, although it may be skewed by an increasing number of collectors, would be those indicating the percentage change in sales over the same time period by the various pipe producing companies. Any idea if these companies will readily release this data, or do they hold it close and protect their corporate images?

 

[fshu2]

i asked my new roomamte if he wanted to join me and he said, " didnt know people smoked pipes any more." i definitely think it is on the come back being a college student since i started a lot of my friends have started as well.

 

[admin]

@davebell30 - Specific data from most companies is kept proprietary. However, most people in the business that I talk to, on the pipe side and tobacco side, from both the manufacturing and retail aspects of the business say that they are selling more pipes and tobaccos.
The big public companies that have to report data by law are so HUGE because of cigarettes, snus, and chew, that pipe tobacco represents such a miniscule number that it gets reported lumped in with other stuff under miscellaneous.

 

[admin]

According to data from the U.S. Treasury's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, the volume of pipe tobacco sold in the U.S. more than tripled to about 21 million pounds ... and get this ... RYO sales volumes, in contrast, fell about 60%.
We all know that is B.S. RYO is being re-packaged as pipe tobacco to avoid the higher taxes.

 

[nathaniel]

We all know that is B.S. RYO is being re-packaged as pipe tobacco to avoid the higher taxes.

This should be illegal... it's like marketing american brandy as cognac or ice cream as italian ice.

 

[loborx]

My .02 about an upswing in pipe smoking. I think with a decline in the economy over the last four or so years, a bit of introspection has taken place about the pace of growth, the sustainability of "bubbles" and a general re-evaluation of value. To me, cigarettes represent a valueless, frenetic, instant gratification attitude. Pipes have value in the sense that although there is a bit of outlay to get started, in the long run, the relatively cheap price of pipe tobaccos along with a staggering amount of variety available stikes a chord of value not found in other tobacco options. A pipe invites contemplation; a time to take things more slowly and to think things through. To plan. Perchance to dream...

::