Saddle Stems?

[tarak]

Hey all. I'm about to pull the trigger on an estate pipe....but I'm hitting one snag. This pipe (the most expensive I've ever considered) has a saddle bit- which is something I've never owned or smoked.
Are saddle bits purely at aesthetic thing, or is there a big functional difference in the smoking experience?

 

[smokeybear]

From my understanding and I could be wrong a saddlebit means a bigger button and a bigger button means the lips or edges on the end of the stem are more pronounced. This is favored amongst the clenchers however I have never owned one personally.

 

[ssjones]

I have plenty of both. At one time I was strictly buying saddle stems, lately I've switched to tapered stems. Most saddle stems have a thinner "stick of gum" look & feel. The buttons on my mostly British racks vary widely, depending more on the maker than the style. So, for me, it is strictly aesthetics.

 

[pstlpkr]

Most saddle stems have a thinner "stick of gum" look & feel

I agree.

However; if you are a clincher, I would not opt for a saddle bit.

I have bitten through several.

Granted, I have been known to be a bit (pardon the pun) slow.

I prefer a thicker stem, or preferably an acrylic stem... as a clincher.

::

 

[tarak]

Well...I probably clench 50/50 during the smoke....

 

[captainsousie]

I've got about 1/2 and 1/2 saddle stem pipes to taper. In my opinion it is mostly aesthetics as I have varying shapes and thicknesses of bits in both. Granted I don't smoke a lot but I've not had the misfortune of biting through a bit yet.

 

[85royals]

The ones I have I like.. to few of them need some more

 

[bryanf]

Interesting. Saddle bit is my favorite to clench. Easiest for me. Have one on my favorite billiard.

 

[sergemoat]

I'm a fan of the saddle for comfort, but I'm not a clencher and I like very thin bits.

 

[tjameson]

I think the saddle stem is nice to clench. I've also found its comfortable to place the stem farther in my mouth to where the button rests on the roof of my mouth. I barely have to clench at all that way.

 

[fishnbanjo]

+1 I don't care to clench at all having chomped through a nice stem once years back so I've learned to allow a pipe to hang if possible and tjameson did a great job of stating how I do this so I truly enjoy pipes that want to hang naturally.

I think the saddle stem is nice to clench. I've also found its comfortable to place the stem farther in my mouth to where the button rests on the roof of my mouth. I barely have to clench at all that way.

 

[radio807]

I prefer thinner stems, and I find saddle bits to be generally more aesthetically pleasing.

 

[phred]

I'm finding that my saddle bit pipes are more comfortable (for me) in general, especially as I start clenching more. I've had a lot of dental work done, so I'm kind of particular about how hard I bite down on things - I've chipped a crown in the past, and have no desire to repeat the experience.

 

[mso489]

I think saddle stems may lighten a pipe just a bit, and also they have a reputation among some pipe smokers

for durability, which is good. I have a number of saddle stems, and on these particular pipes, I like the way

they look. If you're not displeased by the look, I think you'll be plenty happy with a saddle stem.

 

[gwtwdbss]

I love saddle bits for clenching. I haven't bitten through any yet. They are my favorite stem type. Very comfortable between the teeth.

 

[cigrmaster]

I also love my saddle stems, both for looks and for clenching.

 

[brewshooter]

Count me in as another fan of the saddle stems! They seem to spread the clench pressure out over a wider area and I can put them deeper towards the back teeth/molars and need very little pressure to hold the pipe in place.

 

[snagstangl]

I find functionally about the same as far as draw goes. I agree they fit in the mouth farther back for some of them, but I have some saddle stems that are only an inch long or so and I cant fit those very far back in my mouth.

 

[curl]

Good thread here.

My thought re saddle bits had been "I don't get it".

But I'm a clincher, so it makes sense to add one of this kind of pipe to the collection.

 

[erichbaumer]

I prefer tapered aesthetically, but the saddle is better for clenching. I honestly don't consider it when buying a pipe. It would take a remarkable situation for it to even become a tiebreaker. Especially because it depends on how the particular bit choice works with the given pipe.