I just received a box of 6mm Sav charcoal filters and tried them in two pipes of 1/2 bowls of tobacco. The pipes were Sav Erica Fiamma 128 and Dry System 2614KS. They do require a concerted draw (draw is tighter) but they allow for a cooler, drier, smoke and force me to slow down my cadence allowing the tobacco to smolder vs burn. Overall, they are much better for me. The two 1/2 bowls produced a little discoloration at the pipe end but remained fairly clean so I left them in to use again for next bowl. I didn't notice any tongue bite or change in tobacco flavor ... in fact, I tasted more of the nuances of the Old Toby. Very pleasant. The balsa filters get very wet and guncky with wet tobaccos but do reduce tar and nicotine by 66% per two University lab studies per the Savinelli website. They tested meerschaum, bamboo (like Brigham maple rock filters) and balsa wood which was porous and lighter. They went with balsa for cost effectiveness. I'm sold until the next great thing comes out !
