Tobacco pouches/ leather bags why do they exist?

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burleybreath

Lifer
Aug 29, 2019
1,093
3,871
Finger Lakes area, New York, USA
More than one is definitely too much. puffy
Ooooh...speak for yourself, you thavage! 😘

Back in days of yore, when you could smoke anywhere, and I almost always wore a sportcoat or similar, a quality roll-up leather pouch carried in an inside pocket was, to my mind, obligatory. Plus I almost always smoked the same blend day-to-day. I was a codger pipe smoker long before I became an internet-bred connoisseur of tobaccanalia type stuff. The pouch was a near necessity. I had no interest in any other type, and still don't. If the shoe fits, etc.

One thing to be aware of, regarding the lining, if it's "surgical rubber," which is used on the more expensive pouches. It works great, is soft and pliable, and seals better, but some aromatic additives will dissolve the rubber. Not completely, just where a chunk of tobacco embeds itself over time. Vinyl might be more durable, but it doesn't seal as well, and gets stiff when at all cold. I've had two rubber ones "dissolve" and one stolen. Really ticked me off at the time.
 

Jesster109

Lurker
Dec 2, 2022
40
103
Illinois
I have a couple pouches I use for travel. As other have mentioned, a tin or two in the luggage and refill the pouch as needed. It carries a few cleaners, pipe nail, lighter, pipe and enough tobacco for a few days. I usually dry my tobacco, but the puch keeps it good for days at a time.
 
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mingc

Lifer
Jun 20, 2019
4,257
12,600
The Big Rock Candy Mountains
Ooooh...speak for yourself, you thavage! 😘

Back in days of yore, when you could smoke anywhere, and I almost always wore a sportcoat or similar, a quality roll-up leather pouch carried in an inside pocket was, to my mind, obligatory. Plus I almost always smoked the same blend day-to-day. I was a codger pipe smoker long before I became an internet-bred connoisseur of tobaccanalia type stuff. The pouch was a near necessity. I had no interest in any other type, and still don't. If the shoe fits, etc.

One thing to be aware of, regarding the lining, if it's "surgical rubber," which is used on the more expensive pouches. It works great, is soft and pliable, and seals better, but some aromatic additives will dissolve the rubber. Not completely, just where a chunk of tobacco embeds itself over time. Vinyl might be more durable, but it doesn't seal as well, and gets stiff when at all cold. I've had two rubber ones "dissolve" and one stolen. Really ticked me off at the time.
The rubber liners dry up and crack with age. Zip lock bags are about perfect for short term storage and carry-about though not as classy as a Baccyflaps.
 

LeafErikson

Lifer
Dec 7, 2021
2,274
20,021
Oregon
And I don't have a bunch of experience with pouches, but they seem harder to scoop out of than a ziplock bag, especially when they're small enough to be pocket-sized in anything less than a massive dress coat pocket. And at that size too, the thickness of a pouch to fit in the same pocket relative to a ziplock bag means less space for tobacco, maybe like one bowl's worth at that point.
The foldable pouches are easier to scoop out of than a ziplock, as you don't even have to unzip them. I can fit a days worth of tobacco in my pouch and it's thinner than my wallet, easily fitting in my pocket.

The pouches that close with a zipper are less convenient, more prone to breakage, and they don't keep the tobacco as fresh. Foldable, rubber-lined pouches are the only way to go IMO of you're better off with a ziplock.
 

sardonicus87

Lifer
Jun 28, 2022
1,394
14,194
37
Lower Alabama
The foldable pouches are easier to scoop out of than a ziplock, as you don't even have to unzip them. I can fit a days worth of tobacco in my pouch and it's thinner than my wallet, easily fitting in my pocket.

The pouches that close with a zipper are less convenient, more prone to breakage, and they don't keep the tobacco as fresh. Foldable, rubber-lined pouches are the only way to go IMO of you're better off with a ziplock.
The only pouches I have experience with are the ones that come with pipe bags that fold over once and snap shut, or are built-in to the pipe bag itself. Specifically, the one that comes with the Peterson 3-pipe bag (Avoca 3 Pipe Bag - Peterson Pipe Accessories | Smokingpipes.com - https://www.smokingpipes.com/accessories/pipe-stands-and-pouches/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=132759) which is worthlessly small, and the built-in pouch of the SP 2-pipe bag (Smokingpipes Leather 2 Pipe Case with Pouch Black | Smokingpipes.com - https://www.smokingpipes.com/accessories/pipe-stands-and-pouches/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=305827).

And for reference, when I am carrying a pipe and tobacco with me, like to a function or something, I'm not carrying a bunch of stuff, so I prefer to stick the pipe into the tobacco pouch and scoop tobacco in with my finger, rather than reaching in with my hand to take pinches out and put into the pipe.

I'm not dumping on tobacco pouches, but just based on those two and knowing how leather is, I can't see that style of tobacco pouch as being superior (other than looks) to a plastic sandwich bag, at least with regard to just carrying tobacco for a day.
 

anotherbob

Lifer
Mar 30, 2019
16,825
31,566
46
In the semi-rural NorthEastern USA
I suppose you could just carry your nuts around in your hand, but many guys would just misplace them.
those are unnecessary too. Mostly good at getting people into trouble and fun. But the most useless part of them is helping make more people. The world would be fine without people so not needed. Fan of the species but fandom doesn't equate to genuine need.
Also you could put them in a tobacco pouch. Just staple it to your inner thighs and you're good to go.
 

Sobrbiker

Lifer
Jan 7, 2023
4,181
54,761
Casa Grande, AZ
I keep a pouch in my lunchbox all week with two pipes, some folded over cleaners, tool, lighter, and usually a reused tobacco pouch (5Bros fits my pipe pouch best and they last up to a month of daily use) with an “all day” blend inside its lined pouch.
I use old Snus tins buddies from work kick me down to carry other blends for variety.
I carry my vape (the horror😱) in a Maglite case on my belt and around the property I slip a pipe in a loop on it and a tin/pouch in my pocket, along with a big and a golf tee in my watch pocket.
IMG_3094.jpeg
 

Zeno Marx

Starting to Get Obsessed
Oct 10, 2022
277
1,402
One of the first things I bought after a couple nice pipes was a Comoy Piccary pouch. Still the nicest piece of leather I've ever had in my hands. Just phenomenally soft and pecked with a stunning texture and marking. I think I used it 2 or 3 times? I have no idea why I thought I needed one badly enough to forgo another pipe or a different handful of new tobaccos to try over it. It was $20 when No.759 was $3.25/tin and Nightcap was $3.75/tin. If it hadn't been such an incredible piece of leather, I'd now be saying it was a complete waste of money. To have that piece of leather on me for a couple days was an experience in itself, so it wasn't a total wash. I've never been someone who smokes on the fly. I plan my smokes. I just carry the tin with me. Or a ziplock. I'm never in a crunch for space. Pouches ain't my thing.
 
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