hey guys im still considering pipe smoking. i was just wondering what would be the best starter pipe. i heard of basket pipes but they sound to hit or miss. id prefer the pipes under $50. also as for the actual tobacco can someone help me understand the difference between aromatics and english blends and other blends. Finally what what would be the best starter tobacco. and are bagged tobaccos like captin black good for a starter. thanks in advance.
Very new smoker. Need your help.
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Best Starter Tobacco: 1Q Aromatic - smells great and is easy to smoke. Best Starter Pipe: If want to start with a brand new pipe - go to pipesandcigars.com - they have lots of value priced pipes. You can call them and ask for assistance over the phone. Also - if you feel adventurous - Try Ebay - you can get a good looking pipe cheap! Start with under $20 pipes. Don't buy anything that looks dirty or trashed. There a lot of nice pipes that have been cleaned up/santized and are ready to smoke - it usually says that in the description anyway. Stay away from Heavy English/Balkans for awhile - till you get the hang of things - then try a light English. Sterling Tobaccos or Hearth and Homes are a good places to start. Also 4 Noggins has a lovely mild latakia blend called Bald Headed Teacher which is easy to love. Just remember - smoke what you like - whether it be Aromatic, English or Cross Over (English + Aromatic Mixture). Good Luck! 
Welcome to the forum...you'll get 20 different suggestions on both pipes and baccy's so be prepared for the onslaught of comments. :wink:
To start out, a basket pipe, or better yet, a corn cob pipe( 5.00 will buy you a cob pipe and some people swear by them ) is usually suggested. Captain Black will work if you don't have a pipe shop nearby(which is always the best way to go), so just try some of the drug store blends which is a cheap way to see if you will even like it or not. Aromatics have extra toppings/flavorings added to them ( caramel, whiskey flavors, cherry, etc. where the English are more straight forward blends. And there are supposedly 3500 or so blends out there ( tobaccoreviews.com ) will show you how many there are and you'll also read where every other reviewer likes it or hates it...it's all a very personal thing, that's why it's good to try whatever is available to you first.
So many pipes, so many tobacco's. :crazy:
To start out, a basket pipe, or better yet, a corn cob pipe( 5.00 will buy you a cob pipe and some people swear by them ) is usually suggested. Captain Black will work if you don't have a pipe shop nearby(which is always the best way to go), so just try some of the drug store blends which is a cheap way to see if you will even like it or not. Aromatics have extra toppings/flavorings added to them ( caramel, whiskey flavors, cherry, etc. where the English are more straight forward blends. And there are supposedly 3500 or so blends out there ( tobaccoreviews.com ) will show you how many there are and you'll also read where every other reviewer likes it or hates it...it's all a very personal thing, that's why it's good to try whatever is available to you first.
So many pipes, so many tobacco's. :crazy:
Welcome aboard. My suggestion for a starter would be a Peterson. The Kapet line is relatively inexpensive and of good quality. http://www.cupojoes.com/cgi-bin/dept?dpt=H&srch=KW&search_text=Peterson+Kapet. Tobaccos are tricky. the 1Q suggestion would be fine by me.
A good starter is a corn cob pipe, you can get one for a few bucks, and while you're at the drug store picking up a corn cob, get some Captain black tobacco....so for well under $20.00 you will be smoking.
Many people that have been smoking for decades will still only smoke corn cob pipes.
You may also want to get some Carter Hall, or some Prince Albert etc., just to see if you prefer a non aromatic....
see for yourself, don't rely on the opinions of others.
It will still be very cheap, and you can find out for yourself whether or not you prefer aromatics, or not.
Edit:.. Capt. Blk. is aromatic, C.H. is not.
Many people that have been smoking for decades will still only smoke corn cob pipes.
You may also want to get some Carter Hall, or some Prince Albert etc., just to see if you prefer a non aromatic....
see for yourself, don't rely on the opinions of others.
It will still be very cheap, and you can find out for yourself whether or not you prefer aromatics, or not.
Edit:.. Capt. Blk. is aromatic, C.H. is not.
I've always thought a corn cob is a good starter pipe as well. They're very inexpensive (around $5 usually) and are pretty good smokers. If you're more looking for a briar pipe then I'd suggest Peterson or Savinelli. They have some quality smokers in the $60 range. I started out with the Peterson Aran line which is on average $60 new on most online retailers. As for tobacco well there's thousands and thousands of blends. For an aromatic I'd reccommend Peterson's Connoisseur's Choice, a great blend of tropical fruit, rum, and vanilla. It doesn't burn too hot usually and is very flavorful. As far as English blends go I don't really smoke them as the Latakia that is often in them tends to upset my stomach, but I've heard a good intro to English blends would be Dunhill's Early Morning Pipe. A good Virginia/Perique blend would be either Robert McConnell's Scottish Cake or McClelland's Frog Morton on the Bayou.
Get a Stanwell pipe, and if you are a (ex or current) cig smoker you will want a tobacco with a good nic hit. I can recommend Peterson's Irish Oak or if you are feeling adventurous Peterson's Irish Flake. Another good starter tobacco is Peterson's Sherlock Holmes. I recommend staying away from latakia blends at first.
Why do so many pipe smokers always recommend heavily aromatic tobaccos for beginners?
Why do so many pipe smokers always recommend heavily aromatic tobaccos for beginners?
I started by scoring a nice estate pipe off ebay, but I'm a veteran ebayer with a pretty strong bullshit detector when it comes to online bidding. If you do the ebay thing do some research and make sure the seller has good, clear pix and good descriptions of what they are selling. You can get a great pipe for under $20.
I am also a fan of starting with a Missouri Meerschaum corn cob pipe. You can get the Legend pipe for about $5 and it smokes great. I smoke mine on lunch at work because I can have a nice bowl in 15 minutes before I get back to the grind.
As for tobacco, I like pipesandcigars.com, but my first bowl was Captain Black in the white pouch from my local B&M store. Choice of tobacco is largely personal preference but it doesn't have to be expensive to be good. Plenty of guys like Captain Black, Borkum Riff or Prince Albert. If you are lucky to have a pipe-friendly tobacco store in your area, talk to them and they will set you up.
I am also a fan of starting with a Missouri Meerschaum corn cob pipe. You can get the Legend pipe for about $5 and it smokes great. I smoke mine on lunch at work because I can have a nice bowl in 15 minutes before I get back to the grind.
As for tobacco, I like pipesandcigars.com, but my first bowl was Captain Black in the white pouch from my local B&M store. Choice of tobacco is largely personal preference but it doesn't have to be expensive to be good. Plenty of guys like Captain Black, Borkum Riff or Prince Albert. If you are lucky to have a pipe-friendly tobacco store in your area, talk to them and they will set you up.
I agree with unclearthur, Peterson makes a fine pipe and the Kapet line is well priced. I'd encourage you to use a bit of patience if you decide to give it a go. Pipe smoking takes a bit of time to get the hang of, but is worth it if you are patient enough with the process. Good luck!
I would also say if you're switching from cigarettes to give Peterson's University Flake a try. It has a pretty good nicotine kick to it and the "casing" of plum wasn't really there too heavily in the tin I got. Mostly just tasted the tobacco. Probably would be a good intro to pipe blends from cigarettes. As far as Latakia blends go I'd say they might be more to your liking if you are coming from cigars/cigarettes. Definitely worth a try when first starting. I've heard many people say that they started with aromatics gave English blends a try and had to put them on the back burner for a few years until they could enjoy the English blends.
I agree with many of the opinions already expressed, but I also (rather strongly) disagree with a few.
PIPES
Peterson, Stanwell, Savinelli, Brebbia make excellent entry-level pipes. Smokingpipes.com is a good place to start. I'd avoid cobs and Dr. Grabows. Sure they're cheap, but their poor build quality may turn you off to the whole experience.
TOBACCOS
PLEASE avoid drug store blends (Carter Hall, Half and Half, and especially Captain Black). They use low quality tobacco and load it up with sugar. Again, a cheap product is likely to yield a poor experience. If you have a good local tobacco shop (not a Cheap Smokes) leverage their knowledge. Personally I'm not a fan of Altadis or Lane tobaccos, but they ARE a step up from the drug store brands. There are many excellent blenders (McClellands, Cornell & Diehl, Hearth and Home, etc.) and they each blend such wide varieties that I'm sure you'll find something you like.
It seems like those who try a pipe and don't stick with it all say the same thing: the tobacco burns their tongue, the pipe burns their fingers, after the smoke they're stuck with a stinky, gunky mess. But if you start with a good pipe, good tobacco and TAKE YOUR TIME you'll avoid the pitfalls and have a more pleasant experience.
Again, this is just one man's opinion. Whatever you do, good luck!
PIPES
Peterson, Stanwell, Savinelli, Brebbia make excellent entry-level pipes. Smokingpipes.com is a good place to start. I'd avoid cobs and Dr. Grabows. Sure they're cheap, but their poor build quality may turn you off to the whole experience.
TOBACCOS
PLEASE avoid drug store blends (Carter Hall, Half and Half, and especially Captain Black). They use low quality tobacco and load it up with sugar. Again, a cheap product is likely to yield a poor experience. If you have a good local tobacco shop (not a Cheap Smokes) leverage their knowledge. Personally I'm not a fan of Altadis or Lane tobaccos, but they ARE a step up from the drug store brands. There are many excellent blenders (McClellands, Cornell & Diehl, Hearth and Home, etc.) and they each blend such wide varieties that I'm sure you'll find something you like.
It seems like those who try a pipe and don't stick with it all say the same thing: the tobacco burns their tongue, the pipe burns their fingers, after the smoke they're stuck with a stinky, gunky mess. But if you start with a good pipe, good tobacco and TAKE YOUR TIME you'll avoid the pitfalls and have a more pleasant experience.
Again, this is just one man's opinion. Whatever you do, good luck!
"Why do so many pipe smokers always recommend heavily aromatic tobaccos for beginners"?
Also, that is simply my/our opinion(s), just the same way you have your opinion which I may, or may not agree with, but you have a right to state your opinion don't you, and you should be able to do so without being questioned, or ridiculed in some cases in stating my/our opinion.
I still feel that a good way to begin is with a good aromatic such as Capt. Black, and a cob.
I don't expect everyone to agree with it, but I do have the right to express what I think right?
No big deal, just wanted to say this is all.
Peace,
Ranger 6 out.
Also, that is simply my/our opinion(s), just the same way you have your opinion which I may, or may not agree with, but you have a right to state your opinion don't you, and you should be able to do so without being questioned, or ridiculed in some cases in stating my/our opinion.
I still feel that a good way to begin is with a good aromatic such as Capt. Black, and a cob.
I don't expect everyone to agree with it, but I do have the right to express what I think right?
No big deal, just wanted to say this is all.
Peace,
Ranger 6 out.
This is a great pipe, Savinelli - for $39.
Savinelli Duca Bent
I think Erinmore is a wonderful starter tobacco, $7.11, a lovely smell in the tin and easy, light to smoke.
Erinmore Mixture 50g
Both at smoking pipes, so the shipping combines.... Whatever you do, enjoy!
Savinelli Duca Bent
I think Erinmore is a wonderful starter tobacco, $7.11, a lovely smell in the tin and easy, light to smoke.
Erinmore Mixture 50g
Both at smoking pipes, so the shipping combines.... Whatever you do, enjoy!
And for heaven's sake...Don't be in a big hurry to become an experienced pipe smoker. If done correctly, this is a slow contemplative business....but the journey is eminently worth it.... :
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