Vote on draw preference

[brdavidson]

Wide open, I find then that sipping is all I need to keep the pipe lit. With a restricted draw I always feel like I'm working at the bowl to keep it going. I have a Savinelli straight billiard that I took the filter out and it is a very wide open draw now. Keeps flakes going like a champ.

 

[lochinvar]

Medium. I hate a pipe that is too tight, I feel like I'm fighting an uphill battle to keep it lit, but not overheat it. I don't like too open a draw because it seems to dilute the flavor too much for me. So all I really want is perfection.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Although I find it difficult to smoke a pipe with too tight a draw or too open, I do like a range. I feel more like a driver that adjusts to the car, than a driver who prefers just one type of car. When I get a new pipe, I enjoy learning how it likes to be smoked, instead of trying to make the pipe conform to me.
A tighter drawing pipe tends to smoke cooler because it forces me to slow down. An open draw tends to stay lit better and allow for breathsmoking, where I just passively let the smoke drift in and out. Either way.
If I was pushed into an either or situation, I would probably cast my lot in with the open draw crowd, just not too open. I hate sucking ash and tobacco flakes through the stem.

 

[petes03]

Open draw for me.

 

[layinpipe]

Open. All my Italians are perfectly open and have a great draw. My Castello Panelled Sea Rock has, by far, the best draw of any of my pipes. I cannot help but say enough good things about Castello, they are very nice pipes and i am very glad i pulled the trigger and scored on the pipe i did. It is one of the best pipe making decisions i have made yet.
My Tom Spanu F3 also has a fantastic open and cool smooth draw to it as well, another Italian. I think they are on to something...

 

[phred]

Wide open. It's a lot more forgiving for the newbie smoker - one more reason MM Cobs get highly recommended. Once you've got the basics down, you can put the filter back in and learn how to adjust to a tighter draw... :P
I've opened up the draw on 2 pipes (not counting ditching filters), but I've never had a need to tighten the draw up on any.

 

[macattack]

uhh...yes! Wait, we're talking about pipes?

 

[kanaka95]

Gotta go with the open draw myself.It also helps with packing preference as well.

 

[zekest]

Open draw!
You can always tamp it down later if need be.

 

[weezell]

If the draw is open, you can always restrict the flow by tamping the tobacco tighter.

Yes! To me, better open...

 

[captainsousie]

I lean more toward open but really haven't fallen for the wide-open draws that some favor. I like a little resistance but not much. I've opened the draw on a few of my pipes and it usually helps.
The flip side of that coin is an Edwards I have that has the tightest draw I've ever seen/felt. It smokes VA flakes wonderfully though so it's getting left that way.

 

[fadingdaylight]

Wide open. Im lovin' my MM without a filter. Effortless smoking.

 

[mike73]

open

 

[erichbaumer]

Open so long as it's not to the point of being ridiculous.

 

[bentmike]

Medium to full open. I adjust my pack and sip cadence to the particular pipe. I agree a pipe with a wide open draw is much easier to keep lit.