Windcaps Anyone?

[ssjones]

Do folks use windcaps with any regularity? I travel a good bit, so on those days my smoking is strictly outside, unless I'm lucky enough to be near a shop. A few weeks ago, I picked up a windcap at Boswells. Tonight finds me in Geneva NY and it is very windy. Unfortunately, it is also about 38 degrees and FREEZING. So, I found a little protected nook near a rear door of my hotel. I was freezing after 15 minutes so I didn't have a chance to evaluate how well the windcap works. I wondered if anyone else used a cap on a regular basis.
This one, from Boswells ($2.50) has a spring loaded friction fit. You squeeze the two tabs at top to remove/relight, etc. I was sort of expecting a flip up cap. Do the flip tops work any better/easier?
Here's the cap on my Boswell bent.

 

[marmal4de]

I use mine anytime I'm outside, so far so good with no burnouts and the pipe staying cool to the touch. It's a PITA when you need to relight, so I try not to need to relight

 

[irishsmoker]

Before I got all my stuff stolen i used mine daily! I even had a pipe with a built in wind cap it was an orlick hurricane. I miss it. But IMHO wind screens are amazing!

 

[tokerpipes]

Wind screens are great. They work awsome. A ipe with a cap can some time be a bother but they work ok too. I live in Jacksonville , FL and with huricane season its a must to either have one or the other. The capped pipes can be a hassle to clean as the wind cap comes off completely.

 

[buster]

Yep, I have two wind caps. I use them regularly for when I am out fishing and the boat is moving. Walking the dog on a windy day and stuff. Most of all I use them when I smoke half a bowl and put the pipe in my pocket or pouch and do not want ash falling out. Keeping tobacco in the pipe instead of my pocket. They are perfect for that.

 

[hnryclay]

I have never used one, but I love the old Peterson System pipes with silver spigots, and silver windcaps. That was when they really made a nice pipe!

 

[jaysin]

I have one like this

Havent smoked it yet but what Ive been told by a couple old time smokers is it was a wise buy on my part that they do work well on a windy day.

 

[lordnoble]

Geneva is prime drinking due to it's proximity to the Seneca Lake Wine Trail.
I've been looking at wind caps for that very reason. That wind is brutal tonight, so yeah, you'd need one.
-Jason

 

[jchaplick]

I use the firction one you described, they work very well for me

 

[papipeguy]

I always carry 2 in my pipe bag and I use it while driving my MG with the top down. Safety Fast.

 

[nobail]

I've got a bent Sparkproof and also use the little wind caps for other pipes when fishing.

 

[juni]

The windcaps are handy. I also use one to keep tobacco in if I can't finish a bowl.

 

[topd]

A wind cap is a must! I keep a butter cup with snap-on lid in the boat with several caps in it, and a couple in the golf bag.
Old Story: In '82 I was walking from the Staff Club back to the barracks in Okinawa one breezy night, well, doing my best to walk anyway. I was smoking a straight billiard meerschaum. That breeze must have really had my smoke fired-up as all of a sudden I heard a loud CRACK! Like a mini explosion right in front of my face. The front half of the bowl fell off and hot ash blew all over my face... almost set my mustache on fire! I never realized that could happen and I was devastated. I had to finish the rest of my one year deployment without a meer!
TopD

 

[ssjones]

Thanks guys. Those pipes with built in lids always look nice. I'll have to pick up a few more, one to keep out on the patio and another for the MGB (although smoking a pipe and driving a stick still sounds a bit tricky to me!)

 

[smeaton]

I love mine! Here's the "story" of mine: Ashton with Silver Wind Cap

 

[ssjones]

Ah, yes Smeaton, I remember that beautiful Ashton. Has the capped pipe worked for you? That's a bit of a step up in the investment department, any regrets? (can't imagine regretting a new Asthon...) That built in, flip up cap certainly looks convenient. How much weight does it add to the pipe? (whew,just say 104 grams..) Not a clincher I guess, but than again, I would not clinch a pipe in that price range.

 

[chops]

You guys got me thinking. I always assumed that those wind caps would be a PITA but I will have to keep my eyes open.

 

[organizedmadman]

I like mine, need a few more actualy.

 

[lordofthepiperings]

If you live in Vegas and intend on smoking outside a lot a windcap is pretty much a must. There's usually at least a light breeze going here and occassionally an all out windstorm with gusts up to 45mph at times. Because I'm relegated to smoking outdoors only right now I picked up a couple. They work very well, but as mentioned before it's a PITA if the pipe goes out and you need to relight. Usually I'll just take the cap off every so often and give a light tamp, quickly replacing the windcap as soon as I'm done. They really do help a lot to keep the pipe going when it's really windy.

 

[smeaton]

Ah, yes Smeaton, I remember that beautiful Ashton. Has the capped pipe worked for you? That's a bit of a step up in the investment department, any regrets? (can't imagine regretting a new Asthon...) That built in, flip up cap certainly looks convenient. How much weight does it add to the pipe? (whew,just say 104 grams..) Not a clincher I guess, but than again, I would not clinch a pipe in that price range.

Sorry for the delayed reply. I absolutely love it, and (THANK GOD!) have no regrets. It smokes great, and although it is heavy, I can clench it because of the way it falls and 'rests' against my chin. Granted, I can't clench it for a long time, but I don't mind. Besides, I have a tendency to smoke way too fast when I clench. I find myself smoking it with the cap open more often than I expected I would simply because I choose it whether I need a pipe with a wind cap or not. I like that I can stuff tobacco in the pipe, close the cap, and go, without worrying about any falling out. It works perfectly when I'm driving around with the top off my Wrangler, which is the primary reason for me purchasing it. An added bonus is that my Peterson Silver Spigot 306 now seems like a featherweight.