In the age of cigarettes, vaping, snus, dip and so much more what makes anyone choose to pick up a tired old relic that doesn't even give you a buzz?
Well my friend, let me tell you.
First some backstory.
I'm an 18 year old, of legal smoking age (for now) in my home state of Washington. I originally found out about the wonderful hobby that is pipe smoking, as I do with most things, the internet.
I was browsing various articles throughout the web when I stumbled upon a comparison of all the risks of smoking styles. To my surprise I found that the relative risks of pipe smokers for various ailments were only slightly raised when compared to nonsmokers. In doing further research, I found the r/PipeTobacco subreddit. Having been mildly addicted to nicotine already from a juul that I have since abandoned, I realized that a form of tobacco that was both somewhat inconvenient compared to vaping, and exponentially less harmful due to the lack of inhalation, I decided I would pick up a pipe the moment I turned 18. Lo and behold, when the 16th of November rolled around, I drove down to my local tobacconist, bought my first pipe, and an ounce of lane 1Q, the bestselling aromatic tobacco in the world.
(My first pipe, a Missouri Meerschaum Ozark Mountain Hardwood)
My first smoke was lackluster at best, owing to my lack of experience in pipe smoking, but I have since honed my technique and now can say that pipes are an experience like none other.
(Lane 1Q, the best selling tobacco in the world and my first tobacco)
So why smoke a pipe?
Well primarily, it's an escape.
Smoking a pipe takes time. Unlike putting in a pouch of snus, or taking a drag off a juul for that sweet sweet instant gratification that follows the absorption of nicotine, a pipe requires one to slow down for 30 minutes to an hour, and slow down.
Smoking a pipe correctly takes deliberate thought even from the first moment. First you must pack your pipe correctly, too tight of a pack will cause your pipe to go out often, requiring multiple relights. Too loose, and your tobacco will burn too quickly, destroying the flavor of your tobacco and causing you to scorch your mouth.
The cadence of smoking must be done with care as well. Puff too quickly and you'll find your tongue burnt. Too slowly and your pipe won't stay lit. Most aspects of pipe smoking are about finding the sweet spot where the smoke is enjoyable, yet not too hot so that you can find the most pleasure from your tobacco. Intrinsically, this forces the smoker into a rhythm that slows one down and offers a brief reprieve from the fast pace of daily life.
Therein lies the true beauty of pipe smoking. Through this cadence, a pipe is transformed from a nicotine delivery device to a tool that stimulates thought and contemplation, giving the smoker a home wherever they are that allows a deep rumination on the troubles of daily life.
Einstein smoked a pipe, so did Hemingway, Twain, and Tolkien. Each of these men found a certain comfort in the aroma and taste of tobacco smoke that slowed them down, cleared their minds, and aided their respective contributions to this world.
So go slow down, buy a pipe and some tobacco. A cheap corncob, an ounce of your local aromatic and all the related tools can be had for less than $20. Entrench yourself deeply in a hobby that is connected to great thinkers of the past and serves as a meditation in of itself that will allow you to process your problems in a slow, contemplative way.
I promise you'll like it!