Gifts for Pipe Smokers, and Those Aspiring to Become One

If you're a pipe smoker or aspiring to become one, you already have a significant advantage. You have a theme your loved ones can explore, sparing you from socks, ties, or other uninspired last-minute gifts. The market is filled with meaningful, beautiful, valuable, affordable, and desirable items that will bring immense joy to any pipe smoker.

Pipe Sets for Beginners

Those just starting out on their journey into pipe smoking will need a few essentials to kick off their newfound passion. These include:

• A pipe
• A tamper
• A lighter or matches
• Pipe cleaners
• Filters
• Pipe tobacco
• Possibly a pipe pouch

With a bit of knowledge, one can gather all the necessary items individually. We’re happy to provide active advice – feel free to contact us. Perhaps you even have friends or acquaintances who can offer support. If you prefer simplicity and want to handle almost everything in one “sweep,” starter sets are a great option, such as the Rattray’s Joy Starter Set.

This set includes:

• 1x pipe
• 1x pouch for two pipes
• 1x pipe tamper
• 10x activated carbon filters (changed after each smoke)
• 10x pipe cleaners (used after each smoke)
• 1x smoking guide

Various pipe shapes are available, all made from heat-resistant briarwood. Some pipes also have a meerschaum lining (a porous mineral), making the pipe especially heat-resistant.

In general, we recommend straight pipes for beginners as they’re particularly easy to smoke. However, many aspiring pipe smokers wish for curved pipes, so these are also available in these sets.

The Rattray’s starter sets offer excellent value for money. You get almost everything you need, and there’s no compromise on the pipe’s quality.

More affordable sets, such as the Molina Beginner Set, are also available.

Tobacco

You now have the “hardware” ready in your cart. Excellent, as it’s essential. What’s missing is the “software”: the tobacco!

This is where it can get a bit more challenging, as much depends on the recipient’s personal taste.

Generally, pipe tobaccos can be divided into two categories. First, flavored tobaccos that are enhanced with aromas for a particularly sweet taste and smell, which many people expect. These are also the most common, and you’ve likely enjoyed such pleasant aromas before.

The other category is more natural, tobacco-forward. The taste and smell can sometimes be a bit robust and smoky. Experienced pipe smokers often prefer this direction, though beginners who enjoy strong black coffee or peaty whiskey may also appreciate this style.

Here are a few specific recommendations for each category.

Flavored:

• Mac Baren Classic, a vanilla-flavored tobacco.
• W. Ø. Larsen No.50, maple and caramel flavors.
• Pipe Republic Canterbury, our house brand with fruit flavoring.
• Stanwell Jubilee Tobacco, lightly flavored, very gentle and mild.

Natural:

• DTM The Mallard, a pure Virginia tobacco.
• House of Smoke No.8, with a touch of Latakia, smoky-sweet.
• Rattray’s Red Raparee, also with Latakia, but fairly sweet.
• Vauen Auenland Broken Flake, a blend of different tobaccos.

We hope our recommendations hit the mark. If not, don’t be discouraged—keep exploring. The world of tobacco is vast, with something for every taste. Feel free to refer the recipient to our videos where pipe smoking is explained in detail.

Pipe Accessories

There’s a range of accessories for both beginners and advanced smokers. This doesn’t necessarily include pipe cleaners or filters, as these are regular consumables. Instead, think of items that enhance the pipe-smoking experience:

• Pipe tamper
• Pipe pouches
• Pipe lighters
• Pipe stands
• Tobacco jars
• Pipe boxes and cabinets
• Tobacco pouches

Here, too, a wide variety of quality, design, and price ranges are available. So let’s start with items a pipe smoker is likely to appreciate for their practicality and style.

Pipe Lighter

Pipe lighters, unlike regular lighters, have a side-directed flame, making them much easier to use with pipes. Many pipe lighters also include a built-in tamper. Options include:

Piezo ignition, which is easy to use by pressing a button. However, they require more frequent cleaning:

Or flint lighters, which are more durable but require maintenance:

Pipe Tamper

A tamper is essential for pipe smoking. Although basic tampers are usually included in starter sets, there are many beautifully crafted options that make for a cherished, lasting gift:

Pipe Bags, Stands, and Tobacco Pouches

These are the “finishing touches” for a pipe smoker. While not strictly necessary, they make the experience more enjoyable and convenient. Pipe bags, for instance, are perfect for taking cherished pipes on the go. Offered in a range of sizes, designs, and leather qualities, they are both practical and beautiful. Tobacco pouches are primarily crafted in leather with classic, conservative designs. Pipe stands come in a variety of materials like ceramic, leather, acrylic, and wood, often accommodating multiple pipes. Here are some recommendations to help navigate the options:

Pipe Bags:

• Martin Wess Pipe Bag Collection “Lea”. Top-quality German craftsmanship with long-lasting durability.
• Rattray’s Pipe and Tobacco Bags. Available in a gorgeous terracotta color, solid quality at a good price.

Tobacco Pouches:

• Dunhill “The White Spot” Tobacco Pouch. British understatement with superb quality.

Pipe Stands:

• Guy Janot Pipe Ashtray with an integrated pipe stand and highly durable quality.

Finally, let’s talk about pipe cabinets and chests.

The options here are fewer but still worth considering. Adorini, an Italian company known for its humidors, offers three models for pipe storage that differ in capacity and design.

The models include:

• Adorini Pipe Cabinet Alfred, with space for four pipes.
• Adorini Pipe Cabinet Poul, with space for 12 pipes.
• Adorini Pipe Cabinet Martin, with space for 30 pipes.

All models also offer storage for tobacco and accessories, adding both practicality and aesthetic appeal to a living or smoking room.

Pipes

Giving a pipe to an experienced smoker is always an excellent idea. Though the selection is vast, the joy it brings to the recipient is likely high. Pipe smokers can never have too many pipes, much like some people with shoes, watches, or writing instruments. Here are a few recommendations to guide you:

Also read:
Pipes Made of Briarwood
Meerschaum Pipes
Pipes for Beginners – Tips for Starters