What are some "crap" pipe tobaccos to avoid?

[Ropey]

So in review, there is no "Ghurka" or "5 Vegas" of the pipe world IMO. Sure, companies may make a blend or two that I don't care for, but the bulk of their blends are really great so 1 or 3 outliers doesn't spoil the brand for me.

That's pretty damn fascinating I gotta say. Guess I won't worry about spending a couple hundred bucks on unsmokable crap that winds up in the trash then, which is what happened in my first month of cigar smoking.

Good: most Navy flakes, C&D Pirate Kake, Dunhill 965, Sutliff Sweet Virginia
Bad: OTC, most stuff you see in big jars at the B&M, blends that are predominantly cavendish.

It is cavendish itself that's the problem, or the way it's implemented in the blends?

I think people would be more willing to answer something that's personal to them, rather than saying categorically that something sucks.

Hehe I have no problem saying that stuff sucks, even when it's my opinion. I assume people realize that it's my opinion and they can take it or leave it.

[Bruck]

It is cavendish itself that's the problem, or the way it's implemented in the blends?

MHO, take it or leave it - Cavendish is a good component, but too much of it is too much - makes for a bland blend. & the commercial aromatic cavendish blends tend to be overly sweet goopers.

[Branzig]

That's pretty damn fascinating I gotta say. Guess I won't worry about spending a couple hundred bucks on unsmokable crap

Why don't you sign up for the newbie pipe tobacco trade?

The hardest part about starting out in the pipe world is figuring out what you like. The sampler trade will give you a baseline of English, Balkan, Virginia, Aromatic, Burley and whatever other blends there are out there.

Once you get a few blends under your belt that you like you can experiment by buying up blends like it and spending 100s of dollars.

Also remember to give blends multiple goes in different pipes. 1 blend may be bland in one pipe but sing in another.

Have fun!

[Cool Breeze]

That's pretty damn fascinating I gotta say. Guess I won't worry about spending a couple hundred bucks on unsmokable crap that winds up in the trash then, which is what happened in my first month of cigar smoking.

The great thing about pipe tobaccos is that many, many of them come in bulk and you can just order a couple ounces to see how you like it. I'm sure paying $5 at a time you will find quite a bit you like way before you get to the $200 mark.

Also, like has already been mentioned, make sure you try a blend in different pipes. Think of how cigars taste different in different vitolas. Same with different shaped pipe bowls.

The one tobacco that I tried that I would absolutely stay away from is the Blender's Gold from Walgreens. It was the most goopy crap I've ever seen. Impossible to keep lit even after letting it air out overnight. I did eventually mix it with some Virginia and it's decent now.

Don't write off all of the OTC blends either. If all I had was Prince Albert and Captain Black, I would still very much enjoy pipe smoking.

[Lostmason]

The one tobacco that I tried that I would absolutely stay away from is the Blender's Gold from Walgreens. It was the most goopy crap I've ever seen. Impossible to keep lit even after letting it air out overnight. I did eventually mix it with some Virginia and it's decent now.

Don't write off all of the OTC blends either. If all I had was Prince Albert and Captain Black, I would still very much enjoy pipe smoking.

This is exactly what I'm saying,4 years ago I bought a pound bag of Smokers Pride and promptly soaked it in scotch,let it dry a bit and have been working on it since.In short I would say that any "crap" tobacco would be supplies for future mixes and blends.That is also why I agree with your other post on humidity measures,pipe smoking can be simple or you can make it a full fledged hobby and science.I would recomend reading the reviews and find flavor profiles that appeal to you and if you find you dont like one or two try to pick out what it is you don't like and try to find a mix to make it better.A little bit of chemistry is fun.