Smoking pipes have been around for a really long time. How long? According to some archeological evidence, tobacco pipes appeared in Egypt as early as 2000 B.C. and gradually spread throughout the Middle East. Pipe smoking became popular with Native Americans around 1500 B.C. and was imported to Europe in the early 1600s.

And in all those years, throughout cultures far and wide, pipe smokers have been making mistakes that are fairly common. Strangely enough, even the most common mistakes can be made by new or experienced smokers, regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, religion, politics, wealth, or country of origin. If you enjoy a good smoke from briar pipes, meerschaum pipes, or any other kind, sit back and relax as we relay some common mistakes that pipe smokers make.

Not Using Quality Pipes

When you’re starting out and you don’t know if you are even going to like smoking tobacco pipes, purchasing an inexpensive pipe such as a Missouri Meerschaum from a tobacco pipe shop is a great idea. But stay away from cheap tobacco, as nothing will turn you off smoking faster than horrendous tobacco. The days of buying tobacco from the corner gas station are nearly over, but you may still be able to find someone with well-aged pipe tobacco stuffed away in a closet for many years – waiting to be lit up. A tobacconist at your local smoke shop may be able to help, especially if you admit you’re a beginner and need directions on where to start. They’ll be able to offer valuable recommendations on beginner pipes and the best tobacco blends for a first-timer.

Packing Tobacco Too Tightly

If you’re new to tobacco pipes, it’s only a matter of time before you make a mistake that everyone cops to, eventually. You’re so enthused about smoking and sharing the experience with a companion that you blissfully pack the tobacco bowl – often with more than is needed.

Sure, it’s tempting to cram in as much tobacco as the bowl accommodates, but this is a wrong idea and will make it difficult for the tobacco to remain lit. To tackle the poorly lit tobacco, you’ll spend time puffing harder, resulting in your pipe overheating and possibly causing tongue bite.

To pack a pipe the right way, lightly fill the bowl with tobacco, then utilize a finger or tamper to shove it down until the bowl is about two-thirds full. Don’t over-squish the tobacco; instead, it should still have some spring or bounce to it.

Finally, you should then pack the rest of the pipe and then push down once more with less pressure. Do this until the bowl is filled, and your first and all subsequent draws should produce a feeling similar to drinking through a straw.

Buying The Wrong First Pipe

There are so many tobacco pipes, with so many shapes, and so many materials to choose from that your brain swirls with a single question – how do I choose? Yes, heirloom quality and prohibitively expensive artisan pieces are nice to look at, but you shouldn’t make any significant investment at a wholesale tobacco shop until you know if pipe smoking will be an attractive endeavor in the long run.

It wouldn’t hurt to buy a corn cob pipe as they’re inexpensive and smoke very nicely. They don't have the lifespan of briar pipes or meerschaum pipes, but they are remarkably robust and can withstand a beating. They’re great for experimenting with tobaccos and trying smoking to see if you like it enough to continue.

But briar pipes are alluring. They’re beautiful and convey a subtle flavor that many smokers genuinely appreciate. Best of all, they can last your entire life if they’re properly smoked and maintained afterward. Briar pipes can often be purchased pre-used on the estate market. Most estate vendors completely clean and disinfect estate pipes, and if bought from a reputable dealer, these pipes are refurbished to perform in like-new condition.

Smoking Tobacco With Too Much Moisture

This is another newbie mistake. Your tobacco needs to air out before smoking it. Drizzle it onto a piece of paper and allow it to dry for a few hours. If it's an aromatic blend, it may longer to dry than, for instance, a straight Virginia, meaning you'll need to pay attention to how the tobacco feels in your fingers. Tobacco that is near crunchiness is too dry to smoke. If the strands clomp together, it's too wet. Test for what produces the most comfortable and flavorful smoke for you and no one else.

Improperly Tamping Tobacco

Proper tamping is paramount to maintaining a lit pipe and for the distribution of the best flavor your tobacco of choice can offer, and for keeping the pipe going, though you should be aware that pipes go out often. Sometimes, as beginners, you press too firmly, condensing the tobacco which results in restricted airflow, wasteful combustion, and excess heat while smoking.

Not Cleaning Pipes Regularly

Pipe cleaners are required for enjoying a bowl while you’re smoking. Keeping briar pipes or any other clean is vital to the delivery of great flavor. Moisture collects in the bowl and stem as a normal byproduct of combustion: The moisture of the tobacco must go somewhere, and whatever doesn’t evaporate will accumulate in the bottom of the bowl and infuse the smoke with more moisture than is required. Such moisture interferes with smoking. It's advised that you put a pipe cleaner through the pipe three or four times while smoking.