All tobacco pipes used for smoking are going to need accessories to go with them. This is a fact. Even modern-day nomads who smoke tobacco pipes will need most if not all of the following tobacco pipe accessories in order to keep their pipes in good condition and make the most of their time as they travel.

A Soft Flame Lighter or Matches

There are two ideal ways to light a smoking pipe and keep it lit. These are long-stem matches or soft flame lighters. These lighters, in particular, have a special angled flame that burns a bit cooler than your standard budget lighter.

Even if you do prefer long-reach matches or matches in general, having a backup lighter, especially one that's known to hold up, can help ensure you're able to smoke your pipe in even damp weather. Soft flame lighters are also less likely to stop working suddenly or to not work as intended at all.

A Czech Tool or 3-in-1 Pipe Tool

The classic 3-in-1 tool features a pick (also called a reamer, spike, or poker), scoop, and tamper (also called a stubber). An alternative type forgoes the scoop for a bladed reamer useful for scraping and removing buildup but still retains the original pick and tamper. This is one of those true necessities for all modern-day nomads.

When you're on the road, pipe smoking itself has plenty of components you need to keep track of without adding more. Choosing this, the pipe smoker's multitool, can help reduce the number of things you need to carry.

Pocket Knife

If you're already a fan of the pocket knife or swiss army knife, there are some variations of these that are more tobacco pipe friendly than others. These pocket knives or multi-tools can be used to ream, scrape, tamp, and clear a bowl nearly as well as a Czech tool. However, they can also be used to cut tobacco as needed.

Tobacco Containers

Not all tobacco comes in a tin or other container with a tight-fitting lid. Or maybe you want to combine some of the tobacco you have on hand to create a special blend for a certain part of your journey. Either way, you'll need to have a clean container on hand with a tight-fitting lid to prevent excess moisture from getting into your tobacco.

An Ash Tray or Collector

As a nomad, you sometimes end up in unexpected places. No matter where you are, however, it's never a good idea to let your ash fall on the ground. It's best to collect it and empty it where you know it's safe to. By that same token, a collector with a wide mouth that can seal is often the best way to collect the ashes and other byproducts of smoking.

Pipe Cleaners

No list of tobacco pipe accessories could be complete without mentioning pipe cleaners. As a traveler, you may not want to bring a hundred pipe cleaners with you on your trip. However, due to their utility, always bring more pipe cleaners than you think you will need and of several different types.

If you have a wood pipe, briar pipe, or cob pipe it is almost impossible to use exclusively nylon brushes. Further, as pipe cleaners are necessary for absorbing moisture during a smoke, it's nearly impossible to keep only nylon brushes on hand.

Pipe Filters and Inserts

If you do want to stick to only nylon brushes, however, the best way to do that would be to incorporate filters into your tobacco smoking routine. Pipe inserts and filters help you have a cleaner, dryer experience and reduce the likelihood of tongue bite and other less-than-pleasant conditions.

A Roll or Pouch to Keep it All In and Organized

Smoking a tobacco pipe is the kind of hobby that comes with a handful of mandatory accessories. All of these are used frequently and having them floating all over your travel bag or in several different pockets at all times can get more than a little annoying.

A leather or waxed roll or pouch is how most tobacco pipe smokers organize their frequently used tobacco pipes and accessories for travel. Not only is it a lightweight solution, but a roll can grow or shrink a bit to accommodate your present amount of gear. Even better, most rolls are created with specific pockets to help you best organize your tools and tobacco pipes.

Another Tobacco Pipe

While another pipe may not be a true “accessory” it is something you may want to consider even if you're the type of modern nomad that likes to travel light. This won't change the number of tobacco pipe accessories you need, but having an alternative pipe on hand can reduce the number of times you'll need to stop and clean them and that time can also be a precious resource for a traveler.

Tobacco Pipe Accessories Aren't Negotiable

Not having at least a pocket knife, a handful of matches, and a pipe cleaner or two will make it impossible to enjoy your pipe. Without the right tools to hand, your tobacco pipe could even sustain damage or become so dirty that it's unpleasant if not impossible to smoke. With the right pipe smoking accessories and organization, you can have a complete kit that takes up no more space than a few slices of bread.