Does your pipe fit your face?

PappyJoe · February 2017

Do you consider how the pipe shape "fits" your face when you buy a new pipe?

Consider this - I know one rather large fellow (not fat but about 6-ft, 6 in. tall and weighs about 275 lbs.) He is BIG in appearance. He smokes small pipes and on him, it looks like a person under 6 ft. tall chewing on a toothpick. The pipe just doesn't fit. On the other hand I have another friend who is about 5'4" in height and smokes jumbo size pipes. You can hardly see his face for the pipe and the smoke.

Now those examples are about what size the pipe is, but what about the shape? Do you have a shape and style of pipe that you look better smoking. Are there shapes and styles of pipes that make you look funny when you smoke them?

Personally, I think medium size bent pipes suit my face better than straight pipes but I also look cool smoking my churchwardens.

What about you?

ghostsofpompeii · February 2017

There is no pipe that could properly fit my face or improve my looks. The only thing that properly fits my face would be a Hannibal Lecter mask. 0351abd7d87912d82b2ae5049be5f5c5

ghostsofpompeii · February 2017

Here is a perfect example of a pipe that does not fit a face. 2012-08-14-duckbillmouth

JosiahWN · February 2017

I personally think more about how it feels in my hand than how it looks with my face. Although most my pipes are about the same size bowl and I think that looks good on me. As for shape though I don't give it much thought. Maybe I'll look in the mirror more before I have a smoke.

ghostsofpompeii · February 2017

To be serious for a moment I'd have to say the pipes which best suit my face would be the Bent Rhodesian like my Peterson Dracula 999, as well as most pipes in the Bent Apple or bent Calabash style. Even the Hungarian Oom Paul adds the illusion of length if your face is more of a roundish nature. I'd also suggest certain pipes look better with beards while others are more suited for a clean shaven face.

PappyJoe · February 2017

@ghostsofpompeii - despite your FAILED attempt at humor, your last comment shows you understand what I was asking.

But, does it play a part in your pipe buying?

Deadpool57 · February 2017

This directly affects how I buy my pipes. As a 6'3" man I'm not going to buy a tiny pipe, but with that being said I'm not buying a pipe larger than my fist either. Maybe I'll change my ways down the road. Either way, a pipe that is too large to be clenched in the teeth is only enjoyable to a smoker that can be seated unless they want a pipe to go out from wind or walking. (Only my experience, others might have a difference of opinion and yes I understand you can get a wind cap) The times I get a chance to smoke is normally when I'm working or walking from one place to another. Learning about pipes from my grandfather, he never wanted a pipe that he couldn't fit in his pocket while working on his ship. Maybe I'm just holding on to his ways. Great Topic! PCB 2015

xDutchx · February 2017

What I am looking for in a pipe, has absolutely nothing to do with the shape of my face. I can understand why someone would consider it, but for me it would throw an additional standard into the mix. When I first started buying pipes, I bought anything that caught my eye, but now that I really know what I like, I tend to immediately rule out a lot of pipes. The list of pipes that meet the criteria, is short enough already.

PappyJoe · February 2017

@xdutchx - don't get me wrong with the original post. I only buy new pipes that catch my eye or fit my hand well. Estate pipes I tend to buy pipes specifically by the brand and condition.

I ask the question because a comment was made about a particular pipe fitting my appearance.

mfresa · February 2017

From now on, I'm going for the look of the briar. Bird's eye and flame, preferably.

ghostsofpompeii · February 2017

@PappyJoe Until you asked the question I never really considered the symmetry of my face to the pipe I'm smoking. But you bring up a good point to consider. I'm usually attracted to the look of the pipe more so than how I look smoking it. Because for the most part pipe smoking is something of a solitary experience for me, and I tend to smoke in my backyard. I like pipes with a little flare and unique design. Maybe it's the stem - which was what attracted me to the Peterson Dracula pipe; the quirky split personality of the Peterson Jekyll & Hyde; the two HS Studio pipes - one of which looked more like a volcano and the other like a piece of art from Swiss Artist H.R. Giger; or the beautifully illustrated Nording freehand pipe my wife just bought as a Valentine's Day gift. With the exception of the HS Studio pipes which appear to be crafted by the same artist - all the pipes I just mentioned vary greatly in shape and size.

As an experiment to test your theory I pulled out a variety of my pipes and stood in front of a mirror to see if there was a specific size or shape that best suited my face - and what I discovered was with the exception of my Gourd Calabash - which made me look a bit foolish - there wasn't really anything in my collection that either enhanced or detracted from my appearance. And another thing to consider is some of the larger freehand and Calabash style pipes I own tend to be pipes I usually hold when smoking rather than clench them between my teeth.

xDutchx · February 2017

@PappyJoe, I understand better now, where the question originated. I have noticed the same suggestions, pertaining to eye glasses. You will hear that folks with angular faces, should stick with angular style frames, and folks with rounded faces, should stick with round style frames.

Once you start paying attention to the eyeglasses people are wearing, you will probably notice like I did, that quite a few of them never got the advice. Then again maybe they did, but chose to ignore it.