Tobacco Pipes with or without filters: pros and cons

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When it comes to tobacco pipes with or without filter, it’s important to understand the main types available: activated charcoal filters and balsa wood filters.  

The former were introduced by Vauen, while the latter by Savinelli.

Both types are commonly available in the 9 mm format, but in recent years, Vauen has also offered 6 mm activated charcoal filters.  

Activated charcoal filters are particularly popular in Germany, where aromatic tobaccos, rich in chemical additives, are widely used. These filters help tone down the often overpowering flavors typical of such tobaccos. 

In Italy, however, filters have never gained much traction.

For many years, Italian tobacco pipe manufacturers did not produce filter-compatible models, but they eventually adapted to meet market demands. Today, many tobacco pipes come with a fitting for a filter or a reducer to narrow the draft hole to 3 mm.  

What is a tobacco pipe filter for?

A tobacco pipe filter serves two primary purposes:

1. To reduce smoke intensity: it softens the flavor and aroma of the tobacco, which can sometimes be overly sweet or cloying, a common trait of tobaccos popular in Nordic countries.  

2. To ensure a drier smoke: by trapping some of the moisture during smoking.  

How long does a tobacco pipe filter last?

The lifespan of a filter depends on the type of tobacco and your smoking habits, but it’s generally recommended to replace it every two or three uses.  

What happens if you smoke without a filter?

Smoking without a filter allows you to fully appreciate the complete aromatic profile of the tobacco.

Tobacco pipes with filters typically have a 9 mm chamber to accommodate them, but if you remove the filter, a small expansion chamber is created between the shank and the mouthpiece. This setup, similar to a Reverse Calabash, helps cool the smoke.  

However, smoking without a filter can sometimes lead to increased condensation, depending on the type of tobacco pipe used.  

Tobacco pipes with filters: pros and cons

Advantages:

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- Provides a drier smoke.  

- Reduces tobacco intensity, ideal for those who prefer milder flavors.  

- Slows down tobacco pipe fouling, making it convenient for smokers who don’t clean their pipes regularly.  

Disadvantages: 

- The reduced intensity may not appeal to those who prefer a fuller smoking experience.  

Tobacco pipes without filters: pros and cons

Fabio personally prefers tobacco pipes without filters, which are a hallmark of Italian tradition. Here are the main reasons:  

Advantages:

- Allows full appreciation of natural blends and English Mixtures in their entirety. In Italy, these tobaccos are far more popular than aromatics.  

- Superior aesthetics: Smaller pipes without filters tend to have more harmonious proportions, whereas pipes with filters often have thicker, less elegant shanks.  

Disadvantages:

- Smoking without a filter can result in a more intense experience, requiring greater care during use.  

How to choose a tobacco pipe filter

There are many options available on the market for both activated charcoal and balsa wood filters. Among the most reputable brands are Vauen, renowned for its high-quality activated charcoal filters, and Savinelli, the go-to brand for exceptional balsa wood filters.  

Both brands offer filters in 6 mm and 9 mm formats.  

How to change a tobacco pipe filter

Replacing a tobacco pipe filter is very simple, you just need to remove the tobacco pipe's mouthpiece, insert the filter into the designated slot and reattach the mouthpiece.

If your tobacco pipe has a reducer for 9 mm filters, simply remove it before inserting the filter.

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EDIT: Fixed Capitalization in Title (See Rule 9) - Bob

I have pipes that take 9mm, I have Balsa (Savinelli) pipes, and I also have filterless pipes.

Here's my take:

The 9mm filter: It does take away some of the flavor in the smoke, but it also does provide a much cooler and more dry smoke. The flavour will taste more 'bland' with a 9mm filter. If you are a noob, you will not even notice the difference. Experienced pipe smokers will.

Balsa: I wouldn't even call these filters. They are basically just moisture traps. They do not alter the smoke taste, but they prevent gurgling and moisture build up within the pipe. They are really only good for one smoke. If you try to smoke two bowls with the same filter, the pipe will gurgle. They also smell rancid.

Filterless: Highest flavour, highest difficulty. However, ease of access and abundance of pipe options come into play. I don't want to shit on anyone, but most experienced pipe smokers prefer filterless (myself included). This provides a huge range of options for aesthetics, shapes, sizes and brands. Also, naturally, if you don't have to buy filters ($0.10/smoke) then filterless is a cheaper long term option. I have avoided filters big time. I really don't like them and have been really negatively disposed towards putting another thing into my smoke.

Recently however I have been have been experimenting with Balsa filters to help in taming some blends. In some cases I regret to admit that I really like the effect of what I perceive to be a slightly cooler and dryer smoke.

It has taken me a while to admit it, but I think as I am a bit of a wet smoker anyhow, it really has helped me enjoy smoking more. So the .10 cents a smoke is worth it, though I have read of some people making their own out of a sheet of Balsa for much less.

So some pros and cons from my point of view...

Pro: Potentially dryer and cooler smoke - for tongue bite/burn people, this might be a help.

Con: More cost, another component to carry (albeit really small) and may alter the taste.

I am very pleased with my experiments with Balsa filters so far and suspect I will be sticking with them in the short term. I smoke a bowl a day, maybe two on weekends, and I mostly don't use filters, but either filterless pipes or adaptors or filter pipes without adaptors mostly. However, I use filters on occasion, though sometimes I have to look around to locate them. I think they are good for pipe shows or pipe clubs where you may be sampling blends and end up smoking more than usual. Also, for getting a milder take on a strong tobacco, just because that's what you'd like at the moment, or in sampling heavy duty leaf before you smoke it neat. Europeans have take the 9 mm totally to heart, it seems, and it would be interesting to know if, in the process, they have increased the number of bowls they smoke to compensate. With some milder blends, a filter pretty much eliminates flavor for me. I smoke a 9mm charcoal filter about 80% of the time and I find the whole less flavour thing to be untrue. I can smoke moister tobacco in a 9mm and (to me) moister tobacco has more flavour. A 9mm also knocks off the rough edges in the same way a filter on a cigarette does (again just my experience.)
The whole open draw thing I don't really notice, I get about the same from both filtered & unfiltered. Obviously you cant pass a pipe cleaner halfway through a bowl as the filter is in the way but using a 9mm I've never felt the need to anyway.
Tongue bite I definitely notice more in an unfiltered pipe and especially so if there's red Virginia in the blend. As for 9mm's not really doing anything to clean the smoke all I can think is that carbon is well known for its filtering properties and every used 9mm is wet and full of gunk. To me it would be the same as saying a filter on a cigarette does nothing when I only have to look at a used one to see it does.
As with most things in smoking you need to try it and make your own mind up.