Just curious to find out what everyone's puffing on. I have only ever smoked non-filters. My main brand is Camel, but occasionally I get a taste for Lucky Strike. I smoked those for ten years before switching to Camels. When I'm in Europe I try to pick up a carton of Gitannes, absolutely the strongest cigarette I've ever tried. Every now and then I'll pick up a pack of Chesterfields or Pall Mall just to try something different. It makes me appreciate my Camels even more.
Back when I did smoke (don't anymore), I was a huge fan of Dunhill's. They were a little more expensive, but they had a very rich flavor. Unfortunately, I still miss smoking.
I'm a roller... Drum, for choice, a blend of dark Kentucky and bright Virginia that has had me hooked these 20 years... ...I'm gonna give up again soon... (honest)
I buy the cheap, cheap cigarettes from the native people. 10,00$ for a bag of 200--that's not a lot of money, yes?
As an ex smoker I must preface my remarks by stating the obvious: Cigarette smoking is dangerous. I'm 52 and I quit smoking about four years ago. I sometimes miss smoking but not usually. When I smoked cigarettes my favorite smokes were roll-your-own, or RYO. I either hand rolled them or used a little rolling machine. There are many brands of RYO tobacco, domestic and imported, that are available in smoke shops. Most of them are far superior to the tobacco used in mass produced cigarettes. Because you must take your time making your cigarettes you tend to smoke less and appreciate it more. So, cigarette smokers who don't want to quit should seriously consider RYO. Non-smokers should remain so.
I agree with you, to a point. Some of the higher end RYO tobacco is inherently "better" from a chemical standpoint, but a lot of the low end stuff is worse than the average pack of smokes offered by the majors. Zig Zag and Bugler are two I can think of that should be avoided by all costs, little more than processed floor scrapings. On the higher priced end of the spectrum, the problem that I have with the RYO in that market is the nicotine in the tobacco, or lack thereof. For someone that is used to the nic hit from the average pack of Marlboros or Newports the low nicotine count of average premium RYO tobacco could in turn cause them to smoke more. The average cigarette contains about 3 mg of nicotine, while the average hand rolled cigarette will contain about 1.5 mg. That doesn't sound like a lot, but average in the fact that we only absorb about 1mg into our bodies, the other two mgs are lost through the act of burning. In an unfiltered RYO cigarette, you'd only absorb around .03 mgs of nicotine. Some would say that's a positive, but for a heavy smoker of non-RYO cigarettes this could turn them into chain-smokers if they're not prepared. Now, I'm a chemist, so I of all people should know how harmful cigarettes are but damn it, a man's got to have a vice and this one keeps me sane. But in my research and observations, the safest form of damage control is Snus. Snus is Swedish smokeless tobacco and everyone I've known that has used it to stop smoking has successfully quit the cigarettes. I don't recommend slowing down the cigarette smoking or switching to a lighter brand, or rolling your own, but I will suggest giving some Snus a shot. It has very low levels of TSNA's (carcinogens) compared to American dip, cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco or snuff, and you don't have to walk around spitting it out. Think of it as a nicotine gum that is safer for you than nicotine gum! The Swedish Cancer agencies have been analyzing this stuff for years (and from a professional standpoint the Swiss labs are light years ahead of us here in the states) and have found no ill effects from the use of snus. I've had this stuff under the microscope and tried very hard to find something bad to say about it, but I simply can't. Snuson is a very informative forum for those that may be interested in learning some more about it. Anyway, sermon over. I just know what I've seen work for others and what works for me. I go eight to ten hours a day without being able to smoke and Snus keeps me sane, but when I get home it's Camel time. I quit the smokes for a year straight and only took Snus, and had no desire for a cigarette except for the times I was incredibly stressed to the point of having an anxiety attack. Times I've tried to "cut back" or switch to RYO all had one effect- making me smoke twice as much.
currently: camel non filter. just under 2 packs a day. or anything non menthol. i just crack the filter off.
In October it will be 10 years since I quit. I will not and cannot go back this time. Over the years, I have been through a couple dozen brands, but of all of them, nothing ever tasted as good as a Camel Straight. Second best would probably be Sherman with the dark paper. My last brand was Merit only because that is Ms. MK-ULTRA's brand and it was easier to share the same brand. She still smokes, but thankfully, not around me. I can no longer tolerate second-hand smoke (medical reasons, not because I'm one of them). I think I'm the only person in Minnesota who is happy that smoking has been banned in restaurant and bars. I hope I haven't ruined the spirit of this thread.
Roll your own. American spirit and Top aint too bad. Baccy is cheap on the res here. Cant miss the smoke shops, right next to the casino. Other then that I have been known to smoke any thing that was cheap. Filter, unfilter, Lights, 100's, hard pack, soft pack, Sonoma, you name it. I miss Japan, lucky strikes were only 175 yen. My usual is Camel Lights. I have cut down on the cigs a lot but the Pipes and Cigars have gone up on my list of bad (but oh sooo good) habits.
I can't agree more. I find myself edging dangerously close to the over two pack a day limit. Two packs a day on Luckies was my daily average, but I can't do it on Camels and still feel like I have two functioning lungs.
I've quit a good while back but back then I loved my Dunhills. I love the flavour and taste of them Dunhills. Oh crap I feel like having one again...Must ...rreessiisst!
I didn't say it in my original post but my #1's are the Travis Clubs. They're a great co. to order from. I got a box of the TC Premiums for Christmas last year and think I like the regular line better.
Rob, What kind of snus do you like? I have been exploring this world and have tried a couple american made products and one import (grand prix). I have been looking for a place to get authentic snus, but don't want to pay the large shipping rates from oversees. Also, do you bake your own or use the little packets? Tim
Plus, I have got to know. How can anyone afford to smoke 2 packs of cigarettes a day. I'm dipping a can a day of the cheap stuff and it is killing me. Unfortunately, here is Pennsylvania our congress is raising the fun, I mean sin, taxes again. :mad: Tim
