Surprisingly, there are many different techniques and tutorials on how to pack a pipe; as with smoking, many of us have personal rituals or techniques tailored to our experience. Here are a few of our favorites to try:
- Frank Method – The Frank Method, developed by Achim Frank for use in pipe smoking competitions, involves compacting the tobacco from the sides without tamping or packing the top. This leads to a firm layer of tobacco at the top of the pipe bowl with a looser layer beneath, without over-compressing the top and making it difficult to draw. This firm top layer and looser bottom produce a longer burn with fewer re-lights, which is also perfect for everyday smoking.
- Another technique is picking up pipe tobacco in very small pinches, rolling it without compressing it between fingers, and dropping it into the bowl. Once the bowl is full, you can gently press down either using a pipe tamper or fingers, but do it slowly and lightly to avoid packing too tightly, which causes difficulty drawing from the pipe and causes it to go out frequently.