Smoking Pipes
A smoking pipe is the simplest way to use tobacco without rolling anything. There is no paper, no tip and nothing to replace beyond the occasional screen. This collection holds 75 pipes covering glass, metal and wooden designs, from 8cm pocket pieces up to 20cm glass pipes, along with gift sets that pair a pipe with a grinder, a tin and spare screens. Prices start at £1.99.
Most of the range comes from Loud with a few pieces from Red Eye. Choosing between them comes down to three things. The material decides how clean the smoke tastes and how much heat reaches your hand. The length decides how portable it is and how far the smoke travels before reaching you. The bowl decides how much you can pack at once. Pipes are sold to adults aged 18 and over only.
Pipe materials
Glass
Glass is inert, so it adds nothing of its own to the flavour. That is why glass is the usual choice for anyone who wants to taste the tobacco rather than the pipe. The trade off is fragility. A glass pipe carried loose in a pocket wants a tin around it. Glass also shows residue quickly, which is a useful cleaning cue.
Metal
Metal pipes are the hard wearing option. They survive being carried loose and they are usually the cheapest way into a pipe. Metal conducts heat, so the body warms noticeably during a longer session. Many metal designs here unscrew into two or three parts, which makes them far easier to clean out than a single piece design.
Wood
Wooden pipes are the traditional format and the most comfortable to hold, because wood carries heat poorly. The bowl seasons over time as residue works into the grain, which gradually changes the character of the smoke. Wooden pipes normally take a metal bowl insert or a screen to protect the wood itself.
Shapes and sizes
One hitters. Small straight pipes sized for a single draw. Discreet, quick to load and easy to keep clean.
Straight pipes. A bowl at one end with a straight stem, the most common design here at lengths from 8cm to 20cm. A longer stem gives the smoke more distance to cool.
Bent and Sherlock shapes. A curved stem moves the bowl away from your face and shifts the balance, so the pipe rests in the hand rather than needing to be gripped.
Discreet designs. Credit card pipes fold flat into a wallet. Novelty shapes such as dice and six shooter designs disguise the outline completely.
Pipes with a built in grinder. Several metal designs house a small grinder inside the body, so preparation and use happen in one item.
Gift sets and what is in the box
Gift sets bundle parts you would otherwise buy separately, which makes them the best value entry point. A typical set pairs a metal pipe with a small grinder, a storage tin and spare screens.
Screens, cleaning and upkeep
A screen is a small mesh disc that sits at the base of the bowl to stop material being pulled through into the stem. Screens are consumable. Replace one as soon as it clogs or warps. They cost pennies and affect how a pipe draws more than anything else.
Cleaning is straightforward. Empty the bowl after use while it is still warm. Once a week, take the pipe apart as far as it will come and soak the metal or glass parts in warm water with a little isopropyl alcohol, then rinse thoroughly and dry fully before the next use. Wooden pipes should never be soaked. Wipe the bowl out, run a pipe cleaner through the stem and let the wood dry naturally.
Choosing your first pipe
For a first pipe, an 8cm metal design or a small glass straight pipe covers the basics for under £5. If you want the cleanest flavour, buy glass and buy a tin to carry it in. If the pipe will live in a bag or a work jacket, buy metal. If you want something that lasts for years, buy wood and accept that it needs gentler cleaning.
Buying smoking products in the UK
Pipes, grinders and smoking accessories are age restricted. Vapestore Direct sells them to adults aged 18 and over only and every order is age checked before it leaves. No tobacco is included.
Delivery and support
UK delivery is free on orders over £20. Orders placed on working days are dispatched quickly. If you want to confirm the size or the contents of a gift set before ordering, call the team on 07827 210361 between 8.30am and 4.00pm.
Smoking pipe questions answered
Which pipe material is best?
It depends on what you want from it. Glass is inert so it gives the cleanest taste, although it needs careful handling. Metal is the toughest option and usually the cheapest, although it warms up in the hand during longer use. Wood is the most comfortable to hold and develops character as it seasons, yet it needs gentler cleaning because it cannot be soaked.
How do I clean a smoking pipe?
Empty the bowl after each use. Once a week, dismantle the pipe as far as it will go and soak the metal or glass parts in warm water with a little isopropyl alcohol for around half an hour, then rinse well and dry fully before the next use. Never soak a wooden pipe. Wipe the bowl, run a pipe cleaner through the stem and leave it to dry naturally.
What is a pipe screen and do I need one?
A screen is a small mesh disc that sits at the base of the bowl to stop material being drawn into the stem. It keeps the draw clear and stops the pipe clogging. Screens are consumable, so replace them once they discolour or block. Several of the gift sets in this collection include a set of spares.
What is a one hitter pipe?
A one hitter is a small straight pipe with a narrow bowl sized for a single draw. They are popular because they are discreet, they load in seconds and they take almost no cleaning. The One Hit Pipe by Red Eye in this collection is an example of the format.
Are there pipes with a grinder built in?
Yes. Several metal designs house a small grinder inside the body so you carry one item instead of two. The 12cm six shooter pipe integrates a grinder into the pipe itself, while the Union Jack set pairs a metal pipe with a separate grinder.
What is included in a pipe gift set?
It varies by set. A common combination is a metal pipe, a small grinder, a storage tin and a few spare screens, boxed ready to give. The exact contents are listed on each product page, so check there first if you need a particular item included.
Do I have to be 18 to buy a smoking pipe?
Yes. Smoking pipes and accessories are age restricted products in the UK. Orders are age verified before dispatch and identification may be requested. Pipes are sold on their own with no tobacco included.