Lesson 101: How to Find a Decent Pipe That is Right for You

There are four main types of pipes: clay, meerschaum, briar, and corn cob. Some would classify a calabash (gourd) pipe as its own type as well, but given that a calabash pipe has a briar or meerschaum insert placed in it I would argue to not give the it its own category. All types of pipes have there pros and cons.

Clay
The first pipes were clay and had long stems (the first churchwarden pipes). Legend holds it that these pipes were kept in pubs for the patrons to smoke - thus why clay pipes today are often sold as "pub" or "tavern" pipes. After one person would smoke the pipe, he would break off the end for the next person to have a fresh stem. After the stem was broken down to a short length, the pipe would be thrown out and replaced.

Pros: Clay pipes are quite inexpensive (typically costing $20.00 or less). They also are said to smoke well (I have not tried one), do not ghost and do not burn.
Cons: Clay pipes are fragile. Their bowls also conduct the heat from the burning ember, meaning you have to hold one by its stem.

Meerschaum
Meerschaum is a soft white stone that typically comes from Turkey (whether or not all meerschaum comes from Turkey or not, I do not know and honestly do not care). Pipes made of meerschaum are often times carved figurally and are in themselves works of art.

Pros: These pipes are beautiful and as they are smoked turn from white into different shades of brown. They also smoke well and do not ghost.
Cons: Meerschaum pipes are also fragile - but not as fragile as clay. The tenon/mortise system used to connect the stem and the shank can also be annoying. On top of that they can be quite expensive, but can also cost less than $100.00.

Briar
I could go to a local smoke shop and buy a briar pipe for $25.00, but could also spend more than $3,000.00 on one as well. With such variety it is hard to summarize it all in just a few words. Still though, the absolute basics are pretty much the same. Briar is the root of tree heath - a Mediterranian shrub. As such, briar is an extremely hard wood that is not prone to burn. Most pipes are made of this, albeit there are some wooden pipes made of other hard woods.

Pros: Briar is the current standard for pipes. It is durable and you can find a decent pipe for a fairly low price. Also there is the most variety in styles of briar pipes. Beyond that, a wood pipe is the only kind of pipe that it is okay to allow cake to build.
Cons: Briar is wood. Wood can burn - even if it is resistant to burning - so you need to take care to make sure that you don't burn out your pipe. Briar can also be extremely expensive and can ghost old tobacco blends.

Corn Cob
Not much to say here. It's a corn cob - made popular by Popeye and General MacArthur.

Pros: Cobs are the cheapest of all pipes. They also don't ghost.
Cons: Cobs may not ghost, but when I have tried to smoke one all I tasted was corn. The stems are also a bit brittle and can crack easily*.

For more information in regards to pipe shapes, see ASPipes' Pipe Shape Chart as this site has the best listing I've seen.

Currently listening to: With Teeth by Nine Inch Nails.

* I have been told that what caused this in the cob I tried was a manufacturing error that unfortunately continued to occur for a couple of years, but that Missouri Meerschaum has since changed who makes their stems.