Purchasing a pipe is like buying a car or a good suit. You search for quality, and you also make sure it’s a good fit for you and your lifestyle. You don’t mind paying a bit more for quality and craftsmanship, but you don’t want to get ripped off either. When purchasing a new pipe, you should consider the following criteria.

Most pipes are made of briar, a hard Mediterranean-grown wood that chars, but is resistant to burning. Briar is porous, which means it will burn relatively cool. Older briar usually has more porosity and is therefore lighter in weight. Older, well-cured briar is more expensive. There are interesting and less expensive pipes made of cherry or olive wood, but these are softer than briar and won’t hold up as well for a primary pipe.

Meerschaum (magnesium silica), which means “sea foam” in German, is a white material found primarily in Turkey that is often carved into busts or other designs. A unique feature of meerschaum pipes is that they change color over time as they are smoked, gradually transforming from white, to tan, to brown, and eventually to a dark chocolate color. Meerschaum pipes are fragile and must be handled carefully. They should only be thought of as a pipe for the smoker who has a selection of briars already.

Other pipes you’ll come across are inexpensive corncobs. Since they are very absorbent, they tend to become rank and are not an ideal choice for long-term smoking. Clay pipes smoke hot and are fragile. You should exclude them for anything but historical reenactments. For all practical purposes, briar is the material to choose for your initial pipe purchase.