Ribbon-cut tobacco is among the most ubiquitous tobacco cuts on the market, and it's also one of the easiest to prepare. Aside from optional drying time, it requires no preparation beforehand, meaning ribbon-cut tobacco may be loaded directly from the tin, pouch, or whatever container houses the tobacco. Today I'll be demonstrating how I personally pack ribbon-cut tobacco: the Gravity Fill method.

The Easiest Packing Technique: The Gravity Fill Method

The Gravity Fill method is among the easiest ways to load a pipe, especially for people just entering the hobby. It's incredibly forgiving and easy to redo if not right the first time. Essentially, the technique involves gravity loading tobacco into the chamber and applying pressure at various stages and to varying degrees.

This staged approach results in three layers, so to speak, with the bottom of the chamber the least tightly packed, the middle slightly more densely packed, and the top the most tightly packed. These layers help facilitate consistent airflow and a smooth, even burn as the ember moves down the chamber.

How to Pack and Light Ribbon-Cut Tobacco:

1. Gently Fill The Pipe With Tobacco

Start filling the chamber by sprinkling the tobacco inside. It's best not to stuff or shove tobacco into the bowl; instead, let gravity do the work until the chamber overflows. This process can be a bit messy, so it's best to load the pipe on a flat surface like a table, desk, or a dedicated tobacco mat. Even a simple sheet of paper under the pipe can facilitate easier cleanup afterward.

2. Lightly Push The Tobacco Down

At this stage, I push the tobacco down, careful not to apply much pressure and stopping when I feel resistance. Really, I'm just pressing the tobacco back together, applying light pressure to equalize the density. For me, this procedure typically results in a bowl about two-thirds full, but depending on the size of your pipe, your mileage may vary.

3. Check The Draw Of The Pipe

The next step is to check the draw of the pipe. What I look for is little to zero resistance. I don't want to feel the same draw as if I'm drinking a thick milkshake, because smoking with that level of resistance will result in poor performance and frustration.

4. Repeat Steps One Through Three

Once I've checked the draw, I sprinkle more tobacco into the chamber, again to the point where it's nearly overflowing. Then, I tamp with my finger, applying a little more pressure than before to even it all out before checking the draw again for resistance.

The pipe I'm smoking today has a relatively small chamber, so I only need to sprinkle a little on the top and give it one final tamp. Again, be mindful of the pressure applied here. The point isn't to compress the tobacco; it's to ensure that the tobacco maintains a certain shape when lit. Depending on how large the chamber is, you may need to repeat this step multiple times; for pipes with smaller chambers, you may need only repeat this step once or twice.

5. Perform The Charring Light

Once the pipe is packed and you've triple-checked the draw, it's time to light up. Simply put, a charring light serves to prime the pipe for the smoke and helps ensure an even burn throughout the bowl. While it's possible to forgo a charring light, many pipe smokers note that it helps keep tobacco in the chamber at the beginning of the smoke and affords a more consistent burn.

While puffing, apply flame consistently along the top of the tobacco, ensuring that all of the top-level strands achieve equal combustion. Let the ember extinguish and tamp down the resulting ash and strands of tobacco that have risen while burning. This critical step creates a layer of easily ignited tobacco, which facilitates the burning of the next layer and encourages a more even, consistent burn with fewer relights.

While some people extend the waiting period between the charring light and smoking the entire bowl as part of the Delayed Gratification Technique, the ember only needs to go out briefly to achieve that essential layer of ash. When ready to resume, reapply a soft flame to the tobacco while puffing at your desired cadence to relight the pipe.

These steps offer a basic introduction into packing and lighting a pipe using the Gravity Fill method. While I and many others prefer this technique for ribbon-cut mixtures, it's by no means the only way to pack this style of tobacco. It is, however, an excellent, foundational skill every pipe smoker should experiment with, especially those learning the fundamentals. Each pipe behaves slightly differently, and we all have different preferences, so consider experimenting with this method as a jumping off point for your own techniques and variations. Have a favorite packing method of your own? Want to request a new how-to video? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!