No matter how much I love something, there's always something I find irritating. Nothing is perfect. Popcorn is one of my favorite snacks, but damn, it's frustrating having to pick it out of my teeth. Pipe smoking is no exception: While it's been one of my most enjoyed pastimes for more than 15 years, there are certain aspects that just plain suck.

We spend a lot of time on The Daily Reader discussing the amazing, interesting, and commendable aspects of pipe smoking, but it's high time someone recognized its less-attractive elements. Don't get me wrong: I'm not saying its shortcomings make pipe smoking unworthy of pursuing, but it isn't all glitz and glamor, rest and relaxation, fun and games — pick your cliché. It can be a real pain in the ass, and sometimes we need to vent about it.

Failed Seal on an Old Tobacco Tin

Cellaring tobacco is a lovely accompaniment to pipe smoking. Fresh tobacco and a nice pipe are already inherent goods, but cellaring tobacco and aging it only improves upon the already enjoyable experience. Moreover, the anticipation accrued over years of aging only adds investment and commitment to the process, making the eventual smoking even more satisfying.

Once at a pipe show, I purchased a 20-year-aged tin of Capstan Blue. I waited until I returned home to open it: My palate needed to recover after non-stop smoking at the show, and it would be a good celebratory toast to the fun weekend past. The fool I was. At some point in the tin's 20-year lifespan, its seal had failed — not enough to have made the lid noticeably loose or anything, but enough to allow air inside. Instead of dark-brown flakes rich with aromatic notes of tang, fruit, and sweetness, I was met with, essentially, sawdust.

Few things are worse than discovering unsmokeable tobacco at no fault of your own. Sure, it's the risk we take when cellaring (and a good reminder to replace metal tins with mason jars if you're committed not to reselling the tobacco), but man, is it a letdown when it happens.

Blowing Ash

This pet peeve, admittedly, is partly my fault, but that doesn't keep it from being annoying as hell. Sometimes a bent pipe hangs at just the right angle that when I retrohale or breathe out of my nose, the exhalation poofs a cloud of ash everywhere. Everything will be going great. Then, I'll adjust the pipe in my teeth, and the next moment, I look like I just emerged from a coal mine. Similarly, someone or something will make me laugh while clenching a pipe, and my unexpected chuckle will produce the same result.

For this reason, I recommend avoiding stand-up comedy, funny podcasts, and all other forms of humor when smoking a pipe. Pipe smoking is a serious endeavor and shouldn't be tainted by such foolish pursuits. Plus, ash is best kept inside the chamber.

Running Out of Lighting Source

Myriad methods of lighting a pipe exist: matches, lighters — those fueled by butane and those by lighter fluid — cedar spills, etc. They all offer their advantages and disadvantages, but they all share a need for being resupplied or refilled. And with lighters, it's difficult to discern their current fuel level until it's nigh empty. I can't count the number of times I've been on a long drive or out of the house, away from my butane canister, only to have a lighter start to peter out mid-smoke. Running out of pipe cleaners or forgetting a tamper are nuisances, but that won't prevent you from smoking at that moment. Losing a lighting source, however, is game over.

Missing Out on a Limited Release

This is a sore spot for a lot of pipe smokers: missing out on a limited release, or a release of any kind. Whether it's the most recent edition within Peterson's Charles Peterson Collection, Cornell & Diehl's latest Small Batch, or one of the precious few and scant Esoterica restocks, failing to procure an anticipated release can be devastating. And I doubt there's a pipe smoker out there who hasn't experienced this pet peeve in some form or another.

Moreover, nowadays, the knife is twisted thanks to internet forums and social media. Not only must I experience the disappointment of losing out, but now I have to witness everyone else enjoying it in front of me online. The only salves are hoping that one of my buddies is willing to share and knowing that the joy and excitement derived from the times I do score a special release vastly outweigh the disappointment when I don't.

Drying Out Tobacco

This is an admittedly anal pet peeve but an honest one nonetheless. After I've gathered all the assorted and necessary pipe-smoking accoutrement — lighter, tamper, cleaners, ashtray, pipe, tobacco, etc (yes, yes, I know I should just keep them all together) — the last thing I want to do is wait five minutes after realizing the tin I just opened has too high of a moisture content. Now, there are some blends and some manufacturers that simply always require drying time, so this irritation is exclusively for those unexpected occurrences. Pipe smoking is already a slow, deliberative process; I don't want to add to it, but I guess waiting for tobacco to dry builds character. Plus, it's worth it since the only thing worse than having to dry tobacco out is trying to smoke a bowl packed with tobacco that hasn't been dried out enough. An absolute nightmare and an utter waste of butane or matches.

In a similar vein, it's equally annoying having to repack a bowl that you've inadvertently packed too tightly. Sometimes the eagerness of wanting to try a certain blend or the greediness of wanting as much tobacco in the chamber as possible really backfires on me, and I have to walk it back like an idiot. It's still a pet peeve but definitely one entirely within my own control. I'll admit that. Again, though, it's worth repacking because the only thing worse than having to repack a bowl is trying to smoke overly packed tobacco. Smoking a pipe isn't supposed to be like drinking a milkshake.

Wind

It's a well-known fact that Mother Nature hates pipe smokers: Summers are too hot; winters are too cold; and there's wind year 'round. Today's pipe smokers are resigned to sacrificing comfort for the sake of enjoying a smoke outside, but we all do it because it's worth it. Gloves and scarves and coats do enough to make the cold bearable; shorts and tank tops and shade help abate the heat; or you're one of the lucky few able to smoke somewhere indoors.

Wind, however, is unbeatable. If you were able to light your pipe ahead of time, you can survive — wind caps are wonderful tools — but gods be with you if you need to relight. Plus, doesn't the wind always seem to increase as soon as a pipe is present? I'm telling you: Mother Nature hates pipe smokers.

Tobacco in the Airway

The only thing worse than drawing on a freshly lit pipe only to be greeted by a tiny fleck of tobacco that's traveled up from the chamber is if it's accompanied by the nasty tobacco juice/gunk combination that sometimes accumulates at the bottom of the chamber while smoking. Revulsion doesn't even begin to cut it. The experience is so unequivocally unpleasant that it's enough to ruin the whole bowl thanks to the acrid, lingering flavor it leaves as well as the fear of it happening again. All of the other pet peeves on this list are tolerable; this one, though, would make me give up pipe smoking if it was a normal part of the process. Blech.

All right, I've ranted long enough now. Your turn. What are some of your biggest pet peeves about our beloved hobby? The more irrational, the better.