Field Notes

The number is $300,000. The more interesting part is what that money is actually buying, which turns out to have almost nothing to do with smoking. Then we made up six pipes of our own.

I went looking for a pipe that worked well, cleaned easily, and looked good enough to leave out. Nothing ticked all three boxes, so I spent four years building one. Here's the standard I came away with, and how to use it on things you already own.

A practical comparison of glass vs metal pipes based on taste over time, durability in daily life, and how clean “clean” really gets.

Why most ashtrays are hidden objects, and what changes when an ashtray is designed to live openly in your space as a considered, permanent object.

Most ashtrays are open trays, so odor escapes and you end up emptying them immediately. Use this checklist to find a modern, sealed, discreet designer ashtray.

Designer ashtrays treat function as baseline, then refine material, geometry, and longevity so the object performs better and ages predictably.

Small pipes are notoriously hot and messy. Discover how Artifact solved this path-design problem using shaped internal geometry and magnetic access to ensure cooler pulls and full-open, seconds-long cleanups.

Inspired by brutalist architecture and modern sculpture, the Tempest is the only pipe of its kind. No colors. No curves. Just clean geometry and perfect function.

A modern smoking pipe uses better materials, smarter cooling, and tool-less cleaning. Tempest shows what the future of dry pipes looks like.

The Tempest is redefining what a dry pipe can be. Its square aluminum labyrinth routes smoke along cold metal walls for smoother, cooler hits with no water, no gimmicks, and no hassle.

Magnets in a smoking pipe? Yep. Cleaner draws, faster access, no gunked-up threads. Here’s why magnetic pipes are the future of modern smoking.

Not all pipes are created equal. Designer pipes bring together smart engineering, premium materials, and intentional design to upgrade the way you smoke.