Bands on? Bands off?

[azpostal]

I leave the band on until at least 1/3 of the way, this usually makes it easier to losen up the band.

[mrreindeer]

Originally Posted by ezmoney5150

When I first started smoking cigars I would take the band off because it just looked too elite for me.

A few guys on here mentioned that fact...and I also read as I was getting into the hobby that the proper etiquette was to take it off as to not 'advertise' or 'flaunt' the cigar you're smoking to others who might not be able to acquire or afford that particular cigar. I thought this was stupid and keep the label on to this day.

Originally Posted by Architeuthis

Squid® takes the cello off... Very carefully removes the band intact... Puts the band on the cello... Takes the wrapper off the cigar... Very carefully puts the wrapper around the cello (with the band on it)... Then I age the thing for ten years... Then smoke the well aged cello-in-wrapper... Throw the rest of the cigar away... <G>

I like it!

Originally Posted by c2000

I leave mine on hoping that it will impress someone near me that knows cigars..


Jerry (cigar snob) in Minnesota.

You crack me up Jerry.

Originally Posted by alexandermorgovsky

although it would be favorable for me to keep it on until just before burn reaches it, I take it off pre-light. Reason is I like to have a firm hold of the cigar in my mouth, and the band usually touches my lips, which I don't like, so I take it off.

How far you putting that sucker in, Alex?

Originally Posted by e-man

I have heard that the reason that etiquette says to remove the band comes from the British. If you're smoking a high end cigar, you don't want to flaunt it in front of others who may be smoking a lesser brand.

Yeah...that's what I read....seems silly. Who cares! I want to know what you're smokin' and I don't care if it was a $1 yardgar or a $40 Stratavarius.

[tx_tuff]

Originally Posted by e-man

I have heard that the reason that etiquette says to remove the band comes from the British. If you're smoking a high end cigar, you don't want to flaunt it in front of others who may be smoking a lesser brand.

Yeah and some people leave the band on for the "look what I'm smoking" effect. But you can tell those people 90% of the time anyway.

About telling how much you have smoke. When I'm doing a review and writing notes I will make a letter legend at the bottom of the page. I put two marks showing the length of the cigar, and one for the 1/3 mark and 2/3 mark. Works great.

[jmgosman]

I've always heard that keeping the band on helps strengthen the wrapper in the same way that paper wrapping strengthens a glass bottle. Also, every time I've tried to cut my cigar after removing the band I tend to get a messier cut.

[MrMayorga]

What? Your suppose to take the band off? No wonder I can't keep a mustache on my face.

[jmgosman]

Originally Posted by MrMayorga

What? Your suppose to take the band off? No wonder I can't keep a mustache on my face.

I can't either, but I don't think that has anything to do with my bands

[sonic_mike]

I leave it on because I hate it when my white gloves turn yellow.

[LibertyToad]

In general, I will take it off. I'm there to smoke it not flaunt it.

[Cigary]

If the band can come off without tearing or damaging the wrapper I will usually take if off after about 10 minutes or so and by that point it should but if its a pain to tear it off I will smoke it down to the band and once there it's easy to tear it off without any damage whatsoever. I am not into "see what I smoke" and just like what I like and if it was a Swisher Sweets I'd have no problem letting anyone know.

[Architeuthis]

Actually, some sticks that I'm familiar with tend to get hotter than usual and I'll leave the bands on those to unsulate so my fingers don't suffer.

[Mullet]

i like to take it off because it gives me a lot of pleasure to smoke something without a brand name on it.

There are some people that claim removing the band might somehow unravel the cigar -- i've smoked thousands of cigars and if done carefully, this will never happen.

Leaving the band on the cigar is totally okay, but the argument that taking the band off might hurt the wrapper is ridiculous. 1 out of 1000 chance of that happening.

If you really want to impress the people you're smoking with, I suggest leaving the band on the cigar. They might be smoking a $5 piece of shit and happen to notice your $30 GOF!

You just got an instant credibility boost! Leaving the band on is somewhat like "post count" on a message board. Some people have a really HIGH post count but don't consider that to be anything more than what it is.

Some people have a high post count and consider it to be a barometer for status.

It's up to you -- if you leave the band on or if you take the band off -- it's a personal decision that can only be made person-to-person.

[tx_tuff]

While I have enjoyed some GOFs there are a lot of $5 smokes I would grab first.


And the only thing my high post count means is that I spent way to much time on CL LOL.

[jamesb3]

Leave my bands on, just out of habit more than anything.

[Vagrant]

I leave mine on, but that's mainly because when I started smoking, it's how I saw it done. Guess I just picked up on it. Now, it's just because I'm used to it.

[Cigary]

Originally Posted by Mullet

i like to take it off because it gives me a lot of pleasure to smoke something without a brand name on it.

There are some people that claim removing the band might somehow unravel the cigar -- i've smoked thousands of cigars and if done carefully, this will never happen.
I not only claim it but have been smoking for probably longer than you have been breathing and I do run into bands that will damage the wrapper. Is it a common occurance? No it's not but it does happen.

Leaving the band on the cigar is totally okay, but the argument that taking the band off might hurt the wrapper is ridiculous. 1 out of 1000 chance of that happening.
It's not as ridiculous as you might think but then again that would imply that you have considerable knowledge about this kind of thing,,which I know you don't because I have read and talked with a considerable amount of people who say the same thing in regards to taking bands off will on occasion tear the wrapper. I find it more in the number of 1 out of every 100. The bands on some manufacturers tend to wrap it a bit tight and all you have to do is run a search on this topic to know that it does happen and it can be a pain,,,but to suggest that those who "claim" that it happens is ridiculous,,,,,well that is pretty feeble to suggest without any proof whatsoever. Do a search on Cigar bands that tear wrappers and I'll bet you a 5 pak that I can find more about it than you can find where they don't.

If you really want to impress the people you're smoking with, I suggest leaving the band on the cigar. They might be smoking a $5 piece of shit and happen to notice your $30 GOF!
The only people who will be impressed is people who have a low opinion of themselves that think by smoking a cigar will impress anyone in particular,,,,that my friend, is ridiculous.

You just got an instant credibility boost! Leaving the band on is somewhat like "post count" on a message board. Some people have a really HIGH post count but don't consider that to be anything more than what it is.

Some people have a high post count and consider it to be a barometer for status.

It's up to you -- if you leave the band on or if you take the band off -- it's a personal decision that can only be made person-to-person.

The last 3 statements are right on the button.