Bands on? Bands off?

[Herf N Turf]

Wow! I never expected a lot of what has come out of this thread. Thanks to everyone who has put their thoughts down in pixels, so far.

I must posthumously admit that there are a couple venues where I have been known to leave a band on. These are places where I know there are a few BOTL's afoot and will undoubtedly ask me what I'm smoking. I simply pull the band and hand it to them. That way, they have something concrete that they can stick in their pocket and take to the BM for processing.

Otherwise, 99% of the time, I remove it. On some sticks, my lips hit it and that's bothersome. On others, it occurs where I like to grasp the cigar and my fingers prefer wrapper to paper. Having had it drilled into me by my stogie mentor, I mostly take them off out of tradition.

Certainly, there is a lot of "snoot/zoot" appeal that has developed recently in the world of cigars. This is, in part, evidenced by the development of some of the more elaborate bands we see today. Some of these make me think I've just fallen into some Walt Disney-contrived, alternate universe. In my experience however, a real cigar smoker doesn't need to look at a band to recognize that you're smoking something really special. Rather, he will follow you for a block and a half, savoring the aroma, and ask you what it is.

Anyway, thanks again for your gracious replies to this thread and, by all means, keep it coming!

Puff Tuff,
Herf

[jmgosman]

Originally Posted by Herf N Turf

Wow! I never expected a lot of what has come out of this thread. Thanks to everyone who has put their thoughts down in pixels, so far.

I must posthumously admit that there are a couple venues where I have been known to leave a band on. These are places where I know there are a few BOTL's afoot and will undoubtedly ask me what I'm smoking. I simply pull the band and hand it to them. That way, they have something concrete that they can stick in their pocket and take to the BM for processing.

Otherwise, 99% of the time, I remove it. On some sticks, my lips hit it and that's bothersome. On others, it occurs where I like to grasp the cigar and my fingers prefer wrapper to paper. Having had it drilled into me by my stogie mentor, I mostly take them off out of tradition.

Certainly, there is a lot of "snoot/zoot" appeal that has developed recently in the world of cigars. This is, in part, evidenced by the development of some of the more elaborate bands we see today. Some of these make me think I've just fallen into some Walt Disney-contrived, alternate universe. In my experience however, a real cigar smoker doesn't need to look at a band to recognize that you're smoking something really special. Rather, he will follow you for a block and a half, savoring the aroma, and ask you what it is.

Anyway, thanks again for your gracious replies to this thread and, by all means, keep it coming!

Puff Tuff,
Herf

I like the band-trading idea. I work out a small tobacco store, and it's always convenient when people hand me a band instead of bumbling blindly through a humidor looking for "that one cigar."

[joncaputo]

For me bands are interesting in that if its a stick I have never tried before - if the band holds some appeal for me I might buy it just to try it

[jmgosman]

A friend of mine saves all of his band in his wallet. I think he's planning on making some kind of a collage for his smoking room or something.

[Haon123]

On, just in case the wrapper splits a bit.

You can use the band like a little splint for the cigar.

/gurkha

[Rev2010]

As already mentioned by many, I leave the band on because I've torn the wrapper a number of times taking the band off. I used to always take them off when I was new to smoking cigars. After realizing that doing that often leads to a torn wrapper I just leave them on. If they're really loose from the start I just take it off cause it's really annoying to have the band sliding all over the place while smoking. But if it's tight it stays. I rarely ever nub a cigar so short that the band would need to be removed.

Now, on those brands with the monsterous sized bands or double bands I generally remove them. Bands that cover nearly 1/3 the cigar look silly and definitely get in the way.


Rev.

[Cigar Man Andy]

I can't answer that question. I tale them off when there is not any wrapper issue. Usually I will take off the band. I don't need to brag about what I am smoking when I am in a B&M. My friends know what I smoke.

[Blindjimme]

I like to leave the band on. I think a cigar never looks better than when
it's got it's band on, about an inch of ash and it's in MY hand!



JB

[d_day]

But the band comes off with the cellophane!

[fiddlegrin]

Yup, I leave it on too so it can warm up dat pesky glue.
Some peeps think it's snobish... but I say;




Better to be thought a snob than to pull off the band,
stick it on your forehead and prove it.

[smithmt]

I just got started smoking. So i have been reading alot, and most everything i have read says to take the band off prelight. So that's what i have always dont. I have never had a problem pulling off any of the wrapper though.

[Chico57]

Originally Posted by Blindjimme

I like to leave the band on. I think a cigar never looks better than when
it's got it's band on, about an inch of ash and it's in MY hand!



JB

I agree.

[stfoley]

I take them off...to me, stuck band is a defect. I've avoided brands before over this.

If a low-end maker can do it right, so can the big dogs

Do you eat your hamburgers in the wrapper? I don't, and I won't smoke with the packaging on either if I can help it.

[Cigary]

Originally Posted by stfoley

I take them off...to me, stuck band is a defect. I've avoided brands before over this.

If a low-end maker can do it right, so can the big dogs

Do you eat your hamburgers in the wrapper? I don't, and I won't smoke with the packaging on either if I can help it.

Love the analogy and yeah, I do tend to eat my burgers with the wrapper on only because I don't want my hands to smell like a Big Mac or Whopper for the rest of the day. I do run the risk of eating a small amount of the wrapper at times but we all have our quirks.

[Herf N Turf]

Ok, had to bump this to make a confession.

The exception to my rule is with CAO cigars. Evidently they use 24hr epoxy and card stock for their bands. These, I allow to warm up before removing. At least, when they dont just slide off over the head.

Also, whomever it was who first mentioned the "damaging the wrapper" danger, you jinxed me. I actually injured a Hoyo Tradicion last week. Thanks a lot