Buy Tobacco Leaf Online | Whole Leaf Tobacco

holyRYO

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2013
Messages
363
Points
0
While Hot Rod is by far and away my favorite tube, for a non filter smoke I turn most often to Athey tubes. They have two draw backs, they are slow to work with, and now you have tobacco falling out of both ends. Because of this, I don't stray far from home with them, best for making a few at a time for around the house.
 

marksctm

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2012
Messages
451
Points
0
Location
South West Ohio
Get the elc. one. Youll never regret it.
I'm glad you said something Borobo, I thought they both were electric till now.
I Didn't pay close attention to, (manual) just saw POWERMATIC and thought, POWER.
Saved me the embarrassment of a letter asking wheres my power cord at.
My Topomatic is getting pretty worn out, and for only a few bucks more for electric, it' a no brainer, for me anyway.
 

winston-smoker

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2013
Messages
516
Points
0
Location
NYC metropolitan area
I've used (all FF king-size): Laramie, Zen, Shargio, Golden Harvest, Royal Majestic, Vera Cruz Elegante, and Rayo. Rayo was the absolute worst: although they stuffed fine, they always burned unevenly. My favorites, so far, are Laramie and Zen, which I think are virtually the same, except for the name. Golden Harvest is good, but to me the tobacco flavor seemed a little weaker with these than with Laramie/Zen. Shargio mutes the flavor even more, and seems (at least to me) to have a "sweetening" effect, though the filter stays firm right to the finish. Royal Majestic is dirt cheap, but stuffs fine; however, the filter quality is poor, there's some filter paper separation and the filter becomes mushy. Vera Cruz Elegante was fine, but IMO is best used with very strong tobacco, as it's somewhere in between a full-flavor and a "light." I would love to try Vera Cruz Midnight -- those black tubes look so "bad ass" -- but I've read many reviews claiming that the paper is so thin that they frequently tear when being stuffed, which has made me hesitant about trying them. While I realize that a box a tubes is only a couple of bucks (not including shipping costs), so it wouldn't be a great loss if those reviews proved correct, who wants to deal with tearing tubes in the first place?
 

DonH

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2012
Messages
1,609
Points
0
Location
Massachusetts
I tested quite a few and settled on El Rey regulars. the taste of the tobacco comes through really well in these.
 

Knucklehead

Moderator
Founding Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2012
Messages
12,676
Points
113
Location
NE Alabama
I've used (all FF king-size): Laramie, Zen, Shargio, Golden Harvest, Royal Majestic, Vera Cruz Elegante, and Rayo. Rayo was the absolute worst: although they stuffed fine, they always burned unevenly. My favorites, so far, are Laramie and Zen, which I think are virtually the same, except for the name. Golden Harvest is good, but to me the tobacco flavor seemed a little weaker with these than with Laramie/Zen. Shargio mutes the flavor even more, and seems (at least to me) to have a "sweetening" effect, though the filter stays firm right to the finish. Royal Majestic is dirt cheap, but stuffs fine; however, the filter quality is poor, there's some filter paper separation and the filter becomes mushy. Vera Cruz Elegante was fine, but IMO is best used with very strong tobacco, as it's somewhere in between a full-flavor and a "light." I would love to try Vera Cruz Midnight -- those black tubes look so "bad ass" -- but I've read many reviews claiming that the paper is so thin that they frequently tear when being stuffed, which has made me hesitant about trying them. While I realize that a box a tubes is only a couple of bucks (not including shipping costs), so it wouldn't be a great loss if those reviews proved correct, who wants to deal with tearing tubes in the first place?

I've used the Vera Cruz Midnight with no problem. The diameter of the tube seems to be just slightly smaller than others but has caused no problems with my Powermatic manual injector. You're right, the black color looks awesome! I also like the Vera Cruz Nocturne with the unbleached brown paper. It has a slightly different flavor than the Gamblers I usually use, and makes a nice change of pace smoke. The flavor is a very, very light spice taste, but in a good way. Zen and Gambler come closest to the Marlboro, Pall Mall flavor I was used to.
 

workhorse_01

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2012
Messages
1,959
Points
0
Location
Waycross,Ga.
I have found the Double Diamond red work very well. They fit my Powermatic II very well, they don't come un-glued and Winston, and marly smokers like em.
 

winston-smoker

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2013
Messages
516
Points
0
Location
NYC metropolitan area
Workhorse,
Very Informative. I've been tempted to buy Double Diamond Reds, because of the inexpensive price, but was hesitant, because of the inexpensive price! And I hadn't seen anyone review them before, either.

Knucklehead,
Someday I got to get a box of those Vera Cruz Midnight tubes!

Now, I'll have to stop typing so I can light up a smoke!:D
 

Knucklehead

Moderator
Founding Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2012
Messages
12,676
Points
113
Location
NE Alabama
Knucklehead, Someday I got to get a box of those Vera Cruz Midnight tubes!
They're great conversation starters. People always ask what kind of cigarettes are those, so I get the chance to tell them about the forum and how to save money. The chicks won't leave you alone either!! LOL
 

holyRYO

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2013
Messages
363
Points
0
Been trying some locally sourced tubes lately.

Gambler Gold, bad stale taste, typical short whimpy filter that shrinks to nothing, will never buy again.

Smokers Best, poor quality construction, but every tobacco I tried taste good in them. Cheapest around here, much better than the Gambler.

Roxwell 100's, surprised to see they are made in the USA. First class tube, really shines above the other two. Filter holds up very well, really makes a difference in the smoking experience. All my tobaccos taste great in them, around here the lowest cost 100's, highly recommended.

Using a TOM, I have never noticed any injection issues between different tubes, so depending on your injector, YMMV. Worth noting that some tubes are slightly smaller in diameter, harder to get on the nozzle, but inject all the same with the TOM. Gizeh Silver Tip Extra, smallest diameter so far, are the hardest to get on, not worth the effort imo, and mine never tasted right.

My favorite tubes are now Hot Rod FF Kings and Roxwell 100's.
 

winston-smoker

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2013
Messages
516
Points
0
Location
NYC metropolitan area
I never heard of Roxwell tubes.

I've found that smaller diameter tubes present another problem with some injectors -- I think the tobacco has more difficulty getting down the length of the tube all the way to the filter, so they're more prone to small filter gaps.

My favorite "all-purpose" tube, so far, is Zen. Gambler and aren't bad either, but I prefer Zen. Laramie is almost as good as Zen, but I have to give Zen the edge in quality over Laramie. All tubes I've used have been FF king-size. Still haven't gotten my hands on some VC Midnights.
 

holyRYO

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2013
Messages
363
Points
0
Have made the switch to 100's. Never thought the need with the longer burn time of RYO/MYO. I dislike 15-17 mm filters and all things Malaysian squishy filters. Learned to live with 20 mm filters, but nothing beats the full size filters you get with 100's. Filter length makes for a cooler smoke. The proportions are nicer with the wider gauge you get with tubes. Been smoking Roxwell tubes exclusively the past couple months, really a first class tube, never wanting for anything else, but will try Hot Rod 100's next........... Size matters!
 

bryonlr

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2012
Messages
87
Points
8
Location
Columbus, In.
Hey, I used Hot Rod Tubes for a couple of months, BEWARE, They will not go out on there own. They will burn the filter up completely. Make sure your smoke is out.
 

holyRYO

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2013
Messages
363
Points
0
Hey, I used Hot Rod Tubes for a couple of months, BEWARE, They will not go out on there own. They will burn the filter up completely. Make sure your smoke is out.

Interesting, I smoked Hot Rods for years, I never noticed. I suspect Roxwell tubes are made by Hot Rod, just tested one for burning, it did not. Don't have any Hot Rods to test. If they burn easier than the rest, than I guess they are made of a different material, helps explain why they shrink less than the rest of the imported tubes. As far a filter shrinkage goes, the Roxwell 100's long filter is the first tube I rate better than OTC cigarette filters in that respect.

Another good thing about 100's, no more carrot tops to remove.
 
Top