Practicality vs convenience: the war rages on (Handmade Cigarettes in general)

Member Name: hewhoisme

Product:	Handmade Cigarettes in general
Date:	05/06/09 (175 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Rolling is cheaper, nicer smelling, and generally cooler, not that' smoking cool of course.

Disadvantages: It's too fiddly

The roll-ups vs branded debate has been raging amongst the smoking populace for years ,and to be honest I have no idea which is better. I personally prefer to sit on the fence and alternate between the two, as they both have their benefits and drawbacks. I guess it just depends upon your personal preferences.

Roll ups

First of all, rolling definitely has one huge advantage over ready-made cigarettes: they look a hell of a lot cooler. Don't ask me why, but smoking rollies has a certain image to it, which fits in with my trilby-wearing guitar carrying persona perfectly. Okay, I may be a little pretentious, but if you're going to be a jerk you may as well look good doing it. Rolling is also a lot cheaper than buying 'straights,' as £5 worth of tobacco and paper will last you nearly three times as longer than a generic twenty pack. I also find that rolling tobacco has a much nicer, more natural taste to it, whilst even the most expensive ready-mades always have an evitable chemical after taste to them. Plus it smells nicer, where as straights undeniably stink. Finally, although this can be a disadvantage depending on your smoking habits, I tend to smoke less when I'm rolling, presumably due to the time required to make each cigarette.

Ready made

The big advantage of buying ready-made branded cigarettes is the convenience factor. Rolling is a fiddly skill and takes time to prefect, meaning it often a lot easier just to grab a twenty pack than to spend ages juggling filters and Rizlas. If I had a pound for every time I've been at a nightclub, forgotten how to roll, and savaged the nearest fag machine out of frustration, well, I'd probably be able to afford another pack of cigarettes. Another drawback of rolling is that they tend to be a lot stronger than normal cigarettes, and whilst most give me a gentle nicotine high rollies often leave me feeling light headed and slightly nauseous.

Looking back I think roll ups are probably the smokers best option, although they don't suit everyone and can sometimes be damn inconvenient. Just do what feels right.

Summary: Either works, it's up to you to choose your favourite