Sage makes a 3rd attempt at los

[MojoQuestor]

I really love lös, but after a while it's a relief and a nice change to stick in a portion. By the same token, it's so good after a day of out and about dealing with life to get home and sink into some lovely lös (literally. I fill the tub with it. Okay, I'm lying. I don't even have a tub).

[tom502]

I use a bed pan. I've been watching a lot of Monty Python and I keep having silly thoughts.

[Snusdog]

I am still the same way. While I do enjoy los occasionally (2-4 times a day), I still prefer regular portions. I don't know if that will ever change, and if not it's no biggie, because I get the best of both worlds and enjoy them both for their unique qualities. I am sure you will do the same.

-Qor

I think Qor is absolutely right. It is not an either or situation. Your love for los does not have to lesson or detract from all the virtues of portions.

Think of it like beer and wine. For me beer is the go to. Come home from a long day and few things are better than a cold beer. However, there are those occasions and there are those meals where it just needs to be wine. Same thing with portions and los


Also, as you get into pipes more you will find that much of the relaxation, art, and enjoyment of a pipe is the actual packing process. It’s the having to slow down; it’s the craft of packing it just right; and it’s the direct contact with the tobacco. I think los shares much of the same qualities.

[Snusdog]

Here is a post from the dipper's guide that I thought might be relevant to the thread.

How to get a Pris in your mouth without breakup


1. Hold the pris between two fingers
2. Open your mouth and hold the pris above your tongue
3. Now move your fingers with the pris to the left or to the right
4. Your outside finger will hit the side of your lip/mouth
5. push/stretch the lip out a bit with the back of the finger
6. slide your finger up, around the inside of the lip until it is where you want the pris to go
7. put pris in place, remove fingers, and adjust with tongue to preference

Important: a big advantage of this method is that there is no need to grip the pris tightly and thus break it up as you struggle to get it in. Therefore, it is important to remember to relax, hold the pris lightly, and let the back of your finger clear the way in a single natural motion


.

[Veganpunk]

and it’s the direct contact with the tobacco. I think los shares much of the same qualities.

I agree. I used to love the smell of my fingers after smoking a cigarette. Now I love the smell of the los after I handbake. Yea, I know I'm weird.

[Ulsterman]

ok Sage - I've tried the los I've talked about before but now I've tried Offroad Icemint. It's very good, holds together well and I can flip it around and muck about with this one which I can't do with any of the others. It seems that V2 (IMO) excel at los.

But

Los still doesn't give me enough of a nicotine hit like portions do and at the end of the day los is still a pain in the hole. I think that towards the end of this journey through los that this is my conclusion - it's just ok.
I wouldn't try too hard to like it Sage.

Personally I'm back on the portions again - especially now I'm loving Thunder Frosted.

[tom502]

I've gone through a few cans of Los. I threw out my last can, Roda Lacket, no, it tasted fine, and I did use about a 3rd of it, but at that time, I just felt like, I don't wanna do los anymore.

Well, as fate is, getsnus sent me the wrong can, I ordered portion, but I got los, of Phantom Brown. I told them, they said keep it, we'll send you the can of portion, well, the package came Saturday, I opened it, and what was it? Another can of Brown Los!

So, now I have 2 cans of this, and this is all the los in my collection. So I just now decided to crack it open and mess with los again. My los use was not "bad", I guess it just wasn't satisfying. But I do have to say, I think los is largely a "try and learn" affair.

I tried a variety of tool, Prismaster, home-made "Icetool", but really, the more I tried handbaking, the more I found this to be the optimal method. The learning curve is making the pris the right size for your mouth, and firm enough to not break up, but not too hard, and then to get it in your mouth.

Well, I just took some of the Brown Los, threw some in my hand, and molded a well shaped/sized pris(for me) and got it in with no problem. And I must say, at this moment, this is very nice, and comfortable. I shaped it thin enough to not be mashed on my teeth, soft enough to not be like a rock, and this is what I think, for me, the perfect pris.

And the snus, Phantom Brown, is a good flavor, and the grind molded really easy. So, if I can replicate what I just did each time, los may make it's way back into my regular usage.

[dave1]

Sage, are you trying it because you want to or because you feel you need to? Now I don't mean to sound rude or anything, but what I have read makes you out to be a portion advocate. BTW, thanks for seeming that way, got me into portions. But, keep trying, if it turns out it is just not your cup of tea, then stick with ole' reliable.

[sagedil]

dave, I am trying because SO many folks just said it took time before they fell in love with los. So feel I need to really give it an extended chance. Also trying because, partly who I am here, feel I can't be a hypocrite. I have told thousands to always go back and retry things they didn't like at first, their taste will change. So how can I say that and NOT do this???.

So yeah, in some ways, I am doing this because I feel I have to. Not in a bad way, but still true.

So far, portions just win. I haven't even done any los in a few days, will do more tomorrow though

[dave1]

You don't sound like a hypocrite. from what I read before, you said you tried it and it didn't work for you, not everyone else. You do a good job of covering yourself.:wink: The falling in love I would suspect would come from mostly smokers like yourself. Dippers I would assume would go for los first, since it uses partially the same sequence of events of use minus the spitting. If you feel it is something you will like once you get the hang of it, then grab a wad that would make levi garret go 10-200 all over himself and enjoy. Also if you can remember, what brands have you tried. The reason I ask is, like everyone says(different brands hold together differntly).

[sagedil]

Certainly the fact I never dipped has something to do with it. But really, I just prefer how portions feel in my mouth.

But again, I want to make sure I really give it enough time, can't hurt me. :wink:

I have used...


Roda Lacket
Ettan
Phantom Blue
Grove
Prima Fint
Skruff Stark

I have a can of Phantom Brown coming next week

[texasmade]

[dave1]

As with most cases, Swedish Match has the monopoly The reason I asked was where you like prima fint, it is a little difficult to deal with. Skruff and Grov are easier to keep together IMO. I didn't know if you had tried anything else. One thing I have a bad habit of is tonguing my pris. I still do, but I move my togue straight over my teeth, not around (that's what caused me to spit out most of the snus, straight over the teeth only catches the little bit that slides down. Try that,if you haven't already, it might keep you occupied and not cause a mess.

[sagedil]

The mess has never bothered me, and I have really never had an issue with mud mouth.

My ONLY real issue is I just don't like how los feels in my mouth compared to portions. So many people say they prefer not having the paper in my mouth, so not an issue for me. I am a real strange bird who has had this bizarre, compulsive need to chew on toilet paper going back 15 years now.

I just prefer portions, by a wide margin. And will keep playing with los to see if that will change, although I expect it won't. I will force myself to keep an open mind

[MrSnusNSnuff]

It's mainly portions with me. I have a sick, sick need to manipulate my snus - chewing it, flipping it, pressing it against the roof of my mouth, squeezing every last drop of flavor out, feeling that nic sting.

Los is for when I'm patient and not preoccpied with anything else. Sorta like enjoying a cigar.