How do You Pick a Pipe?

[Nature]

So, how do you pick a pipe when you're ready for a bowl? Do you have favorites you go to regularly? Do you choose based upon what you're smoking? Or does the chosen pipe dictate the tobacco? Do you reserve certain pipe shapes/styles for certain blend types? If so, what types with what tobaccos?

[JustTroItIn]

There are a select few pipes I have designated to certain types of tobacco. Other than those, it's fair game and I more or less base it on how long I plan to smoke (bowl size), how long since I last smoked that pipe, and whether or not I consider it a good smoker.

[Emperor Zurg]

... I more or less base it on how long I plan to smoke (bowl size), how long since I last smoked that pipe...

Pretty much it here.
I wouldn't keep a bad smoker around to take up space

[Cool Breeze]

I'm new to this so I don't have an ironclad system figured out.

I do have a pipe that I've dedicated to VA blends. It is by far my nicest pipe, a pre-Republic Peterson I picked up for a song at a flea market.
I have a MM cob dedicated to Latakia blends and another I've been smoking only aromatics in.

So I guess at this point I'm picking my pipe according to what baccy I'm in the mood for at the time.

I have a couple more pipes I'm getting ready (estates). Not sure what they'll be utilized for as far as blends go. It'll be fun figuring it out though.

[Pugsley]

I smoke mainly Virginia and VaPer blends so most of my briars are dedicated to those. I have a couple briars with smaller bowls that I will use for Latakia blends because a small bowl is about all I can handle. Aromatics always go in a cob. If I'm going to be doing something that requires hands free such as typing I'll choose a pipe with a bend that is comfortable to clench. Otherwise, I choose by bowl size.

[mooster]

I pick the next one in the rack. All I smoke (at least for now) is Virginias, so I don't have to worry about that. If and when I get enough pipes to split them, I'll have red virginia pipes and gold virginia pipes, but right now it's just grab the next one.

[Tobias Lutz]

So...about a year ago I decided to abandon my "dedicated" pipe set-up. Now I just move from left to right in the rack and then I start over again. If I'm smoking something for a review I have clay, or I can pick something that isn't ghosted. I went from laid back in my hobby,to being really anal, to laid back again...but the cycle has taken 15 years.

[Nature]

I went from laid back in my hobby,to being really anal, to laid back again...

That seems to be the way it goes with many endeavors.

[huskers]

Much like you pick a woman.

[BryGuySC]

Much like you pick a woman.

I was lucky enough to find a woman I wanted to spend a lifetime with, but I've yet to find that pipe! Also, I don't rotate women!
I guess that puts a whole new spin on the term "pipe rack!"