Leave Cigar Band ON or OFF?

[SaintMickey®]

I recently started removing my cigar band before I light up. How about you?

[cardinalfan85]

I keep it on since sometimes the wrapper is stuck to the band.  

[Shunamaji]

I try to take it off but sometimes it is stuck and can't remove easily.

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[NSXCIGAR]

I generally leave mine on as long as possible as there can be some wrapper damage from its removal. If it happens, better I'm nearing the end of the cigar.

English custom is to remove the band before lighting so as not to appear pretentious. The rest of the world, I don't think it matters.

 

 

[Realmikemeadows]

I think it's usually it's more trouble than it's worth to take it off. Have ruined a few cigars trying to get them off.Plus by the time it gets to the band it's easier to remove or time to put it out.

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[SaintMickey®]

I always left it on but just I like the cigar in my hand without so much better. I haven't ruined a wrapper yet. I don't try to save the bands intact or anything. Sometimes it does take a bit of heat to pry to stubborn ones but I always prevail!

[JR Kipling]

I leave it on. As the burn gets closer to the band it heats up the glue so (usually) I find it easier to remove. I have nicked a few wrappers trying to remove the band before lighting up.

[PigFish]

For me it is about 50/50 or a ratio that I never much analyzed. Bands mean nothing to me, but a hole in the wrapper and binder means a lot.

Since I smoke mostly cigars that are at least 10 years old, and mostly cigars far dryer than my peers, band 'looseness' is a gauge of 'ripe' cigar. For me a cigar that has "shrunk back" and is firm and hard is the first, or at least a major clue to a cigar ready to smoke. When the bands are loose, that is a good sign!

Good topic, even if I did change it some! Cheers! -tP

[PigFish]

6 minutes ago, JR Kipling said:

I leave it on. As the burn gets closer to the band it heats up the glue so (usually) I find it easier to remove. I have nicked a few wrappers trying to remove the band before lighting up.

... a virgin in out midst. Welcome to FoH! -Piggy

[bman75]

I leave it on and hold the cigar at the band.  If I end up nubbing it, there isn't a section that polluted with my finger oils and moisture.  

[jazzboypro]

I leave it on until the burn line gets to it. I don't care is people think it's pretentious, after all does anybody remove their BMW or Mercedes logo  (or whatever) on their car ?

[SaintMickey®]

Agree on the "pretentious" part...never crossed my mind.  I guess I could watch myself smoking in the mirror...

[shlomo]

I take it off as soon as possible. Not sure why. Sometimes I forget what im smoking and it turns to a blind cigar, lol

[MaxG]

I  smoke almost every cigar past the band, so i usually just take them off at the get-go now. 

- MG 

 

[s1911]

I usually leave it on, although I wish more brands didn't put bands on at all like the old days!

[TheFullMontecristo]

I always smoke the cigars past the band (like leaving a mouth full of beer in the bottle, its just not right) and especially those dbl banded ones so its a nuisance trying to slide or pick the band off and have damaged many trying to remove them especially the ones where it seems the band was tack welded on. 

[Corylax18]

I always give it a try right away, but dont want to sacrifice the wrapper. If it comes of easy, great. If not I let it go. 

I prefer the feel of a cigar without the band as well. 

[MrGlass]

If it very easily slides off I'm happy for it to go, but generally I leave it on.  As others have said, it's very easy to damage the wrapper when removing, and I find that they are easier to take off as the burn approaches it as the glue has been heated slightly.

[dicko]

Yes vote because I prefer the feel of the wrapper versus the band.

[hedgeybaby]

I prefer to take it off early but often find it's going to damage the wrapper.

In an ideal world I would like to keep the band to stick in my tasting book with notes on the flavour profile and a score. However the book doesn't exist, and even if it did I probably would forget to do it.

On another note re bands. Has anyone else noticed that Cohiba bands seem to always tear, so even if I wasn't lazy, I couldn't stick them in my aforementioned, hypothetical tasting book.

[JohnS]

8 hours ago, JR Kipling said:

I leave it on. As the burn gets closer to the band it heats up the glue so (usually) I find it easier to remove. I have nicked a few wrappers trying to remove the band before lighting up.

Yes, spot on. I do the same.

[drjammer]

OCD for me, I have been taking the bands off first since the early 90's .

[hellorockview12]

I leave it on until I get closer to it.  The odd time if a wrapper has a blemish and looks like it's gonna crack I'll slide the band to where the fault is to hold it together longer...works like a charm.  PS, you may want to revise the poll question, it's a bit confusing and I wasn't sure how to answer it :).

[SaintMickey®]

8 minutes ago, hellorockview12 said:

I leave it on until I get closer to it.  The odd time if a wrapper has a blemish and looks like it's gonna crack I'll slide the band to where the fault is to hold it together longer...works like a charm.  PS, you may want to revise the poll question, it's a bit confusing and I wasn't sure how to answer it :).

Fixed it just for you! : ^ }

[torsion]

I leave the band on unless it's super loose. I've had way too many issues with torn wrappers on attempting to remove early on - as with the others I wait and take it off as the burn nears the band in hope the heat will help removal.