Our Story
Ingenious design. Free-spirited style. Effortless and easygoing. Born from the cool summer breezes of Venice Beach, SoloPipe combines pipe and lighter into one sleek, streamlined smoking device. Reimagine your ritual. Its built-in butane lighter is refillable, adjustable, and designed for long-term use. Coveted by trailblazers and connoisseurs, SoloPipe simplifies the smoke and sets fire to your style.
Fire in My Hands: The Birth of Solopipe
From my earliest memories, I was mesmerized by fire. As a child, I wasn't just fascinated—I was a true pyromaniac. My obsession with flames led me to secretly collect matches and experiment with fire wherever I could. The power it represented, the way it transformed everything it touched—nothing else captivated me so completely.
Early Lessons in Respect
My childhood relationship with fire reached a turning point when my mother caught me playing with matches inside our house. Seeing the genuine danger in my fascination, she took decisive action. Instead of simply punishing me, she drove me to our local fire station for what would become a life-changing encounter.
The firefighters didn't lecture or scold. Instead, they showed me both the destructive and constructive aspects of fire. They demonstrated how quickly flames could spread out of control, but also how fire, when respected and properly managed, could be useful and even beautiful. One firefighter in particular took time to explain how fire had been humanity's companion since the beginning—a tool that required respect rather than fear.
That day changed my perspective forever. I didn't lose my fascination with fire, but I gained something crucial: respect for its power and an understanding of how to harness it responsibly.
Seeds of Innovation: The Missing Lighter Problem
Years later in high school and college, my relationship with fire took on a new dimension. My friends would gather to smoke, but inevitably, someone would forget a critical component of what I later dubbed the "smoking triangle"—fire, something to smoke out of, and something to smoke.
It became almost comical how often they’d be ready to enjoy a smoke only to discover no one had brought matches or a lighter. We'd search pockets, backpacks, and car compartments, sometimes having to postpone or abandon our plans altogether.
"There has to be a better way," became my frequent refrain. I began to imagine a solution where the pipe and lighter were inseparable—where forgetting one meant you'd automatically have the other. Why could you not just press a button and smoke? This persistent problem among my social circle planted the seeds for what would eventually become Solopipe.
My Burning Obsession Evolves
As I grew older, my pyromania transformed into a more sophisticated interest. Fire still represented both creation and transformation to me. I remember sitting by campfires, watching the embers glow and feeling connected to countless generations before me who gathered around flames for warmth, protection, and ritual. This connection to fire's ancient power never left me, even as I matured.
What began as a child's dangerous fascination, then evolved into a practical problem-solving challenge during my school years, finally developed into a deeper understanding of fire's potential. I became increasingly interested in how humans have harnessed flame throughout history—especially in rituals of smoking and communion that span cultures worldwide.
The Moment of Inspiration
For thousands of years, the smoking ritual had remained fundamentally unchanged: you needed all three elements of the "smoking triangle." But why should that limitation persist in the modern world?
I thought back to all those moments of collective disappointment when someone would announce, "I forgot my lighter," and the group's plans would unravel. There had to be a way to integrate fire directly into the smoking device itself—a solution that would ensure you never again found yourself with something to smoke, something to smoke from, but no way to ignite it.
From Concept to Creation
The journey from idea to invention wasn't straightforward. In 2005 I sought out engineers and patent attorneys to help design and protect the worlds first self igniting pipe. I wanted to create something that was not just functional but beautiful—a device that solved a real problem while honoring the ritual of smoking.
When I finally introduced Solopipe in 2007, it represented the culmination of my lifelong relationship with fire and my desire to solve that persistent problem from my youth. By merging pipe and lighter into one streamlined device, I had simplified the ancient three-step process to just two components: the Solopipe itself and something to smoke. Never again would my friends or customers find themselves missing a crucial element of the experience.
My Vision Realized – Solopipe Simplifies your Smoke Session
Crafting Solopipe wasn't just about convenience—though reducing the "green triangle" to two elements was revolutionary. It was about creating something of lasting quality and beauty that reflected my journey from child pyromaniac to practical innovator. I insisted on premium materials, a refillable and adjustable butane lighter, and a design that would feel at home in the hands of both casual users and connoisseurs.
I'm particularly proud of the complete system we developed: each Solopipe comes with a protective hard-shell case, carrying bag, cleaning tools, brush screens, and our innovative SoloBowl replaceable glass insert. Available in chrome, gunmetal, rose gold, and gold finishes, Solopipe reflects both functionality and personal style.
The Legacy Continues
Looking back on the journey—from fire-fascinated child to frustrated young adult to inventor—I feel tremendous satisfaction seeing how Solopipe has been embraced by trailblazers and free spirits around the world. Every time someone uses a Solopipe consider my mission accomplished.
By reimagining an age-old ritual and solving a universal problem, I've helped people simplify their experience and, in a small way, reconnect with that primal human relationship with fire.
My creation is the embodiment of that childhood wonder and practical necessity—half lighter, half pipe, 100% awesome.
Your pocket just got a little lighter, and I couldn't be prouder.
Gary B
Founder/Inventor Solopipe