Zen
Another CTC manufactured tube. The lights are all white with with Zen logo/text and no rings or filter perforations (micro-perf paper).
July '06: Saint Vincent made Zen tubes with 17mm filters (LF have a denser filter, no perforations) are starting to replace the CTC made tubes.
Feb '07: Apparently the St Vincent made ones all have the ES (extra smooth) label and come with 250 tubes per box. The light 100's have a 25mm filter.
Apr '07: Cherry, Strawberry, Blueberry and Peach flavored tubes are now available.
Comments [ new ]
- Re: Zen Menthol
- Posted by Myc0 on Thursday, 06-Mar-2008
I tried the Zen menthol filter tubes about a year ago. I don't smoke many menthols, but like one every once in a while. I liked the Zen menthols better than any other menthol tubes I had tried, they had a refreshingly subtle spearmint quality. I ordered some more later, but they didn't taste the same, and came in a different box. The first box I got was white, and now they come in a green box. Anybody know what changed?
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- Re: Zen Full Flavor-another change???
- Posted by mike c on Friday, 12-Oct-2007
I've been away from my "tube of choice" for a while now, and have some in transit, but along my journey of looking at prices and such, it looks to me like there is yet a new, third packaging on the Zen regular FF's, and I wonder if anyone has got these yet, if there is ANY construction change, and also to confirm they are still coming with 250 count, and further, any price difference?? the places I saw that had them looked expensive, I think
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- Re: Zen Full Flavor-another change???
- Posted by David Brown on Friday, 12-Oct-2007
My wife and I have been using Zen both king and 100 FF tubes for about the last 6 months and that was after saint vincent took them over and they are ES and in a red box with black and gold lettering. They come 250 to a box and I would say they are the best and most consistant tubes on the market.
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What did the packaging you saw look like?
- Re: Zen Full Flavor-another change???
- Posted by mike c on Friday, 12-Oct-2007
check out our "new" look??
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[link]
- Re: Zen Full Flavor - not changed
- Posted by Dave L on Friday, 12-Oct-2007
Ancient history, see RYOM's 2002 Zen Review.
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- Re: Zen Full Flavor - not changed
- Posted by mike c on Friday, 12-Oct-2007
good god then how ancient were the canadian ones I got
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- Re: Zen Full Flavor - not changed
- Posted by David Brown on Friday, 12-Oct-2007
Well Mike,
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I know you can get the new ES tubes at both RYO tobacco and at Tobacco Station.
Thats RYO Tobacco and not RYO Cigarette.
- Re: Zen Full Flavor - not changed
- Posted by mike c on Saturday, 13-Oct-2007
and now, Lil' Brown Smoke Shack as well....I'm glad they are not changed...the packaging as it stands is great...also, Smokers Warehouse, but they sadly lost my return business, since they only ship through the mail, and costs went up, so 25 boxes was going to be 16 dollars shipping there....it was 7 dollars UPS with Lil' Brown.....I'm liking them...
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- Re: Zen
- Posted by Hua Kul on Monday, 25-Jun-2007
Last week I received my first order of the SV Zen tubes (25 boxes for about $56 including shipping from Smokers Outlet [link] ) and have been using them since then. I have been trying to put my finger on why these new tubes are so nice. They stuff very well and the stick seems to feel stiff even if it isn't overloaded. The paper seems heavier but it isn't and it burns very well. Then I realized they feel great in my hand. The paper is not smooth; it has a dull, soft, almost rough texture and feels great to hold, it stays firmly in my grasp without having to use any pressure. These are really nice, and blindingly, opaquely white when stuffed.
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--Hua Kul
- Re: Zen
- Posted by David Brown on Monday, 25-Jun-2007
Yeah I had the same impressions when I got my 12 boxes from Tobacco Station last month and we are on box 10 and cant say enough about them. I even wrote Mike Ang at St Vencent and let him know how much we like em.
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- Re: Zen Canadian FF
- Posted by mike c on Saturday, 26-May-2007
these are the absolute WORST tubes I have ever used.
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Gambler tubes are MUCH MUCH better than these...these are so thin they collapse at the butt, resulting in HOT draw, and (the cheap paper causes) uneven burning. The WORST I ever had.
The St. Vincent ones, are likely The BEST I ever had.
The one possible plus for someone is that they are wider circumference than the SV made, but avoid them like guano.
The box is white with maroon print.
- Re: Zen
- Posted by David Brown on Friday, 25-May-2007
I know Tobacco Station when I selected Zen with my order I got 12 boxes of the ES by St Vincent.
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We used Premier FF kings last month and from the first smoke today my wife told me we are going to use Zen from now on.
I echo whats been said about the quality of the 17mm filter and the tube itself and they do inject perfect on either a supermatic or excel.
- Re: Zen Vs Zen Paradox
- Posted by carpet-burn super-gluer on Friday, 25-May-2007
uh-oh
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I just got ten boxes of Canadian Zen's....(FF Reg)
the problem isn't filter length..it's 17mm.....it's material, glue and workmanship
hmmmm....how to turn this into good....
mike c
- Re: Zen Vs Zen Paradox
- Posted by Matt on Friday, 25-May-2007
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Maybe "Paradox" is a cruel joke & is a fun way for them to say "Shitty Tubes".
- Re: Zen Vs Zen Paradox
- Posted by mike c on Friday, 25-May-2007
yeah that was my cruel/complimentary addition
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they are _SO_ emailed!!!!!
only 2oo ct on these vs 250 on the phillipines manufactured ones
even the boxes on these are pitiful compared to the super-flossed extendo-gloss of the newer ones
I want coupons! I want credit!!!
- Re: Zen light 100's
- Posted by cheap & chippy chopper on Wednesday, 25-Apr-2007
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I've only tried two brands of 100mm Light tubes so far - these and the Premiers.
The Zen light 100's have a strong papery taste, almost chalky, that doesn't go away. Too bad -- they're nice looking tubes, and the box is sturdy.
- Re: Fruity Tube News
- Posted by Smokin n Jokin on Thursday, 19-Apr-2007
I got the cherry and peach last week. ok but not as good as Juicy Jays.
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- Zen "ES" tubes
- Posted by mike c on Wednesday, 31-Jan-2007
I just want to see if people trying the Zen tubes are getting the NEWEST type...if you get the box of 250 and it has the "ES" (extra-smooth) logo, I think it safe that this is it......to me these tubes seem so awesomely superior to tubes like Top and their like.....they DO NOT come apart, the filter and tipping paper stay firm as a rock (the only tube I know that does this, maybe excluding DnR's own tubes which I have not studied yet). I am just curious what negatives there are against these tubes if there are any and what is considered better if so
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- Re: Zen "ES" tubes
- Posted by platoslostdialogue on Thursday, 01-Feb-2007
do they have full circumfrence glue around the filter? As far as I know, Rizla and El Rey are the only ones that don't spot glue the filter.
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- Re: Zen "ES" tubes
- Posted by mike c on Thursday, 01-Feb-2007
they must as they hold their round better than the Rizla's...
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if you tell me how to check I will clarify
- Re: Zen "ES" tubes
- Posted by mike c on Tuesday, 06-Feb-2007
been experimenting a bit....compared Zen FF tubes to Rizla FF, Twister, and Bugler, and Rizla cig-size....
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all the other tubes are wider in diameter (sans cig-size), and the paper used seems like it may allow a bit more taste to come through....
The Zen seem like the smoothest of the lot (including cig-size), and they stuff/inject/pack so remarkably on a Supermatic.....
the truth...they are all good!!!
I guess some Gambler tubes must be almost cigarette-sized!
- Re: Zen "ES" tubes
- Posted by Dave L on Thursday, 08-Feb-2007
St Vincent tubes have pretty minimal glue. While I have yet to use a boxes worth, the high density filtered (light/mild/whatever) ones seem to be on par with the Rizla's where smoke bypassing the filter is concerned.
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I did some careful tearing apart of filters (smoked and un-smoked) a while ago and discovered that its not really full circumference glue but more glue lines closer together (all glue lines, sans tipping paper, for all the tubes I checked, ran lengthwise/parallel to the tube). While this helps to minimize smoke bypassing the filter (directly and/or indirectly by stiffening the filter tip) its only one factor. I couldn't come up with a consistent relationship between the number of glue lines and how much smoke bypassed the filter.
- Re: Zen-tubes
- Posted by mike c on Tuesday, 09-Jan-2007
these are not just tubes they are something special (my full-flavor) , so wonderful in fact that I encourage you to open the parcel carefully with a sharp knife.
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stuff/inject perfect, burn perfect, filters stay firm, box is elegant
you want some. they put in a 17mm filter which is perfect for me. Scott and I had discussed the actual quality of Bugler tubes..(they are good, don't get a misunderstanding)
ps- I see quite a few dealers on line peddaling Bugler tubes....including Dnr. The Zen tubes have a "spiritual"quality to go with the fine workmanship,,,now If I could just get a Rizla logo on them.
- New Zen
- Posted by irishguyincc on Thursday, 13-Jul-2006
I've been working through a carton of the new Zen light tubes and figured I'd post my thoughts. The tubes look just like the old CTC version, white tube with blue stripe and lettering . It does have offset seams.
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As for the lightness of this tube, I would call it a medium strength. It smokes pretty well, but stronger than a perforated tube.
I have found a few problems with these tubes. One is that the paper is a bit too thin and fragile. They crumple easy and they will tear at the end unless you make sure you put the seam under the tube holder. Another is a lack of glue around the filter, it will start to separate while I am smoking. A few tubes were also a little too tight, but I can live with that.
All in all these are not bad tubes. If they would glue the tipping paper better then these would be very good tubes. I hate when the paper and filter separate halfway through a smoke. I also like the box itself, doing away with the strip of tape was a good idea.
- Re: New Zen
- Posted by Dave Grant on Saturday, 15-Jul-2006
I tried Zen tubes (3 cartons) and found that they are very thin and fragile, subject to crumpling. Many of them were too tight for my Excel machine, and simply would not fit properly. I also had problems with the filter separating. They do smoke pretty good, but all in all, I don't think I'll be ordering any more. I'm able to buy the Premier FF tubes locally for less than $1.50 a carton, and so far, have had no problems with them.
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- Re: New Zen
- Posted by scott johnson on Saturday, 23-Sep-2006
I use the new Zen light tubes a lot now. the new, St. Vincent made, ones seem to hold up well and stuff very nicely for me. they actually stuff better than anything else i've used including: premier, zig-zag, gambler, Charon, top, both new Vera Cruz, and Windsail. Zen will be my standard tube from now on.
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- Zen Light Tubes
- Posted by James on Saturday, 18-Jun-2005
I just received a box of Zen light tubes and found that they tend to be not glued very well, I just stuffed a couple of packs worth and they fall apart half the time, not during stuffing but during smoking. Sometimes at the beginning and other times in the middle. I will not use these tubes again. BTW these came in a very non-descript box, not like the box I saw on RYO magazine.
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- Re: Zen Light Tubes
- Posted by irishguyincc on Tuesday, 12-Jul-2005
I too received a box of Zen light tubes that were all lacking glue on the seams. I ordered the box from lilbrown about two months ago. Every tube comes right apart, there is no glue on the middle of every tube. Complete garbage, don't buy them.
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- Re: Zen Light Tubes
- Posted by AusD on Wednesday, 08-Mar-2006
Zen Light tubes give a decent light smoke...but that's about as much as I can say for them. They have flat bits on the filter, sometimes poorly glued (though I haven't had any fall apart). They have some powdery chemical smell when you open the box and they need to be aired out. They burn too fast and not very even. They give a very weak flaky ash, like a lot of tubes do. The Vera Cruz is the only tube I have smoked which gives a great, solid ash.
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Unfortunately I can roll a cigarette with a paper and filter tip which smokes better than these minus the lightness. I'll stick to Vera Cruz and Windsail. They aren't light but they are well made, look better and smoke very well.
- Re: Zen Light Tubes
- Posted by Dave L on Friday, 10-Mar-2006
Its likely that all the above (Zen, Windsail, and Vera Cruz) were made by CTC and all can have the issues you described (poor quality control).
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CTC made tubes have a single seam running the full length of the tube. I'm not sure but I believe their boxes are all sealed with a small off-centered strip of 1/4" all clear tape.
For lights I'd currently recommend Silver Tip followed by Gambler/Top (same tube, different logo. Zig-Zag is also back to being the same as Top/Gambler but there may be some old CTC made stock still around).
- Re: Zen Light Tubes
- Posted by Rogues_Scholar on Sunday, 18-Jun-2006
My last purchase of three cartons of tubes have resulted in no falling apart either by filling or by smoking. If they aren't packed well, the result will be an uneven burn. The box was sealed with tape, but how cares......it's paper.
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- Re: Zen Light Tubes
- Posted by Dave L on Monday, 19-Jun-2006
That the box was sealed with tape means that the tubes were made by CTC (quality varies) and not St Vincent (to early to tell about quality).
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- Re: Zen light tubes
- Posted by Tim Aydt on Monday, 08-Nov-2004
I cannot see or taste a difference between these and the Premier light tubes.
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- Zen Tubes
- Posted by Jennifer on Tuesday, 29-Jun-2004
Right now my tubes of choice are the zen tubes. I have tried the gizeh and bugeler tubes in the past. I find the zen tubes to be more sturdy. I have yet to break one when stuffing with a hand held injector. Also I don't crush as many due to general handling.
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- Re: Zen Tubes
- Posted by Jennifer on Friday, 30-Jul-2004
Now that I have been using the zen tubes regularly and on the supermatic 2 I got, I have been noticing some problems. Some of the tubes don't slide on easy onto the machine, so I have to twist them around a bit. Also, it seems that they have to much of a variance in filter length. Their loose filter plugs are not uniform in size, and it seems its the same problem with the filter on the tubes. The tubes work fine on a plastic injector..... but not so well on the supermatic 2. Looks like I will have to find a new brand of tubes to use.
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- Re: Zen Tubes
- Posted by Tim Aydt on Friday, 30-Jul-2004
According to Doug at RYO Magazine, Zen Tubes are made by CTC. So they should be making them to fit their own machines. If I understand the manufacturing process correctly, the filters are made and cut on a separate machine and should all be exactly the same size.
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I'm guessing, and you may have posted this before readjusting the tube release on your Supermatic II, that the spoon is still hitting the tube too much before the tube release engages.
- Re: Zen Tubes
- Posted by Jennifer on Friday, 30-Jul-2004
In the plastic injector I noticed that the spoon pushed one tube out further than another. I compaired the size of 2 tubes, they were the same size. So I can assume its the filter. And the Zen filter plugs are not uniform in size at all. So I can only assume its the same with the tubes. Yes I adjusted the tube release, but I couldn't adjust it far enough as noted above.
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- Re: Zen Tubes
- Posted by Tim Aydt on Friday, 30-Jul-2004
Do the Zen Light tubes have the laser cut perferations around the filter or is the paper micro-perf?
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- Re: Zen Tubes
- Posted by Tim Aydt on Saturday, 31-Jul-2004
Thanks, I'll have to get some for my wife to try. Does anyone know if they come in 100's?
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- Re: Zen Tubes
- Posted by Dave L on Friday, 30-Jul-2004
Filter length varies. Cut open a bunch of tubes from the same box of any brand and I wouldn't be surprised if no two filters were exactly the same length. Different manufacturers also use different filter sizes (15 and 17mm are standard IIRC). Bottom line, it doesn't matter.
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- Re: Zen Tubes
- Posted by Tim Aydt on Saturday, 31-Jul-2004
Amazing.
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- Re: Zen Tubes
- Posted by Dave L on Saturday, 31-Jul-2004
I just measured and took apart 10 Premier and Gambler tubes. All length measurements (outside, inside and filter) vary, up to 1/16" within a brand. The Premier filters were all less than 17mm and the Gambler filters all less than 15mm. The maximum inside/filter length variation was 1/8" between brands.
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