Camel "Crush" I couldn't resist.

[Xobeloot]

So I went to the store to buy a bag of sunflower seeds and I see these smokes called "crush". I just cannot resist a gimmic.

These things are normal cigs, taste like your typical camel non-menthol. If you pinch the filter it releases menthol into the filter.

I lit one up, smoked the first few puffs, then popped the thing in the filter and BAM... it was instantly changed into a rather tasty menthol.

I decided to tear apart another one to see the thing in the filter. It's like a little plastic gelcap willed with god-knows-what?

Anyways, I thought it was a pretty cool idea.

[ponysoprano]

haha! yeah, they released those out here simultaneously with Camel snus. I asked the girl at Mr. Kim's mini mart what the hell they were. She said her and her boyfriend bought a pack, her review was virtually identical to Xobe's. I let the same girl try a Röda white portion and schooled her on snus, she liked it, so I wrote down the buysnus web address for her. She said that at her store the Frost sells well, but she hasn't sold a single spice or original Camel snus...

[jamesstew]

I know what you mean X-bot. I'm completely over cigarettes and have not wanted one in months but something in me wants to buy the 'crush' just to be able to squeeze the filter. Much more cool than Marlboro's flavor-strip snus technology.

[Xobeloot]

I still buy smokes now and again. the only difference is now I do it when I want one... not because I need one. This pack I got today will last me quite a while.

[snusjus]

I was at a party and almost every smoker had Camel Crushes. The tobacco itself smells identical to Camel 9s. I don't smoke anymore so I wouldn't be interested in trying them.

[mercvrivs]

When I was still smoking this past summer, a local retailer had a pack that he got at a retailer party. He let me try one. It was cool for the novelty effect but I think the market's probably pretty small beyond that since people tend to stick with either non-menthol or menthol exclusively.

[Xobeloot]

Exactly. It is simply a novelty. Maybe good to take a pack to the bar with you and be able to offer menthol or non to someone. Other than that, I don't see them doing well at all.

[mercvrivs]

Maybe Camel has the money to do stuff like that. I guess if anything it's a good way to get their name out: market a flashy new product that you know might bomb, gives you an excuse to get more promotional posters up and around.

[Xobeloot]

I hate to be the one to say this, but this is exactly the type of product that a 13, 14, 15 year old kid would show his friends and be like"ooooooh! look, you can make it minty by squeezing it".

A seasoned smoker knows whether they like menthol or non (as we mentioned above). I was always a non-menthol guy, but this was a gimmick i just had to see for myself.

[cocsp2002]

Before snus, I was a long time Camel light smoker, and when the crush came out, Heather ended up buying a carton (even though she smokes Marlboro lights...not menthol, not camel...don't ask, I don't even know). Anyway, I had to try one, and to my surprise...it tasted just like a marlboro light. I hated it. After squeezing the filter, it got considerably more tolerable, but still tasted pretty much like butt.

Maybe I didn't like it because I don't particularly care for cigarettes anymore. Tried a Camel Light this morning and only got through half before I couldn't take it anymore. I agree with everyone though, these probably won't last.

[Jason]

Oh, it definitely won't last, but I don't think Camel expects it to. You need to throw in an occasional gimmick every once in a while to keep people interested; even though cigarettes are a unique case due to the fact that they are a product people "need" (are addicted to and will buy anyway).

A few people on the Camel message boards have said that they taste like the No. 9's.....gross.

[bakerbarber]

I remember seeing the Crush when I made a road trip in July to PA to pick up some Yuengling. First thing I thought was, "wow kids are gonna go ape shit over that."

The posters and shit were all fancy futuristic.
I never smoked menthols. I never even considered actually buying them.

When you pop the filter does it leak?

Definitely a gimmick. Wish I had thought of it.

[ponysoprano]

Ugh, when I was at a month-long drug treatment facility everyone smoked Camel 9's....that thought alone, of that time is enough to make me stay away from all smokes for life...not to mention my obsession with snus and other alternatives.

[snusfather]

I remember seeing the Crush when I made a road trip in July to PA to pick up some Yuengling.

Back in the day, no party was complete without a keg of Yuengling lager, Great stuff! We were too young to be alchohol coneseurs (mad dog 20/20 grape death flavor was a stapple as well :lol: ), but we knew that it was very good beer.

[theillustriousHeather]

As Jason (cocsp) mentioned, I bought these.. and the novelty was great for me and a few of my friends, but the thing that got me was this: people who smoke menthol don't smoke non's (usually) and people who don't smoke menthol usually stick to non's. So why make a cigarette to bridge that gap? I think after the novelty of these wears off, they'll stop selling.
Also, my friend ripped the filter open and began squeezing the little mint ball that's inside, and ended up with an eye full of minty goodness. Kind of made it worth buying them. A tipsy chick trying to climb stairs with an eye full of mint is a funny sight indeed