My struggles with los thus far...

[ctimb2002]

So it's been a little over a week now I think since my los arrived in my order. I realize that with my problems the past 2 or 3 days things have not been how they normally would be but I am having a huge problem finding the time to use los. I can't use it when my GF is around because she thinks its too much like dip and I wont even get a kiss outta her...much less anything else, and to boot it's a convenience factor. I will soon be the proud owner of an icetool. Will I find this a great help in the time spent making a pris? Perhaps it will spur me to use it more often?

[Badfish74]

IMHO yes the icetool will make a big difference! I rigged up two of my own out of a 3ml and 5ml syringes. While not near the quality of an icetool, they work on the same principle. This made a huge differnce in my los usage! If I had to hand bake or had stuck with the prismaster I wouldn't use near as much los as I do. All I can say is be patient and stick with it. Hopes this helps!

[lxskllr]

It took me a few months before I really got into lös. I started a few times per week, and the frequency just grew and grew. I didn't consciously use it more or less; I just found myself grabbing the lös more than not after awhile.

Of course you could be the other way. You might like portions more. It's hard to tell this soon in though.

[Jason]

There is a completely different learning curve to los compared to the almost absurd convenience of portions. It just takes practice. :wink:

[heppycat]

The biggest issue I had with using loose at work is the disposal. Now that I'm decent at hand baking (and using Skruf), I can either wander to a trash can or just put the dead pris in a napkin.

[sagedil]

Yes, Icetool will make it much simpler.

But even with that, I struggle to use los. It just isn't something I particularly like yet. I will keep forcing myself to use some, but some days that is MUCH less than others.

[ODurren]

2 cans of los in (just to finish them) and I'll admit that I must prefer white portions. I am in no way going to force myself to keep going on with something I don't like. Whites make me happy and happiness makes the world go 'round.

[sagedil]

ODurren, I completely understand. I was exactly like you when I tried los a year ago. Didn't really like it much, absolutely loved portions, so that's what I did.

But....partly because so many folks who I respect have told me the love for los just takes much time to build. And because I am as visible as I am here, and probably one of Snuson's most well known king's of portions, I just feel the need to really submerse myself in this los, and give it a try for 2 months at least.

Either I will come to love it, thus giving encouragement to others just trying it out to keep sticking with it. or I will say that no, I REALLY just don't like los, and at least know I gave it every opportunity to win me over.

But others should just do their own thing, that is what snus is all about

[jim]

I don't see this difference in taste people talk about... For me los is about the manual pleasure of handling the tobacco and forming a pinch the size/shape I want. The fact that it's about half the price doesn't hurt either.

[rickcharles606]

Once I got my Icetool, using los became far more enjoyable for me.

When I first wanted to try los, I certainly didn't think that I'd still be using it on a regular basis. On the whole, I use portions, but I find myself using more and more los.

Currently, I have more cans of los open in the fridge than I do portions. Guess I've already nailed down my regs in portions, but I'm still trying to find out which los I prefer.

[bakerbarber]

I really like loose for the mouth feel and for the reduced amount of runny juice I get.

Portions always get runny on me.

Loose snus, once mastered, can be more manageable and cost effective.

Nothing beats rick's story about sneezing in the grocery store with loose snus. I still giggle about that.

[tom502]

I loved los at 1st try. I did not love portions at 1st try. I was scared of los, didn't know what to do with it, the idea of it reminded me of dip, which I hate. The snus Gods shone on me when my "mystery can" was a los, and I read up on it, watched youtube, and tried it. It was great. Then I saw the thread on the homemade "icetool" and did that, and it works great. Now, really, I prefer los, and use it most. But for work, and going out, depending on where I'm going, the portions I think, are more suitable. But at home, or at a buddies place, I want los. My 1st roll will be los.

[shikitohno]

I took to lös from the start as well. It was probably because you get twice as much for the same amount of money. Still, I don't dislike portions, per se, but I'll probably just buy portions for snus that doesn't come lös. Also, I've heard portions can be much harsher on the gums, and I'm trying to rescue my gums as it is.

[tom502]

Well, the economical aspect is good of course, but the main thing I liked was the taste, and the consistency of it over a more heavy salted portion. I know everyone says you get used to the salt, and I'm not doubting it, but I think the main 1st impression "non positive"(didn't want to say negative) aspect is an often heavy saltiness, though some portions are less, like Grov whites. Of course a lot of it is personal tastes. Sometimes a portion seems overly salty to me, but sometimes the same type of portion doesn't another time. But yeah, I liked the los more overall, at least based on my experience with Grov, and how I feel as I write this.

[jcarlson]

I am a skruf stark los user, and I have tried everything for forming a pris. Hand baking is still the best for that, in my opinion. I am tending to favor a half hilly billy method though. I take a large loose pinch, do the baking thing once to get it into a form, then shove it under the lip and pack with my tongue. I like the feel of it better this way, and I get a lot more flavor than a tightly packed pris. I have an icetool that I use at work, but I use it more for the mess factor than a better formed pris.

To me, the icetool is just a convenience. Hand bake if you want the best pris.