Is there a reason the triple cap is used so commonly?

[Rectifier]

Just about every rolling video that I watch involves a triple cap. And it seems just about every roller spends almost as much time fussing around with the cap as they do rolling the rest of the cigar! Is there a true purpose to the triple cap or is it mostly cosmetic? Does it become required at a certain ring gauge as the cigar gets too fat?

I felt lucky to have come across this rolling video while getting started, because I was looking to roll some smaller cigars as my first ones. It featured a simple pigtail cap that is twisted out of a "flag" of wrapper leaf that I haven't seen in other videos. No cutting separate pieces, no glue. It's just so simple to do, so I've rolled all of my cigars with this cap style so far and had no issues. As far as cosmetics, my buddies think the pigtails look neat and distinctive and they are super easy to open up. Pull the tail with your teeth and they always leave a perfect draw hole like a punch.

I've tried a couple different bunching and binder rolling styles and am ready to move on to try some fatter cigars. Can I keep this wrapper / pigtail cap technique or will I have to move on to the triple cap at some point?

I already posted the video on "Pics of your sticks" but here it is again for reference.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djemTOpQwY4

 

[GreenDragon]

IMHO caps are purely cosmetic. I think I read somewhere they were originally introduced to show customers which end was the head of the cigar: @deluxestogie can you confirm with your encyclopedic knowledge base?
Some will say that the layers help build up the shoulder of the head so it's a little stronger. I tend to do pigtails on most of my cigars regardless of size as I just don't like to fuss with the caps very often unless they are intended as gifts, etc. I have a few friends that genuinely don't like capped cigars and prefer the pigtails also.

I do, however, utilize a (hidden) technique to build a stronger shoulder; when applying the binder, when I get near the end (head) I fold the wrapper under itself to make a double layer for the last inch of the cigar. Once you trim the ends you can't tell it's there and once the wrapper is on it's completely invisible.

As long as you are happy with your cigars and they don't fall apart... finish them how you like and just enjoy the experience!

 

[deluxestogie]

My understanding is the following:

• Stunning visual appeal is critical to marketing a cigar in a crowded market.
• The Marsh-Wheeling deluxe stogie used a twisted head since 1830. You bit it off, and spit it out.
• Most earlier Cuban cigars used a "double-cap", which utilizes a carefully crafted flag to close the head.
• In the late 1960s, the "triple-cap" was innovated to provide the most sculpted, rounded appearance.
• A closed head, distinguishable from the foot, assists a casual cigar smoker in avoiding lighting the wrong end, and having the wrapper unwrap before his eyes.
• The triple-cap encourages torcedors to place yucky, tiny bits of leaf into the head, in order to shape it spherically. These come out in my mouth. Pahtooey!

I'm a cigar-rolling slob. Only my rare, gift cigars get glue and a (feeble attempt at a) triple-cap.

Bob

 

[Yvan the terrible]

I think that the cap in a way is like frosting on a cake. You may not really need it but it adds something of beauty. It does serve structurally on larger ring gauge cigars imo especially if you use a v cutter and want to concentrate the smoke flow in your mouth.

 

[Rectifier]

Thanks for the information everyone, the folded wrapper technique described by GreenDragon is probably just what I was looking for, to reinforce the head of the cigar without having to add extra pieces of cap.
Now I will feel confident rolling fatter cigars with pigtail caps without worrying about the shoulder collapsing or tearing.

I agree that a triple cap is more beautiful and makes the cigar look much more professional and polished. However as mentioned the pigtails make my home rolls look unique, and that's worth something too. I'll definitely have to try a triple cap some time just to see how it goes - but since I don't have molds anyways, I think I'll stick towards a more "rustic" looking cigar.