I started really smoking back in October of last year, so I'm fairly new too. I don't know if you have the means to, but if you do, I'd suggest getting someone to buy you a pipe from a local headshop. I got a nice little 3.5" glass pipe for $25. It's easy to hide, quicker and easier than rolling a joint, and most of them look pretty cool. If you can't do that then I'd go the with the aluminium pipe. I personally don't really bother with joints unless I'm at someone else's place.