Cigar Humidors: Buying Cigars Humidors Tips and Advice

Your cigar collection is beginning to grow. It may be time to pick up a humidor so you can keep your stogies fresh.

At some point, every cigar enthusiast will necessitate a humidor.

But what should you look for when buying one? What materials should it be made of? How much space do you need? Should you buy one with or without accessories?

Navigating the world of cigar humidors might seem complicated, but it doesn’t need to be. Use the following tips and suggestions to find a cigar humidor that’s right for you.

Find A Quality Humidor

Are cigar humidors all the same? The short answer is “no”.

Unfortunately, the glut of humidors is cheaply constructed and unreliable. They may even break down in a matter of months. A quality humidor should last you several years.

The main things to look at are price and construction materials. If the humidor costs too little, it probably isn’t a solid choice. Also, the best quality humidors are generally made of Spanish cedar and a mix of other materials, which aren’t inexpensive.

If you’re buying online, you can always check the reviews and ratings to see if others have had a good experience with it. Do a little bit of research before committing.

Choose The Right Materials

Ideally, you should choose a humidor that’s made of Spanish cedar, which helps maintain humidity and offers the best insulation overall.

You can purchase humidors made of other woods, such as maple, cherry wood, oak, and mahogany. Mahogany is another good option, but it doesn’t offer the same level of protection as Spanish cedar, particularly from tobacco beetles and worms.

Unsurprisingly, a humidor made of Spanish cedar will cost you more than other options. So, if you’re on a budget, this is an important factor to keep in mind.

The hardware can also be an important consideration. Ideally, the hinges should be made of brass. Brass can stand up to considerable usage.

Purchase A Humidor That Accommodates Your Cigar Collection

Whether you have a small collection now or intend to grow it later, you need a humidor that will accommodate the volume of cigars you’ll be keeping around.

Room humidors and cabinet humidors are among the most popular options.

A room humidor is like a walk-in closet where you can store large amounts of different types of cigars.

If you don’t have more than 50 cigars, then a cabinet humidor or tabletop humidor will be more than enough. These types of humidors can also blend in nicely with the furniture in your home.

It can’t hurt to think ahead. If you think you may be increasing your collection soon, then buy a humidor in which you can store all your cigars. But don’t leave too much empty space. Try to find a reasonable balance.

If you’re the type of person that’s always traveling or on the go, and you don’t have a large cigar collection, then you may prefer to pick up a portable cigar humidor. As you can guess, they are perfect for carrying around and taking with you.

Portable humidors can generally carry up to a few dozen cigars, are ideal for travel, and tend to be cheaper than the other options. Even if you aren’t constantly traveling, it can be nice to have a portable humidor as a backup option.

Buy A Cigar Humidor That Has A Tight Seal

This is an important consideration no matter what type of humidor you end up buying. It could even be said that no other factors are quite as vital as a tight seal. This is because you could end up buying a humidor that’s made of quality material but doesn’t have a tight seal.

A seal that makes a “whoosh” sound as it closes generally has a good seal.

If you’re buying online, check the reviews and ratings, or see if you can get customer support on the phone. You can’t test it out for yourself, so you may need to do a bit of digging.

Find A Cigar Humidor With The Right Accessory Options

Some humidors come with accessories. Others do not.

Two accessories any enthusiast should own are: A hygrometer and a thermometer. Hygrometers are designed to show you what the humidity levels are inside your humidor.

So, whether to purchase a humidor with these accessories or without is an important consideration.

Generally, buying a humidor with the accessories is a better option than buying one without. You will require these tools anyway, and if you’re new to humidors, it’s just going to make your life a lot easier. It will help you stay on top of the health of your cigars.

Other Considerations

The above should provide you with a good starting point.

But there are some other considerations worth noting. Ultimately, only you can decide what’s right for you. Ask yourself:

• Does the humidor match the furniture in your home? This may not be a major consideration for everyone. If you are interested in coordinating or complementing the other furniture you already have in your home, you may want to pay more attention to aesthetics.
• Do you require extras? Some humidors come with dividers for separating your cigars, as well as top trays. Will you be requiring these extras?
• Do you have budget restrictions? When it comes to humidors, every aspect of its construction is important, and can mean the difference between a unit that lasts several months as opposed to several years. Ultimately, you get what you pay for.

Conclusion

The right humidor depends on its owner and intended use.

You may constantly be on the move and require a portable humidor. Or, you may be more of a homebody and would like a humidor that blends nicely with your furniture and décor.

Maybe you’d just like to try a few things out before you decide on a nicer, higher quality humidor that’s right for you.

Use the above tips and suggestions as guidelines to help you find the perfect humidor for your situation.