How to Choose the Right Humidor: The Complete Buying Guide | Your Elegant Bar

November 28, 2020 6 min read

Cigars are not just a monetary investment; they are also a time investment. Heck, an emotional investment, too! That’s why your choice of humidor cabinet matters. 

Cigars are like fine wine. They need to age before achieving their optimum flavors. Some may need 12 or 24 months to taste their best, while expert cigar smokers claim that up to 5 years is needed for certain brands. Here are the things to keep in mind when choosing the best cigar humidor that works for you.

To facilitate their preservation process, cigars need the right temperature and moisture conditions which the right humidor can provide. Improper storage will not only negatively impact the “fine aging” of your cigars but worse, ruin their overall quality, flavor, and taste!

And if you want to store them for the long haul, it’s all the more important to do so with precisely controlled temperatures and humidity levels. So invest in the ideal humidor for your cigars and protect your investment in exquisite stogies!

But how to buy a humidor or rather the right one? Your Elegant Bar has compiled a list of the most important things to keep in mind when choosing the best cigar humidor that works for you.

1. Choose a humidor with the right size

How to buy a humidor in the right size? It’s quite simple really: The rule of thumb is to always buy a humidor that is larger than the number of cigars you are planning to store in it.

This is the most important thing to consider because humidors need proper airflow to maintain the perfect climate for your precious cigars. An overly populated humidor will have a significant effect on the temperature and humidity inside which can ruin your expensive collection.
Stack of cigars with cognac
A humidor that is too small or too big for your needs will be difficult to regulate and achieve the ideal humidification.

Every humidor on the market comes with a cigar count that is ideal for its shape and size, and the capacity can range from a hundred to thousands. If you plan on storing 50 stogies, we recommend getting a humidor that holds up to 100 cigars.

2. Consider the different cigars you want to store

Aside from getting a bigger humidor, one of the essential factors to ponder on is the kinds of cigars you plan to keep. Many cigar enthusiasts have a habit of collecting various stogies to satisfy their smoking needs - from mild, medium, to full-bodied cigars.

If different cigars are not properly separated from each other, it will alter their flavor profile and aroma that could ruin your blissful smoking experience.

Part of being a cigar aficionado is enjoying your cigars the way the master blenders intended it to be, so invest in a humidor with multiple drawers or compartments if you plan to store various cigars in one humidor.

3. Get a humidor that fits your environment 

How to buy a humidor that will perfectly complement your space? There are different categories of humidors to choose from, such as cabinet humidors, end-table humidors, desktop humidors, and travel humidors.

They are available in different wood finishes like walnut, mahogany, dark cherry, and more. If you want a humidor that fits in your living room or office space, buy one that is not only functional but can also serve as a piece of furniture.

4. Think about geographic location 

When exploring the possibilities of how to buy the right humidor, take into consideration where you would want to place it. Yes, location is important too, but it’s a factor that’s often overlooked.

For instance, if you live in a region that experiences moderate temperatures year-round then there likely won’t be any challenges in terms of maintaining the ideal conditions. However, if you live in a region that experiences extremely chilly winters and scorching hot summers, then it may impact the way your humidor functions.

That said, it’s nothing that cannot be addressed with the ideal electronic humidification system. Once you have that in place, all you need to do is monitor the temperature and moisture levels of your humidor from time to time. That’s all it takes to fine-tune your humidor’s technical parameters according to its locale!

Cigars in desktop humidor

5. Think about Installation Space

Location also includes the right storage area. So, apart from the geographical region, the amount of installation space it requires is paramount.

Depending on the desired storage capacity, office spaces could do with a desk humidor cabinet or even a coffee table humidor. Electronically operated humidors must naturally be plugged in at all times so they need to be located close to a socket. 

If you will be traveling a lot, consider a compact, lightweight, and budget-friendly portable humidorthat accommodates anywhere between 5 to 40 cigars.

6. Quality and material matters

When you’re considering how to buy the perfect humidor, the wood type must always come into consideration. The type of wood you choose has a significant impact on the ability of the humidor to retain moisture and temperature.

The best cigar humidors in the industry feature interiors lined with Cedrela Odorata or commonly known as Spanish cedarwood. Despite costing more, a Spanish cedar humidor offers many advantages and provides the ideal insulation and protection against tobacco beetles and insects.

7. Buy a well-sealed humidor 

To keep the inside of your humidor perfectly insulated and humidified, you need a tight seal to separate it from the outside climate. Cigars should be kept according to the 70/70 rule, meaning 70% RH (Relative Humidity) at 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Getting a Spanish cedar humidor without a good seal is pointless and will damage your cigars, causing them to be too stiff and dry. If in case that your humidor has moisture it is of high importance to get a humidor humidifier.

Ask yourself, “Are you willing to risk it?” Learning how to spot a cheap humidor will save you tons of money in the long run, so make sure to only purchase a humidor from authorized and trusted sellers. Also, take the time to read reviews from fellow cigar lovers to help you decide.

8. Opt for a built-in hygrometer and thermometer 

A hygrometer is a device that measures the humidity levels within the humidor, while a thermometer produces a temperature readout.

Both accessories are crucial to cigar aficionados because they are clear indicators of the humidor’s environment in real-time. Purchasing a humidor that already has a built-in hygrometer and thermometer makes maintenance easier.

On the other hand, we recommend investing in a high-end humidification system separately. There are many humidifiers to choose from such as travel humidor humidifiers, just remember to use distilled water or PG solution when filling your unit.

Cigar humidor with built-in hygrometer

9. Consider the time it takes to perform the upkeep

Maintaining a cigar humidor needs commitment and a lot of work! To get you up and running, you need to season the humidor and that requires a bit of effort.

You should also fill your cigar humidor up to 75% capacity consistently while regulating the right humidity and temperature levels. That’s why if you decide to buy an unreliable humidor, you’ll only end up wasting your precious time checking and tweaking your humidor’s conditions.

10. Figure out your budget 

When shopping for cigar humidors, it is important to familiarize the price range to get the best bang for your buck. Ask yourself, “how much money am I willing to spend?”

Humidors come in all price points, but quality humidors aren’t cheap. Do extensive research and find the best humidor that looks good for you and has excellent internal hardware that fits your needs.

Remember, a well-made and solid wood humidor will outlast and outperform cheap ones, so be prepared to spend a little extra.

11.  Figure out your budget 

The decision of how to buy the right humidor is naturally driven by budget too, apart from the above considerations. So, when shopping for cigar humidors, it is important to familiarize the price range to get the best bang for your buck. Ask yourself, “how much money am I willing to spend?”

Humidors come in all price points, but quality humidors aren’t cheap. Do extensive research and find the best humidor that looks good for you and has excellent internal hardware that fits your needs. Remember, a well-made and solid wood humidor will outlast and outperform cheap ones, so be prepared to spend a little extra.

Just Work With Us

Your choice of a humidor, whether you opt for a traditional all-wood affair or a fancy electronic humidor, should always be informed by your answer to one core question: Why do I enjoy smoking cigars?

Your love for the experience and your lifestyle choice should precede other factors. We hope these tips helped you in your journey in choosing the perfect humidor. Enjoyed this read? Share it to your fellow enthusiasts and aspiring cigar collectors. Browse for more articles!

You can also reach out to us for help on how to find your perfect humidor. We can create a custom humidor for you, fit you with the right smoke eater, even get you a cooler humidor, and even work with you on wholesale humidors. Whatever you need, we can help. Contact us now!

Jephonie Villegas

Jephonie Villegas


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