Best Cigar Humidifiers: Types, maintenance, and Tips

Optimal humidification is the only way to ensure your cigars deliver the smoke the cigar makers intended and that they age correctly. Enhancing your cigar humidor with the best cigar humidifier for your cigars will keep your cigars fresh, making for more satisfying smokes. So, let’s take a closer look at humidifiers and discover the types to choose from. We also have some tips for maintaining the best humidifier for your cigar humidor.

Why is a Humidifier Necessary

Cigar tobacco is at its best when maintained between 68% and 72% humidity, making for a smoother and more reliable smoke. Cigar makers consider this when blending to maximize each cigar’s body, taste, and combustibility. Finding the best humidifier for your cigar humidor helps keep your cigars fresh and ready for action.

If a humidifier does not release enough moisture, your cigars will be dry and brittle. If it adds too much moisture, the cigars will be wet and difficult to keep lit or damaged. So, choosing the right humidifier is critical to keeping your cigars in the optimal smoking condition.

Types of Cigar Humidifiers

Since humidors come in a range of shapes and sizes, cigar humidifiers are available in an equally broad selection. Most cigar humidifiers are “passive” devices, meaning they use materials that add moisture to the humidor. By contrast, “active” humidifiers, like electronic devices, regulate a humidor’s climate by increasing and decreasing the humidity levels as needed. So, from small DIY cigar containers to luxurious cabinet-style humidors, there is a humidifier type for every job.

Foam or Sponge Humidifiers

Foam humidifiers are among the most popular passive humidifiers because they are dependable, versatile, and budget-friendly. Foam humidifiers come in many shapes and sizes to suit different humidors. Sponge and green floral foam are classic humidification materials. However, other synthetic foam polymers are also now available. Foam humidifiers will keep the humidity at or around 70%, while helping to minimize mold and bacteria buildup. A drawback of foam-type humidifiers is that they require water to be added regularly to ensure consistent humidity control.

Humidification Packs

Humidification packs are single-use humidification solutions, offering dependable humidification without the high maintenance level of other devices. This makes them one of the best cigar accessories for anyone wanting simple, consistent humidification. Boveda and other popular brands make it easy to choose a set level of humidification, ranging from 65% to 72% or more. However, humidification packs must be replaced every few months. Trading ease of use for regular replacement can prove more costly than other reusable humidification options.

Humidification Gel or Beads

Humidifiers using crystal gel polymers offer good overall humidity control thanks to material that absorbs many times its weight in water. Silica beads are another water-absorbing option that works similarly. Both materials offer a cost-effective, reusable humidification option. Moderate maintenance is required, as water must be added every few weeks. While humidification gel and silica bead material can last for months or even years, they will eventually need to be replaced.

Electronic Humidifiers

Electronic humidifiers offer greater customization and control over your humidor’s climate. These “active” humidifiers feature integrated climate sensors, hygrometers, humidity control alarms, and other options to improve humidification. Top electronic humidifier designs include fans that help to circulate humidity evenly throughout the humidor. Maintenance is a mixed bag. Electronic devices can go beyond a month without needing water added, yet must be close to an electrical outlet or require battery recharging. Additionally, electronic humidifiers are bulkier and much more costly than other options.

Choosing the Right Humidifier

Once you’ve decided which humidifier type will pair best with your humidor, optimal cigar storage will follow. Each humidor has specific humidification needs that dictate how effectively it will preserve your cigars. So, just as you would decide how to choose a cigar cutter or lighter, there’s a few important questions to ask yourself before choosing the right humidifier for your needs.

How much space needs to be humidified?
How many cigars does my humidor hold?
Where can I put the humidor for the best humidifier access and maintenance?
What is my humidifier budget?
How much humidor maintenance can I handle?

Knowing the size, quantity, location, cost, and level of upkeep you want will help you identify the best humidifier type for your cigar storage needs. For example, using a plug-in electronic humidifier, your humidor must be close to an electrical outlet. On the other hand, humidification packs can go anywhere maintenance-free, but you will need to change them out every few months. So, there are humidification trade-offs to consider, but you get the idea.

Do remember that humidors should always be positioned out of direct sunlight for the best results, and plan your location accordingly. Likewise, you want to be sure a humidifier is optimized for the number of cigars you plan to store. A humidifier optimized for 25 cigars won’t be enough for 200 cigars. These considerations will help you better identify the perfect humidifier for your humidor.

Tips for Humidifier Use and Maintenance

Humidifier use and maintenance are easy once you settle on a routine that works for you. You’ll want to place the humidifier in the humidor so you can access it easily without damaging your cigars. The underside of the lid is usually best. Boveda packs and other humidification packs can be placed anywhere within the humidor.

When adding water to reusable devices, use only distilled water as it prevents mineral accumulation, bacteria, and mold. Propylene glycol or “cigar solution” can be added occasionally to further aid in humidity control and microbe prevention. Always remove the device from the humidor when you are filling it, and drain off the excess water before returning it to the humidor to prevent water from leaking onto your cigars. Regardless of the humidifier type, get into the habit of checking the humidity levels regularly with a quality hygrometer.

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Optimize Your Cigar Experiences With The Right Humidifier

Reliable humidification is the key to optimal cigar storage and a better cigar-smoking experience. You don’t want to leave your cigar humidification to chance! Once you’ve found the ideal cigar humidor for your needs, why not put it to the test with your favorite smokes from Swiss Cuban Cigars?