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For many cigar aficionados, the joy of smoking a fine cigar is a pleasure not to be confined to the home. Whether it’s for business trips, vacations, or weekend getaways, traveling with cigars is a common practice. However, preserving the quality and freshness of cigars while on the move can be challenging. This is where a travel humidor comes into play. In this guide, we will explore everything you need to know about travel humidors, ensuring that your cigars remain in perfect condition no matter where your wanderlust takes you.
Why You Need a Travel Humidor
Travel humidors are specially designed to protect cigars from the elements and maintain the right humidity level. Cigars are delicate items that can easily be ruined by changes in temperature and humidity. Without proper storage, cigars can dry out, lose their flavor, or become moldy. A travel humidor provides a controlled environment that safeguards your cigars from these risks.
Choosing the Right Travel Humidor
Selecting the right travel humidor depends on several factors, including the number of cigars you plan to carry, the duration of your trip, and your personal preferences. Travel humidors come in various sizes and styles, from compact cases that hold a few cigars to larger models that can accommodate up to 20 or more. Consider the following when choosing a travel humidor:
Capacity: Finding the Right Size for Your Travels
When selecting a travel humidor, it’s crucial to consider how many cigars you typically bring on your trips. The capacity of the humidor should align with the duration and nature of your travel. For short trips, a compact humidor that holds 2-5 cigars is often sufficient. These smaller humidors are easy to carry and store, making them ideal for weekend getaways or business trips where you might only need a few cigars.
For longer journeys or if you prefer to have a variety of cigars on hand, opting for a larger humidor is beneficial. Humidors that can accommodate 10-20 cigars provide more flexibility and ensure you have enough cigars for the entire trip. This is especially important for vacations or extended stays where you might want to enjoy different types of cigars in various settings. The key is to balance your needs with the practicality of carrying a larger humidor.
Portability: Ease of Carrying Your Cigars
Portability is a significant factor to consider when choosing a travel humidor. A humidor should be lightweight and easy to carry to ensure it doesn’t become a burden during your travels. Many travel humidors are designed with portability in mind, featuring compact designs that fit comfortably in luggage or carry-on bags.
Some models come with additional features like handles or straps, enhancing their convenience. These features are particularly useful for frequent travelers who need to move quickly through airports or other transit hubs. A portable humidor should not only protect your cigars but also fit seamlessly into your travel routine. Look for models that offer both protection and ease of transport to make your cigar travel experience as smooth as possible.
Durability: Ensuring Your Humidor Can Handle the Journey
Durability is another critical consideration for a travel humidor. Traveling can expose your humidor to various stresses, including impacts, pressure changes, and environmental conditions. Therefore, it’s essential to choose a humidor made from high-quality materials that can withstand these challenges.
Materials like aluminum, ABS plastic, and leather are popular choices for travel humidors due to their robustness and resistance to wear and tear. Aluminum and ABS plastic offer excellent protection against physical damage, while leather provides a luxurious feel combined with durability. A sturdy humidor ensures that your cigars remain safe and undamaged throughout your travels, allowing you to enjoy them in perfect condition whenever you choose.
Seal and Humidity Control: Maintaining Optimal Conditions
One of the most important aspects of a travel humidor is its ability to maintain the right humidity level. A tight seal is crucial to prevent air from entering the humidor and disrupting the controlled environment inside. A well-sealed humidor ensures that the humidity stays within the optimal range, typically between 65-72%.
In addition to a tight seal, a reliable humidification system is essential. This system keeps the cigars from drying out or becoming too moist, preserving their flavor and quality. Some humidors come with built-in humidifiers, while others may require you to add a humidification device. It’s also beneficial to have a hygrometer to monitor the humidity levels accurately. By maintaining the right conditions, your travel humidor ensures that your cigars will last, no matter where your travels take you.
Preparing Your Travel Humidor
Before using your travel humidor, it’s important to season it. Seasoning a humidor involves preparing the interior to hold humidity properly, ensuring that your cigars stay fresh. Here’s how to season your travel humidor:
- Wipe Down the Interior: Using a clean sponge or cloth, lightly dampen with distilled water and wipe the interior surfaces of the humidor. Avoid soaking the wood.
- Activate the Humidifier: If your humidor comes with a humidification device, fill it with distilled water or a propylene glycol solution as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Let it Sit: Close the humidor and let it sit for 24-48 hours. This process allows the wood to absorb moisture and creates a stable environment for your cigars.
- Check the Humidity: Use a hygrometer to check the humidity level inside the humidor. It should read between 65-72%. If it’s too low, repeat the seasoning process.
Packing Your Cigars
Once your travel humidor is ready, it’s time to pack your cigars. Here are some tips to ensure they remain in top condition during your journey:
- Handle with Care: Cigars are fragile, so handle them gently to avoid damaging the wrapper.
- Positioning: Place your cigars parallel to each other, ensuring they don’t move around too much inside the humidor.
- Separate Flavors: If you’re carrying cigars with different flavors, consider using dividers or separate compartments to prevent the flavors from mixing.
- Check Humidity: Before closing the humidor, make sure the humidifier is functioning correctly and that the humidity level is within the optimal range.
Maintaining Humidity on the Go
Traveling can expose your cigars to fluctuating temperatures and humidity levels. Here’s how to maintain the ideal environment inside your travel humidor:
- Regular Checks: Use a hygrometer to monitor the humidity level inside your humidor regularly. This helps you catch any issues early and make necessary adjustments.
- Humidification Packs: Consider using humidity control packs, such as Boveda packs, which automatically maintain a constant humidity level. These are particularly useful for long trips.
- Avoid Extreme Temperatures: Keep your humidor away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures. Avoid leaving it in a car or near heating/cooling vents.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even with the best travel humidor, you may encounter some common issues. Here’s how to address them:
Dry Cigars
If your cigars start to dry out, check the humidifier and ensure it’s properly filled. You can also add a humidity pack, like Boveda, to restore moisture. If your humidor is consistently dropping in humidity, this could indicate a poorly constructed seal. In that case, we recommend you reach out to its manufacturer and either request a refund, or ask them about troubleshooting. Keeping an eye on the humidity levels is critical to maintaining the integrity of your collection, and it is natural for the humidity levels to drop over time, especially if you live in an area with an extreme climate.
Over-Humidification
If the humidity level is too high, open the humidor for a short period to allow excess moisture to escape. Replace the humidification device if necessary. In addition, you can also use a 2-way humidification system such as a Boveda pack, which will both add and subtract from humidity levels and help regulate the environment. Regularly monitoring the humidity can help you catch and correct over-humidification before it becomes a problem.
Mold
Mold can develop if the humidity is consistently too high, although this is more likely to occur with desktop or cabinet humidors. Inspect your cigars regularly and remove any with visible mold. Clean the humidor thoroughly and ensure it’s not overfilled with water to prevent mold growth. You will also need to let it fully dry out for a period of time before re-seasoning it as we outlined above. Mold can be a bit of a pain to remove, so it’s best to focus on maintaining your humidor properly before it gets to that point.
Best Practices for Traveling with Cigars
To ensure the best experience while traveling with cigars, we recommend that you follow these best practices:
Plan Ahead
Consider the duration of your trip and the climate of your destination. This will help you choose the right cigars and the appropriate size of your travel humidor. Proper planning ensures that you have enough cigars and the right humidor to maintain their quality. If you’re purchasing a new humidor for your trip, please note that the seasoning process will also take time. It’s important that your travel humidor is fully prepared before you place your precious collection of cigars inside of it.
Bring Extra Supplies
Carry a small bottle of distilled water or a spare humidification pack in case you need to adjust the humidity on the go. Having these extras ensures that you can maintain the ideal humidity level for your cigars, no matter where you are. If nothing else, having these extra supplies will protect your peace of mind, knowing that your collection is safe even in the midst of unexpected events.
Enjoy Responsibly
Find appropriate places to enjoy your cigars while traveling. Research cigar-friendly locations, lounges, or outdoor areas where you can relax and savor your smoke. Enjoying your cigars responsibly enhances your travel experience and ensures you respect local regulations and customs.
Conclusion
Traveling with cigars can be a delightful experience when you have the right tools to preserve their quality. A travel humidor is an essential accessory for any cigar lover who wants to enjoy their favorite smokes while on the move. By choosing the right travel humidor, properly preparing it, and following best practices, you can ensure your cigars remain fresh and flavorful throughout your journey. So, pack your cigars, secure your travel humidor, and savor the pleasure of a fine cigar wherever your travels take you.