Humidors are essential for any aficionado, unless you plan on smoking 10,20,30 or so cigars in a day you will need a place to keep them. They are to be preserved and kept in controlled environments so they retain their flavor and quality over a long period of time. To help you select what will work for you, this is my buyer guide and selection of best cigar humidors for the money.
In the world of collectibles, there are many different ways to store and preserve your collection. One of the most popular is a cigar humidor. In this guide, we’ll be going over some reasons why you should purchase one of these for yourself or as a gift for someone else.
Cigar Humidors can help maintain an optimal humidity level so that cigars stay fresh and do not damage due to improper packaging methods like drying out from lack of moisture or molding if they become too wet.
Before we jump into our cigar humidor reviews it is important to know what kind of environment we have to maintain and create and some essentials about storing cigars.
- Store your cigar between 65-72% humidity.
- To avoid tobacco beetle infestation it is best to store them under 75′ degree Fahrenheit.
- Don’t store your cigars in the fridge.
My Pick For Best Humidor Under $200
Many people who are serious about their cigars know that the best way to store them is in a humidor. There are many different types of humidors out there, but not all of them will be suitable for you and your budget. My best cigar humidors under $200 pick this year goes to:
Case Elegance: Octodor Large Black Piano Finish Glass Top Cedar Humidor with Digital Hygrometer
This humidor is made of black piano finish glass and has a digital hygrometer that can measure humidity and temperature. It also features an LED display for the current date/time with alarm settings. This cigar humidor by Octodor includes a removable tray to hold up to 75 cigars or accessories. I love this thing.
How to Select a Cigar Humidor!
A good place to start is by looking at your budget and deciding which brands are within that range, then narrowing down on the material types they offer until you find one with just the right style for your needs.
Beyond prices, keep in mind other factors like weight when considering size as well as how many cigars can fit into it comfortably so there’s room left for more if necessary. For those who don’t want something too big or heavy, we recommend going with glass models since they have less surface area than wood models do while still preserving quality tobacco inside best
Cigar Humidor Materials
Typically, cigar humidors are made of either wood or metal. They can be ornately decorated with a variety of materials like nickel and chrome to make them more visually appealing. But there’s one material we all know that has been used for millennia to store cigars: cedar! And it should come as no surprise why this is the case – Cedarwood because it’s naturally aromatic and relatively inexpensive. It also provides protection against dust, mildew, and bugs which can be very problematic in humidor storage areas.
– Cedar: the natural material for cigar humidors is a favorite among many smokers because it’s naturally aromatic and relatively inexpensive. It also provides protection against dust, mildew, and bugs which can be very problematic in humidor storage areas. While cedar does not respond well to temperature or humidity changes, so you need to make sure that your cigars are stored at low RH levels (around 60% RH). This will protect them from warping while inside their wood container but remember they still need an air-tight seal!
It seems as if there’s some debate about whether this material blocks light – some experts believe it does nothing while others say all of its sides block 100%. The truth is probably somewhere in between.
– Glass: the clear winner when it comes to visibility, but is not as durable and can be destroyed by temperature changes.
Table Top vs. Desktop Humidors vs. Travel Humidors
Tabletop humidors are designed to be placed on a table or desk and the cedar lining is typically vented, which will allow for constant airflow inside (always make sure there’s good ventilation).
Desktop humidors are made to be placed on a surface like a table or desk. They’re typically taller and bigger than travel boxes so they can accommodate more cigars, but that also means there’s less room for storage inside the box itself (which usually just includes one drawer).
Desktop humidors are perfect for people who want quick access to their cigars without the complications of venting. If you do plan on keeping your desktop humidor closed most of the time, make sure there’s good ventilation with either an opening near the bottom corner of each side panel
Desktop models have no venting so you need to manually open it up periodically in order to let air flow through; this makes them perfect for people who want their cigars right at arm’s reach but don’t necessarily care about constantly monitoring humidity levels.
Travel humidors are designed to be carried with you. This means they’re typically shorter and more compact than desktop humidors, so there’s less room for cigars inside the box itself (which usually just includes one drawer).
Travel boxes make it easier to bring your favorite smokes around without having to worry about space or organization because everything is stored in a small caddy that can easily slide into any bag of your choice. Unlike desktops, travel humidors require a bit more work when opening them up—especially if you don’t have space for full ventilation like desktops do—but this also makes things easier on yourself as far as how often you need to open and close the case.
Travel boxes tend to only come with one type of RH setting that can range from 75-85% RH and they’re not as customizable when it comes to maintaining your cigar collection because the storage area is smaller than other options.
If you are a beginner a tabletop or a desktop humidor is ideally should your first choice. They are not that expensive and when you are not sure about how many you are going to smoke, a small box is perfect. They also require less maintenance and are easy to carry.
The design of the box is your personal choice as it comes in many varieties, some are leather-covered while others beautifully made from custom woods. Some are glass tops so you can look at your cigars from the outside while others are completely blocked out so you have to open them if you want to check the hygrometer.
The insides of it are usually made from Spanish cedar, it is not the norm but it is widely accepted. It can withstand the humidity which other types of wood cannot and thus is the preferred choice among the community.
8 Best Cigar Humidors To Buy!
Now that you have understood some of the basic elements of it we can get started with selecting the best humidor for you. Although you don’t have to get every one of them, you just have to find that fits perfectly with your needs and get that one.
Best Humidor for Traveling
Pardo Travel Humidor Case
This humidor comes with everything any aficionado ever needs for the smoking experience. It comes with a cigar cutter, humidifier, and even a lock and key to keep those stogies safe. Even though it can store only 6-10 cigars at a time if you need something small and compact to keep in your office or in a table for a random smoke between months you will find this box to be very good.
It is perfect for travelling because you can conveniently store everything in one box and use them.
One of the reasons why I really like this box is because I keep it in my office and store it for those moments when my smoke is not planned, so this box contains everything in one place. Which is super convenient.
The leather design is very smooth and looks very good on a table. It does not pop out from rest of the furniture and blends in pretty nicely. The lock and key comes in very handy when in office so nobody steals my stogies and keeps them safe.
The insides feel a little cheap, maybe because they are from Asia but at the price this humidor is available right now it is a pretty good deal. It is not as quality as some of the more expensive ones but at the price it comes in it is quite worth the money.
Pros:-
- Due to its cheap price it is convenient to have around.
- Makes a good travel humidor.
- Blends in with briefcases and luggage easily.
- Convenient to store it anywhere.
Cons:-
- Made of cheap material.
- Interior does not feel good.
- Can store only 8-10 cigars at a time.
Prestige Import Group Monte Carlo Wood
If you are looking for something more classic then this cedarwood humidor with handles is a perfect choice for you. It comes with an inbuilt hygrometer and humidifier and can store up to 120 cigars at a time. The sides and the lock key are finished with gold color and look very classy.
The best part about this one is that it seals up well which is the most important factor when it comes to any type of humidor. The only thing I was disappointed with was the humidifier and hygrometer. The hygrometer stopped working in a few days and the humidifier kept falling I had to make a few modifications and replace the hygrometer.
Other then that the humidor itself was of high quality with a tight seal and works well.
Pros:-
- Made of Cedar Wood.
- Seals well.
- Looks simple and classy sitting on wood tables.
- Convenient to store it anywhere.
Cons:-
- Hygrometer and humidifier tend to fail.
Best Humidor for Beginners
Finding the right humidor can be daunting if you are just starting your cigar smoking journey. After using dozens in my life I always seem to send beginners to this one…
Quality Importers Versailles 100 Cigar Glass Top
This classic themed humidor has a glass on the top and in the front for easy viewing inside. It says that it can contain upto 100 cigars but from my experience it looked like the most that could be fit into the box was around 80. This box also comes with a lock and key and helps keeping the box sealed.
You will have to get a digital hygrometer because the one that it comes with is not that good. If the one that you receive is good then you can also remove it from the box and calibrate it accordingly. It’s an option which is good. The best feature I like is the front end glass so I can see my cigars from my desk. It gives a good feeling. The price it is available on amazon right now it is definitely worth the price and one of the best humidor choice right now for the beginner.
Pros:-
- Glass on top and side make it easy for viewing.
- Has an inbuilt spanish cedar humidifier holder.
- Also has spanish cedar divider dividing space in two parts.
- Convenient to store it anywhere.
Cons:-
- Hygrometer tends to break down easily.
The Modena Countertop Cigar Display
This countertop has a large glass on top rather than a small one which is very nice since you can then see a lot of space inside and view your cigars easily. It also comes with 4 adjustable dividers so you can keep your cigars separated easily accordingly. The angled storage also provides a very nice aesthetic appeal and also makes it easier to see when you are sitting far away.
It can store upto 100 cigars. This cherry wood box is for anyone who wishes to showcase this box to there friends or in a shop. It also includes 2 humidifier along with 1 hygrometer both gold.
My problem with this humidor is that the seal and the lock are a bit finicky and can come out. The seal has to be maintained a lot which you really shouldn’t have to do. It’s something that I faced and some of the reviews on the amazon also say that they did too.
Quality Importers Trading Old Glory
A perfect box for an american soul, with design of rugged american flag it brings out the patriot in you. A simple box which can hold upto 100 cigars, comes with humidifier, hygrometer and a simple lock and key.
This humidor is perfect for those who appreciate good craftsmanship and are still american at heart. Along with good design the box seals well and keeps the humidity in check very nicely. This thing is beautiful and I am sure it fits perfect for those with manly personas.
BLACK EDITION FLAGSHIP 50
If you are tired of cheaply Asian made humidors then this will be perfect for you, made in Latin america where cigar culture is huge this box is designed by the smokers for the smokers. It comes with plate so you can engrave and personalize this box to you or somebody who you are giving this as a gift. It also include a cutter and liquid as a free bonus, which I think at the price should anyways be included.
Overall design wise the box is beautiful look at with the small hygrometer on the outside and its stunning black finish along with the latch system.
The Ravello 300
This 300 cigar holder is a good budget option if you are looking for a bulk holder and with drawers and is beautifully crafted humidor. It comes with 2 large humidifiers along with 1 glass hygrometer and also two divider drawers in the bottom to store all of the other accessories.
This is not a small humidor its almost a mini cabinet sitting on top of your table. Rightly so since it can store upto 300 cigars at a time. Even though it is big, it is beautiful and multipurpose at the same time, so all the space that it takes can be used to store all your accessories in one place.
In the image you will notice that there are 4 drawers whereas in reality the bottom 2 drawers are the one that can be used as storage option whereas the top 2 drawers are imitation or fake.
The seal works very well keeping the humidity in check while still being a budget option. The price may fluctuate a lot so make sure to check out its latest price below but how much ever it may change it is still not one of those most expensive options out there. Some of the users have had it for years and never faced any problems with it.
Dublin Desktop Glasstop
This 100 cigar holder box is one of those simple but works great humidor. The glasstop positioning is quite well and you can see all your precious stogies underneath in it. It comes tightly packed with foam, cushions etc to ensure nothing gets damaged in the transit.
When it comes to maintaining humidity levels it does the job very well and has tight seals that keep the atmosphere in control at all times.
Conclusion
My favorite from the list is monte Carlo and trading glory. They are simple and look good. Eventually, a humidor is something that you will have to get there is no other way around it. It is very important to store your cigars correctly so that you can enjoy them when the moment comes. Hope you liked our list of best cigar humidors just note that you can’t just buy a box and expect it to do everything you will have to do some preparations too.
