Do Humidor Bags Work?
Humidor bags are ideal when you need a temporary storage solution for your cigars, whether you don’t have a humidor or you’re traveling. It’s essential to store cigars between 65-72% relative humidity (RH) humidity and 65-72 degrees Fahrenheit. Boveda humidor bags contain a patented two-way humidity control pack that continually emits and absorbs purified water vapor to maintain a consistent level of relative humidity. You can also use a Boveda pack in a standard Ziplock bag to keep your cigars fresh and moist. The advantage of buying a Boveda humidor bag is that it’s vacuum sealed, comes with a Boveda pack, and it’s made from a durable, high-density material that’s three times thicker than a household food storage bag. Below, we break down the pros and cons of using humidor bags to keep your cigars fresh.
Pros of Humidor Bags
Humidor bags offer many benefits, including price, convenience, and reliability. The technology has been vetted and refined by Boveda over the past several years. Here are the main reasons humidor bags are ideal for storing cigars.
Humidor Bags Are Affordable
New cigar enthusiasts shopping for their first humidor often rely on Boveda humidor bags to keep their cigars fresh until they find a suitable box. Humidor bags come in three sizes: small ($5.49, holds up to 5 cigars), medium ($7.99, holds up to 15 cigars), and large ($13.99, holds 60-80 cigars). If you buy cigars by the box, you can remove them and fit multiple boxes worth of cigars in the large bag.
Humidor Bags Require No Maintenance
Humidor bags last several months. When the humidity pack on the inside has stiffened up and dried out, replace it with a fresh pack. Use one 60-gram pack for every 25 cigars you store. Boveda makes 8-gram packs for smaller humidor bags designed to store 5 cigars or fewer.
Humidor Bags Are Easy to Transport
Not everyone wants to pack a bulky travel humidor in their suitcase or golf bag. Humidor bags are lightweight, easy to fold or roll up, and they’ll fit in your carry-on bag. If you’re buying cigars to bring home from your vacation, pack a humidor bag to store them in on your return.
Humidor Bags Are Reliable
Humidor bags offer a consistent environment. Boveda packs continually release and absorb purified water vapor through a patented membrane designed to maintain a predetermined humidity level. They will not over-humidify or under-humidify your cigars. It’s okay for your cigars to come into contact with a Boveda humidity pack.
Humidor Bags Offer a Range of Humidity Levels
Boveda packs come in a range of humidity levels, including 65%, 69%, 72%, and 75%. You can choose a pack that best suits the climate where you live. If you’re in the desert or experiencing a dry winter, consider a slightly higher humidity pack to compensate for drier conditions. If you live in a naturally humid climate, a humidor bag offers greater consistency, especially for long-term storage.
Humidor Bags Re-Humidify Dry Cigars
One of the best applications for humidor bags is re-humidifying dry cigars. If cigars in your collection have been neglected and have dried out, you can revive them by storing them in a humidor bag for several weeks or months. You don’t have to constantly monitor the humidity, like you do in a traditional humidor. Seal your cigars in a humidor bag and check on them periodically, at least once a month. Replace your humidity pack(s) after the moisture is gone.
Cons of Humidor Bags
Humidor bags are functional but less attractive than traditional desktop humidors. They work amazingly but may not be ideal for all circumstances.
Humidor Bags Are Less Protective than Travel Humidors
The biggest drawback of a humidor bag is the lack of protection. Premium cigars are fragile, and a bag can potentially leave them susceptible to damage, such as cracked wrappers, when not stored in a firm enclosure. If you’re camping or hiking, a hard case, like the Xikar Travel Humidor, offers better protection with a padded interior and a waterproof seal. However, many cigar boxes will fit inside a large humidor bag. Therefore, you can slide an entire box of cigars into the bag to keep them protected while exposing them to the humidity the bag provides.
Humidor Bags Are Not Made of Cedar
For the purists who prefer aging cigars in a cedar humidor, humidor bags will not age your cigars in the same capacity as a traditional cedar box. However, you can add cedar spills and cedar strips to a humidor bag to achieve a similar effect. If you’re exclusively looking for a long-term storage solution, a premium desktop humidor remains a worthwhile investment.
Humidor Bags Must Be Replaced Eventually
The lifespan of a humidor bag depends on multiple factors, including the size of the humidity pack, the number of cigars being stored, and the general wear and tear the bag is exposed to. A single 60-gram Boveda pack will humidify 25 cigars from 2 to 6 months. Humidor bags are made from durable, high-density material that isn’t prone to tearing. However, the seal can lose its effectiveness after repeated use, necessitating its eventual replacement, just like a household food storage bag.
When to Use a Humidor Bag
Humidor bags make sense for a variety of scenarios regardless of your experience level. Here are the best circumstances to pick up a humidor bag.
When You’re a New Cigar Smoker
When you’re just getting into cigars as a beginner, and you’re not ready to commit to purchasing a humidor, a humidor bag is an affordable and convenient way to store cigars while you develop your palate.
When You’re a Seasonal Cigar Smoker
Seasonal cigar lovers who only smoke occasionally during warmer months, for example, can use a humidor bag instead of maintaining a humidor that would remain empty for a good chunk of the year. A humidor bag eliminates the setup and regular maintenance that a traditional cedar humidor requires.
When Your Desktop Humidor Is Full
On the other hand, if you’re a seasoned connoisseur who has run out of space in your humidor, a humidor bag is a perfect option for handling the overflow without purchasing a second box.
When You’re Traveling with Cigars
Humidor bags offer a lightweight and flexible way to travel with your cigars, whether you’re heading to the golf course, a buddy’s barbecue, or on vacation. A humidor bag is less cumbersome to carry around than a hard case or a travel humidor.
When You’re Giving Cigars as a Gift
Cigars make excellent gifts for Father’s Day, the holidays, birthdays, and bosses. Many people who buy cigars as gifts often lack a proper humidor to store them in. Cigars that are not humidified begin to dry out within a few days. A humidor bag provides the perfect environment to keep your cigars fresh when it could be several days or weeks between purchasing them and giving them to your gift recipient. And if your recipient doesn’t have a humidor, the bag will keep them fresh for several months after they receive them.
Choosing the Best Humidor Bag
The primary factor to consider when deciding on a humidor bag is the number of cigars you plan to store. Purchase a humidor bag with sufficient capacity for your cigars. A small humidor bag holds 5 cigars. The medium size holds up to 15. The largest bag holds 60 to 80 cigars, depending on the length and thickness of your cigars. Get a bag with more space than you need so you can store and access your cigars comfortably without cramming them together.
