which boveda pack?

[FireDragon]

I've mostly been keeping my humidor between 65-67 percent, and storing boxes of cigars with 65% bovedas in small airtight containers. But occasionally I like to put a few cigars in heavy-duty zip-lock bags with a boveda. The only problem is that Boveda doesn't make 65% RH in the small size. Would it be better to get 8 gram 62% or 69% for long term storage if I plan to smoke between 65-67 percent?

 

[Trackmyer]

So you have a bunch of containers and a humi? Why not get a cooler to go with the humi instead? They keep rh real well and are easy to maintain. That could help do away with the baggies as well. Baggies are good for transporting home from B&M but not for storage, imo.

 

[FireDragon]

I have no room for a cooler.

 

[multi-useless]

But occasionally I like to put a few cigars in heavy-duty zip-lock bags with a boveda.

By "occasionally", do you mean "when you buy too many on cbid to fit in your humi?"

I like 72's, but that's just me. Most guys seem to prefer lower rh. To answer your question - I say use Bovedas that are a little higher than what you want your sticks at. Consider this - if your Bovedas are drying out over time, as they usually do, then they're losing humidity - because they're working to keep up with the air around them. If the air around them isn't staying at the same rh as the Boveda, then the sticks aren't either. If you use a Boveda lower than what you want your sticks at, the only way you'll achieve the level you want, is if you're in an environment so humid that your Bovedas are absorbing moisture, rather than putting it out.

Use the 69's. Even if your sticks do get to the same level as the Bovedas, it's easier to de-hydrate than re-hydrate.

Just my .02

 

[Mr.Draned]

Between on what I have read on here and the Boveda site, if you could fit a larger 65% in the baggie it would humidify just fine.
Is the issue the size of the baggie being too small for the Boveda?

 

[multi-useless]

If the bag's too small for a Boveda pack, those are some tiny cigars in the bag...

 

[JuzCallMeDee]

so the large boveda pack at 65% doesnt work? im confused

 

[danmdevries]

I'd personally advise against using baggies.
If space is a concern, tupperdors or even ammo boxes work very well.
http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=740706&type=product&MDK=dynbanP_SL&MDC=cat522363780

I've used these for overflow a few times before I narrowed down my selections and built my two big humidors. They're small enough to store in an area with limited space, but big enough to hold 30-50 cigars. They're hard sided to help protect your cigars, and pretty much airtight like a tupperdor.

 

[Ducttapegonewild]

I've mostly been keeping my humidor between 65-67 percent, and storing boxes of cigars with 65% bovedas in small airtight containers. But occasionally I like to put a few cigars in heavy-duty zip-lock bags with a boveda. The only problem is that Boveda doesn't make 65% RH in the small size. Would it be better to get 8 gram 62% or 69% for long term storage if I plan to smoke between 65-67 percent?

Have you checked the Boveda website? They do make a 65% 8g pack.

http://www.bovedainc.com/store/tobacco/boveda-medium-8-gram/

 

[3/5King]

Have you checked the Boveda website? They do make a 65% 8g pack.

http://www.bovedainc.com/store/tobacco/boveda-medium-8-gram/

Knowitall

 

[FireDragon]

I tend to smoke smaller cigars, like coronas or petit coronas. I can't smoke indoors so I don't smoke big cigars.

I'm not using thin Zip-Lock bags. I'm using heavy-duty bags that they give me at the cigar store, or I use Zip-Lock or Rubbermaid plastic lunch boxes. Smaller Bovedas are very flexible for this because two or three small Bovedas will humidify a bundle of coronas, but I can still use just one to humidify a few cigars that are overflowing from the rest of my storage, or that don't fit in with other cigars (flavored cigars for instance).

I do like the 62% 8 gram packs because I also have some pipe tobacco and they are perfect for pipe tobacco. But... some cigars feel much more fragile at that humidity, especially if the cigars do not have cellophane. The pliability of the tobacco goes way down.

 

[K Williams]

72% in the Winter.
69% all other seasons.

 

[sofc]

I don't do it myself but I know of serious cigar smokers who have been known to use zip lock bags.
I prefer a lower rh myself but again, most of it is preference.

 

[K Williams]

I don't do it myself but I know of serious cigar smokers who have been known to use zip lock bags.
I prefer a lower rh myself but again, most of it is preference.

A gallon freezer bag and one Boveda pack will hold the humidity of 30+ cigars much better than a humidor. I have probably 10 ZipLok freezer bags going in addition to 3 wood humidors.

 

[K Williams]

I tend to smoke smaller cigars, like coronas or petit coronas. I can't smoke indoors so I don't smoke big cigars.

I'm not using thin Zip-Lock bags. I'm using heavy-duty bags that they give me at the cigar store, or I use Zip-Lock or Rubbermaid plastic lunch boxes. Smaller Bovedas are very flexible for this because two or three small Bovedas will humidify a bundle of coronas, but I can still use just one to humidify a few cigars that are overflowing from the rest of my storage, or that don't fit in with other cigars (flavored cigars for instance).

I do like the 62% 8 gram packs because I also have some pipe tobacco and they are perfect for pipe tobacco. But... some cigars feel much more fragile at that humidity, especially if the cigars do not have cellophane. The pliability of the tobacco goes way down.

Where do you buy the 62% small Boveda packs? I need them for pipe tobacco too.

***Edit***
Found it myself:

http://www.bovedainc.com/store/tobacco/boveda-medium-8-gram/

 

[FireDragon]

I bought my 8g bovedas off Amazon.

They have to be folded over to fit into some mason jars, and they are a little big for traditional pipe tobacco pouches. My guess is they'ld work better in tins, cans, or large pipe tobacco humidors (jars).

 

[FireDragon]

I think I answered my own question- 62% seems far too low for delicate-wrapper cigars. I got some cheap Dominican Corojitos that are getting crinkly wrappers on the foot- they would be much happier at 69% I'm sure.

I have a box of La Aurora Principes Masters stored in a gallot Zip-Lock inside a shoe box along with one 65% boveda. It does seem to be holding humidity better than a wooden humidor, for sure.

 

[Cigary43]

We need to remember that when storing our cigars we need to educate ourselves as to what will keep them in the best condition possible...where they will thrive instead of just existing. Humidors are popular for a reason....good ones that is...because they tend to 'breathe' which helps in the conditioning and balancing of the tobacco over time. Tupperware is popular as well because it works much like a humidor except it doesn't breathe like a wood humidor so one needs to check it weekly to allow an exchange of fresh air and it's a smart thing to put down cedar sheets on the bottom of the tupperware. I not only put it on the bottom but on the sides as well and it tends to work better to help keep RH where you
want it.
As far as the baggies go....while they are a good conveyance to get your cigars from the B&M to home they aren't the chosen method for storage over time unless you're going to smoke them within a week or two...even with a pillow or Boveda inside. Think of it this way....using a baggie is fine for sandwiches and other items you want to keep fresh but for long term storage you're only going to reap small dividends unless you don't care how your cigars smoke and taste. Cigars are best when treated with planning and set up...resting...letting the tobacco reach it's best balance and when you pay $8 on up for a cigar why not try to let it reach it's potential? The whole idea is to use a proven technique for storage that will enhance your cigar experience....not just using something that gets you from Point A to Point B.......Point Z is where I want to get to. JMHO

 

[FireDragon]

A heavy-duty Zip-Lock is not like a thin sandwich bag. I've had tobacco stay fresh for months in zip-locks. A freezer bag doesn't breath a lot, that's the whole point- you don't want freezer burn on your food. You will get a little air exchange but that's not different from keeping them in a wood humidor that doesn't leak much.

Now, if I did smoke 8 dollar cigars I'd probably keep them in heavier Tupperware and would definitely want Spanish cedar or mahogany lining the bottom to help keep humidity stable. But the most I pay for a cigar is $2.50, and most less than $1.50, so I don't stress about it. They are destined to become ashes anyways.