65% or 70%.... which is better
 

I've been reading a lot on the internet that keeping cigars at 65% RH is better for flavour and age, also creating fewer draw and burn problems. Is this true?

This is for cubans and non-cubans (Nicaragua) as well....

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

60-65%

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

Yes. Personal preference, really, but you'll find less draw issues at a lower humidity.

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

I personally like to keep mine at 65% I find that they burn better and taste better. YMMV

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

:tpd: Some like them closer to 70, some like them in the 50's. I would suggest you experiment and see what you like. I keep all my cigars 59-63%. I have less draw issues, burn issues and I think the flavor "pops" more.

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

Ditto what NCRadioMan says. Although personally, I keep my cigars closer to 59%-61% than 63%.

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

63% seems perfect to me. When I started keeping cigars, I tried around 70% and have kept working my way down.
65% is fine, too. Any higher and the problems start.
My cigars seem to taste best at 63-65%, too. Some are better a little wetter, some are better a little drier, but 63-65% is kinda my all-around rule of thumb.

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

I like 65%, however I keep mine at 70% because of the dry winters here in the NE. Doesn't make it right just what I do.

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

65% works pretty well for me.
Would not like them any higher than that.

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

62% currently

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

What about those cigars with more delicate wrappers? It has been my experience they sometimes will split when you smoke them if kept at lower RH levels.

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

65%

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

Mist the wrapper down with distilled water before smoking.

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

That works and also, you can always move those closer to the humidifier.

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

I keep mine at 65% as well. They burn and taste better being stored at this RH level. :2


Chris.....

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

For me 63~ is best. If I keep them at 70, I don't like the way they taste, burn or draw. 65 is good, but they sometimes get a bit bitter during changes of seasons, so I push it down a couple points more and seem to have the best luck there.

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

Cameroons can be tricky. They probably do need to be kept at a little higher rh. When they get dry they get very brittle and flake off and crack like crazy. Good thing I have none. :D

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

I keep mine between 59-63. I know some will say that 59 is too low, but I have better luck in that range.

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

63-65%
I think there was a poll here once and the majority of members were at 65% RH

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

I think most everybody here uses the 60-65% beads. I used to have 70% rh gel in the humi though and I honestly cannot tell any difference between the way my cigars smoked then and how they burn now. CCs and NCs

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

My cooler stays right around 70%, but I rarely smoke my cooler stock. These are either gifting/sending cigars, or I'll rotate them to one of my humidors to sit for awhile before smoking. The humi's run 63-65% except in the winter when that drops to about 60%. Just about everything burns & smokes perfectly, so it works for me.

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

I use heartfelt 65% beads. I usually keep the RH around 65%-60%. If it drops to 58% or lower, I mist the beads again.

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

I used to keep mine around 70% and had all sorts of burn and draw issues so I dropped it down to around 62%. I've hardly had any problems since. :tu

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

I prefer to keep my humidor around 72-74%, it's all about personally preference.

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

yes and no.


Yes, it is personal preference if you prefer to smoke your cigars a bit on the moist side.

No, it is not personal preference due to smoking issues that arise...It's been debated before many times over and I'm sure the OP would/could have found the discussion if he tried a tad harder but I digress.

I have found that keeping my cigars closer to 70% will create tunneling issues during my burn. I have also found that my cigars tend to have a harder time staying lit.

I'm not one to argue so try it out and see if you get more or less problems smoking. I don't smoke too often so I could be wrong all over.

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

I feelings exactly! :tu

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

Anywhere From 60-65 After Many Years Of Trial & Error!:tu

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

The Dude Abides.

:D

It takes a LOT of smoking to figure this out!

And, as RadioMan said, Cameroon is a b*tch. I have a separate humidor completely JUST for those.

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

I like to use 70% beads...they keep at just about 68% at 70 degrees.

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

I agree wth Bao's assessment, 74% not only can lead to burn issues but also to the dreaded mold issues.

Me? I like 60-62%. I also have a separate desktop for NCs that I keep at 65%.

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

74% is getting real close to mold issues. It only takes 80% for mold to grow and thrive. It's a dangerous place to be, especially considering some spots can get wetter than others.
I keep a 65% for my cc's and singles and odd stuff, but the bulk of my ready to smoke stuff is at 63%.
The actual amount of water in a cigar from 60 to 65% is so tiny that it's amazing how much difference the flavor and burn can be. It's really interesting, too. And fun to mess with. :tu

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

For long term storage I keep my cabinet at 65-70%. I personally think cigars age better at a little higher RH, but many would disagree with me.

Like the Admiral I have a separate NC humidor I keep around 65%.

My "smoking" humidor I keep 60% beads in. Don't have a hygrometer in that one - I just trust the beads.

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

Started out at 65%. I got some of Scott's beads during the last go round and my desktop settled at 60%. Since I'd read that some of the members here liked the low 60s or even high 50s, I decided to give it a shot. I'm having fewer burn issues as long as I give new sticks a few weeks to acclimate, and it does seem to make the flavors pop more.
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Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

I guess I am the odd duck. Load of burn and draw issues at 63% but little or now problems at 66-67%. As has been said, it is all personal preference, which may require some experimentation.

The trick of getting the wrapper slightly (stress slightly) damp before smoking has worked well for me in smoking outside in cold temps where the humidity is either way up or way down. :tu

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

I like to keep mine at 67.3256 rh. Just kidding.:D Truthfully, I'm totally okay with anything between 65 and 70 which is where it usually is. Why? I have fluctuating beads, I think. I have more issues with poorly rolled cigars than I have with rh, and even this is not that much.

Larry

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

Low 60's here.

70% makes me more worried than 50%.

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

:tpd: Or, if you have a cooler or cabinet, towards the top. RH rises.

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

Forgive me ignorance, but what does the "NC" stand for?

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

NC = Non Cuban (Cigar)

vs.

CC = Cuban Cigar

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

Thanks! Out of curiosity, is there a reason why non-cuban cigars should be kept separate from cubans?

As far as rh settings, I just recently got a montegue cabinet humidor and am in the process of filling it. So far I have been keeping it right around 68-70, but after reading this thread, I am considering lowering the rh a bit...

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

"non-Cuban"

not surprisingly, Cuban cigars are referred to as "CCs"

edit: question answered. damn you guys are fast.

while we're at it, Can someone explain what this popular smilie is supposed to represent? :r

I've always felt like I should know but never wanted to ask.

The only reason I can think of is that Cubans are rolled a bit tighter than NCs and smoke a little easier when dry. Also, the popular wisdom is that Cubans taste better at a lower RH, but if Cubans taste better at a lower RH, I would think NCs would too. and I've never actually heard of anyone keeping them separately.

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

ROFL:) Roling on floor laughing. Highlight it and it gives text. Without the HL i would have said roflmao:)

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

62 to 65 RH is what I use as well. never had burn or tunnelling issues yet.

I believe the reasoning is that NCs are aged before shipping, and considered ready to smoke, where CCs (in general) need some rest.
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Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

63 here

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

The only reason I keep 'em separate is so I can actually find the darn things if the mood hits. :ss

I don't bother moving them to my 60% "smoking" humidor only because the NCs smoke fine at a higher RH.

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

I don't separate them.


Opinions vary though.

/shrug

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

I had a plethora of problems at 70%, and eventually a tiny bout of beetles when the heat and humidity fluctuated a tad too far. 65% i have experienced stays pretty steady, and my cigars always smoke supremely :)

It's all just up to you though.

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

Interesting! I Was Wondering Why Some Of My Smokes Are Bitter in the cold weather @ 65. I Need To Try 62-63! Thanks!:tu

Re: 65% or 70%.... which is better
 

fffan of 65% here!