A few questions and an introduction!
 

Hello guys, Im new to the whole cigar scene. I joined cigarsmokers but I felt the members were hardly willing to help. I just have a few minor questions for you folks, Do these humidi pouches work? I have never even boughten a high end cigar and plan on smoking every now and then when golfing. I would be willing to attempt to make a plastic container humidor but Im not sure. Any beginner cigars that most people like? and do you guys use zippos? Thanks all Im glad to be here!

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

The humidi packs deinitely work in my opinion and thats not just because we sell them. I use them in my personal humidor and have had no problems with humidity. The amount you need depends on the size of your humidor and how many cigars you are keeping in it. You can make a plastic humidor but I would recommend finding a small cedar lined humidor if you plan on keeping a few sticks on hand. There are a lot of inexpensive small units out there that will do the job.

I don't use a zippo and don't recommend them. It depends on who you ask though. The problem with Zippos is that it isn't uncommon to taste the fuel when you light your cigar and that is not a taste I want. The fuel evaporates quickly so you have to fill them more than a butane lighter. Stick with a decent butane lighter or wood matches.

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Welcome to Cigar Asylum. Lots of good people and tons of info here.
Short answers to some of your questions.
Humi pouches do work.
A small tupperware container will work fine for storage.
Beginner cigars? You will get many opinions from many people. The best advice I can offer is to ask your local cigar store for milder cigars that would be in your budget..
Some use zippos. Some use bics. Some use butane torches. Some even use matches. All a matter of preference.

Take some time and look around the Asylum. Lots of threads addressing your questions.

Enjoy your stay. :)

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Welcome to the Asylum from the home of Super Bowl XLV Champion Green Bay Packers!

The Boveda packs work well if those are the pouches you're talking about, there are several kinds of pouches out there. A "Tupperdore" will serve you well, Zippos, some say the oily fuel will leave a residue or taste on your cigar, personally, I don't buy it. That being said, a nice butane torch or soft flame works well. As for what cigars...only you will know what you like, try them, keep some notes and bands. Coke/Pepsi, Pork/Beef, Ford/Chevy...it's all up to you.

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

First of all Welcome.

the pouches (little white goo filled square in a plastic bag) do work especially in a small short term Tupperware container if you are interested in getting a full fledged humidor there are several better long term solutions. For an interesting head scratcher of a read just search for kitty litter vs Beads.

As for beginner cigars that will be a taste and availability thing for you.

As to the Zippo issue I use one it is borderline blasphemy to use a liquid filled Zippo on a cigar but with the new formula Zippo fuel (black can) I dont notice any off taste in my cigar or pipe especially after a couple of puffs. Most people on here will recommend a butane torch lighter for cigars.

So drop in on the new members forum put in the obligatory hello there and get to posting and chatting with everyone here. Have a cigar and celebrate your status as one of the inmates now.

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Wow 3 people who are faster typers than me.

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Wow you guys are fast! Thanks for all the responses! That many responses would take hours on cigarsmokers haha. Yes, Im going to start looking around and doing some reading. I have done some research and am just a tish confused on these humidipaks or pouches. The pouches are little bags that can hold the cigars for a certain period of time correct? And the packs are little things you just put in a container with your cigars to keep them humidified? Thanks again all, I know i'll be sticking around!

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

As long as it is air tight, any container will do. Airtight is relative, but tupperware is better than a plastic bag. Humi packs can be very helpful for small quantities, but in this hobby you will benefit from finding a longer term humidifying product like HCM or Heartfelt beads. :tu

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Thanks for the reply, With the humi pack how many cigars would you be limited to storing, and for how long will they keep? Lol humipaks and humi pouches are different right? Who would of thought cigar keeping is no easy task!

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Total cost including a couple of B-packs was about $20 (not including the cigars)

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL856.../396998600.jpg

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Humi packs are like little water pillows which let out humidity. I am not sure humi pouches have any humidity releasing qualities, but are intended to store cigars for short periods of times. A water pillow or humi-pack will store a group of 15-25 cigars in a tupperware for well over a month, considering it is realitively airtight and depending on the humidity in your region.

I would consider finding a nice cheap humidor (25-50 count) from an online cigar retailer and invest in a small quantity of humidity regulating beads. Both of these can likely be had (with a sampler to boot) for about the same price as you could spend on humipacks for a years time. :2

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Alrighty so if need be I could buy humi packs and put them in with a air tight container. I read that these arturo fuente humipouches have 2 way humidity control and can store for 6 months. I will go to a local tobacco shop and see if I can get a cheap humidor, do you guys reccomend just starting with hump packs since there easier to maintain than having to deal with the real deal humidication devices? seriously can't thank you guys enough, finally have some people willing to help!

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Order them from here: https://www.bovedadirect.com/index.cfm

Get 69 or 65.

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Good list of budget smokes to try and start out with
http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=643

Good list of common question with a lot of useful info
http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1754

And lastly for when you want to buy that new humi
http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=621

Just a small sample of some of the great info that's here on the site. Have fun looking around brother and welcome!!

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

I now understand the boeheva packs. Now im just going to have to decide if I should buy a wood humidor or just Tupperware. These packs look to be feasible if you have 50 or less cigars as it doesn't take as many packs. Im very excited as ill tell you all how my first smoke goes. I forgot to tell you all I just turned 18.

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Get a Coolidor (cooler, ice chest etc etc). Pick a size (70 quart, 120 quart 150-160 quart), grab some beads from heartfeltindustries and store dozens and dozens of boxes. Cost should be $100-$140 depending on the size you decide to go with.

Wooden humidors suck! At least those small-large sized desktops. They are very cheap and while they might look good...that's all they are good for.

YMMV

:2

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Haha I will never get enough use to need a coolidor nor can I afford it let alone stock it. Im just looking for the easiest idiot proof method to preserving up to 30 cigars for 1yr or longer. That's the reason im thinking about the humipaks, there some what idiot proof lol. Are the humipaks available in stores pr only online? I though the wood humidors were good? What's better and air tight container with humipaks or a wood humidor?

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Just wait :r

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Beads are more idiot proof and cheaper in the long run. Wooden humidors regulate humidity better because they absorb some humidity themselves, plus people enjoy the smell and look of them. Plastic containers, like tupperware and coolers will have better seals and not need humidity as often. :tu Do a lot of reading around here and you can answer most questions you keep asking. :2

And yes, you will need much more storage in the future. ;)

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Can we all quote this and take bets on how long it takes him to buy larger storage.

I understand what you mean by 30 cigars but here is what happens. You like a cigar A LOT and you want a box ...that's 20-30 cigars right there...Variety is the spice of life....that makes you buy more. Then you find another one you like....enough for a box.

Repeat an infinite number of times.

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Alright I know I have already asked my share plus a few other shares worth of questions. I plan on doing some buying within a week or so, so can someone summarize this lol, should I buy the wooden humidors or the Tupperware container? Its not going to be out for show anyways... should I just do the packs or beads, im looking for the easiest no screw up method lol. Thanks and im already planning some cheap smokes, im done asking and now will read like no other!

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Oh yea and im going to try to buy all this stuff locally so whatever available is best

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Your best bet is to start with a tupperdor. If you can snag the beads then conformity but just starting out you should be ok with a humipack or 2.

Spend the money on sticks man. Once you find some you like then up grade to a nice desktop or cooler and hang on for the long ride down the slope.

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Im thinking ill take drezs advice. I mean what the hell do these thing even taste like lol? I saw a few guys out on the golf course with them, cigars are classy Imo. I just read about some arturo fuente cigar that supposedly tasted like cappuccino or vanilla and now I forgot its name. Im pretty excited and am glad im here, thanks for all the help.

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Im doing the tipperware humidor. The boeheva humidipacks say you need one pack for the humidor and another pack per 50 cigars you have. With a tipper ware container all I do is put the cigars in and the packs right? I don't need any cedar or wood do I? I've found a few cheap smokes from the list im going to start the stocking with

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

You really only need one pack for a tupperdor. Just place your cigars inside, throw in a Boveda, and seal it up. You don't need cedar unless you plan to store for more than a few years.

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

If the cigars are properly humidified going in the tupperware, you likely won't need any humidification. They seal very, very well. I had one I didn't open but once in two years and the humidity never changed. If you do use a boveda pack, check the cigars once a week to make sure they are not over humidified.

Cedar is not need at all.

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Alright, now im a Tish confused. Im going to be opening the Tupperware every now and then to grab a smoke wont this toss the humidication off since there's nothing helping the cigars get back to the humidity readings? im going to get a Tupperware container that can hold 30 or so, I will likely only have about 10 though since I can't afford a ton. So is the boveda a go or no go?

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

To make it easy, go ahead and get one. If the cigars get too wet, you can always pull it out.

Cigars are much, much tougher than most give them credit. Don't worry about it, just enjoy.

:2

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

If they get to wet do you just take it out and don't use them or do u need to put it back once they dry out a bit? The 68 percent ones right?

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

If your cigars get spongy, take the pack out an put it in a ziplock so it won't dry out. When the cigars get a little on they dryer side, put it back in.

People like to set humidity at their personal preference. Some like it toward 70 some down in the 50's. You will need to experiment to find your perfect level.

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Alrighty thanks NC!

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

The 68% Boveda will keep your cigars at exactly 68% in a tupperware. I've had some cigars sealed with a pack for a month and the humidity never gets high because the packs are a two-way system.

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

All right guys, now im just going to decide on the smokes to stuff the tipper ware with!

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

IMO, 68 is high.

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

That's arguable. If the original poster finds that to be the case he can always purchase a 65% Boveda packet.

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

That why I said, IMO. ;)

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Its a matter of preference. There are many who store boxes for long-term aging and agree that 68 would be very high. It all depends on how you store boxes and if you are storing them long-term or just to be consumed within the next few years.

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Ill be storing for a yr or 2 max.

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Just start shmokin' and everything will fall into place. :tu

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Then a higher RH won't affect the aging potential of your cigars. You'll just need to play around with the humidity to find the one that works best for how you like to smoke. Me personally, I prefer the cigars I'm going to smoke to be at a lower humidity. I find the higher RH not to my liking.


Edit - or what he said ;)

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Yea the options for boveda are 65 and 69 then 72. The 65 is supposedly for smaller ring gauge cigars or Europeans something, the 68 says is the most common for cigars. The 65 is supposedly easier for lighting your cigars. Im not sure which one im gonna do.

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Never heard the 65 and small rg before. It is recommended that Cuban cigars be kept around 65% and boy are they making some jawbreakers lately. 68 very well may be the most common, I wouldn't doubt it. Don Pepin Garcia recommends that his cigars be kept at 65% or under too because he uses alot of corojo and criollo and those baccy's soak up water like a sponge. I keep all my cigars in the 60-63% range no matter the rg or where they came from and I havn't had any complaints.

This is what makes the hobby fun. Experimentation to find your perfect levels! Everything about this hobby is subjective and there are more opinions than cigars. :r

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

I agree, my stays at a solid 63% rh.

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

The B packs absolutely work. Also get a Xikar 5, 10, or 15 count travel humidor. It's worth every dime!

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Ziploc makes some larger storage containers that will typically hold 25 or so cigars. A four pack goes for about $5 or $6. Throw in a 4$ Boveda pack and you have some good inexpensive storage. This is my go to storage when I run out of room in my 3 humis. Cigars do need some air circulation so you do need to remember to open the container every few days.

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

My tupperware works great. The only problem is I have only been a member of CI for 3 months and now it's full. Now I have 3 sticks sitting on my desk in a bag. Listen to your new brothers. Buy big no matter the solution you pick.

:2

Re: A few questions and an introduction!
 

Not if you are storing them long-term. Less air exchange = slower but better aging.