Manufacturers of well-made products always want you to know who they are because they are proud enough of their work to put their name on it. Look for a name attached to your humidor. If a maker cannot proudly display their brand on their product, there’s usually a good reason for it. On the contrary, a boldly displayed and recognizable brand communicates confidence in the workmanship and ultimately the subsequent performance of the product you have chosen. When you reach for a cold drink out of the refrigerated section at the convenience store, are you drawn to a bottle or can with a generic label that says “cola” or “energy drink”? What if there was another section on the label that read, “manufactured for (insert your favorite soda/energy drink brand) by Humongous Manufacturing Co.”? Probably not…
As consumers of premium tobacco products, we - generally speaking - have fairly discriminating tastes, even if they vary greatly from one person to the next. It stands to reason that we would choose quality every time there is such an option available. And so the first how-to tip goes: buy a brand known for its quality.
Tip #2: How does the humidor you’re considering seal? Some molded plastic cases include a silicone or rubber seal between the lid and the case. These are quite effective at containing the moisture content inside the case. A quality wood humidor will have a seamless Spanish Cedar bead around the perimeter of the lid. You can know it has a tight fit if there’s a slight bit of resistance when you close the lid - and you will hear a satisfying puff of air getting trapped by the lid when it closes. Is a perfect seal required for every humidor application? Not necessarily. Smaller travel cases that hold only 3-4 cigars are usually more often used for short term storage and protection, such as the day at the golf course, a night at the poker table, etc. Bottom line: if you’re going to keep cigars in one for longer than a couple of days, make sure it seals well enough for the intended time of use.
Tip #3: Look for details that let you know that its maker actually cares about keeping cigars safe and fresh. Does it have hard sides for crush protection? Does it allow cigars to absorb natural elements, like leather or Spanish Cedar? What kind of humidifying element does it use? If it comes with a foam block that requires you to fill it with water, understand that this is the cheapest and most outdated of all humidifiers…
The fourth and final tip: Even if you are not a consumer of cigars or pipe tobacco, buy a humidor that looks like you would be proud to carry it if you were. Cheers!
—Danny Jackson