Your first humidor. Maybe you bought it online. Maybe it’s a hand-me-down. Or maybe that humidor was a gift to commemorate a graduation, new job, or retirement. However it came to you, a humidor holds memories as well as Maduros. So it’s hard not to take it personally when a wood humidor doesn’t work. You wonder what you’re doing wrong versus what’s wrong with the humidor.
Traditional wood cigar storage varies in quality and performance—especially a poorly made humidor that’s under $100. Mitigating humidity problems with caulk, weatherstripping, and specialty packs can overshadow the pleasure of storing cigars in the first place.
Signs you need to replace your humidor
- Leaky seal test: Before you close your humidor, slip a dollar bill between the lid and the body. Shut the lid, then pull on the bill. If it slides out easily, the seal is compromised.
- Structural damage: Inspect your humidor for warping, cracking, wood separation, peeling veneer, loose hinges and more.
- Persistent humidity fluctuations: The optimal humidity for cigars is between 65 and 72%, with 69% RH being the most preferred for all cigar storage, including wood humidors.
- Blowing through Boveda: the packets should last at least three months, if you’re using the right number of Boveda for the capacity of your humidor.
On cigar forums you’ll occasionally read about the smoker who spent next to nothing online for a glass-top humidor and it works great. That person got lucky.
Shopping for a humidor
Search “what’s a good humidor” and you’ll be bombarded by online listings and opinions. Feeling overwhelmed, many humidor shoppers throw up their hands in frustration and give into storing cigars in a tupperdor. It’s functional, but it sure ain’t pretty.
If you’d like to stick to a traditional Spanish-cedar humidor, let price be your guide. Cheaply made, poorly designed humidors have flooded the market—especially from online multi-product retailers. Avoid a wood desktop humidor that’s $100 or less. The savings you gain from buying a cheap humidor aren’t worth it when your cigars dry out and crack or get moldy. A month of poor performance could potentially ruin your entire cigar collection. And skip a glass-top humidor. You’ll pay for that view with time spent troubleshooting and repairing humidity leaks.
Additionally, faulty humidor construction shows up in a leaky seal, fluctuating humidity, and inconsistent smokes from your cigars. Over time, a cheap humidor won’t hold up and you’ll need to upgrade to a better quality humidor down the road. So invest in a good humidor upfront to protect your cigar investment from the get go.
“Good humidors aren’t cheap. Cheap humidors aren’t good.” – Kevin D. Shahan, Cigarprop
What to look for in a quality humidor
- Pick it up/check the online shipping weight—when empty, a quality 50-count wooden humidor should weigh between 6 and 9 pounds
- Examine the hinges—they should be sturdy and recessed into wood to eliminate gaps to let in or let out humidity
- Open the humidor lid—if there’s a slight resistance, it has a good, tight seal
- Now let the lid drop shut— it shouldn’t make a “wood-meeting-wood smacking sound”
- Check the Spanish cedar interior—the liner should be at least 3/8″ thick (not just a thin sheet)
- Look for reviews from trusted cigars sources and authentic cigar smokers (not AI tobacco bots)
- Verify the brand—look for a humidor designed by a cigar care expert or cigar manufacturer
> Watch: Why People shy away from Wood Humidors
Reimagining the desktop humidor
More than 25 years ago, Boveda revolutionized humidity control for cigars with easy-to-use humidor packets that you replace every three months. Cigar enthusiasts continue to love the convenience of using Boveda in their humidors instead of hassling with messy beads, gels, and wet sponges.
Now Boveda has simplified cigar storage again with the expertly constructed Boveda Humidor. Launched in August 2025, the Boveda Humidor is the first wooden cigar humidor that maximizes Boveda’s patented technology. Engineered to store cigars with the performance of a modern plastic container while eliminating the maintenance of traditional wooden construction, the Boveda Humidor works to protect what matters most—the flavor and condition of your cigars.
You no longer have to choose between the performance of a plastic container and beauty of wood
The Boveda Humidor removes the upkeep and guesswork of storing cigars at home. Gone are questions about when (and how) to season the wood, how many Boveda to use in your humidor, or what humidity is right. Just follow the simple three-step system, and you’ll maintain ideal humidity for your cigars. It comes with one-time seasoning packets and your first six months of humidity control. After that, each refill pack is automatically sent to you every six months. You swap out the old one for the new Boveda and you’re done.
Designed right—right down to the hardware
“This humidor is a lesson in user-friendliness. It doesn’t ask for much—just a little real estate on your desk or shelf—and gives back in spades with worry-free performance, consistent humidity, and the quiet satisfaction of knowing your cigars are living their best lives.” – Jesse James, StupidDope
Comes with Integrated Boveda Holder, Cigar Dividers & More
Why is the Boveda Humidor different from other cigar storage?
- Created by inventors of 2-way humidity control for cigars
- Built to maximize the technology of Boveda
- Stunning craftsmanship minus the work of a traditional wood humidor
- Quality materials, including furniture-quality hardware
- Precision seal
- Thick 1/2″ premium kiln-dried Spanish cedar liner interior with a macassar ebony matte finish
- Fool-proof humidity control for cigars
- One-time seasoning
Love it! This will make it super easy to maintain the freshness of my sticks. I have several smaller, much lower quality humidors but it is hard to remember to keep all of the Boveda packs fresh…so far I am loving this high quality, hands off humidor! – Bob, Verified Buyer
Love Your Cigars, Store Them Right
More for Your Cigar Lifestyle
Comes with everything you need to get up & running for 6 months of maintenance-free cigar care! Includes holder & dividers, too.
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The Boveda Humidor System is continuous cigar protection when you replace your Size 320 packet every six months.
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Stash a few Boveda cigar cutters around, so you’re ready whenever the cigar mood strikes you. Stainless steel double-blade guillotine.
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Each Boveda Humidor Bag is preloaded with Boveda to safeguard your cigars for an entire year.
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