How does Boveda protect bows for stringed instruments?

Fluctuations in humidity can damage bows. Protecting a bow with Boveda limits bow hair movement and reduces expansion and contraction of the wooden parts of an instrument’s bow.

As humidity climbs, bow hair lengthens. As humidity drops, bow hair shortens. If the bow stick is wooden, humidity also reduces stretch and limits expansion and contraction of the wood.

Humidity fluctuations are bad for bows, too. When you transport a bow from a damp place to a dry place, you risk overstressing bow hair, which results in poor performance and possible damage.

How to Protect a Bow from Humidity Damage

To prevent humidity from stressing the horsehair and negatively affecting performance, a strings player must balance relative humidity (RH) in the bow case. The easiest way to protect bows and their stringed instruments from humidity damage is to use Boveda. Boveda 2-way humidity packs achieve and maintain a constant RH range of 45% to 55%—the safe zone for wood instruments and accessories. Boveda packs work automatically, so there’s nothing to rewet or manage.

Using Boveda in a Bow Case

Just slip a Boveda 49% RH Size 8 into a Boveda Mini Fabric Holder, place it in your bow case and close the lid. Replace the pack every 3 months. That’s it! Boveda achieves and maintains a constant relative humidity (RH) range of 45% to 55%—the safe zone for bows and other wood instruments. Subscribe to receive replacements automatically, so you never have to worry about reordering.