Humidity Packs or Electric Cigar Humidifier: Which Is Better for Your Cigars?

The most important aspect of cigars is storing them, plain and simple. It is essential to the taste and longevity of them. So, if you smoke occasionally or are a serious collector, you need the correct humidification source to keep humidity in check. Electric cigar humidifiers and humidity packs are two ways to keep cigars fresh. Both approaches do the same thing: keep the humidity at the right level in your humidor. 

However, each offers its own set of advantages. We’ll go over both in this article so you can choose the one that works best for you. By the end, you’ll know more about these cigar accessories, including Boveda Packs, Hydra and Cigar Oasis, which are  the most popular humidification sources, and you’ll be able to choose the best one for your collection.

What Are Humidity Packs?

Humidity packs are compact, self-contained packets that keep the humidity in a humidor at the right level. They keep the humidity level steady by using a mix of salts and water. Humidity packs are a terrific choice for cigar enthusiasts who don’t want to deal with elaborate setups because they are so easy to use. All you have to do is put the pack in your humidor, and it will do the rest.

Boveda is the most famous brand of these kinds of packets for their patented two way humidity control. Their packets will remove moisture if humidity it too high and add moisture if humidity inside the humidor is too low. A humidity pack looses its effectiveness after about 8-12 weeks. You know this because your humidity will start to drop and the packet begins to harden. All you need to do is replace the pack.

One big advantage of humidity packs is that they don’t need power. This makes them easy and ideal for people who keep cigars in desktop humidors. Just toss one pack in for every 25 cigars in your humidor.

Limitations of Humidity Packs

Humidity packs are a great entry-level option, but they do have limits. As humidors grow in size or get opened frequently, packs struggle to re-stabilize the humidity quickly. In high-traffic cigar lounges or large home collections, this slow response creates swings that affect the cigars. This is one major reason seasoned cigar collectors eventually switch to electronic humidification systems like Hydra or Cigar Oasis, which actively push and circulate humidity instead of passively absorbing or releasing moisture.

What Is an Electric Cigar Humidifier?

An electric cigar humidifier is a small electric unit that regulates humidity levels in your humidor by using a distill water chamber and a fan to circulate the proper humidification levels throughout. These humidifiers let you manage the humidity more precisely than regular humidity packs. While electric cigar humidifiers can help regulate humidity, an electric humidor can also regulate temperature to preserve your cigars in the best condition all year long, especially in places where the weather changes a lot.

Electric humidifiers are an excellent choice for collectors with big cigar collections because they are so accurate and do a great monitor monitor humidity in your humidor. Electric humidifiers need a power supply so depending on the type of humidor, you can plug into a regular outlet or run on batteries that can be recharged. They cost more than humidity packs, but they provide you better control and can even let you check the humidity levels with smartphone apps. Not to mention humidity packs need to be replaced every 8 weeks while electric humidifiers just need distilled water whenever the low water sensor comes on.

Differences Between Humidity Packs and Electric Cigar Humidifiers

At first look, it could seem that humidity packs and electric humidifiers do the same thing. But they are different in important ways that could affect your choice.

• Ease of Use: It’s really easy to utilize humidity packs. Put them in the humidor and forget about them until it’s time to change. Electric humidifiers, on the other hand, need more setup. For example, you have to connect the machine to power and, in certain cases, check the humidity levels using a digital display or an app, and refill the distill water cartridge when it gets low.

• Control: Electric humidifiers provide you far more control over the humidity. You may establish certain humidity levels and change them as needed. But the beauty of electric control is auto regulation if the humidity fluctuates. This is especially crucial if you have a lot of cigars. Humidity packs work with large collections you would need dozens and dozens of humidity packs and even then, it might not be too effective. 

• Airflow and Circulation: A Major Difference: Humidity packs release moisture in one spot inside the humidor. Electric humidifiers, particularly systems like Hydra Turbo, circulate humidity evenly using fans. This prevents common problems like uneven humidity which are frequent with passive packs.

• Maintenance: Humidifiers require power but are otherwise low-maintenance. All you have to do is add distill water , set your humidity level, and you’re ready to go. On the other hand, humidity packs just need to be changed every 8-12 weeks.

• Price: Humidity packets are usually much cheaper than electric humidifiers, but you need to repurchase these every 8 weeks. The price of electric humidifiers vary depending on the size and the brand but if you’re ready to pay more for better cigar storage technology, they might be worth the extra money.

• Portability: If you need to store cigars in multiple locations or on the go, humidity packs are the more portable option. Electric humidifiers are bigger and need to be plugged in, so they are not as good for portable use.

Which Option Is Best for You?

There are a few things to think about while deciding between humidity packs and an electric cigar humidifier:

• Size of Your Collection: If you don’t have a lot of cigars, humidity packs can be all you need. If you have a bigger collection, especially one that you plan to maintain for a long time, an electric humidor will provide you more control and accuracy to keep everything fresh but if you are storing in a large humidor or a humidor cabinet then it is highly recommended that you invest in an electric cigar humidifier.

• Climate: An electric humidifier might be beneficial if you live in a place where the temperature or humidity changes a lot. It makes sure that your cigars are kept in a steady place no matter what is going on outside.

• Budget: If you’re looking for a more affordable option, humidity packs are a great choice. They work just as well as electric humidifiers but cost a lot less. If you’re ready to pay more for other features an electronic humidifier might be a better choice.

• When Cigars Become an Investment: Another factor to consider is long-term cigar investment. Premium cigars can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars to age and store. For collectors who see cigars as an investment, just like aging whiskey or wine, a reliable cigar humidifier is the best way to protect their value. Many enthusiasts who start with packs eventually switch to brands like Hydra, Hydra Turbo, or Cigar Oasis when they expand their collection.

The Best 3 Electric Cigar Humidifiers at Trusted Home Goods

At Trusted Home Goods we specialize in cigar humidor and cigar storage. For growing cigar collections in large humidors and humidor cabinets we HIGHLY recommend finding yourself a reliable electric cigar humidifier. So here are three of the best ones you can find at Trusted Home Goods:

Hydra Turbo Commercial Electric Humidifier | Regulates 100 Sq Ft\

Designed for large humidors, the Hydra Turbo stands out with its powerful fan system that actively circulates humidity instead of letting it sit in one spot. This ensures even moisture distribution in cabinet humidors and large furniture-style units, making it ideal for collectors.

Cigar Oasis Plus 3.0

This device is known for being easy to use and accurate. It can keep the humidity steady for up to 300 cigars. Monitor & Adjust Settings of the Cigar Oasis unit through your PC, remotely via the Web or through the Cigar Oasis App on your Apple iPhone or Android. Receive Email or Text Alerts for Low Humidity and Low Water Levels.

Huntington Ultra-High Output Electronic Cigar Humidifier System

This innovative ultra-high output cigar humidifier system is designed for room ; walk-in humidors or large enclosures, maintaining up to 2000 cubic ft. of space.

Conclusion

Electric cigar humidifiers and humidity packs are both great ways to keep your cigars fresh. But the one you choose depends on your tastes, your budget, and how big your collection is. If you want something simple and easy to carry, 60g humidity packs like Boveda are a good choice. Electric cigar humidifiers like Hydra and Cigar Oasis are the best choice if you want more control and accuracy.

The main goal is to keep your cigars in the best possible environment so that they stay tasty and pleasurable for a long time. For serious collectors, the investment pays for itself by protecting the flavor, aroma, and lifespan of every cigar.

For more information and to purchase cigar humidifiers, visit Trusted Home Goods today for all your cigar accessory and cigar humidor needs!