A humidor is essential if one wants to enjoy their collection of premium cigars at their leisure. The design of the humidor provides essential environmental protection, which in turn protects the cigars and allows them to last much longer than if they were just put on a shelf. Remember, cigars are fundamentally organic. Without proper control of humidity, they will basically begin to degrade and fall apart.

Size and Dimensions

The first question to ask yourself is the size and placement of the humidor you will need. If you have a small collection of cigars and plan to keep it at that size, then a desk or shelf humidor is ideal. It’s the ideal size for a protected stock of cigars without taking up a lot of space. It can be placed on a bookshelf or a desk without getting in the way.

Mid-range humidors provide a half-way approach for those with a collection that needs more space than just a small desk unit, but the full size of a standing cabinet is too much. Many mid-range humidors double ideally as end tables as well as lamp tables as well, a dual-purpose furniture piece.

For larger inventories and a collector-minded cigar aficionado, a cabinet humidor is a better choice. These units are free-standing and can be in a single door or double-wide cabinet shape and dimensions. They can handle the largest of cigar collections and still have room for additional options and categorizing.

Design and Construction

Given the fact that a humidor needs to maintain a set environment for the cigars stored inside to protect them, the seal when closed is a critical design element. That seal needs to be complete and gap-free. Otherwise, the humidity that preserves the cigars in their current, fresh status, will get out, and the cigars will dry out, eventually crumbling. In a high-quality humidor there should be a noticeable gasp of air, and a whooshing sensation in larger containers as the air suddenly changes.

The Wood Makes the Difference

Cedarwood has long been used as a protective interior. Many today still use a cedar block or similar to drive away moths that would otherwise eat holes in their clothes sitting in drawers. Cedar interiors for humidors provide an ideal sponge for moisture, and it also fends off pests that would make a feast of good tobacco cigars given the opportunity.

Size Provides Greater Protection

Again, humidors work by maintaining the right environment for cigars. However, to do that, the circulation of the air is best. That’s not completely possible in smaller units. While desk units and similar will protect cigars, larger units allow better flow of the air, which in turn allows the humidified air to reach the totality of the cigar versus just parts of it.

Of course, the cabinet alone doesn’t automatically make things perfect. How the cigars are placed makes a difference as well. They shouldn’t be crammed and stuffed into the humidor. Instead, the cigars should be spaced out. Taking this approach, it’s not surprising how more space becomes valuable and important for a large collection. With enough space, one doesn’t need to juggle between one style or brand and another. Instead, different size cigars can be stored and spaced adequately without compromise.

Put the Criteria Together

Once you take the above together, you have a working criteria list on how to choose a quality humidor even when shopping for a cigar humidor online. Whether it’s a full-size cabinet humidor or a smaller unit, your specifications will help filter out the best choices quickly.

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