The Top Humidifiers for Your Humidor

Few external factors affect cigars more than humidification. Kept at (or near) ideal humidity (70 percent humidity, 70 degrees Fahrenheit), premium cigars are likely to remain in good smoking condition for years — or even longer potentially. Cigars left outside of a humidified environment, though, typically won’t last longer than a few days before they become brittle, cracked, or unsmokable. That’s why it’s so important to have a quality humidor to store your cigars and to have effective humidifiers in your humidor. Today, we’ll list the top humidifiers for your humidor so you can make your next purchase with confidence.

What is a Cigar Humidifier?

A humidifier is a device that releases moisture into the air within a humidor. So, once you set up and season a humidor, your next step should be to add in a humidifier to ensure your humidor stays at (or near) that 70 percent mark. Humidifiers come in a few different varieties: packs, gels, liquids, and electronics. Most cost between $5-$15, with the exception of electronic humidifiers, which cost significantly more. We’ll break them down below. 

Need a more in-depth look at cigar humidity and setting up your humidor? We’ve got you covered here.

Boveda Packs

A Boveda Humidification Pack is one of the easiest and most effective ways to maintain or increase humidity in a cigar humidor. Small, mess-free, affordable, and — best of all — reliable, Boveda Packs are almost mandatory for serious cigar smokers. Note: depending on the size of your cigar collection, you may want to purchase 2-3 Boveda packs for your humidor.

Xikar Crystal Humidifier Jar

Crystal humidifier jars — like this one from Xikar — are a solid option for those looking to boost humidity in their humidors. We love them because they’re very easy to use. Just open the lid, pour in PG Solution, and let the jar slowly release moisture into the air in your humidor. Plus, these cost-effective jars typically last a few months in between refills. 

Note, don’t move your humidor around with these inside because that could cause the jars to spill and create a real mess.

Xikar Crystal Humidifier

If jars aren’t your thing, the small and convenient Xikar Crystal Humidifier is also a viable choice. These humidifiers work in much the same way as jars, except that you can usually stick them to the top of your humidor — leaving just a little more room for cigars! And, of course, they hold liquid instead of a gel-like substance that the jars produce. 

Hydra ‘SM’ Electronic Humidifier

All right, no more messing around. For cabinet or commercial-style humidors, you’ll want a top-of-the-line electronic humidifier like the Hydra SM. This bad boy comes equipped with a built-in hygrometer to measure humidity, external fan ports to disperse moisture, and a visual “low water” indicator. Just fill it up, plug it in, and let the Hydra SM do the rest. Note that this device retails for around $130, so only purchase this if you have a large enough cigar collection and humidor to justify it. 

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