How to Buy a Humidor

Ask around. If this is your first time buying a humidor, or you are looking to become a serious cigar collector, take the time to learn about what goes in to a humidor. Visit your local tobacconist and educate yourself on what brands are more well-made than others. Visit well-known humidor manufacturer websites and review product lines.

Set a budget. Decide how much you are willing to spend on this investment and weigh the overall worth of your cigars against how much you are willing to spend on a good humidor. If you are looking to store $10 cigars, you might consider a smaller humidor. If you are looking to store more expensive cigars and are building a collection, invest in the higher-quality humidor to preserve your cigars.

Decide on size and quality. Try buying a humidor that can hold 200 percent of the amount of cigars you currently have. Inevitably you will purchase more cigars, and having extra room will afford you the ability to increase your collection without worry. If you plan to store your cigars for a long time, you may want to invest in a higher-quality humidor that will last for many years.

Shop around. Once you have a good idea of what type of humidor you would like and what type you can afford, visit tobacco stores in your area and see what inventory they have available.

Check it out before you buy it. See if it has any damage, and ask the seller plenty of questions. For example, the kind of interior wood the humidor is made with (Spanish cedar is the industry standard) and the type of lining does it have. Test to make sure it makes a "whoosh" noise when you close the lid. The noise demonstrates the degree of insulation and air-tight seal on the humidor, and it will keep your cigars from drying out.