Humidification as usual...

[Cooolish]

Hi all..

I was thinking of trying boveda system...

Has anyone tried it and is it worth switching to..!???

LMK

Regards.

[Colt45]

I tried the packs some years back. I found they didn't work as I'd like in very humid months - they just could not absorb enough moisture

(I always thought it kind of tough to do when the packs contain liquid to begin with). I also found they work best with airtight tupper type containers.

[thechenman]

I use them instead of beads in my three desktop humidors and they take up less space. I find they work fine, though not as effective as beads. I don't use them in the summer months as it is more humid in the northeast. I find during that time of year, I don't need beads either. I guess you could say I'm a fan of their convenience and ergonomics.

[ckearns]

I've used Boveda packs in my small desktop humidor. I typically use them during the summer (when humidity is high anyways) and then switch to Madelaine solution (in a dish) during dry winter months because I find the packs cannot counteract the dryness during winter. These are the only two methods of humidification I've used, so I can't speak to other/better forms or a large humidor application.

On another note, I use a pouch when I travel. I don't own a proper cigar case (if Santa's reading this...), so I toss a few smokes and a pouch into a ziplock baggie and bingo, I've got myself a nice little travel pack. This is where I think the Boveda product really shines. I also like how there's a range of RH depending on your preference. Hope that helps.

[CanuckSARTech]

Yeah, Boveda is great, but really only as a one-way evaporative humidifier. I too use them a fair bit, when I use travel humidors or other, temporary containers. But the beads (either the RH Beads or the Heartfelt ones) are really the only truely effective two-way ones.

Before anyone jumps on me about the Boveda's, yes, I know they're designed/manufactured/advertised as being two-way. But in my experience, they humidify and crank up the required moisture levels in a certain container/airspace probably 5 times faster than they can withdraw/absorb that same moisture back in. They're really only truely effective as a moisture releasing product.

But they are quite nice and work well for their purpose. I just wouldn't rely on them solely in the summer months - gotta have some beads in there too during that time, I think anyways.

[ZinZan]

I have to agree with Canuck, I've just started using heartfelt it works like a charm. I was using drymistat tubes, the rh spikes quite high, the beads are much more effective.

[CanuckSARTech]

Yeah, those Drymistat tubes use the same jelly-like crystals that are in use in the Madelaine and Xikar crystal humidifier elements. Sort of an expanding silica jelly/crystal, not unlike the jelly used by some florists for a neat effect in vases. But, while they release moisture really well too, I think it's only the beads that have really hit on the "micro-pore" idea that works soooo well to actually re-absorb any excess moisture down to their designed humidity levels.

[thechenman]

No question that the beads ar ethe best type of passive humidification out there, but Boveda packets serve their purpose. Canuck may be right...Boveda packets do absorb moisture at a slower rate, but they do absorb as advertised. If your Boveda dries out, place it in a sealed tupperware with a dish of distilled water. The packet will rehyrdrate.

[tmac77]

I have been using beads in two large desktops for some time now and they are spot on. I do find, however that you should use about 25% - 50% more beads than they reccomend to be on the safe side.

A related question: I assume that the RH beads that the czar has in the store are similar if not identical to the hearfelt ones. Anyone that can shed some light on the RH beads in the Czar store would be appreciated.

Thanks