Decisions, Decisions...65 or 70??

[Uniputt]

I think I'm finally going to convert to the climmax beads. I'm just sick and tired of messing with the other stuff. I've heard such great things in regards to the ease of the beads.

The only quandry I'm in is whether to get them in the 65% or 70% version. My humidor is constantly fluctuating between 65% and 70%...so I'm just not sure which is better.

What are the advantages/disadvantages of the two?
Which should I go for?

Help me decide!!!

[ProSpkr]

Obviously it is a personal decision. I prefer my cigars a little more humid than others may; between 70 and 72 is great. I think you should ask yourself “Do the cigars taste, burn, feel better at 65% or 70%.

Just my thoughts!

[Nely]

I would go for 70. I think it actually fluctuates from that number down. I would rather have my smokes at a higher RH then a lower one and risk drying them out. Just my VHO (very humble opinion)

[GOAT LOCKER]

I keep my domestics at 70 and ISOMs at 65. With the ISOMs, I started to notice a lot more draw problems above 70, and keeping them below 70 with PG is a pain. I'm hoping the 65% beads will keep it steady. With domestics, it's probably not going to make much difference.

[Uniputt]

Hmmm....

Maybe I should post a poll on this???

Thanks for the replies....anyone else care to share their wisdom??

[LasciviousXXX]

I've learned from the wise all knowing gorillas around here that the 65% beads are the way to go with all your ISOM's as they tend to age better and it also eliminates those draw problems that Goat was talkin' about.

My domestics seem to like the 70% better and just seem to smoke better. So all my domestics are in the fridgeador with the 70% beads and all my ISOM's are in the humi with the 65% beads. They are all happy there. Of course all my probs will be solved when I finish construction on the Cabinet Humi, as all my smokes will go in there.

[P-Town Smokes]

I just can't stop looking at them jiggle
Oh, beads. I personally don't use them, though I heard they are much better than the credo's with water. I have a problem here in Illinois with humidty going from 65% to 72 %. When I first started keeping cigars I always thought if you didn't have them at 70 % something is wrong, yeah that advise. I like my smokes at 65 % to 68 %. they seem to draw better, better tasting, and mucho smoke. But hey, to each his own.

[MoTheMan]

Originally Posted by Nely

I would go for 70. I think it actually fluctuates from that number down. I would rather have my smokes at a higher RH then a lower one and risk drying them out. Just my VHO (very humble opinion)

You can dry out a wet cigar much faster that you can re-humidify one that's dry to begin with.
I also agree with what's said about ISOM's. They tend to be very tightly rolled and as a result, when they get wet they plug up real easy.

[floydp]

As I only have one Cuban, my igloomador(wifey calls it) is at 70 to 72 and right at 70 degrees except in the summer(74 to 75). I'm quite happy with that. I really am debating on either the beads or cigar oasis for the new Humidor..

[shelvingunit]

It depends what you have.....Cubans at 65, Non-cubans at 70. Just my .02

[D. Generate]

Originally Posted by P-Town Smokes

I like my smokes at 65 % to 68 %. they seem to draw better, better tasting, and mucho smoke. But hey, to each his own.

That's been my experience as well, and I've just smoked domestics. If they creep up past 70% they start tasting kind of sour to me and I have draw problems.

[txmatt]

I keep mine at 65. If I had more than a handful of ISOMs I would try to find a way (PG again ewwwww!) to keep them around 62%. I really like the cigars better @ 65. IMO the moister smokes are more harsh and don't draw as well. Dry smokes get more bitter, but I like the bitterness, esp in Nicaraguans.
If I ever outgrow my one coolerdor, I would probably keep Dominicans wetter than the Hondurans and Nicaraguans as I don't like when Dominican tobacco gets bitter; a highly Dominican collection would be better 68% or so IMO.

The only minus to my preference is most retailers keep their walk ins 70 - 75, so I don't enjoy buying sticks and smoking them in the shop anymore. If I buy a stick I can't wait for a week+ to smoke, I will dry box it overnight.

-Matt-

[DAFU]

..............I keep my long term storage coolerdor at 70% and all my humis and other cooler at 65%. However gars with fragile wrappers, such as most Cammies, I'll moisten the wrapper a few hours prior to smoking. It really is a fine line, but it takes a couple of days to "dry Box" an over humified cigar. Whereas if you have problems with fragile wrappers being too dry it's quite easy to add a little moisture.

[MattK]

Originally Posted by 1f1fan

It depends what you have.....Cubans at 65, Non-cubans at 70. Just my .02

I agree with 1f1fan. I used to keep all non cubans at 70 and cubans at 65. But now that "BabiHumi" is done, everything it resting at 64 to 65%. I use 2lbs of 65% beads and a Cigar Oasis II. Those beads work great. If the power goes out for a week the beads do the job.

[zemekone]

I think it is a personal decision, but as for me I keep everything in my figeador with 70% but again it almost never hits 70% usally 66-69. When start my other frigeador for strictly ISOMs I will be using 65% beads.