65% RH or 70% RH - Which to Choose?

[N2Advnture]

Originally Posted by K Baz

If you see these improvements in moving from 70 % to 65 % can further improvements be experienced moving from 65 % to 60 %.

Would this also prevent the need to dry box prior to smoking?

Hi Kevin,

Just like going from 70% to 65% RH, going from 65% to 60% is entirely what you prefer.

I personally like my stored between 63-65%, most HK collectors are mid 50s, UK collectors like them wet and the French like them soaking wet.

Before making a switch from 65% to 60%, I'd recommend setting up a small humidor and putting smokes in both the 65% and the 60% to see which you prefer.

65% seems to the preferred number as it's not too wet and not too dry...juuuuust righ

I hope this helps

~Mark

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[taltos]

I found that when I went to 65 from 70, draw problems left and also I got rid of the sour taste that some smokes had toward the end of the smoke.

[boonedoggle]

I keep my boxes right between 66 and 68RH. I typically have issues keeping the temp. down, but normally hovers around 72F. My loose smokes are around 61-63RH. I find this works better for my maduros.

[SvilleKid]

My humis almost all maintain 62-63% rh with little help from me, and this actually is a "good" rh for the way I like mine to smoke. Any wetter, and they become problems half way through when smoking outside in central Bama. Enough humidity in the air that the wrappers on wetter smokes quickly become waterlogger and tunneling happens often. I can see where higher RHs closer to 70 might be necessary in the drier climates to compensate for the lack of ambient humidity (I like the word ambient, sounds smart!). Mark is entirely correct in that the actual RH you keep will be somewhat dependent on your likes and dislikes. Your environment will dictate to some degree the storage RH for your smokes to have them at the desired smoking RH when you get ready to fire them up!

[ucla695]

My humidity also hovers around 62-63ish. I’ve found this to be the sweet spot for me. Since lowering my humidity from around 70, 3 or fours years ago, I've had almost no burn or draw issues and smoking is lot more pleasurable. It’s nice not to have to relight every couple of minutes.

[ucubed]

Living in florida, if the outside RH is in the 80's plus I try to drybox my sticks to about 55%. By the time I get halfway, the stick will be very close to matching the outside RH so it is an aboslute must. 70% is too wet most of the time. It's not too bad at corona and they keep theirs at 70

[groogs]

Originally Posted by taltos

I found that when I went to 65 from 70, draw problems left and also I got rid of the sour taste that some smokes had toward the end of the smoke.

65 is the perfect RH for my tastes.

I also have around 65 % in my humidor and it's absolutely perfect.

Heiko

[bigloo]

68-70% for me (beads are rated 70% but the RH ranges between 68 and 70. I very seldom have draw issues or burn problems. Until I do, dont fix what aint broke. That said, I have 65% beads lying around if I ever decide to lower.