Yeah, I'm the " new guy " I'm also kinda new to cigars in general, I have make a couple of runs at it through the years but it never really stuck! I'm usually an ALL IN kinda guy on all things I do....and looking to get pointed in the right direction, yeah the whole ((shooting match)) humidor/storage, a variety of smokes to get a feel for what I like, where to buy what. Etc etc...I live in Fayetteville Arkansas, 38yrs old, I am a project engineer, I travel a lot all over the globe with my job, so also looking for best method to travel with cigars. As you can see I have a lot to figure out so I hope someone can share some links or info to get me going.

Thanks!

Unless you're gone for more than a week at a time don't overthink travel storage. A 15 count humi is fine but NEVER use the humidification device the traveldor will get moldy.

Coolidors are great bang for the buck (more spending money for cigars)

Use beads NOT KITTY LITTER. Cacman will kick you in the ballz.

I'm going to give the coolidor a go and see what happens, I ordered some beads today and a hydrometer (what are we looking for 67-70 range?) and sometimes I'm gone a couple weeks at a time, so what's thoughts for travel storage? And lighter and cutter on airline carry on is out I'm sure...so maybe in my checked bag??

Start out with samplers. Full. Medium. Mild. See what you like. Just because people here say that a cigar sucks worse than anything else on the planet, doesn't make it so... if -you- like it.

🇨🇮

Or, just jump right in and buy boxes of Padrons. You have to like Padrons or you can't smoke cigars.


😲

I hear ya, every where I look I see Cohiba this bad Cohiba that...what's up with that?

Traveldor would still be fine just throw a boveda pack in a zip lock bag you can add it to the traveldor when NOT at altitude in the plane.

I use 65%rh

Thanks for the input!

I've even been rolling the dice on samplers from the same brand and that's good because you can get the feel for the difference from a single brand between wrappers. A within subjects scientific experimentation. When you're new-ish to it then you're not going to find too many bad cigars unless you keep going for cheapest everything. Your palate doesn't yet know the difference and you don't quite have it all narrowed down. What's good today sucks tomorrow and the other way around too. The nic rush might make you think a cigar sucks but tomorrow you'll be like...hmmmm what was that cigar???

Humidification? I have a 48 qt cooler that works great with a 12 pack of Bovedas. Some will say it's not worth it but maybe they don't know that Boveda packs are rechargeable (shhhhh)

Roger that....I've been a cigarette smoker for a long time but just about quit that, looking to move over to cigars, If that makes sense?!?!?

Makes perfect sense to me. I did it. I started smoking cigars regularly in January of this year and had my last cig on December 4. Cigs to me are hard to be around now when I have a cigar because a little whiff and my palate goes numb

I tried to become a cigarette smoker back in high school in the 70's... but I just couldn't afford it.

=d>

Wasn't everything free in the 70's?

Start cheap (by your definition) on here, join the N00B PIB and sooner or later sign up for a vet. Pay no attention to suggestions to search "Thonginator". Really. You've been warned.

Really cheap no matter who you are-like 5ers for $3 cheap probably aren't worth it unless you really want to try sawdust or newspapery cigars. AMHIK. When even the copywriters here say a cigar is bad (Gerant's Golden Siesta, anyone?) its bad.

But imho there are plenty of good $10 or less 5ers for a newb, and some may become your "go-to" knock-about cigar when you don't want to worry about too nice a cigar or price tag.

That said, I've gotten to the point some of these vets are insinuating-I've sorted out my likes/dislikes and know why some cigars are inexpensive, some are mid-priced and yes, some are $15 and up. Also find the sizes you like-some guys are into Nubs and big azz ring gauges and others won't go above about 50 in trades or purchases. Learn to smoke more slowly-especially as a former cigarette smoker. This is a hobby, not a contest, and much cheaper than therapy!

I'd say try a few samplers too. I'm partial to LEC, Mark Twain, MoW and a few other lower priced ones. LHC Core, Oliva V, and Alec Bradley are what I'm "moving up to" and of course, Padron and Fuente....

+1

"join the N00B PIB and sooner or later sign up for a vet" ?

Direction needed.....

Aloha new guy!

I used a Tupperware and a Heartfelt 65% small tube to carry 20+ cigars with me on a 9 day trip to Las Vegas and Oregon last summer. Backpacked it as a carryon. Lighters (empty) in those TSA approved carriers and cutter in the checked-in luggage.

Small edit - 2014-10-05

Never smoked cigarettes but I enjoy cigars.. Traded snacks for cigars and lost 40 lbs... I'm 67 and after 1000s of cigars still survive on samplers

AnyBody hav trouble getting cigar cutters thru airport security