I just got back from London where I picked up a couple of packs of Monti #4's 5 packs as well as some 3 pack Cohiba robustos. My question is if i should store them in the humidor in their cardboard boxes or not. Also should 71% humidity be ok for them? Thanks.

Out of the box and a little lower on the humidity (65-67 for me, otherwise they don't burn as well). Of course, you'll hear as many different answers as there are replies. Some like 70 humidity for aging as its supposed to help the flavors blend. I say out of the box for space management as much as anything else.

So the only real reason to keep them out of the box is for space? It won't hurt to keep them in the box?

Some would argue that to keep them in the box inside a humi is introducing a foreign substance into the cigar environment. The paper could absorb moisture and effect the humidity reaching the cigars. In other words, you have less wet cigars for the given level or humidity. This argument makes sense to me, but I honestly don't know if its accurate. The paper could also perhaps introduce odors into the humi, and hence cigars. This also makes some sense. I just see no reason to keep them in the boxes as it may harm but offers no benefit. If you want to transport them in threes, buy a leather cigar case at JR for $20. It would protect them better and looks classier as well.

I would have to go with the out crowd on this one for two reasons: odor and the moisture absorption of cardboard is not ideal as is the absorbtion of spanish cedar. I think that the SC can absorb and release moisture without fundamentally breaking down the material, whereas I would think that cardboard cannot and in the process releases chemicals and odors. Keep the cartons if you wish to use them to travel about with your smokes, but I would remove them for storage. Just an opinion.

KinnickKinnick

I am going with out of the box. First, space if you have a a big humidor ok leave them in the box. But I like the collection aspect of the boxes and put them on the wall. Second, I have to agree that a humidor are for ciagrs, I even take my cigars out of the tubes unless I am saving them as a increase value like my 2000 Monte glass NC. I hope this helps.

" I don't have any metals on my chest, because i'm no hero. I'm just a firefighter" - Denis Leary

They are 5 packs right? So are you planning on smoking them fairly soon? If so... in the box or out of the box doesn't really matter. If space is a factor then remove them from the box. If you are saving them for special occasions and might store them for months or even yrs then take them out of the box.

Lower on the humidity.....most of my cigars have that EMS sticker from the UK on them and I prefer smoking them at a much lower Rh 65%-67%