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Since lighters, Boveda packs have been the greatest item to strike the cigar market. User-friendly, clean, non-toxic (for the most part), portable, and a significant improvement over propylene glycol-based humidifiers (PG) and pure distilled water-based humidifiers.

The signs that your Boveda packs should be replaced

It’s time to change it when it’s dry and crispy. When the Boveda packet has dried entirely, it will solidify into a wafer. If your 69 percent or 72 percent RH packets are beginning to feel like 10-year-old crunch bars after a few months, it’s time to replace them.

Is it recommended to recharge Boveda packs?

You may have heard that Boveda humidity packs may be recharged by immersing them in distilled water. However, this is not a recommended practice. It is doable, and some cigar connoisseurs do it often. Boveda humidity packs, on the other hand, were not meant for this technique.

Boveda packs may easily get oversaturated with water during recharging. Furthermore, as the salt solidifies, the membrane might be perforated or undergo micro-scrapes.

As a result, refilled Boveda packs become unpredictable and work differently depending on humidity conditions. This may even be harmful to the condition of the cigars, therefore, it is better not to take the chance (if you don’t know what you are doing).

You are free to replenish Boveda packets at any time, but you do so at your own risk. However, if you find yourself constantly recharging Boveda packs and they last such little time, it’s possible that it’s not their fault.

It’s more likely that you have a leaky humidor with faulty seals. Boveda packets should last anywhere from 6 months to a year in most cases. They’re really rather inexpensive, considering that a 60-gram 12-pack for $43 may cost as low as $4 a piece.

As a result, investing in a new humidor totally may provide you with superior long-term value for money.

In short, some may argue that you should never attempt to go around a product’s design, especially if there’s a chance of unintended consequences (e.g., destroyed cigars/humidor, mold, etc.), while others will always search for methods to save time and money.

3 major methods of recharging Boveda packs

The method of paper towels

This strategy will need the most preparation time. You’ll need paper towels, as the name implies. You’ll also require a tiny container to soak the paper towels in, as well as Ziploc baggies large enough to hold various packs:

• Fill a plastic container halfway with distilled water to moisten the paper towel;
• Fold a few sheets of unbleached paper towels into a pocket lighter size;
• Slowly immerse the folded towel in the container and watch as it absorbs the water. Never saturate the towel; just dampen it;
• Squeeze the paper towel gently to remove any excess water;
• Put the pack in the middle of the unfolded paper towel. Fold the paper towel’s edges over the pack in all directions to completely cover it;
• Put the wrapped pack in a Ziploc bag and squeeze out as much air as possible before closing the bag. It should be sealed;
• Sit for 2-3 days at room temperature before checking it regularly;
• The pack may be reused after the paper towel is totally dry;

The soak method

It’s the easiest way, but it’s also the least effective because it risks destroying the pack’s outside packing. All you’ll need is a container that can be sealed. The size of the container will be determined by the number of packs to be recharged. Resurrecting packets with the same RH and size will be most useful (8 gram vs. 60 gram). As long as the container has a sealable lid, it may be made of glass, plastic, silicone, or metal.

This is how you should do this:

• Use a clean (preferably new) container;
• Fill the container with distilled water to a depth that will properly immerse your pack;
• Cover with a lid;
• Set away at room temperature for 2–5 days;
• Check the packs on a regular basis, as they will begin to expand and feel squishy, much as they did when they were fresh;
• Remove the outer packing and dab it to help it dry;

The Osmotic method

The approach provides the most effective recharge while causing the least amount of damage to the pack’s outside wrapping. All you’ll need is one sealable container with an elevated center or two containers (one little and one big), the size of which will depend on how many packs you ought to recharge. Remember that the Boveda pack’s natural 2-way function is osmosis, therefore, rehydrating one in the same way makes sense – the water will naturally move from a high-concentration region to a lower concentration region.

There are 2 ways to recharge Boveda packs with this method:

1) With one container:

• Fill a container with distilled water that has a raised center, that is, the center of the container is a bit higher than the edges;
• Arrange the packs atop the container’s elevated part; they should not come into touch with water;
• Leave it for 3-5 days after sealing the container;
• Remove the fully charged Boveda pack;

2) With two containers:

• Fill a small container with distilled water and set it in the middle of a bigger container, such as a mixing bowl;
• Arrange the pack inside the bigger container around the little container within the bigger one;
• Set aside for 3-5 days after sealing the bigger container;
• Recharged packets should be removed;

What is the best method of recharging Boveda packs?

All of these methods are easy to learn, take minimal time to prepare, and require little equipment. Regardless of the technique, you’ll need distilled water. Never take tap water to rehydrate Boveda packs. Because new packs use high-purity water, you’ll want to get as close to this as possible. The most suitable liquid for recharging is distilled water. Instead of packaged “purified” water, apply filtered water from a household purification system.

The methods are all rather simple, and they will all take around the same amount of time to completely recharge.

Tips to consider when recharging Boveda packs

Use the right RH and number of packages

The ideal RH depends on a number of factors, such as where you reside, where the humidor is kept, how many cigs you have, and so forth. Do you need to season a new humidor? For a few weeks, you’ll need a few 84% packs. Boveda’s typical guideline is to add 1 pack for every 25 sticks after they’ve been seasoned. Do you have 50 robustos in your humidor? Then you’ll need two packets.

If you have a 40-50 piece humidor but only have 30-35 6X60 Gordos or 7X48 Churchills in it, you’ll still need two packs. Mixing 69 percent and 72 percent RH packs in the same humidor will result in a fight, with your favorite cigars and your money as the loser.

Use more packs than required

You’ll need two 60-gram packets for the 50-stick humidor to maintain the proper RH. In the 75-100 piece humidor, for instance, use 3 packs. Yes, it may be overkill in certain circumstances, but the benefit here is that it will help them survive longer. It’s the same with everything you apply around the house: if you overwork it, it’ll wear out quickly.

Never mix gel/water-based humidifiers with Boveda packages

According to many experts, you don’t want to put a humidifier to the mix, just as you don’t want to combine various RH packs. These devices just shoot uncontrolled vapor (unless you’re using PG) into your humidors, and adding a Boveda pack is about as effective as putting a 5-dollar note in the humidor.

You should minimize exposure to air

Remember that water’s natural inclination is to go to an area where the concentration is lower. Until you’re ready to use your packs, keep them in their plastic sleeves. If you have to empty your humidor for whatever reason, put the pack in a sealable container, such as a Ziploc bag.

Leave the pack in a travel humidor with a good seal if you’re using one. If you have any doubts, Ziploc it until you’re ready to Herf it. Your Boveda pack will crystallize at some time. It’s completely depleted of fuel (water vapor).

FAQ

What is the fastest way to recharge Boveda packs with distilled water?

Set an eggcup in the middle of a Tupperware box filled with purified mineral-free water, then put the Boveda bag on top of the egg cup, ensuring sure the bag does not contact the water, then gently place the lid on top and close it to create a seal. Leave it for a day or two, and your pouch will be ready to travel with no bother or mess, and at a far lower cost. Because Boveda is a two-way system that can soak as well as humidity, you may put the bags in as soon as they begin to crystallize, rather than waiting until they are completely solid.

How should you activate Boveda packs?

When you receive your Boveda packs, they are ready to use. All you have to do now is remove each Boveda pack from the transparent overwrap and set them into your desktop humidor.

Is it possible to recharge Boveda packs with a spray bottle?

This method was offered by one of Reddit users. Fill a small spray bottle with pure distiller water and spray the drying Boveda bags with it. When you store them in a closed container with a cup of distilled water, they work well. Fill a cereal bowl halfway with distilled water and set it aside. Place the dried-up pack inside and put it away. All you have to do now is wait 3 days.

How often should you change Boveda packs?

They should be replaced every 2-4 months, according to the manufacturer. On the Boveda pack, you may write the date you placed your Boveda bag in the container. When you open it up again in 2-4 months, you’ll know it’s time to replace it. You can lose the terpenes if you postpone until Boveda becomes hard to touch.

How long do common Boveda 69% packages last?

Depending on the size of the space you’re humidifying, how many cigars you’re keeping, and how many packs you’re using, these Boveda packs may last anywhere from 2 to 6 months.

Do Boveda packs destroy the terpenes?

When you take a sniff of your jar/bud, Boveda prevents the terpenes from drying and being volatile, which is what you smell. It’s not that the fragrance has been eliminated or absorbed; rather, there are fewer terpenes in the atmosphere and more in the bud.

Is it cost-effective to use Boveda packs?

At $5 per 60-gram piece, this might become pricy, especially if you use 7 or 8 at a time, as most smokers do. So, if you pay $35-$40 for the original set and 3-4 refills a year, you’re looking at a cost of about $160. It’s still more cost-effective than using purified water and humidifiers.