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Cigar Tip: Check Out the New Smart Sensor from Boveda

5 Feb 2018

As we recently reported, Boveda, the Minnesota-based “global leader in two-way humidity control,” has introduced what it is calling “the best innovation for premium cigars since the invention of Boveda.” Called the Smart Sensor, the device syncs up your humidor’s humidity and temperature levels with an app on your phone or tablet.

When Boveda asked me to take the Smart Sensor for a test drive, I jumped at the opportunity. After all, I’ve been trusting Boveda with my humidification needs in my various humidors for years. Over that time, the only way I’ve been gauging humidor health is to monitor the many Boveda packets I employ and replace them when they feel like they’re starting to dry out. It’s a sub-optimal, unscientific process, but one that has proven to work. (I don’t trust the hygrometers in my humidors anymore; I’ve been too lazy to perform the salt calibration test for some time, and I found them to be fickle, unreliable instruments in the first place.)

The Smart Sensor is currently available at BovedaInc.com. It retails for about $40, or $50 if you also want four large humidification packets and a calibration kit (you probably do). Once the Sensor arrives, getting started is easy. The first thing you’ll want to do is download the free app and link your Sensor (a process that took me no more than a few minutes.

Next, you’ll want to calibrate the Sensor by placing it in a Boveda-provided sealed bag with a small Boveda packet. After a two-point calibration is completed, the device will be accurate within +/- 1.5% relative humidity; the accuracy goes down to +/- 2.5% with a one-point calibration.

After 24 hours, the Smart Sensor will be ready for use. Simply place it (or mount it) within your humidor. You can now check on your humidor without opening its lid from a range of about 100 feet (or, if you want to extend the reach to anywhere in the world, you can use a second device).

Here are my impressions of the product after a few weeks of testing:

  • The app is beautifully designed and easy to use.
  • The Boveda Knowledge Base, found within the app, is a nice value-add, featuring FAQs about cigar humidification.
  • The sensor is small and unobtrusive; it will not hamper your cigar storage capacity.
  • Cheers to Boveda for including an idiot-proof user guide and accompanying video; setting up the Smart Sensor could not have been easier.
  • One of my favorite features is that the app can be customized to alert you to humidity or temperature changes exceeding a user-defined threshold of acceptability.
  • The app also allows to you create a profile for the humidor (or humidors) you’re monitoring, including a name, picture, quantity of cigars, and notes.
  • The only drawback? As I’ve written before, I operate with multiple humidors. The app is perfect for this, but my setup would require me to spend about $200 on Smart Sensors alone. (This is especially concerning because I think I might do just that.)

As always, please note that while Boveda provided me with one Smart Sensor (and calibration kit), their generosity in no way impacts my opinion of the product. On its own merits, Smart Sensor is a wonderful device that will be enjoyable and satisfying to thousands of tech-centric cigar enthusiasts.

Patrick A

photo credits: Stogie Guys

3 Responses to “Cigar Tip: Check Out the New Smart Sensor from Boveda”

  1. Thomas Huxley Tuesday, February 6, 2018 at 8:21 pm #

    This strikes me as another means of separating cigar smokers from their money. Although I do use Boveda (only for their convenience), their claims to maintain a particular humidity level are absurd. Right now two 72% 60-gram and six small 72% packets keep my 100-count humidor at 62% at 70 degrees. The suggestion that this latest doodad is “the best innovation for premium cigars since the invention of Boveda” is undermined by the failure of the original product. Sorry, but not for me.

    • Jay Fifield Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at 6:15 pm #

      1. Have you calibrated your hygrometer using Boveda Calibration Kit?
      2. Have you seasoned your humidor with Boveda?
      3. Does your humidor have a tight seal?
      4. If you have a 100 count humidor, you should have no less than 240g Boveda (four 60g packs or one 320g pack). They recommend one 60g pack per 25 count cigar humidor. If my math is correct you only have 168g (two X 60g= 120g and six X 8g= 48g).
      5. If you do all the above and its still not registering at 72%, I would ask you what is the RH of the room that your humidor sits in? If you live in a dry climate, this will zap moisture from your humidor and unless you have an airtight seal such as a Pelican case, it might be worth using Boveda 75% RH packs so you can level out between 69-72%.

      Just a few thoughts, but hopefully this helps bring your Boveda experience from a convenience to a convenient necessity. Happy smoking!

  2. Thomas Huxley Friday, February 9, 2018 at 12:05 pm #

    Thanks for the tip. My humidors meet all of your criteria, and the room is not unusually dry. However, it was a Boveda rep who directed me to use the type and amount a RH packs I’m using. But I may move up to 75%. It’s a crap shoot.