humidors
 
 
 
BRAND: Otter Box
NAME: CigarCaddy
TYPE: 3400 (5-stick)
DATE OF RATING: 3/13/2006
REVIEWER: Blake
Website http://www.otterbox.com
OVERALL SCORE: 96.5 = Stogie Fresh Gold Star Rating
 
Background: The CigarCaddy is a travel humidor made by OtterBox, available in sizes from 2 to 15 cigars. It is made of extremely durable plastic, with an airtight seal, and watertight to a depth of 100 feet. It’s length is less that 9”, so it fits almost unnoticeably in my Rollaboard suitcase. This particular model has a small humidification device to help keep your stogies fresh during your travels. If you travel by boat, then unit will float.
 
Set-up and use: Score: 97    The interior is lined with untreated foam. It appears to be the same foam used for camera cases. The foam is cut to hold up to five Churchill cigars. The unit has a small humidification device made of florist foam. It will not take too much water, or water and PG, to make it useful. This unit proved to be very airtight; so a little water will go a long way in keeping your sticks fresh. Too much water, and you have a soggy stogie. I would recommend using a Drymistat or ClimaGuard tube to regulate the humidity more accurately. The downside of this is that it takes up a cigar space, so use a Bóveda humidification pack if you can’t give up the room.
 
Function: Score: 95    This unit performed flawlessly in protecting my cigars from outside damage, while keeping them fresh. I did have an incident during initial use, which I did not anticipate. Since all us world-traveler-types are under pressure (14.7 psi at sea level be exact), the unit is somewhat difficult to open due to the differential pressure from origin to destination. The OtterBox website discusses this issue, and offers the solution of using a small object such as a coin to pry the case open. During opening of the case, the pressure change was so dramatic from my technique that the head of one of my cigars exploded. I still smoked the cigar, but now I am gentler in equalizing the pressure differential. There is a purge knob on the larger case to deal with this matter.
 
Value: Score 97   This is an inexpensive way to protect your ‘gars, and keep them fresh also. The unit is functional, durable, and should provide many years of faithful service. At retail value, it should pay for itself almost immediately. I highly recommend this product for the travel warrior. A Stogie Fresh Gold Star Rating.
 
 
 
Otterbox: 5-stick model
Monday, March 13, 2006