Cigar Humidification

Should you use the top tray in your cigar humidor?

Q. I opted not to use the top trays in my humidors. Even though the top tray has slits, if the tray is filled up with cigars I can’t see much humidity getting through, and in fact it seems as it would over humidify the cigars in the top tray. Is this reasoning correct?
– James G. in Cranberry Twp, PA

A. I think I pointed this out in my humidor set-up video. I usually opt-out of the top tray for the same reason; if the cigars are too close to the humidifier they will get more moisture. A small fan to circulate the air would help, or a gel jar of polyglycol crystals to add some extra moisture underneath, but they take up more space on the bottom. In the case of the glass top humidor I just bought, I’m using the top tray b/c the humidifier is on the bottom.

One other solution that a few fellow cigar smokers have told me is to mount the humidifier under the top tray. However, you have to watch your headroom for the cigars below.

Here again, you have a situation where what doesn’t work for you may work for someone else. Rather than simply chucking the top tray, you should try it for a while and see how the cigars hold up.