HumiBlog.com

Alright, I want to show off my new acquisition from LightersDirect. It’s a table top lighter; meaning that it’s not something you’ll want to take in your shirt pocket, but which should be found among every aficionado’s cigar gear, and here’s why:

These things are as awesome as they are solid. There’s definitely a major “wow” factor that comes with a table lighter, but the real attraction is in how practical they are for perfectly and effortlessly lighting a cigar.

Take my new Lotus T3 table lighter with its triple flame for example. Not only does it look great on my desk, but the extra large tank capacity means I can use it more than twice as much as my regular lighters without having to refuel. Any other triple flame lighter would run out of gas after just a few cigars.

The massive triple flame of the Lotus T3 actually means lighting that cigar much faster and evenly. I was really taken back by how quickly I could light those large formats with this, and how effortlessly even the resulting burn is.

The T3 is solidly built with all metal construction as evidence my the sheer weight of it. Refilling is easily done through the metal valve which is available through the bottom of the base. No special screws, means no special tools or screwdrivers needed to refill; just tilt the thing, flush and fill the tank.

Everyone needs one of these, definitely!

Once again from LightersDirect, here is a nifty little accessory designed for your favorite Zippo lighter. Ever since 9/11 the ever toughened travel safety restrictions some times meant arriving at your destination only to find out that your bag had been screened and your elegant lighter confiscated.

Well, I’ve been traveling more and more these days because of my job and was faced with the conundrum of either leaving my cigars behind or risk losing one of my favorite lighters. Just then I ran into the Zippo Cargo Case by OtterBox. It turns out that because it has been made to comply with the Department of Transportation safety standards, a passenger is now able to carry up to two lighters in these cases without danger of losing them to security screeners.

These nifty cases are made of very rugged polycarbonate and are not only supposed to be virtually indestructible, but also are waterproof till up to 100 feet; of course I’d hate to think of a scenario where that particular feature would be useful, since I’m mainly using it for travel by plane; but anyhow… you get the point.

As always, you can check it out at LightersDirect

Zippo lighters are awesome, but sadly, when it comes to cigars, the old trusted Zippo falls out of favor. It’s not the lighter itself that is to blame, just the trusty lighter fluid that has powered it for over 75 years.

Though some cigar smokers would probably admit to using Zippo’s all the time, my experience tells me that the fluid’s odor can taint the taste of a good cigar right from the start. Well, for me, the thought of smoking an expensive benzene stick is more than I can handle.

That’s where the Z-plus torch lighter insert comes in. Though these have been out for some time, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to buy a classic Zippo and gut it, replacing the core of the lighter with a third party insert that claims to fit “most popular liquid fuel lighter cases.”

The fact, though, is that probably some trademark technicality prevents them from saying that the insert is “designed exclusively for Zippo lighter cases”, but believe me, It is! I’ve got to tell you that it not only fits perfectly but works great, providing a steady windproof flame encased in Zippo coolness.

When I headed over to Lighters Direct this time, I was aiming for a classic piece to add to my worthy repertoire. As I browsed the extensive Zippo section, I knew it had to be Black Ice. The Z-plus insert was under the accessories section.

I’ve had it for over a week now, and have used it everyday, including at last night’s Super Bowl herf where my Super Bowl pick made me a good amount of cabbage! It’s the only way to light up a fine cigar in classic Zippo style—highly recommended.

Well, I’ve got to show you my newest toy. Once again, you’ll notice the effects of visiting our friends at Lighters Direct; namely, that it’s hard to browse around and not get the urge to buy something new. You probably know that no matter how many lighters I have, I always have room for more.

So, this time it’s the new Xikar Genesis lighter. Over time I’ve come to appreciate lighters with a solid feel and all metal construction, and the Genesis definitely belongs in that category. The casing on this is all metal with a high gloss, high durability enamel. A slim fuel gauge shows how much gas is left in it, without looking tacky (a big plus for me).

Now, for the coolest feature… an extra large, metal, flame control dial. I don’t know what you guys are all used to, but I just hate it when a perfectly nice lighter is shipped with a flimsy plastic dial. I mean, it’s the component with the highest wear and tear. Not only that, but I love to be able to control the flame without having to dig into a tool box for a screwdriver! I was totally pleased with the oversized dial, which is easily turned by hand and is fully detailed with the polished silver finish.

Of course the Genesis boasts a jet flame. I’d be very hard pressed to buy a classic flame lighter for my cigars. I have to say that it isn’t the most wind resistant flame I have seen, but then again, I never smoke my precious cigars anywhere but my cigar lounge at home, or at cigar friendly restaurants.

Overall, I think this Xikar lighter is excellent value and extremely comfortable, proving that sometimes the best form of elegance is simplicity and common sense.

Take a computer guru, introduce him to the art of smoking and what to do get? — How about Personal Cigar Management Software… Here’s one for those of us who have huge humidors and can’t even remember exactly what’s in there anymore without pulling everything out. Cigar Register is a nice little piece of software to help manage our voluptuous cigar collections. I downloaded the 30MG application and, at a glance, I have to say that it has a lot of potential.

Basically, you can add multiple humidors, designating all the individual specs for each one, and stuff them with cigars from the cigar database. When it’s time to light up, it will automatically subtract the stick from the humidor. You can also monitor the temperature and humidity of all the sticks and see how it has fluctuated over time. After lighting up, keep track of your favorites with detailed cigar reviews or smoking notes.

It’s pretty nifty indeed. Cigar Register is free to download and use. For more info, check out their Q/A at http://www.cigarregister.com