Quote Originally Posted by craig View Post
Interesting!

"performance" - a whole 'nother topic! Without controlled tests, I've found it impossible to differentiate how much the beads are taking care of the cigars, versus the cigars taking care of the beads My solution for coolerdors was to store all cigars inside boxes, only store boxes inside the coolerdor, and keep the volume of airspace to a minimum by using something like old glass jars to occupy space.
It's actually quite simple...

If the hygrometers in both coolers remain steady for about the same length of time, and at the specified rh, it's plenty good enough for the storage of cigars.

This subject is WAAAY over-analyzed IMHO. Find something that works, and fits your budget, and run with it. No need to delve into quantum physics over something that until the last 30 years was often handled by slices of apple in your humidor.

I store boxes, singles in trays made from the bottom of boxes, singles in plastic bins from wal mart, coffins, whatever and wherever they fit in the coolers, I'd say 90% of the volume is occupied at any given time. Beads are stored in 2 or 3 glad storage containers with holes drilled in the lids, spread throughout each cooler, no active humidification.

I do however, live in the south, where humidity can average from 80% to 95% for long periods in the summer, and drop to the low 40's and below in the winter. this REALLY gives the beads a workout. I keep about 1.5 lbs in each cooler for this reason.