Thoughts On Heartfelt Beads

[LazyLightning]

Hello folks,

I currently have 3 wood Spanish cedar humidors. This question is for the two larger ones, both of which have a 500 count capacity. One is a footlocker, which I use as my “aging” humi, the standing one, is for the sticks I am currently smoking. From the start, I have been using Boveda packs in all of them. I love the ease of using them, and I really don’t have worries of moisture coming in direct contact with the inside wood.

I use 6-7 of the 320 gram 65% in both humidors, lining the entire bottom, with one or two on the middle tray of the standing humi, and I’ve always been pleased with the performance. Well it’s getting that time to recharge them, so of course I need to purchase at least a dozen new ones to rotate. As I’m sure you can guess, replacing that many at once is a bit costly. Which if it’s the best way, I’m fine with it.

I’ve never really looked into heartfelt beads till I was looking for the replacements. I saw them listed and it got me thinking, are they as good as the Boveda system? My biggest concern is mold from moisture getting onto the wood inside (yes I’m paranoid, but there’s enough cigars in them to warrant concern at least) with the Boveda packs it’s not an issue, having never used the beads, I’m not sure if it is with them either.

I said all that to say,
The heartfelt seem to be slightly more cost effective, easier and faster to recharge ( those big 320g Boveda packs take like 2+ weeks in my experience )

So are they something I should look into, or not even bother? I’m thinking seriously of going down to the 62% Boveda, and the heartfelt seems to come in 65% but not 62%

Any thoughts, experiences, would be greatly appreciated.

[Tombstone]

I have always heard good things but have no first hand experience. One day I will break down and get some. I have a lot of 1 way beads on their last legs that will need to be replaced.

[josh lucky 13]

I have not used beads either but know several who have and they swear by them. I use boveda and silca kitty litter. I recharge my litter with distilled water. I have a few sticks from time to time that get a bit of mold just tells me where I may have a circulation issue. The more boveda packs I spread around the less often I see it.

[AlanS]

Amazon has boxes of Boveda 65% in a 12 count box for $42. Mine seem to last forever, never have recharged any, but I ad a new one occasionally. Can’t beat the 2 way control or cleanliness in my opinion


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[WNYTONY]

I use both Bovedas and the beads. I rotate the Bovedas and recharge as they start to get low. The beads help maintain the constant and help the wineadors spring right back to humidity after opening the door and pulling out or refreshing stock. I never spray them - they just pull as needed off the Bovedas andkeep rolling along. You said 6-7 of the 320 gram in each box ? In my wineador I usually have 6-7 of the 60 gram with the beads. I have a 4 pack holder of 65's and I usually toss a 69 on top of the beads and during the cold, dry winter months I'll throw in a couple more in - middle and upper shelves. Has worked great for my setup. In the winos beads are in an open box bottom underneath the bottom shelf. In the coolers I use a couple bead bags in each.

[jhedrick83]

I had them at one point when I had a humidor I made out of an old gun cabinet. They worked great, recharged quickly and easily and held a constant temp. Not cheap for sure but a great option IMO.

[LazyLightning]

Thanks for the information everyone!

Part of me wants to stay with Boveda, since it’s kind of a set it and forget it, kind of thing (within reason of course)

Maybe I’ll try some of the heartfelt in my small 100 count first and see how it goes, before trying them in the two big ones.

Again thanks and have a great weekend everyone!

[LazyLightning]

Amazon has boxes of Boveda 65% in a 12 count box for $42. Mine seem to last forever, never have recharged any, but I ad a new one occasionally. Can’t beat the 2 way control or cleanliness in my opinion


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Thanks Alan,
I need 12 of the 320g packs, which is $299 and change on Amazon. Then in a couple months I need to by an additional 12 to be able to rotate them as I recharge. Though considering how much money is invested in the contents of the humidors, $600.00 all in isn’t all that unreasonable.

Edit*
Since I am moving from 65% to 62% the ones in them now, need replacing as well. Which is why I’ll eventually need 12 instead of an additional 6. Sorry if that wasn’t clear.

[SoCal gunner]

My question would be why so many 320s?
I only use 1 in my coolers. Especially if these are something you're not always digging around in with extended open times. Just adding some new cigars periodically to a 65 will charge them a bit the way most places ship cigars (more so with 62s).

If you just cut your number in half, worst case is you recharge/swap out more often. Just a thought.

[Old Smokey]

I have used Bovedas, heartfelt beads and scent free silica kitty litter over the years. When I used Bovedas and HF beads, I had a 100ct desktop and a 70qt marine cooler. The Bovedas worked well in the cooler, but didn't last long in the desktop, and I never found it leaked. I got tired of spending more money on Bovedas and didn't do well with recharging the Bov. They overcharged more than once and they swelled up like small balloons and decided to search for a wineador.

Finally found a 170btl wine cooler with wooden shelves and have used it the last 6 years with the existing 2# of HFbeads that I had and 8# of scent free Silica kitty litter from WM. Litter was $5 for 4lbs. I bought 8lbs for $10. This combination has worked great for 6 years without any problem. I use the litter exactly like the beads. If the Rh drops below my target range (62-65) I just spritz the litter a few times with distilled water and it raises the Rh into the desired range and remains solid of about 3 months or so, even during the dry winters.

I love using the silica litter for how well they work, longevity and cheap cost. Love'm!

[SoCal gunner]

Great point Old Smokey
Those bovedas won't last nearly as long on a wooden humidor as they do in synthetic coolers.

[LazyLightning]

My question would be why so many 320s?
I only use 1 in my coolers. Especially if these are something you're not always digging around in with extended open times. Just adding some new cigars periodically to a 65 will charge them a bit the way most places ship cigars (more so with 62s).

If you just cut your number in half, worst case is you recharge/swap out more often. Just a thought.

Well the Boveda site says:
Use one (1) 320 Boveda for every 100 TOTAL cigars a humidor can hold.
Since my two big ones are 500 count, that’s 5 each. I just like to put an extra in to be on the safe side, so that brings me to 12

The 6 work great, this is the first time I’ve had to mess with them, in close to a year iirc. I have the date opened on them, but I’m outside atm.

[SoCal gunner]

Well the Boveda site says:
Use one (1) 320 Boveda for every 100 TOTAL cigars a humidor can hold.
Since my two big ones are 500 count, that’s 5 each. I just like to put an extra in to be on the safe side, so that brings me to 12I totally get it with a wooden humidor. With that said, if you keep 'em as full as I do with cigars, there's that much less air space and you can use fewer.

Sounds like you have a system that works for you. Maybe try the beads in one to start? And perhaps pull a couple of the 320s now and start recharging them - they'll recharge faster than the remain four will dry out.

[LazyLightning]

I totally get it with a wooden humidor. With that said, if you keep 'em as full as I do with cigars, there's that much less air space and you can use fewer.

Sounds like you have a system that works for you. Maybe try the beads in one to start? And perhaps pull a couple of the 320s now and start recharging them - they'll recharge faster than the remain four will dry out.

I agree, it’s been working perfectly, so why mess with it. Like I said I may try the beads in the small 100 count at some time, but I’ll stick with what I know and what works.

Appreciate the help everyone!

[Hermit]

I've used nothing but Heartfelt Beads for years in all of my coolers and humidors.
I trust em to the point that I don't bother with hygrometers.

[Old Smokey]

I've used nothing but Heartfelt Beads for years in all of my coolers and humidors.
I trust em to the point that I don't bother with hygrometers.

I just want to mention Unscented Silica Kitty Litter Is used exactly the same as Heartfelt Beads except the litter is MUCH cheaper. I like both products. For all I know HF beads may be kitty litter.

[josh lucky 13]

I just want to mention Unscented Silica Kitty Litter Is used exactly the same as Heartfelt Beads except the litter is MUCH cheaper. I like both products. For all I know HF beads may be kitty litter.

I believe they are basically the same thing but kl is rough and different sized pieces. Been using kl for decade?

[WNYTONY]

I just want to mention Unscented Silica Kitty Litter Is used exactly the same as Heartfelt Beads except the litter is MUCH cheaper. I like both products. For all I know HF beads may be kitty litter.

I know that it's basically the same material and it works and all but I find it extremely hilarious that the guy who smokes almost exclusively Opus uses something to sop up cat piss to care for his precious Opus :biglaugh:

[SoCal gunner]

I know that it's basically the same material and it works and all but I find it extremely hilarious that the guy who smokes almost exclusively Opus uses something to sop up cat piss to care for his precious Opus :biglaugh:OMG - I know we all use the expression "LOL", but I actually did!

[Brimy]

I use beads in my wineador because I don't have to worry about the beads or moisture contacting the cigars but I use boveda in everything else.

[Old Smokey]

I know that it's basically the same material and it works and all but I find it extremely hilarious that the guy who smokes almost exclusively Opus uses something to sop up cat piss to care for his precious Opus :biglaugh:j

I keep the humidor door closed to keep the cats out. It does make me nervous when the cats start circling the goods. I can see the humor in it though. And the key is to spritz the litter with distilled water and not cat piss. :)