The cigar punch is not a new invention, but still a necessity in every cigar smokers arsenal of tools.
Michael asked us to review this new product and I decided to tackle this one. To sum it up in two words: it works! Honest to God, it really does what it says, I know it sounds too good to be true. Now, it does have it's limitations, it's not a miracle worker, but it's close.
Xikar released the HP3 Triple Flame Lighter in 2018 as a followup to 2017's HP4 quad flame lighter we reviewed and loved here. The lighter uses an in-line configuration of triple flames with the outside jets angled 8 degrees toward the center so they converge into one big flame. The HP3 comes in 4 finishes: Burnt Yellow, Daytona Red, Matte Black and G2. My sample is the Daytona red. The HP3 also features a large adjustment wheel, pull-down ignition, and EZ-View Fuel Window. MSRP is $99.99.
XlKAR rounds out its lighter category with the Volta, a quad flame tabletop and the first of its kind. Built on a strong, stout foundation, the Volta makes any table look important with its' size and form. It will be introduced at IPCPR 2015 in New Orleans. Keep reading below for our review.
At this year’s IPCPR in New Orleans I ran into Michael of Whiff Out on the show floor and then at one of the cigar after parties. Michael talked about how amazing Whiff Out worked and said I should try it. A few weeks after the show I got in contact with him and he was kind enough to send me some samples to review and try out.
When the humidor arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by its appearance, it looked even better in person than the pictures on the website. The quality of the product is very good. The design is actually fused with the coating, not just a layer underneath, in a seamless layer giving it a very quality look. The main body and lid are solid metal, giving you plenty of protection from jarring and crushing.
Overall this is a great lighter for my needs. I like a larger flame and don't mind the bulk, but that isn't for everyone. I have to give Xikar credit for making a quad-flame lighter that isn't a tabletop. I will definitely keep bringing this with me on short trips when I don't need to keep it in the pocket for a long time. You can use it indoors or out on any cigar, and that's great.
Verdict - Recommend
The Quality Importers HygroSet II Digital Hygrometer is a mainstay in many humidors around the world. This prolific hygrometer has been around forever and hasn't really changed over the years. It doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles, but does it prove its value in reliability? We'll dig deeper and find out.
Something that every cigar smoker has to deal with is keeping your cigars at the right humidity. An essential tool...
I went through about half a box of spills as part of this review and each one had a consistent burn. I used both lighting methods I outlined above and never found that the spill overpowered the cigar flavors. Something to keep an eye out for is the ash from the spill. It is very thin and light, so the slightest breeze could get pieces floating around, so just be conscious of this when using them.