Posted this elsewhere, but curious and would like your opinions. Recently I've purchased a few bundles of cigars that are not in boxes, but wrapped in plastic. This is done by the manufacturer and have labels and seals similar to boxes. I've kept them in their original packaging for a short while. Is there any harm in keeping them this way.

I would assume it's better for them to be out among the other cigars in the long term. I would guess that the retailers keep them this way, for god knows how long. So what's the harm in me keeping them this way as well?

Here's a photo of one bundle.
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When I get bundles like that I open them up.

I think that plastic is different than cello.
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:-)

I always take them out of the plastic.
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They need to breathe the humid air that is shipping wrap take it off.
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They have individual cellos? If so:

• Smoking in the next week to 3 months - cello Off
• Smoking in the next 3 months to year - doesn't make a difference whether you leave it on or off, it'll still breathe
• Smoking in the next year+ - leave the cello on and you may get a nice yellow cello in a few years time

You don't need to age NC's, but if you do, do it in a cello.
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Since they are all lined up nice you can cut em all at once with the plastic on. There's a whole thread talking about the merits of this :-):-)
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I think Kaz is not talking about the cello, but the outer plastic wrapper that holds the bundle together.
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Yeah, I was just jokin a bit....:-)
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:-)
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Just toss them on the ban saw right?
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if i get a bundle, i at least open the top of it b4 i put it in the cooler. Then when i obtain an empty box, i move 'em into the box. just my 2 cents.
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I would take them off.
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Sounds like something you'd find in a moderator's workshop... :-)
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the plastic still breathes, it will not affect the cigars at all. it does slow down air exchange but will not hurt them in anyway.
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Yup, I meant both the plastic and the cello. The plastic won't hinder equalizing the RH if it's there for a bit, and it keeps it in a nice, clean, and compact form. Single sticks can be a pain if you have too many while a brick can be easily tucked away.
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:-) I open the top, but I leave them bundled, because they stack better that way.
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I usually just use a knife and cut a slit on each side or use a pencil or something sharp and poke holes on the sides to let bundles breathe if I'm storing them long term. If I"m going to be smoking them, there's an abundance of boxes at the shop I can grab one of to store in.
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You guys are all nuts. But then, this is the nut house!:-) I didn't really want to take them out of the packaging because they would all be loose in my cooler, and I didn't have enough boxes to keep them in. But paranoia won out and I freed the little bastages. But the best compromise would have been opening up one end. Or slitting the plastic carefully so some air gets in.
Oh well! In the end I think it's better they are out.
Thanks
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Either way you're fine. I would keep them intact if I had the room. Otherwise, I'd cut them loose.
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It dosent matter.... either way is okay IMO, the cigars are stored in the outer wrapping at the factories and stay wrapped until prurchased.

If the moisture from the cigars can escape with the outer wrapping intact, in theory allowing the cigars to dry out, would it make sense that the humidity in the himidor could also creep back in thus keeping them humidified?? Makes sense too me.

Some folks are known to wrap boxes of cigars in saranwrap to age for years, the cigars are kept as air tight as possible, the slower air exchange is believed to slow down but also improve the aging process.
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