On a recent visit to my local store, and while perusing online even, I found myself quite appalled. Great Scott! Indubitably. They carry humidors, both electric and wood types, which is to be expected, really. However, they also carry to-go or travel cases, a ton of pretty cool yet plain ashtrays, like this heavy-duty crystal ashtray, cigar needles, lighters, and a shit ton more.

Some of the items may be contingent on what’s available in your area. So, don’t be angry at me if they have less to choose from where you are.

Why are you sharing this?

Source: NewAir / The Home Depot

I’m honestly just a little flabbergasted by it. But what’s really got me in a tizzy is that somewhere local has this gear. Somewhere I can actually browse that I live near. And it’s somewhere that, most likely, a lot of you have access to, as well. Regardless of where you live or what state you’re in.

Our international brothers and sisters of the leaf might have a tough time finding The Home Depot, but I’m sure there are plenty of alternatives. At least, I hope that’s the case.

What’s so great about plain humidors and accessories?

Source: The Home Depot

What you may or may not have realized is that a lot of the offerings are plain, without logos or branding, which makes them excellent candidates for personalization. If you have stickers, wood burners, 3D printers, or any type of engraving and scoring tool, you can personalize the hell out of these things. Put your catchphrase on them: “Chew on that thang!” Put your name on them. Draw your favorite bike or Harley. Create a logo of your own. Go hog wild.

For example, this leather travel humidor has an embedded digital hygrometer, but the front is completely blank. You could etch your name on there or some kind of badass design like a skull. Hell, I might get one and put The BS Lounge logo on there.

And this cordless precision engraver is only $13 with a diamond-tip bit. You can use it, or something like it, to engrave glass, metal, plastic, ceramic, or hard materials.

Most of the items listed are free to ship to a store nearby, or free to deliver to your house. Can’t beat that.

The post Did you know The Home Depot has cigar accessories and cigar gear? I sure didn’t appeared first on The BS Lounge.

We already explored Moniup and Upallant in a head-to-head previously. This go-round we’re focusing solely on Upallant. An accessible, varied seller of cigar gear including lighters, cutters, and beyond. You’ll find most of the brand’s stuff on Amazon.

If you haven’t already, grab yourself a cold, delicious beverage, light up a stogie with me and let’s explore.

What can you tell us about Upallant?

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

You might have heard of this brand before, or come across reviews from the cigar community. Upallant seems to have made a big push to get these lighters into the hands of people that would love using them, and that has been largely successful.

As far as the brand, it’s a non-descript seller on Amazon and other marketplaces, offering premium-quality lighters at more accessible prices. Companies like ST. Dupont slap unique finishes, designs and sometimes rare gems on lighters and charge upwards of $10,000. Upallant went a different direction. They offer unique finishes and designs, but also multi-functional features. For example, a lot of Upallant lighters include a built-in cigar holder. Usually, they also incorporate a tool or two.

If you’re not opposed to a wood grain finish, gold accents, mesh, honeycomb designs or carbon fiber styles, you’ll feel right at home with Upallant’s gear. I own the five-in-one torch lighter, have been using it for quite a while, and love to carry it with me out of the house.

I have also interacted with the Upallant team on social media several times. Not that it makes a difference, but they seem like great people.

What about the Upallant cigar accessories?

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

A majority of Upallant’s offerings are firey. In other words, they’re torch lighters with single, dual or multi flame options. You’ll also find additional accessories like a travel humidor, bundles with stands and draw enhancers, and a few outliers. This particular torch lighter from the brand is electric and can be charged via USB-C — it uses butane, too.

You get the point, unique and varied. But also, incredibly useful. Take this gold and black stylish four-in-one torch lighter. It produces a single, reliable jet flame. But it also has a built-in cigar punch, a cigar holder, and an integrated draw enhancer — cigar needle.

The lighter I own has five functions and I love bringing it with me to events, lounges, and when I visit friends or family. Not only does it incorporate tools, so I don’t have to bring other cutters and such, but it’s a fantastic stand-in for when I do forget essentials. The stylish finish always seems to be a good conversation starter, and that’s before anyone spots me using the built-in tools. More importantly, I’ve had to use that built in draw enhancer more than I care to admit down here in Florida, so it’s become a staple of my collection. I still haven’t gotten around to grabbing a Cigar Dagger. I know, I know, shame on me.

But still, the Upallant lighter has been super useful and they’re always priced phenomenally. I got mine for under $30, and yes, I paid for mine, I wasn’t sent mine for free. That didn’t stop the friendly team from trying.

Where can I find Upallant gear online?

At the risk of rewarding our corporate overlords, Amazon is the best place to go to find Upallant gear. I only own the five-in-one currently, and I don’t like to go around recommending gear I haven’t tried. However, judging by my experience, and many of the reviews I’ve come across online, you’re in good hands with Upallant.

The support team is responsive, and as I’ve said, in my dealings, they’ve always been friendly. There’s not much more you could ask for on that front.

The post Friday Brand Feature: Upallant appeared first on The BS Lounge.

Now, right up front you’ll notice some of their lighter designs are in line with other brands. For example, the model JetLine dubs the R-100, I have from Vertigo — a subsidiary of Lotus. The same factories make some of these accessories, and different brands add their names. There’s nothing particularly wrong with that if the lighter is reliable. We’ll get to why I’m calling out JetLine, specifically, in a bit, but I do have a couple of their lighters.

What or who is JetLine?

Source: JetLine Lighters / Amazon

Information about the brand is pretty sparse. According to the site, JetLine has been around since 1991, and if their claims are true, they were the “world’s first” creator of the quadruple flame lighter. Quadruple is four. That’s ridiculous in my opinion, but to each their own. Apparently, JetLine also created the “world’s first” sextuple flame lighter. I’m sure four to six flames look badass, but talk about torching the shit out of your cigar, am I right?

But the prevailing theme across all the brands products is that they are stylish and accessible. “Affordable, durable, and reliable,” as described on the JetLine front page.

Their inventory isn’t exclusively lighters, however. JetLine also offers cutters, Zippo-style lighters, and a few unique designs — the Regal has a built-in cigar stand on top. It also has a serrated poker — cigar needle — and punch cutter. Sometimes, multi-functional accessories are the way to go. You can toss just one device in your go-bag or carrying pouch and that’s all you need to take to your lounge, shop, or wherever you’re going.

You can find JetLine products on both its official site and through other retailers like Amazon, by the way.

Why are we talking about JetLine lighters?

Source: JetLine Lighters

While some would rather spring for an S.T. Dupont or similarly expensive and flashy piece, I would much rather build out a collection of reliable, anytime-use accessories. No, I’m not saying ST. Dupont is unreliable, but they are expensive.

I usually keep my lighters in a box outside on my patio, where I spend my time smoking. I do have some nicer gear that stays inside the house. But when you’re traveling, visiting a family member or friend’s house, or hitting up local hotspots, you probably don’t want to bring along your most expensive gear. I mean, it depends on the crowd, I suppose.

Back to JetLine. The brand’s accessories are affordable but still look great. They’re unique enough that they become a talking piece when you’re out. And if you get one of the multi-functional models, you’re all set for a while, you don’t have to worry if you forget cutters and other gear.

Plus, they’re not so expensive that you’d be upset if you leave one behind, or if someone snags it. You’d be surprised how often that happens in a lounge or bar.

I can attest that JetLine lighters are quality, despite having a wallet-friendly price tag. Just bear in mind, lighters like this aren’t designed to last you forever. If you use them every day, multiple times a day, well, you can do the math.

In the end, there are lighters everywhere, many you’ll find on Amazon for great prices. So, if you don’t like what you see when you check out JetLine, there are plenty of alternatives. I just wanted to call out a brand I’ve been using for a while that offers reliable products. I haven’t used any of their cutters, so I can’t speak on those, but I’m sure they’re like any other you’d find elsewhere.

As for prices, the Regal I talked about above is only $19 on Thompson Cigar, $25 on JetLine, $30 on Amazon, and comes in a few different colors. Overall, prices for JetLine lighters range from about $18 to $80, and there’s a gift set for $190 that includes the Galleon, which is slick-looking.

Stay smoky y’all.

The post Friday Brand Feature: JetLine appeared first on The BS Lounge.

Cigar Daggers are uniquely designed and beautifully-handcrafted cigar nubbers, made out of a variety of materials, like .925 sterling silver, gemstones, crystal, wood, bone, brass, and beyond. They’re made to last, but also, they’re made to standout. Skulls, dragons, kings, lions, you name it, there’s a unique cigar nubber in their coffers for you.

But these guys also specialize in a lot more. For example, they have their own premium cigars, as well. Notables to mention are the Royal Blood — which comes in a gift box with a dagger — and The Insider. I have not had the chance to try the cigars yet, but they sound interesting. The Insider is medium to full-bodied with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Indonesian binder, and undisclosed (mysterious) fillers.

That’s enough with the introductions, however. Light yourself a stogie, grab a cold drink and let’s dive in for real.

What can you tell us about Cigar Daggers?

Based out of Los Angeles, California, as noted above, Cigar Daggers was launched in 2019. At the helm were self-proclaimed “artists, designers and cigar enthusiasts,” who noticed that premium cigar nubbers were not commonplace.

A nubber, just in case you need a primer, is similar to a cigar needle. Only they’re not inherently used to open up the draw of a cigar. They’re used as a makeshift holder when the cigar burns down to a less manageable form factor. You jab the sharp, pointy end into the cigar so you can hold it up to your mouth and continue smoking. They’re a must-have if you want to get the absolute most out of your smoking experience.

If you’ve ever had a cigar that you just couldn’t put down, and don’t want to, you’ll know exactly what I mean. You puff on that beast right down to a nub, until it’s pretty damn close to searing your fingers, lips and tongue. These Cigar Daggers allow you to do that without burning anything. I’d say that’s a huge boon.

Reinventing the cigar tools game

Source: Cigar Dagger

Source: Cigar Dagger

Source: Cigar Dagger

According to the brand, they excelled at making these nifty devices and “did such a great job at reinventing the cigar nubber that it has since become synonymous with the object it represents.”

“Cigar Dagger was also the very first company to make cigar nubbers with heads, from cigar smoking skulls, to dragons, kings, lions and everything in between.” While I haven’t verified those claims, one look at the Cigar Dagger collection tells you all you need to know. They are indeed unique, well-crafted and stunning.

While I’m partial to the Bearded Villian, there’s no denying the intricate design of the La Catrina – Dia De Los Muertos, HELLBORN with a cigar, Nautilus, or Shipwrecked. Okay, I could keep listing them out. These are fantastic.

What else does the Cigar Dagger team offer?

Source: Cigar Dagger

When it’s a cigar maker, we normally focus on where the cigars are made. Yes, these guys do have premium cigars they offer, but we’re highlighting the daggers first and foremost. So, instead, we’ll consider some of the other gear they offer. Spoiler Alert: It’s a lot.

Custom cigar nubbers, premium cigars, what else does the team sell? Well, accessories, for starters, including cutters, stands, scissors, torch lighters, cases, and more. Check out the Luxury Cigar Scissors in a vintage design, embossed in black. Or, the Industrial Grid Cigar Ashtray. They also have pipe tampers if you smoke pipe tobacco, cigar rests for use on the golf course, and regular lighters like this vintage skull one.

Of course, there’s merch, too, if you want to rep the brand with a tee. King of the Leaf is the brand’s sister site, I’m assuming from the same team — that’s also where you’ll find the Cigar Dagger cigars.

There’s no mention on either site who exactly the brilliant minds are behind these brands. I did track down a few names, but since they didn’t disclose I won’t be a snitch. Maybe I’ll get the chance to talk to some of them. For now, let’s settle with the information we have and these absolutely fucking badass nubbers. Seriously, I can’t get enough of these designs.

Cigar Dagger prices range from about $15 to $80 for the most elegant designs. Most of the good ones fall between the $50 and $70 range. Accessories, if you’re into those, range from about $7 for the cheapest lighter up to $175 for all-leather cases. Some of the brand’s more hot-ticket items are sold out, as well. That obsidian stone ashtray is something else.

The post Friday Brand Feature: Cigar Dagger appeared first on The BS Lounge.

What cigar enthusiasts tend to have a lot of, at least in my experience, are lighters, cutters, and stationary ash trays — you’ll see why I’m calling them stationary in a second. You can also throw in cigar cases or holders. Most enthusiasts I know have some way to carry their cigars with them when they leave the house.

What they don’t have a lot of, me included, are portable ash trays. Now, I know what you’re probably thinking. Why the hell would you want a portable ash tray? Well, that’s easy. Because when you take your cigars with you to smoke on vacation, while visiting family or friends, or just out of your usual haunts, there’s never anywhere to toss or stow your ash. You can always grab a makeshift bowl or a can or use something like that to store your ash, but they’re not ideal.

What is ideal is a portable ash tray.

This portable ash tray is amazing

Source: HopeMillsDesigns / Etsy

For Christmas last year, I ordered my brother-in-law one of these portable ash trays from HopeMillsDesigns on Etsy. Besides being absolutely badass in design, they’re smart as hell. The entire ash tray fits inside a case so you can take it with you traveling. But also, built right into the top, is a fancy cigar holder.

When you order, you can choose from seven different wood types. That allows a small degree of personalization, whether you’re buying for yourself or grabbing a gift for someone else.

I have no affiliation to the store or the creator, but they smoke Boneshaker — as you can see in the pic — so they’re good people in my book. Also, I just really love the designs they’ve cooked up.

There are some on Amazon

Source: Bey-Berk / Amazon

If that portable ash tray above is out of your price range, or you don’t like it for another reason, there are a few floating around on Amazon. I will say, they don’t have the same smart designs, but you can choose from several options.

Cup holder style ash trays are pretty common, for example. You can also find some with clips, like this one, that allow you to attach them to surfaces nearby, such as a patio or deck railing.

Here’s one that’s similar to the Etsy one, albeit with a much simpler design. It’s super cheap, too, and it will certainly work when you’re away from home or the office. Alternatively, instead of an actual portable ash tray you could always opt for something more lightweight like this.

Okay, that’s enough throwing around ideas. I think you get it.

Don’t forget something for the ashes

Source: Jon Tyson / Unsplash

Again, most of the common cigar gear is covered. That’s why I like to recommend portable ash trays like the Etsy one as gifts for people who enjoy cigars. It’s the unique, unlikely options that tend to make a splash with people, especially when they don’t already have hundreds of options at their disposal.

Of course, I know some will say there’s no point they can use whatever to toss their ashes and touché. But why go into the unknown unprepared when you can prepare for pretty much everything, hot ash included? Stop throwing that nasty ash in Dixie cups and soda or beer cans.

The post Allow me to introduce you to the portable cigar ash tray appeared first on The BS Lounge.

The Cigador is a single-cigar travel humidor, crafted to match the premium and elegant style of the greater industry. Imagine a tactical, sleek design, or an all-wood polished and exquisite design and you’re halfway there.

The Cigador is a single-cigar travel humidor

Source: The Cigador

Source: The Cigador

Like most accessories, you can find a Cigador that matches your personal style and interests. The elegant wood versions come in African blackwood, Cocobolo and titan silver, and more. You can also opt for the more practical tactical series — pulled a Dr. Seuss there — with a lightweight aluminum cylinder and composite exterior, textured almost like rubber. The tactical one comes in a few unique colors like purple, green, red, and so on.

A built-in hygrometer, resting center stage, shows you the current RH level inside, perfect for storing your most precious daily smokes. A hydrating cap at the top accommodates either distilled water or hydration packs. Meanwhile, each Cigador can hold cigars up to a 60 ring gauge. Those big boys that you’d find Leif Lunatic smoking won’t fit, unfortunately.

Basically, you pop open the top, slide in your cigar, close it up, and away you go. You’ll need to carry a lighter and cutter with you, but something tells me you probably have that covered anyway.

Why would I want a Cigador?

Source: The Cigador

Outside of making a fashion statement, because the premium-variety look stunning, they’re ideal for carrying a single cigar. You might not always want to lug around a bigger case, or you might not even have time for more than one cigar, depending on where you’re going. These travel humidors are perfect for something like that.

Because they also incorporate humidity, you could essentially leave the cigar in the case for a few days, especially if you’re going to leave it in your car or somewhere like an office.

If a single cigar humidor is not for you, then you might also want to check out the Cigador X Klaro humidor kits, which are more traditional in design.

Either way, it’s a pretty cool idea. It’s also another way to accessorize your favorite hobby, especially if you’re a true cigar aficionado. You might even be able to match your suit, if you can pull it off. If that’s you, godspeed. I don’t wear suits. Too hot and I sweat like a racehorse.

If you want one, you can grab them at Cigador official, Best Cigar Prices, and a few other online retailers starting at $90 per humidor.

The post Don’t need a big travel cigar caddy? Check out the Cigador appeared first on The BS Lounge.

What is the LIHTUN travel humidor and what does it come with?

First, it’s about $26 at full price on Amazon, which is not bad at all. But since I’ve been watching it, the travel humidor has also been on sale. Right now, there’s a 15% promo code on top of an existing discount. The whole point of all that is that it’s not expensive, it’s still pretty darn accessible.

Now, let’s get to the humidor. It’s a large-capacity two-layer hard case that holds about ten cigars. Think of it as a tough safe for your cigars and your gear. But what’s really interesting about it is that it comes stocked with cigar tools. It includes a V cutter with a built-in draw enhancer on the side — a cigar needle. Plus, it has a dedicated cigar punch, a straight cutter (guillotine), a hygrometer and foam padding with precise cutouts to hold all of that. Not to mention, the top compartment is a dedicated gear compartment separate from your cigars and humidification for a total of three layers.

Below the top compartment is a dual layer setup for cigars, with built-in holders. The cigars rest right in the proper inserts, five on top of five. And the entire thing has an integrated and effective humidification system that uses moisture packs, like Boveda or Integra packs. It already comes with two packs, as well.

Locking clasps and a tightly sealing ring around the edges of the case support the humidification. Meanwhile, the hard exterior works to protect everything stowed inside. No more crushed or cracking cigars.

Why would you want this LIHTUN travel humidor?

It’s convenient to have everything tucked into one easily transportable case. Whether you’re taking it with you on vacation, to a family or friend’s house or even to your local lounge, you never have to worry about forgetting anything. Besides, no one really wants to use the community cutters that everyone has already slobbered all over.

This case makes for a great gift, too, if you know someone that’s into cigars or even if you know someone who’s shown interest in getting into the hobby. Either way, it’s not expensive and worth a try.

The post This travel humidor from LIHTUN is crazy good value appeared first on The BS Lounge.

I’ve also said before that it’s nice to be able to show off your favorite brands while you’re out, whether that’s at a local lounge, bar, or a big event. Cigar patches are one big way to do that, but you can also put on some brand merch. Merchandise just like what I’m about to share here today.

The Aganorsa Leaf Acolytes hat and money clip are available now

Source: SmallTownHatsCo

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Through Small Town Hats Company on Etsy, you can get yourself an Aganorsa Acolytes hat just like the one I have. There are two options, including Snapback and Flexfit — the Flex is what I have. Either way, you’re getting a sleek, all-black hat with the brand’s logo on it. The logo is a leather piece with the designs etched, so they’re not just printed on the fabric.

As for the wooden Aganorsa money clip, it’s a wallet that holds 1 to 12 cards. But it’s also RFID-blocking and made with aviation aluminum and hardwood. It’s compact and lightweight, but extra durable and stylish.

They all make great gifts, too, if you know someone who loves Aganorsa Leaf. The wooden money clip is $30, while the hats, in either format, are $35. And, who knows, show up to an Aganorsa-hosted event at a local spot and you may be able to score some of the merch that way.

There are no affiliate links in this one. I just wanted to share this with anyone interested.

The post Get your Aganorsa Acolytes hat and a wooden money clip appeared first on The BS Lounge.

The two lighters I purchased for this include the Upallant 5-in-one cigar lighter, and the Moniup all-in-one torch lighter. They’re both similar in design, with multiple tools built into the lighter like a draw tool (cigar needle), V cutter, and cigar holder. I wanted to know how well these tools worked, namely in a pinch when you don’t have anything else on you, and whether or not they’re worth the purchase. Both are priced at about $28, but if you time, it right there are recurring promo codes offering a discount. I did purchase both lighters with my own money — I was not sent these for free.

The Upallant 5-in-one cigar lighter

Source: Upallant

Built-in Tools:

• Triple jet torch
• Cigar holder
• V-cutter
• Cigar punch
• Cigar craw enhancer (cigar needle)
• Butane fuel-level window

Price: $28

The Moniup all-in-one torch lighter

Source: Moniup

Built-in Tools:

• Dual jet torch
• Cigar holder
• V-cutter
• Butane fuel-level window

Price: $28

Upallant versus Moniup: Amazon cigar lighter head-to-head

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

At first glance, both lighters look remarkably similar, but the designs are different enough that you can tell them apart. The shell or casing is stainless steel, with a carbon-fiber-like finish on the Moniup, and a unique, honeycomb-style finish on the Upallant. Both are attractive and while I wish the branding on the Moniup was slightly more obscure, they both feel very premium for affordable lighters from Amazon of all places.

Filling them was a cinch. They both have fuel ports on the bottom so you just plug the butane nozzle into the port and let the tanks fill. If you don’t already know how to fill a torch lighter with butane it’s about as close as you’ll get to a fool-proof process as possible. They also both have windows on the side so you can see how much butane is left — and it’s just as helpful for filling up the lighter with fuel.

Since they’re both stainless they are somewhat heavy compared to a smaller, plastic lighter or something made of similar materials. The Upallant weighs about 8.8 ounces according to the store listing and the Moniup weighs about 9.9 ounces. That’s not so heavy or bulky that I wouldn’t want to take them with me to a lounge or somewhere on the go. They fit nicely in your pocket but if you have a cigar bag or holder of some kind they should fit well in there, too.

Not that you’ll be caressing these with your hands like a precious ring, but they do feel great to hold. The finish isn’t so intricate that they are overwhelming to the skin. And as I said, they’re not too heavy to handle, even filled, they feel just right.

Lighting a cigar, using the tools: The big test

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

The dual flame torch of the Moniup and the triple flame of the Upallant lighter are purportedly windproof. It just so happens that it was pretty darn windy during the time of my review so I had the opportunity to test this out. That claim is untenable at best. Both lighters still kick on and the flame is there, but the wind makes it difficult to light a cigar evenly without some kind of defense or shield in place. I do think that’s fairly obvious if you’ve ever tried to light a cigar before — like on a cruise where you’re basically in a wind tunnel. That’s not a fault of the lighter makers but reality. However, the claim itself — that they’re windproof — is true. Both lighters still work and fire up even on a windy day. If you’re trying to light a campfire you’ll be just fine.

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

The tools on both lighters are functional and work exactly as you’d expect. The V cutters are great, but you’re definitely going to need to keep them clean so be sure to keep the gunk off. The cigar punch on the Upallant is excellent if you forget your favorite cutter or a spare. And the cigar draw, the needle that’s like a PerfecDraw, works great to loosen up a cigar that’s rolled too tight. Only the Upallant 5-in-one cigar lighter has that cigar draw tool, though.

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

The cigar holders are positioned differently for each lighter but both work well. The Upallant lighter features a holder on the rear side, so you have to lay the lighter down flat on a surface to use it. Meanwhile, the Moniup holder is positioned right on the top, above the lid for the torch. Comparatively, I like Moniup’s positioning a lot better for a couple of reasons. First, the lighter stays upright and the cigar rests on top. Second, it’s more convenient to interact with when it comes to picking up your cigar and taking a draw. That said, both holders are functional and do what they need to. Plus, the heft of the lighters ensures they won’t topple or lose your lit cigar, even if you bump the table or something.

Why should you buy one of these lighters?

If you need a lighter, a spare, or just want something multifunctional to bring with you to the lounge or events, both of these options are excellent. They would make fantastic gifts for any cigar lovers you know, too.

Having used both, I could recommend either one. Look at the tools, compare, and choose the one that fits your needs. If you’re never going to use a cigar draw tool, for example, you’ll be just fine with the Moniup lighter. If you think you’ll need that tool, however, it’s only included on the Upallant lighter so spring for that instead. There are V cutters on both, and yes you can use them to make X cuts. Either way, you’re getting some kind of cutter built-in. Yet, the Upallant also has a cigar punch on the side, which brings its tool total to five gadgets versus the Moniup’s two — a holder and a V cutter.

If I had to choose one of the two, honestly, I like the Moniup lighter better. I like the cigar stand on the top, and I almost always have tools on me so I don’t need the extra gear. If you want those extra tools, like the punch and the cigar draw needle, then go with the Upallant instead. It helps that they’re both the same price.

• My Preference: Moniup all-in-one torch lighter
• Tools: Upallant (5) versus Moniup (2)
• Flame: Moniup dual flame versus Upallant triple flame
• Design: Carbon fiber (Moniup) versus honeycomb (Upallant)

Disclaimer: I used affiliate links from Amazon in this article. Purchasing either lighter through those links directly supports my work. Thank you.

The post Amazon cigar lighter head-to-head: Moniup versus Upallant appeared first on The BS Lounge.

What to do with cigar bands: 4 big project ideas

If you smoke a lot, and try many cigars, then your cigar band collection is going to grow exponentially. Attractive designs or not, that’s a lot of paper labels to keep which essentially amounts to trash. We could probably classify that as a form of hoarding — don’t worry, though, I keep all of my labels, too. You need to do something with them other than just pile them up on a desk. Apropos, here are some excellent project ideas that can help you decide what to do with the cigar bands you’re collecting:

Add them to a cigar journal

Source: Nguyen Pham / Unsplash

Cigar journals are a phenomenal way to memorize the experiences you have with cigars. You might jot down flavors you taste, problems you have with a cigar, and so on. But another great idea is to glue or include the cigar labels in the journal alongside your entries.

The neat thing about this idea is that you don’t necessarily need to have the labels intact or designed in a particular way. You can glue them in the journal, cut them down to size, or place them wherever on the page in whatever configuration works best. If you’re not too good at getting the labels off your cigars cleanly — well, this will work.

Store them in a shadow box

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Shadow boxes come in all shapes and sizes. There are large boxes you can hang on the wall, various-sized boxes you can place on your desk or shelves, and many, many more options. Heck, some you can even just throw the labels haphazardly inside to fill up the box.

The cool thing about this idea is that you can pick out a design that works for you. I actually have a cigar shadow box that someone in the cigar community gifted me. It’s full of Cuban cigar labels and it’s fucking awesome. It’s one of the better ways to display all of the cigar labels you’ve collected, too, especially inside a personal lounge or smoking room.

Make something with them

Source: Amazon

Take the labels and glue them or attach them to a crafted item. For example, you can cover a wooden sign with cigar labels using a technique similar to paper-mâché. You can also use them to adorn ashtrays, make full-size custom posters, Christmas ornaments, picture frames, artwork and so much more.

Like most of these ideas, the limits here are your creativity. Whatever you can think up and whatever you can do, that’s the limit of what you can achieve with your cigar labels. Over the years, I’ve seen so many different and amazing crafts by talented people.

Use the cigar bands to decorate

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

I know you’ve seen those DIY projects where people take pennies or other items and glue them to the floor, a table, or a bar surface and then put a finish over the top. That’s exactly what I’m talking about here. You can use your cigar labels to decorate your home, man cave, smoking room, or other areas.

You’re not confined to floors and surfaces either. You can do the same thing with furniture like tables, desks, counters and so on. You will need to collect a ton of different cigar labels to make this happen but something tells me that’s not going to be a huge challenge for you.

More unique ideas for what to do with cigar bands

Here are a few more unique projects I’ve seen others do:

• Line a clear phone case with cigar bands
• Attach cigar bands to fabric or shirts
• Create a scrapbook with cigar bands
• Glue to the surface of travel cases, cigar boxes, and humidors
• Organize cigar bands on the wall like wallpaper
• Turn the bands into rings or jewelry
• Bedazzle purses, backpacks, handbags and more

Have you done anything interesting with your cigar bands or labels that I didn’t mention?

The post What to do with cigar bands: Some cool project ideas appeared first on The BS Lounge.