What are the advantages of cabs?

[PapaDisco]

If I were to hazard a guess, and it's just a guess since I've not been around this hobby long, I'd say that the perceived difference in performance between dress boxes and cabs is not due to more air or better circulation within the cab. While the volume within a cab is about 15-20% greater than a dress box of the same vitola, the dress box comes with a whopping 67% greater surface area and double the opening area (lid).

So, ignoring porosity for the moment, the dress box cigars have a much greater exposure to non-cigar elements (outside air when you open the box, materials of the box, air leaking through the lid joints, etc.) whereas the cab stored cigars are pretty much just nestled in their little wooden cave together, mostly just exposed to each other. Now this storage comparison doesn't take into account which box material; wood or cardboard, transmits air and vapor the most, but just on shear numbers the dress box appears to be at something of a disadvantage in the contest of flavor retention. Wrap that dress box in a ziplock and it probably evens things up right quick though.

I do love the history and art of the dress box, but when I go shopping for something to lay down for 5-10 years my first choice is the cab format. Whether that's right, wrong or just all in my head I'll have to let you know in about 10 years!

[Colt45]

I can't prove they taste better but they do smell better.

Agreed - one only need give it the smell test. Open a SLB that has been sitting untouched for a bit and inhale deeply - great richness. I think of SLBs as close quarter storage - twenty five or fifty cigars all bundled together makes for a wonderful aroma.