Moving your large collection interstate

[polarbear]

So, my missus wants to move.

Shes sick of the relentless heat and humidity that we have up here and has given a maximum of 2 years to get our collective affairs in order before we head south.

The biggest head ache when considering a move interstate (besides finding work and figuring out what to do with the house, rent it out or sell it) is how to move my cigar collection.

I currently have close to 1500 loose sticks in various desktops and a large wine fridge an around 100-120 boxes in other fridges stashed around the house.

The way it looks at the moment we'll pack up the house when the time comes and have everything shipped to our destination before we leave the state.

What have members here in similar situations done when it came time to moving your large collection?

From packing up the house to unpacking it is probably going to be 3-4 weeks (longer if the funds aren't there to get everything dropped off in one hit) so I need to figure out how to package everything for storage without running the risk of it drying out while its waiting to be unpacked.

My current plan is a few (very) large Tupperware containers and boveda packs for all the loose sticks and one or 2 (very) large ekys (coolers) with either boveda packs or beads for the boxes. I'll pack everything in so nothing can rattle around and then wrap the containers and coolers in shrink wrap to ensure some heavy handed moving guy doesn't accidentally open them while in transit

What are your thoughts?

[Fuzz]

Smoke all the singles? 2-3 cigars a day will clear 1500 in 2 years, or at the very least cut down the number of loose cigars. Then you would only need to worry about the boxes. Any new purchases, just put them in the OLH.

[dicko]

I reckon a few big esky's is the go.

Tupperware is more likely to get cracks, smashed up completely or won't have a good enough seal. The good sturdy stuff tupperware wise is expensive. trust me my girlfriend collects the stuff and its spenno $ (I can't complain with all my cigar/rum/4wd/fishing spending etc)

Plus you can never have too many eskies

[dicko]

Smoke all the singles? 2-3 cigars a day will clear 1500 in 2 years, or at the very least cut down the number of loose cigars. Then you would only need to worry about the boxes. Any new purchases, just put them in the OLH.

I like the way you think

[NSXCIGAR]

I'm assuming they're only going to be in transit for days and not weeks so my suggestion would be to buy a vacuum food sealer and seal them all up. That way you can use sturdy regular moving boxes or bins with padding, foam bubble wrap or peanuts to protect the cigars.

I'd think you could probably seal up to 10 boxes in one heavy duty vacuum bag. The singles are no biggie. Just use a low pressure setting so they're not crushed. You could probably get 200+ singles in one bag.

[SMQQKIN]

I moved halfway across the US last summer. My concern was that the high temps in the moving truck as the cigars crossed through the western desert areas in July could cause wrapper & possible beetle problems. I decided to pack the loose cigars into empty cigar boxes & placed them in oversized zip lock bags with boveda packs. I did the same with the full boxes. I packed them tightly into cardboard shipping boxes. I also have a small wine collection. I contacted a wine moving company & they picked up both the wine & cigars & stored them in their temp/humidity controlled warehouse for approximately two weeks before shipping them across the country. Following storage they shipped my precious cargo in a climate/humidity controlled truck & they arrived a week later in perfect condition. It wasn't cheap but also wasn't as expensive as you might think since they waited to transport them with many other shipments they combined/coordinated together. The moving company also insured against any loss that may have ocurred during storage/transit. Good luck.

[Fuzz]

I reckon a few big esky's is the go.

Tupperware is more likely to get cracks, smashed up completely or won't have a good enough seal. The good sturdy stuff tupperware wise is expensive. trust me my girlfriend collects the stuff and its spenno $ (I can't complain with all my cigar/rum/4wd/fishing spending etc)

Plus you can never have too many eskies

Look up KIS XL Scuba box. Less than $80, airtight gasket, and has 106L of space.

[Duxnutz]

Eskys. Got me back from the US and probably how I'll be moving the collection there next year.

[Oscar300]

Peli Case's, big ones ;-)

[irratebass]

Question: If you are having a moving company move everything, is there no way your stash can travel with you and mrs on your way?

I would go with the big 120qt coolers, probably 2-3 of those, throw in Boveda packs and seal em up and good to go.

[Wrangler]

I've seen what movers have done to my furniture in the past... It would scare the hell out of me to have them handle those sweat precious cigars...

[El Presidente]

Cigars are pretty tough. Tougher than most give them credit.

Polystyream boxes are cheap and good. Bubble wrap the boxes in bundles. Throw in some frozen Gel Packs (ziplock those). tape down the Poly boxes and thow them out when you arrive.

Will give you two days at under 18 degree Celcius.

[Paul3]

Cigars are pretty tough. Tougher than most give them credit.

Polystyream boxes are cheap and good. Bubble wrap the boxes in bundles. Throw in some frozen Gel Packs (ziplock those). tape down the Poly boxes and thow them out when you arrive.

Will give you two days at under 18 degree Celcius.

I did very nearly the same thing moving from the East Coast to the West Coast (U.S.) a few years back. While the moving company transported most everything else the cigars rode with me in the car. Pop the gel packs in the hotel room freezer for a recharge over night.

[perkinke]

I did a short move this month and found some big plastic tubs that had built in weather seals and clamps to lock the lid down. Kept my sticks in good condition for the week or so it took before putting them back in the wineador.

[RickHendeson]

So, my missus wants to move.

Shes sick of the relentless heat and humidity that we have up here and has given a maximum of 2 years to get our collective affairs in order before we head south.

Where are you that it is hotter in the North than the South?

[HarveyBoulevard]

Where are you that it is hotter in the North than the South?

The southern hemisphere; )

[Fuzz]

Where are you that it is hotter in the North than the South?

Northern Territory in Australia is close to the equator. Average temp in Darwin is between 25^oC - 30^oC (75^oF - 90^oF). Sydney in comparison is on average 15^oC - 26^oC (60^oF - 75^oF).

[polarbear]

The southern hemisphere; )

Northern Territory in Australia is close to the equator. Average temp in Darwin is between 25^oC - 30^oC (75^oF - 90^oF). Sydney in comparison is on average 15^oC - 26^oC (60^oF - 75^oF).

Bingo

The pressure for a cooler climate always increases at this time of year as we move into monsoon season

Average Daily temp rarely drops below 32 degrees and 75%-85%rh with the night time temp usually in the 25-27 degree range

This year has been especially terrible as we've managed to break a couple of high temp records for the month of November (a pair of 36 degree days followed by a 38 degree stinker, while the rh didn't drop below 65%)

[n2advnture]

Cigars are pretty tough. Tougher than most give them credit.

Polystyream boxes are cheap and good. Bubble wrap the boxes in bundles. Throw in some frozen Gel Packs (ziplock those). tape down the Poly boxes and thow them out when you arrive.

Will give you two days at under 18 degree Celcius.

I recently moved form one state to another and did this.

I used a hand held shrink wrap to close the boxes then packed them all into coolers tightly (so they don't shift during the ride).

I put ice packs in double freezer ziplock to keep things cool

[raymond5737]

Scary thought having to move my cigars. I think that there have been some great ideas for packing presented here.

I'm more concerned about letting them out of my site. I'd either move them myself by car or by air and I'd travel with them.

Hey, for me it's more than a hobby, it's a devotion!