Do you precut cigars for vacation travel?

[Rhinoww]

Heading to Vegas in a few days. I have a wide selection of tubos packed for the trip, which will be stored in a plastic bag with a boveda. 
Question is do you cut in advance?

I will bring more than I will smoke for the variety to choose. Would you precut or cut there once you decide what you will be smoking?

I have cut a few but most are currently unmolested. 

[jazzboypro]

Unless you can't bring a cutter with you and can't find one at your destination i don't see the point of precutting the cigars. Must be easy to find a cigar cutter in Vegas.

[BoliDan]

I just circle the cap with my thumbnail and pop off the cap. I know, I'm a savage. This week I have to travel to Abilene, TX Thursday, fly back to Denver Saturday. Then I have to go to New Orleans Sunday-Wednesday. It's too much to prepare, and I don't even know what smokes I'll be in the mood for on those days so I pack about 20 of them

 

[LLC]

I don’t see any reason to cut them in advance, so I just cut as I smoke them.


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[ChangBang]

Against popular opinion, I don't see the point in NOT precutting them in advance.  A cut cigar is what a cigar that you won't share?  It won't affect storage, hell it'll probably acclimate faster since there are 2 open ends for the humidity to get into!  I don't see any downside to cutting them in advance.  Seriously if there's a reason I'd love to know! 

That way on vacation, no plugged cigars!  

[rckymtn22]

No, take a cutter along or thumbnail if needed.

[NicPac]

I precut on some occasions to insure that I have the draw I like. Especially if I’m smoking outside. I can’t stand a firm draw when there’s any wind outside. 

[riderpride]

1 hour ago, Rhinoww said:

Heading to Vegas in a few days. I have a wide selection of tubos packed for the trip, which will be stored in a plastic bag with a boveda. 
Question is do you cut in advance?

I will bring more than I will smoke for the variety to choose. Would you precut or cut there once you decide what you will be smoking?

I have cut a few but most are currently unmolested. 

The real question is what are you up to down there?

Cheers

[Fuzz]

2 hours ago, rckymtn22 said:

No, take a cutter along or thumbnail if needed.

How strange. Bringing a random thumbnail with you on your travels. Does it have to be your own, can it be someone else's, or are the fake ones at the nail salon acceptable? 

 

[GoodStix]

Pre-cut to test draw.  Like to know none of my travel cigars are plugged or poor draw.

[Fuzz]

Or just smoke from the foot and light the cap!

[Ford2112]

What are the drawbacks to pre cutting a cigar?

[RDB]

I always precut, and if necessary adjust the draw with perfecdraw. It’s a pain to discover a cigar is plugged when I don’t have the mother lode to go back to for an alternative.

[ha_banos]

I don't like to pre cut. Cutting is part of the ceremony.

I've suffered a couple of plugged cigars on holiday. Affords me the opportunity to practice swearing in the local tongue.

[BrightonCorgi]

I don't pre-cut, but I also take cigars that I know are least likely to be plugged.

[Rhinoww]

Moot question now as I’ll be checking a bag. I have precut a few sticks just in case the humidity drop dries them out. 

[Hammer Smokin']

I pre-cut my cigars for my days fishing ahead. 

don't like dealing with plugged cigars on the water. 

but for a multi day vacation I wouldn't pre-cut.

[jhalischuk]

Pre cut if I'm flying somewhere with no checked luggage, otherwise I bring my cutter.

[Akela3rd]

Tried pre-cutting for a holiday a couple of years ago and... just didn't like it. It felt like they were secondhand somehow, like I'd started to smoke them already. I also leave the tissue on Fonsecas if I take them on holiday for the same reason. Cutting is part of the process and therefore the experience.
And I'm no stranger to the thumbnail technique so lack of a cutter is not a problem.

Sent by Spooky Action at a Distance

[helix]

Don't want plugged Cubans whilst on Vacay.😒

[Chibearsv]

I've only over had a cutter taken from me by TSA.  They actually let my Colibri V-cutter through last time but questioned me about it.  I guess they figured I couldn't hijack a plane with that tool.  I'm pre-cutting my travel cigars.  As others have said, I don't know a reason why I shouldn't.  They stay in a sealed hard case so humidity or lack of it isn't an issue. 

[PigFish]

Mostly use the Ayala thumb and index nail method.

Throw enough junk in with your cutter and it will never be seen. I keep them busy with a pair of pliers that they measure every 5th time.

-the Pig

[Lamboinee]

On 3/20/2023 at 10:09 PM, ChangBang said:

advance.  Seriously if there's a reason I'd love to know

For the most part I think pre cut is fine in fact on NCs I've often cut straight through the cellophane without even removing the smoke. But it seems so easy to just take a cheapo cutter along. I don't even think they are prohibited on planes, but I could be wrong and if it's wrong then I haven't done it.  On NCs I'll also sometimes precut and place it back in the cellophane and then into a tubo or case, that has never failed me.  

Arguendo....possible reasons for not precutting: the more you handle cigars and/or break the integrity of the cigar I think there is increased vulnerability to further damage e.g. it cracks a little upon cutting and then starts to unravel; its cut and the exposed edge is then susceptible to shag hag damage like when the foot knocks around in the box; you chop your finger off earlier than you would have; you change your mind on what cut you want to use; etc. Also, on Cameroon wrapped cigars like the don Carlos, I never precut because if it goes even a little fubar I know the only way to enjoy it is to smoke that thing right then before the leaf turns to shambles. Also, if im giving a cigar to someone, it might be somewhat nicer and possibly more sanitary to offer them an uncut cigar, especially since I usually tend to put a cut cigar to my mouth and take a cold draw almost always after cutting one. Lastly, if you are smoking a torpedo type vitola, sometimes you desire to take a little more off once you start smoking it, if you don't have a cutter then you're sol. 

[El Presidente]

Cutters are cheap and readily available. Two never leave my check-in luggage. I use the thumb nail and index finger method but cutters are handy for events. 

 

[bergstrom]

Ha! Literally just precut a Monte 2. It was plugged to hell, so I was able to address it. I’m flying to Reno for business in 2hrs and am not checking any luggage. Didn’t want to get my cutter and perfect draw tossed out at TSA. 
 

i have had a cutter and torch thrown out after it was discovered in my checked luggage (in a guitar hardcase) from Finland to Los Angeles, so I try not to travel with any tools that are too precious.