Were Tubos originally developed for protection during travel, marketing differentiation, or climate stability and how did their intended purpose evolve over time?

[garifo]

Were Tubos originally developed for protection during travel, marketing differentiation, or climate stability and how did their intended purpose evolve over time?

[Tom Novorol]

According to Rob's history post below they were originally invented for protection an humidity protection during transit. As for evolving, I would say that now, they are definitely just for marketing and the end user experience with their inherent ease; with tubos being very sellable to the occasional purchaser or holiday maker. Habanos is a good snap shot to back this up, in my opinion, as it is only the main stream brands that get tubos and moreover the ultra high end of these brands (i.e. the Behike, Monte 1935 line, Linea d'Oro) do not come in tubes as they are not being marketed to the same type of customer.   

[zacca]

I would like to think it was for some practical storage/travel purposes, but the cynic in me thinks that’s the spin, and the real story is they wanted to hide ugly looking cigars that were otherwise perfectly smokeable instead of trashing or re-wrapping. 

[puromaniac]

Perfect for my fishing vest!

[MrBirdman]

I believe they were purely intended for easy transport and retail purchases, at least initially. They’re still my favorite way to travel with a stick, and they have a certain class to them. 

[Duder]

You absolutely cannot beat Tubos for cigars on the go. I keep all my empties and use them for non Tubos when traveling, heading to a friends or a herf. The retail appeal is high and I figure the primary reason they were originally devised. The first ever cigar I bought and smoked was a macanudo Tubos at a Tinder Box in a shopping mall.  

[garifo]

I love the ease of transport Tubos provide. I have a whole bin full of empty ones that I reuse.

[Havanaaddict]

You have to think that a protection purpose was involved in the thought process. In a retail enviorment it keeps the cigar safe from all the hands that pick them up, same as the cellphone on almost all domestic cigars!