Are tubos just for the near future/immediate smoking?

[Tom Novorol]

Excluding vitolas that only come in tubes, given the choice (assuming either option is available to you) is there any real point in aging/laying down a box/cardboard stack of tubo cigars over a dress box or cabinet of the same vitola naked? 

[Lucas Buck]

Mostly not a big difference between Tubos and SLB from my experience but definitely over DB. Still, if I had the choice I would almost always choose Tubos over SLB. Tubos age best for my taste. 

[zacca]

I’d say it depends on how long you plan to age them and what your goal is.

Generally speaking, a tubo should slow things down, all else equal. From some scientific studies I’ve read, tobacco behavior is dominated by internal moisture diffusion, and physical properties change when water redistributes. A tubo reduces airflow at the wrapper, buffers RH swings, and traps a small microclimate. So practically speaking, it just slows how fast the cigar responds to the outside world.

One benefit is it can help preserve aromatics. So if you’re planning to age something for a long time, the thinking is you may retain more flavor over time in a tubo than with a naked cigar.

On the flip side, if you’re planning to smoke sooner, that slower, more protected aging may not really matter, and naked storage is probably fine.

[Puros Y Vino]

Let me introduce you to my 1960/61 box of Partagas Petit Coronas Tubulares.

I bought it completely sealed back around 2010/11. The seller had good provenance on it. I cracked them open not too long after purchase and smoked one. For the next few years, I'd smoke 1 or 2 per year. I'm down to maybe 4/5. To me, this stands as a great example of how a tubo can age. I inspected every single stick when I opened it. Not a speck of mold anywhere to be found. The aroma is bold and zesty, with a hint of musk,  just like how it smokes. In fact, just prior to typing this out, I pulled one out of the tubo and took a whiff. Pure heaven.

The wrappers are gorgeous with some toothiness.  

This is my only full box of tubos ever. I've had 15 RyJ Short Churchill 15ct Petacas and some RyJ Churchills in tubos format dating back to 2009. And while this stands as a great example, I did not learn my lesson from it. I had it in my mind to buy more tubo boxes such and Punch Punch, RyJ Churchills (short, wide, classic) and any others I could find. But I delayed pulling the trigger and chased other boxes. If I could go back in time I'd correct that course. Besides the aforementioned, I've smoked some other cool tubos over the years.1982 Davidoff No 2. 1980 H Upmman Naturals. Some great 2008/9 Siglo II, III, IV, VI's. A couple of same era Punch Punch. There was always something "extra" when I smoked a tubo version of a regular production smoke. If you're thinking of chasing some down. Do so.