How to Avoid Cigar Tunneling: Best Practices
How to Avoid Cigar Tunneling: Best Practices
Let’s dive into how avoid tunneling before it starts—with the right techniques and tools.
- Proper Cigar Lighting Technique
Lighting your cigar is like preheating the oven—it sets the stage. Here’s the right way to do it:
Step-by-Step:
Toast the foot of the cigar before puffing. Hold the flame just beneath the cigar (don’t touch it).
Rotate the cigar slowly to ensure even ignition.
Once the foot is glowing evenly, bring it to your lips and take a few slow puffs while rotating again.
Pro Tip: Use a soft flame or torch lighter with good control—Cigar Star offers precision butane lighters that make even lighting a breeze.
- Choose the Right Humidity Level
The ideal storage humidity for cigars is 65–70% RH. Anything over 72% can result in a damp wrapper and dry filler—which is tunneling territory.
Tools to Help:
Digital Hygrometers: Keep an accurate eye on your humidor.
Boveda Packs: 69% RH is a great sweet spot for most cigars.
How to Avoid Cigar Tunneling:
Cigar Star Spanish Cedar Accessories: Help balance moisture and airflow inside your humidor or Tupperdor.
- Pace Yourself While Smoking
Rushing through a cigar is like skipping chapters in a great book. You’ll miss the good stuff—and cause tunneling.
Tips to slow down: This helps avoid cigar tunnelling.
Take a puff every 30–60 seconds.
Let the cigar rest between draws.
Keep your burn even by rotating the cigar slowly while smoking.
Remember: A cigar is a slow ritual, not a race.
- Touch-Up Tools: Lighters & Cigar Pokers
Sometimes tunneling can start mid-smoke. That’s when it’s time to intervene.
Torch Lighter Touch-Up:
If one side isn’t burning, use a precision torch to even out the wrapper. Aim the flame where it’s lagging and rotate slowly.
Cigar Pokers:
If the draw is too tight or one side won’t catch up, a cigar poker can help improve airflow. Gently insert into the cigar’s core to loosen the filler and encourage an even burn.
Bonus Tool: Cigar Star’s multi-tool cutters often include built-in pokers for on-the-go burn fixes.
- Use a Quality Cutter
Uneven cuts = uneven burns. A clean, symmetrical cut ensures consistent airflow.
Types of Recommended Cutters:
Straight Cut: Classic and reliable for most cigars.
V-Cut: Ideal for torpedoes and for channeling smoke.
Punch Cutter: Helps control draw and avoids unraveling.
Use sharp, quality blades—cheap cutters crush your cigar and cause air to flow unevenly.
- Rotate While Smoking
As you smoke, rotate the cigar periodically. Heat rises, so the upper side will often burn faster. Rotating helps keep the burn line even.
Visual Cue: Watch the ash. A well-constructed, well-smoked cigar will hold a firm, symmetrical ash.
- Buy Quality Cigars
If you’ve tried everything and your cigars still burn unevenly, it might be the cigar itself.
Poorly rolled cigars or those made with inconsistent filler or wrapper quality are more prone to tunneling. Stick with reputable brands, and if you’re aging your cigars, let them rest in your humidor for a few weeks after purchase to acclimate.
What to Do If Tunneling Starts Mid-Smoke
Even with the best preparation, tunneling can still happen occasionally. Here’s how to fix it:
- Touch Up with a Lighter: Apply flame directly to the wrapper side that’s lagging.
- Purge the Cigar: Blow gently through the cigar to push out stale air and encourage an even burn.
- Let It Rest: Set the cigar down for a minute or two. The wrapper can catch up while the filler cools.
- Re-light Strategically: When re-lighting, focus on the outer edges before puffing again.
Final Thoughts: A Great Burn = A Great Experience
Avoiding tunneling and uneven burns isn’t just about looking cool with an even ash—it’s about preserving the full flavor profile and enjoying your cigar the way it was intended.
By combining:
Proper lighting techniques
Humidity control
Quality tools like cutters, lighters, and humidification systems
A little patience
…you can seriously upgrade your cigar game.
Ready to Perfect Your Burn?
Explore Cigar Star’s lineup of precision lighters, dual-blade cutters, and Spanish cedar accessories. Whether you’re smoking on the patio or aging sticks for the season, we’ve got the tools to help you enjoy every cigar—without tunneling, cracks, or frustration.