FANKAI Travel Humidor: Built to Impress, But Don’t Expect Foolproof

Right off the bat, the FANKAI Travel Humidor wears its intentions on its sleeve: that faux leather shell, the shiny glass window on top, and the telltale scent of cedar inside. For folks who appreciate a bit of flash and don’t shy away from a maintenance routine, this humidor might just tick some boxes. But if you’re expecting a no-hassle, zero-drama cigar vault, slow your roll—for more than a few reasons.

Okay, it’s undeniably sturdy. Throw it in the trunk, stack it in your man cave, it’ll put up with its fair share of bumps. That black (or brown) leather-like wrap sure looks sharp sitting in the den, and the wood lining isn’t just for show—the cedar does its job keeping cigars fresh and ready. The included divider means you can keep organized, as long as you’re not loading it up with oversized ring gauges. Don’t take the “up to 50 cigars” claim as gospel unless your collection consists of stick-thin smokes—this thing fills up faster than your old work lunchbox if you’re partial to fatties.

Now, let’s talk about that glass window. At a glance, it’s a bit of showboating, letting your friends (or your phone camera) gawk at what’s inside. But here’s what you want to watch for: the glass panel is the humidor’s Achilles’ heel when it comes to keeping moisture in and trouble out. If you get careless, water will find its way right under the rim and mess with your seal. Don’t get overzealous when seasoning or cleaning—too much liquid, and that wood could puff up or the humidity could go off the rails, leaving you with more than just a cleaning job.

The analog hygrometer stuck up front? Handy for a quick check, but take each reading with a salt lick. It’s never spot-on—sometimes it’s off by a good chunk, leaving detail-minded collectors double-checking with a digital reader tucked inside. Calibrate it if you must, but just don’t put your full trust in that dial. Not for those who believe in perfect numbers—think of it more as a suggestion than a law of the land.

As for care and feeding, you’ll want to come prepared. The instructions may as well have been written by someone who assumes you already know what you’re doing. One sloppy seasoning and you can say goodbye to that sweet cedar aroma—hello, warped wood and a lid that won’t seal like it used to. And I can’t stress this enough: cleaning takes a patient hand. No dunking, no drenching, and whatever you do, keep the cloth away from that glass edge unless you really want humidity bouncing up and down like Kansas weather.

The kit comes with a dropper and a basic humidifier—nothing to write the family about, but enough to get rolling. They’re functional, not fancy, and it’s up to you to keep them in check. If you want something more dialed-in, you’ll need to shell out for some upgrades down the road (think digital hygrometer, or Boveda packs).

Bottom line: the FANKAI Travel Humidor is best for folks who actually enjoy the rituals—seasoning, checking, tweaking, and showing off a bit. It’s not for anyone wanting dead-simple, plug-and-play reliability, and it’s not going to coddle you if you’re careless or in a hurry. You can expect a good-looking home for your collection as long as you’re willing to put in some elbow grease and forgive a bit of stubbornness here and there.

To put it plain: If you like gear with personality—even a few rough edges—and don’t mind a few chores for the sake of that perfect smoke, this humidor could earn a place in your lineup. If you want your cigars to basically take care of themselves, though, keep moving. A good looker, but not a babysitter.