5 Best Analog Hygrometers

38.98% of users selected Cigar Oasis Analog Hygrometer, 10.17% selected Lockdown Vault Hygrometer Silver, 13.56% selected Analog Hygrometer 1-3/4-Inch Round, 11.86% selected General Tools A600FC High Temperature and 25.42% selected Large Analog HYG-LARGE Hygrometer. Every month we analyze your answers and change our rating.

It’s important to monitor your humidity levels in your home or office because a poorly controlled environment can lead to problems. One way to monitor the humidity levels in a space is by using an analog hygrometer, also known as a “wet-bulb” thermometer. This guide will go over the best analog hygrometers on the market and provide you with valuable information about what makes them so great!

Cigar Oasis Analog Hygrometer by Western Humidor

This finely calibrated analog hygrometer measures both temperature and relative humidity so you always have the perfect conditions for as long as possible. If you’re looking for the most accurate and quality analog hygrometers on the market then choose Western Humidors Cigar Oasis Analog Hygrometer!

Lockdown Vault Hygrometer

The large numbers are easy to read and it’s water-resistant so there are no worries about checking its functionality every few months, this hygrometer will be reliable no matter how long it has been inside your vault. It comes with mounting clips and works horizontally or vertically so we’re confident in saying it doesn’t just look good – but also performs well and stays where you put it!

Analog Hygrometer, 1-3/4-Inch Round Glass Analog Hygrometer for Cigar Humidors, by Quality Importers

Designed with accuracy and reliability in mind, measuring 1 3/4″ high – make sure to check measurements if you are purchasing replacement parts.

General Tools A600FC High Temperature Analog Thermo-Hygrometer

The ranges for this device include 30 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit (-1 to 121 degrees Celsius) and 10% to 95%. You’ll never have to worry about high or low temperatures again thanks to the easy-to-read display on the front of the product.

Large Analog HYG-LARGE Hygrometer

All you need is a quick glance at this device’s analog dial to see how much your humidor needs. Adhesive backing makes the high-impact mountings simpler than ever before!

Buyer’s Guide

Main Features of Analog Hygrometers

Analog hygrometers are the most popular type of humidity meters available on the market today. These analog devices have been used for years to measure relative humidity levels in homes, offices, and other buildings around the world. Of course, technology has improved significantly over time – digital models are now more accurate than ever before while still providing the same easy-to-read, analog display.

The basic design of an analog hygrometer is straightforward: it features a dial with two hands that rotate around the face of the device as humidity levels change in your home or office. Analog devices are not powered by batteries and will require you to manually move one hand on top of another (in opposite directions) to reset the humidity level back down to zero.

To learn more let’s take a look at the main features of analog hygrometers:

Accuracy

The first and the most important aspect of a hygrometer is accuracy. We recommend buying a digital hygrometer because it provides the most accurate readings. But, you can also find many good analog models that are fairly accurate.

Accuracy is important because it will help you determine the best conditions for your instrument.

The accuracy of a hygrometer is usually listed in percentage points, and can be found right on the device itself or anywhere online where you buy one from. You want to make sure that any hygrometers you get have at least +/- 0.25% accuracy because more accurate measurements allow them to last longer and give better readings which means they’re also safer than less accurate devices!

It’s important to make sure that the device you are going to purchase has an accurate reading and it shows your humidity level as close as possible. The difference between 70-75% RH may not seem huge, but if you have a collection with 200+ cigars, every percent counts!

If you want to get a hygrometer with an accuracy of +/-0.05 or better we recommend getting one calibrated by adding either salt-water or distilled water – this way you will avoid inaccuracies caused by rapid humidity changes (elevated temperatures).

Methods of accuracy testing:

• A salt test is one of the best ways to check whether your device is reading humidity levels correctly. It’s also a good way to recalibrate it – just add distilled water until the device reads 75%. A salt test involves adding distilled water or demineralized (not tap) water slowly and counting how many millimeters of each type you need to reach your desired level. For example, if you want an accuracy of +/- 0.05% and your hygrometer reads 75%, you need to add or subtract about 0.03 ml of water (0.075 x 25 = approximately equal to 20).
• Another way is checking the difference between two humidity readings taken at different times, but always with the same device!

Of course, any analog hygrometers should include calibration instructions that are easy enough for anyone to use at home!

To sum up – if you are looking for a simple analog model that provides reasonable accuracy readability under +/- 0.25%, then there are plenty of options available on Amazon. The most important thing here is not only making sure that it’s accurate enough for your needs but also considering other aspects like build quality, durability, etc., before buying one online because they vary greatly in a price range which means spending more money will mean getting a higher level of reliability and accuracy.

Durability

Another important factor to consider when shopping for an analog hygrometer is durability. Most people want their hygrometers to last for many years, and the best ones will do exactly that. For digital hygrometers, durability is much less of a concern because they are much easier to fix or replace.

Analog units might have internal defects that can cause them to fail after just several months of use. As long as your analog unit does not have any obvious damage, it should work well for at least three years before you need to think about replacing it.

Durability is important because your hygrometer is going to be used frequently. It will tell you when your cigars are ready to smoke, and it may even help you make changes in your storage conditions if needed. You don’t want a unit that’s going to break down the first time it takes a tumble off of your desk or gets bumped against something hard.

In general, analog units tend to have better durability than digital ones because they do not have any electronic components that can fail over time. If a part within a digital unit does begin to wear out, then there isn’t much that can be done about it except by replacing the whole thing with another model just like it. This makes purchasing an expensive hygrometer from one of these companies less risky because you know that they will probably still be around to honor their warranty if something should go wrong.

Durability also refers to the overall quality of materials used in an analog hygrometer. Hygrometers are mechanical devices that use a metal coil and magnets to move the needle on its scale, so you want one that will last through repeated readings without getting stuck or breaking down. The best ones should be made from durable materials.

You want a unit made from durable plastics or metals, not cheap plastic components glued together with some kind of adhesive. Products made using these lower-quality methods are more likely to break down over time, whereas those constructed out of solid pieces are less prone to damage and can last for many years under normal circumstances. These high-quality units often feature metal housings instead of cheaper molded plastic ones, but this is certainly not always the case. The best way to find out what your unit is built with is by contacting its manufacturer directly about it whenever possible.

If you’re shopping online, it’s a good idea to read the customer reviews of any product you’re considering buying. Customers who take time to post their opinions are often those who have actually purchased and used the item in question, which can help give you an idea about its quality.

You don’t have to worry about your humidity reading becoming wildly inaccurate if it’s exposed to water since these instruments aren’t electronic, but it could warp and become difficult to read which defeats their purpose entirely!

A durable analog hygrometer can last for years, so if you invest in a good one it will be sure to get the job done for many summers to come.

Bells and whistles

The next thing to look for in an analog hygrometer is any bells or whistles that are offered. Sure, you want it to get the job done of telling you whether your cigars are too dry or moist but some offer additional features which might be nice if they suit your needs. For example, there may be a feature where once humidity gets below x%, it will automatically power off to save battery. Or, there may be a feature where you can set the hygrometer at your desired humidity, and then it will alert you if that humidity is not reached.

One more function is a built-in thermometer. Most analog hygrometers don’t have this feature, but some do.

There are also other features that may be nice to have such as an easy-to-read display and a backlight for reading in dark or low light conditions. Some even come with different faceplates so you can change up their look every now and then which is great if your humidor has multiple cigars stored inside of it at once!

Another additional feature some analog hygrometers have are calibration screws so if the unit ever gets bumped or shifted, you can easily recalibrate it back to being precise again. However, not every model includes this feature but most do nowadays which is nice because many digital models no longer include one either which means they’re usually harder to calibrate when you need to. Lastly, be sure there isn’t any exposed hose or wire on your device as things like heaters could tear through those hoses & wires and cause malfunction.

The best analog hygrometers are those which provide extra features but do not lose accuracy in doing so. It’s nice to have some useful bells or whistles on an otherwise boring device! However, this isn’t always possible as sometimes these additional features cause problems with the accuracy of readings so keep that in mind when considering them for purchase.

Just like other products available today, there’s no shortage of options when purchasing an analog hygrometer. The good news is once you understand what makes a good analog hygrometer, you can narrow your options down to just a couple of the best ones.

Range

The range is one of the most important factors when buying a hygrometer. This is because the range will determine what types of cigars and tobacco you can use with it, as well as how accurate measurements are taken (more on that later).

Here are some ranges to consider when buying a hygrometer.

Digital hygrometers usually have a range of 30% to 90%. However, depending on the unit you get it will be more accurate at certain ranges.

Analog hygrometers typically go up in increments of 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, or 100%. For example, if an analog hygrometer has a scale that goes from 50-100 then that is considered one range. Some digital units also work this way but they are generally no more accurate than traditional models at these specific ranges (and sometimes less). What this means for tobacco enthusiasts is that when using analog devices, measurements must be taken precisely between incremental points for accuracy. This can make measuring humidity difficult with some cigar blends and could require multiple devices to measure accurately across a diverse collection of cigars.

For example, if you have a humidor that has the capacity to hold 150 cigars but only 50 are present at any given time then you would need two analog hygrometers (one for each side) in order to read humidity accurately. This is also why it’s important to calibrate your devices before placing them into a storage unit and taking measurements regularly because even small changes in humidity or temperature can affect readings incrementally across different ranges.

Finally, it’s important to note that even though analog hygrometers are more accurate at certain ranges, they can also be less accurate overall than digital units. This is because the range of a device is only as good as its accuracy within that particular scale and most analog devices do not come calibrated from the factory (this is why you need calibration solutions).

Price

Price is one of the most important considerations when it comes to buying anything. A product could have all the bells and whistles, but if it does not fit in your budget, you are forced to settle for something cheaper which might also compromise on quality or performance. With analog hygrometers, this is especially true because they come at very different price ranges depending on features and build quality.

There are some really good ones out there that can be had for around twenty dollars while others will set you back by more than a hundred bucks! The trick here is knowing what kind of device would suit your needs best without spending too much money or getting short changed with one that has barely any useful functions.

Usually, the more expensive hygrometers have a better build quality and offer additional features such as temperature monitoring, a clock that shows time in different parts of the world. However, these items are not necessary at all times so you can find something that meets your requirements without going overboard with expenditure if need be.

When it comes to analog hygrometers there is no single best product but we will go over some options for you below along with their pros and cons so that you get an idea about what each device has to offer before making a purchase.

Normally price varies depending on the brand, model, and features. An average hygrometer can cost between $20-100. Some hygrometers have additional features such as a clock and temperature monitoring.

There is no single best product but we mentioned some options above along with their pros and cons for each device.

Design

The last but not the least important part of a hygrometer is its design. Arguably, it’s not that significant when you are buying one for your cigars because most will work just fine and they all measure humidity in about the same way. The main difference among analog humidifiers is their looks which can really make or break their reputation based on how well made they are.

If you want to buy an analog hygrometer but don’t know what to look out for, take note of these basic features:

• Clear display – this ensures clarity even from across any room where it’s placed;
• Easy-to-read numbers – while some may be good enough with standard font size, others might need larger fonts to ensure that they are readable;
• High-quality materials – a good hygrometer needs to be made from high-quality and durable material so it can last for years of nonstop use.

Size is another thing that you need to consider when buying an analog hygrometer. If it’s just for your cigars then you can probably get away with one of the smaller sizes available in the market today since they are all designed to fit on humidors anyway. One common size though is those small ones made specifically for travel cases which most people use as a secondary unit for their other storage units, particularly if you have more than two or three inventory inside them at any given time. At about half an inch thick and almost five inches tall by four wide, these portable units make great additions even if there isn’t enough room left in your case because space will always be limited – no matter how large it may seem.

And don’t forget to match the overall design with your house’s interior theme! Color, size, shape – all these contribute towards its final appearance which might even affect whether you’ll buy it or not. So remember: invest in something that will look great in your room as well!

Tips

It’s important to know what exactly you are looking for when shopping for the best hygrometers. Many people don’t realize that there is more than one type of hygrometer, and different types work better in different situations.

• Digital hygrometers are easy to read and usually have a very fast reaction time. But they aren’t the best choice if you want accuracy over quick readings, because digital units can be sensitive to extreme changes in temperature or humidity that could impact their reading.
• Analog hygrometers measure humidity using a simple set of dials rather than a digital screen, making them much less susceptible to outside factors.
• Some units are both analog and digital, but these hygrometers have to be manually calibrated in order for the correct humidity level to show up on their screen. This requires a trip to your local sporting goods store or humidor supply shop where you can purchase special salt that is used during calibration.
• If accuracy is important, look for an all-digital hygrometer with an easy-to-read display – even if it isn’t being mounted inside of your humidor! Accuracy trumps convenience when choosing the best option for keeping tabs on storage conditions.
• Analog hygrometers are often small, lightweight, and made of durable materials that can stand up to the high humidity levels inside your humidor. If you want a simple way to keep tabs on conditions without investing in an expensive digital model or hunting down special calibration salt for manual calibrations, analog units could be perfect for you!
• Digital hygrometers are often made with sensitive sensors that can detect rapid changes in humidity levels more quickly than an analog unit – making them better for people who want a quick reading without having to wait around or take multiple readings over time.

FAQ

Are analog hygrometers more accurate?

Analog hygrometers are more accurate than digital ones. However, even the best analog wet-bulb and dry-bulb models can easily be off by as much as five percent relative humidity (RH). If you’re concerned about accuracy, we recommend using a good calibration kit every month or two to ensure your instrument is measuring accurately.

How often should I calibrate my hygrometer?

You’ll want to check your humidity regularly, especially if you’re using an analog hygrometer. Digital models are generally more accurate and require less maintenance. If accuracy is a concern for you, we recommend checking with a calibration kit once or twice per year. For the best accuracy, you’ll want to keep your hygrometer in the same location and at roughly the same temperature as where it will be used.

How do you use an analog hygrometer?

There are two ways to use an analog hygrometer: the sling psychrometer method and the hair method. The former is more accurate and we recommend it for most people. There are two steps:

Step One: Wet the bulb of your analog hygrometer with distilled water.

Step Two: Point the hygrometer towards the air moving at normal walking speed. The reading you get should match that of a sling psychrometer if your instrument is accurate.

What’s the hair method?

The “hair” in this context refers to human, not animal, hair. The hair method measures relative humidity via the natural moisture in your hair. To use this method, wet a lock of your hair with distilled water and let it sit for 30 seconds or so to absorb as much moisture as possible. Wait another minute (to be sure that all residual water is gone) and then take the reading on an analog hygrometer.

Do all hygrometers need to be calibrated?

Yes. All hygrometers need to be calibrated periodically, even the best analog ones. How often you calibrate your instrument depends on how frequently it’s used and for what purpose (therapeutic humidification versus storage). We recommend calibration kits for most people who use their hygrometer regularly or will use it in a different climate.

Can you calibrate an analog hygrometer?

Yes, but it’s less straightforward than calibrating a digital hygrometer. For one thing, you can’t use the salt calibration method with an analog unit because distilled water will change its surface tension and render your hair wetter or dryer depending on how much humidity is in the air around it. As such, we recommend using either the salt calibration method, the Boveda 68% humidity pack, or one of the analog humidification packets to calibrate your hygrometer.

Useful Video: Best Cigar Hygrometers: Analogue, Digital & Smart Humidity Sensors

Final Thoughts

Analog hygrometers are a great choice for those who enjoy the traditional look and feel of a mechanical hygrometer. The analog models in this guide offer accuracy, affordability, and durability that can’t be beaten by other types of hygrometers. Whether you’re looking to replace an old unit from your humidor or just want something stylish and easy to read, analog hygrometers are a good choice.

The best analog hygrometers allow you to monitor the climate of your humidor without having to spend much money or navigate an overwhelming number of digital options. If you’re looking for accuracy and durability at affordable prices, one of these units will fit perfectly into your humidor’s design scheme and provide accurate readings that last for years on end.

I hope you enjoyed this post and found the analog hygrometers guide useful. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them in the comment section below.

Good luck with your humidor! And thank you for reading my blog!

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