Cigar gear. It's not just for smoking lounge sex appeal or bragging rights. These are our smoking tools, and like any piece of equipment that is worth a damn, they have to both function well and match our personal style. If not, we are going to toss them aside for something superior.

But unlike a circular saw or an offset smoker, the gear required for smoking cigars is typically quite compact in size and therefore is easily transportable. This leads us to the topic of cigar "EDC," or "everyday carry." Items that are essential for the successful storage, monitoring, prepping, and enjoyment of premium cigars. 

While not everyone will have the same loadout or require similar accessories when on the go, almost all seasoned cigar smokers have some form of a preferred cigar EDC setup that's ready to go at a moment's notice.

Today, we will be discussing five cigar-oriented tools that I have found to be utterly indispensable, and are either on my person at all times or are typically sitting somewhere nearby. And while a "Swiss Army Knife" cigar EDC set would be awesome to own, combining all of the smoking gear listed below into one item would result in one hell of an unsightly stogie "Frankentool." So, it's probably best to keep things separate in that cigar loadout, and stick with what works. Let's get to it, shall we?

Cedar Spills

Nothing says "badass" quite like taking a flaming slat of wood and calmly toasting the foot of your cigar with it. Part James Bond villain calling card, part cowboy campfire practicality, the act of lighting a cigar with a cedar spill is undeniably raw and suave at the same time. But that's not the primary reason why I keep this cigar EDC item on me at all times.

Even the cleanest combusting torch lighter loaded with celestial gases pulled straight from the glowing ring of Uranus will add some unwanted chemicals to a premium cigar blend. It may not affect the cigar flavor profile or the aromatics of the blend much, if at all, but sometimes you can’t help but wonder what went into refining that can of butane…

While a cedar spill will put off a fair deal of soot-rich smoke, it is still widely considered to be one of the most neutral methods of lighting a cigar. Additionally, Spanish cedar tends to impart a very pleasant aromatic and flavor profile when it comes time to light up, thus causing many purists like myself to prefer this form of combustion over others. 

Since Spanish cedar strips do not contain any fuel or batteries, they are also TSA approved, and make for ideal cigar travel companions since they fit inside most cigar travel humidors. So, even if you get stuck with a crappy gas station lighter while on vacation, you can still successfully light your stogie without contaminating it.

Klaro Hard-Shell Cigar Travel Case

When it comes to smoking on the go, I find myself reaching for the Klaro Three-Cigar Leather Travel Case more than any other travel case in my collection. It's not that I don't still use my ballistic nylon-lined Flint Cigar Travel Bag, or Spanish cedar inlayed Klaro Maxwell hard-shell case on a routine basis. It's just that I find that having three cigars on hand is often adequate for me and my smoking needs, especially if I am only going to be away from the cigar studio for an evening or a full day.

While the polished gunmetal end caps on each end of this cigar travel case do add some curb weight, they serve as an excellent form of protection, while looking badass in the process. Genuine leather-clad, the tightly stitched exterior sports one hell of a snug seal, which is paramount in importance when it comes to cigar storage.  

Internally, you will find a Spanish-cedar-lined chamber that is finely honed and willing to hold up to a 60-ring gauge cigar. This is a touch that causes me to consider this unit my preferred EDC cigar travel case, as not only does it add outstanding aromatics to the cigars inside, but it also allows smooth removal and placement of both cigars and a few strips of those cedar spills I always have on my person.

Klaro Valet Smart Humidor Hygrometer

It was only a matter of time until modern tech seeped into the cigar world, with the Klaro Valet being at the forefront of the connected revolution with the world's first smart hygrometer. Basically, this patented tech device sends a signal from the hygrometer to a Wi-Fi-connected bridge, which then uploads all of the stats being read by the hygrometer.

Real-time humidity and temperature readings, fluctuation warnings, cigar rotation reminders, and humidor seasoning and solution recharge scheduling, stogie cataloguing, and much more are all on my phone and laptop, and easily accessible with the tap of an app. So while the physical pieces of hardware are what makes the Klaro Valet tick, these components remain in the cigar studio. Whereas the free app software is always on me, and I cannot imagine life without this brilliant piece of tech. Easy to set up and navigate, infinitely customizable, and quite clever, this is one of those pieces of cigar EDC you never knew you needed until now.

Bucksaw Refillable Leather Journal

Intended to patina with time, and small enough to fit in the average briefcase or medium-sized shoulder bag, the Bucksaw journal is a must-have EDC item for the dedicated smoker looking to document their cigar journey.

Covered in a tightly fitted, full-grain cowhide exterior that snugs down tight via a brass snap button closure flap, the Bucksaw leather journal is a timeless design that I have found to be indispensable in recording the cigars I smoke. 

Each journal comes loaded with a single-lined A5 insert and sports a hidden pen loop inside its herringbone interior, so you have everything you need in one place when it is time to spark a smoke. Up front, four slots provide a place for business cards, credit cards, or, in this case, cigar bands. You can also store notes or cigar tasting wheel sheets in the large pocket on the back panel, and, being that this journal is refillable, swapping in a fresh A5-sized journal insert is a cinch. 

Overland Pro Lighter

Finally, there is the Swiss Army Knife of cigar torch lighters: The Klaro Overland Pro. While it may be considered to be a bit bulky by some, the largest of the three lighters in the Klaro Overland Torch Series Line is just as all-encompassing as it is solid in structure, and in my case it is always sitting somewhere nearby.

Engineered from top to bottom to be the ultimate all-in-one cigar EDC survival torch, this unit relies upon a dual-jet torch hidden inside an auto-closing hinged lid. This allows room for an integrated punch, a cigar poker, and a side-mounted V-cutter to be stuffed inside. The Pro model also features a unique easy-adjust flame thumb dial and an oversized fuel sight for gauging butane gas levels. Each Overland Pro Torch Lighter also comes powder-coated in a military-inspired color and is sleeved in a bespoke silicone sheath for added pocket security and scratch prevention, which, from an EDC standpoint, is sheer genius.