Oasis Caliber V

Long before names like Govee or Sensor Push were common recommendations for hygrometers, Western Humidor’s Caliber hygrometer was perhaps the closest the cigar world had to a brand-name humidor. By the time I got into cigars, the Caliber III was the company’s model, but that was more than a decade and a half ago. Last year, Cigar Oasis—which acquired the Western Humidor hygrometer business—introduced its latest version: the Caliber V.

What Is It?

It’s a digital hygrometer, meaning it measures both relative humidity and temperature. These measurements are taken by a digital sensor and displayed on a screen.

Compared to the Caliber IV model, which was released in 2024, Cigar Oasis highlighted a few improvements:

• A new body style
• A new e-ink display that is both larger and easier to read
• A new, larger, Swiss-made sensor that promises more accurate readings

Beyond that, the hygrometer keeps most of the features that were offered on the Caliber IV. Additionally, Cigar Oasis promises:

• The readings update every 10 seconds
• The hygrometer can display a 72-hour maximum and minimum reading for both humidity and temperature
• The unit can be calibrated up to 6 percentage points of relative humidity

How Much Does It Cost?

$30

What’s Included?

• The hygrometer
• A CR2032 battery
• Two small magnets for attaching the hygrometer

Cigar Oasis includes a one-year limited warranty.

How Large Is It?

It measures 3.945 inches x 1.53 x .37. If you are using the included magnets, the hygrometer will extend about a half-inch from whatever it is attached to.

How Does It Work?

The hygrometer arrives with a sticker on the screen. Like many other devices, a small plastic pull tab is in the battery tray to make sure the unit isn’t drawing power before the hygrometer goes in use. Remove the sticker, pull the tab and you are ready to go.

If you want to calibrate it—more on that process below—hold the SET button for three seconds. That will flash the screen and from there you can increase or decrease the baseline humidity reading. There’s only one other button on the front panel, a MAX/MIN CLEAR button. Press that button to select the number. The first six numbers are all to raise the relative humidity base, i.e. if your hygrometer is reading too low, whereas the next six will reduce the base relative humidity level if your hygrometer is reading too high.

The MAX/MIN CLEAR button is also used if you want to see the 72-hour highs and lows.

To switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit, there’s a small slider at the top of the hygrometer.

Outside of that, there’s nothing to do. The Caliber V has no on/off switch; it’s always on.

Some Thoughts On Digital Hygrometers

Over the years, we have probably purchased more than 100 digital hygrometers in various forms. I have two really broad thoughts.

• Calibration is Always a Good Idea — Cigar Oasis, like others, claims that these units come “precalibrated.” I don’t know enough about how that process works, but what I can tell you is that I oftentimes buy two of the same hygrometers and stick them in a bag with a Boveda pack. I’ll come back a few days later and see if they are reading the same. Whether it’s the Caliber V or even more expensive hygrometers, they rarely have the same readings.
• The Plus/Minus Conundrum — Cigar Oasis claims the unit’s sensor is accurate +/- 3 percent. The unit can measure between 20-90 percent relative humidity; however, few sensors have the same accuracy throughout the measurement range. I’ve read literature from the sensor manufacturers that suggests that at the extreme ends of the measurements, the accuracy will oftentimes be reduced by more than half.
• A Note About Sensors — Like a lot of products, the hygrometers marketed to cigar smokers use a lot of shared components. One of them is perhaps the most important: the sensor. I see a lot of companies promoting “Swiss-made sensors” for their devices, and I suspect that many of them are using sensors from Sensirion, perhaps the same exact sensor as some competitors. I don’t know who the supplier is for this sensor, but there’s a reason why so many companies market “Swiss-made sensors.”

The Good

• The Screen Is a Useful Upgrade — I really enjoy both the larger screen and the new e-ink display. For more than a year, there’s been a Caliber V in our main review cabinet humidor, one that has thick glass doors. The larger display and lack of glare make it easy to read from a pretty good distance. Compared to models like the Caliber IV, it would have been difficult to do this without opening the door.
• The Caliber V is Versatile — The large screen and slim body mean this hygrometer will work in everything from a small desktop humidor to massive cabinet humidors without seemingly any compromise. That’s not always the case. Plenty of hygrometers I’ve used are too big to be useful in a desktop humidor or have screens that aren’t ideal for a large cabinet humidor.
• It’s Dead Simple — This is a relatively no-frills hygrometer. There’s no wifi or Bluetooth connectivity, there are no alarms or remote sensors. It’s a very basic hygrometer. However, everything works and seemingly will continue to work in the future. Like all electronics, at some point, something will give out, but the reduced number of features means perhaps this will have a longer lifespan.

The Bad

• I Did Not See 10-second Updates — I placed the hygrometer next to an espresso machine’s steam wand, something that puts out steam and heat. I waited for the humidity to change on screen, started the steam and waited for a second change. Typically, it took at least 20 seconds for an adjustment. I don’t think I need a hygrometer that updates every 10 seconds. In fact, it might be better at a 30-second interval as it means I don’t run the risk of opening the humidor, having the Caliber V reset, and then displaying the reading of the ambient air.
• The Battery Could be Easier to Swap — You’ll need a small Phillips screwdriver to loosen the battery door. As shown in the video above, it’s not the simplest process.

The Competition

There are surprisingly few cigar-focused hygrometers, especially newer models. The most logical competitor is probably the XIKAR Rectangular Digital Hygrometer ($47.99), which is the other hygrometer you’d be most likely to see for sale at your local cigar shop. Even at a street price closer to $40, the XIKAR is more expensive and doesn’t seem to offer many advantages over the Caliber V. I’d rather have the latter’s larger display, especially for a lower price.

• TempPro ($10/12) — Amazon suggests two roughly $10 hygrometers from TempPro as its #1 Rated Choice, this and this. Both models are a lot larger than the Caliber V, something made quite clear by their use of a AAA battery. These look very similar to AcuRite hygrometers that I once purchased 15 years ago. These are fine for a large cooler or cabinet, but they are going to be very bulky inside of a desktop humidor. Without any other prescribed variables, I’d take the Caliber V though the price difference is significant.
• Inkbird ITH-10 ($14) — This looks a lot like the previous Caliber IV model, though I think some of the specs, like humidity accuracy, are slightly worse. If you are buying only for a desktop humidor, I think this is an okay option but I’d take the Caliber V for larger humidors.
• Cigar Oasis Caliber 4R ($34.99) — Cigar Oasis offers a circular hygrometer for those looking to retrofit their analog hygrometers. I much prefer the Caliber V as the 4R doesn’t have a numerical humidity reading, instead relying on a digital gauge.
• SensorPush ($54.95+) — This might be an apples to apple sauce comparison, but it’s still a consideration. If you want a connected or smart hygrometer, my preference is SensorPush. These are expensive and screenless, but I really enjoy the app. I’ve not used the latest versions of some of the other smart hygrometers, but I can attest to the reliability of SensorPush. If you have lots of humidors, including ones you don’t open regularly, this makes sense. If you have just one humidor, the Caliber V is a better option.

Should You Buy It?

Yes.

When my dad needed a new hygrometer for his guitar case, I sent him a Caliber V. I figured it would be easy to read, compact, accurate enough, and—most importantly—foolproof. If you aren’t interested in having a smart hygrometer, this is the most compelling option I’m aware of. Compared to a $15 hygrometer, the Caliber V benefits from the fact that it is made for a single application, a humidor, and this is not the first version; it’s the fifth.

Disclosure: The hygrometer used for testing was purchased by halfwheel. We purchased multiple units and Cigar Oasis, which advertises on halfwheel, sent some samples. 

Caliber V
Cigar Oasis
Hygrometer