If you don’t have the luxury of living in a warm-weather environment, enjoying a premium cigar in the winter can be a challenge. A cigar is meant to be savored, but risking frostbite isn’t worth even the finest cigar.
Joining a cigar lounge is an obvious choice. We have discussed the various lounge options, and many cold-weather smokers find the daily or yearly fees well worth it. However, trudging out of the house in a blizzard is not ideal. Sometimes it’s best to enjoy your smoke from the comfort of home.
Building a smoking room is another option. There are affordable ways of converting any room in your house into a private smoking lounge. If you’re not looking for a construction project, there are alternatives. Here are some tips for what to do when the temperatures dip below freezing, and you want to smoke a cigar.
Convert the Garage into a Cigar Man Cave
A garage isn’t only for parking your car and storing dusty tools. With a little ingenuity, you can convert your garage into a multipurpose cigar-smoking space. Ventilation is the primary concern in any smoking room. It’s probably not wise to invest in an expensive professional-grade ventilation system for this occasional solution especially if your garage is far enough away from your house. Leaving the door open, cracking a window, or using a box fan are all tried and true methods that keep smoke from lingering. Most guys attest to the smoke smell clearing after a day or two.
Ok, you’re out of the wind and snow, but with the door ajar and a window open a garage can still get pretty cold. You can’t hold a cigar if your fingers are numb. Patio heaters are a great investment. Some quality heaters cost as little as $100.
Furniture can be as simple as a few folding chairs and tables. This allows you to conveniently reconvert your garage for parking the car and storing the snow shovels. Of course, if you have ample room and the winter where you reside last months, adding comfortable, more permanent furniture isn’t a bad idea.
Obviously, take precautions whenever smoking indoors. Be sure gasoline containers and flammable materials are stored far away from the smoking area.
Using Camping Tents & Hotel Canopies As Smoking Shelters
Many people brave the elements all year long. Campers, hunters, and outdoorsmen spend plenty of evenings in extreme conditions. So if you can’t utilize the garage, pitch a traditional camping tent in the backyard and smoke away.
Companies are now making specialized tents designed for smoking cigars. However, most extreme weather tents or even standard tents have ventilation, are flame resistant, waterproof, and provide a cozy space on a frigid night. You’ll want to get the specs before you purchase. Prices will vary depending on the size and features. You’ll want enough space to stand up. If you plan on entertaining or outfitting it with comfortable seats you’ll want something large. Be sure to research the tent’s materials as well. No tent is fireproof. Be careful and selective when it comes to fire-resistance. Synthetic materials are best.
Don’t store your tailgating canopy too soon. If the temperatures don’t dip too far below freezing and all you need is shelter from the rain, break out the football tent. If you’re looking to conjure summertime and the poolside vibe, cabana resort-style tents will provide a bit more shelter from the wind.
Building A Smoking Shed and Pre-Built Sheds
This might be a pricier option, but sheds are a long-term solution to your winter smoking woes. Smoking sheds have many benefits. There’s no need to worry about smoke odors creeping into your home or the complaints that may follow. These self-contained units function like a custom smoking room right in your backyard. They can be outfitted with ventilation, heating, quality furniture, and all of your smoking accouterments.
If you are a regular DIYer, building a smoking shed with basic materials shouldn’t be a problem. However, big-box stores have a wide variety of pre-built sheds. Some require assembly, but they come in different sizes and styles, so finding one that suits your needs is easy. A shed can be wired for electricity. Watch the big game with friends or catch up on work while enjoying a cigar.
Remember ventilation is critical. Sheds have doors and windows, but the old-fashioned garage method is probably not the best solution. Invest in a quality ventilation system or an air purifier. You won’t regret it.
If building a shed yourself sounds like too much work, don’t worry. The smoking shed trend is gaining some traction. Many companies will now build sheds customized for cigar enthusiasts.
Indoor smoking bans have made it difficult for cigar smokers. In colder regions, it’s especially challenging, but you don’t have to give up the cigar lifestyle when January comes around. With a little imagination and resourcefulness, you’ll learn to love the winter months and simply smoke on.
photo credit: Kent Wang from London, United Kingdom, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons