Product Review: Cigamate

Well, folks, it’s time I got this review up.  I was contacted by the folks at Cigamate to do a review of the Cigamate giving you my thoughts on it.  So, here they are…

First, the Cigamate is not an ashtray.  And, even though it took me a little bit to figure it out, it’s not intended to be.  Instead it’s a “portable cigar and cigarette disposable unit.”  And, yes, there’s a difference.  Once I realized the distinction, I was better able to evaluate the Cigamate for what its intended use is: a place to put cigars and cigarettes AFTER you’re finished with them.

So, let’s talk about that first.  I run into cigarette receptacles that are similar to the Cigamate quite often.  There’s one at the pool where I take my kids.  It’s always frustrating because I can never get my finished cigar in there.  Their holes are too small and they definitely don’t leave enough room for the 2-3 inches a normal person leaves on a cigar when finished smoking it.  Cigamate has eliminated that problem by making the hole larger and the neck of the product wider to specifically accommodate cigar smokers.  Wonderful!

extended

collapsed

Not only that, but they’ve added some other features as well.  First, it’s collapsible and portable as you can see in the images.  So, you can own one of these for your backyard or patio, take it with you to the beach (though I’d clean it out before traveling with it), etc.  It’s even got convenient little handles on it to pick it up and move it.  The top is wider so that you can fit a drink on it and it has two grooves in it to hold your and your friend’s cigar on it when you need to put it down for a moment.  Fantastic!

Now, is there room for improvement?  Sure.  Like I said, it’s not an ashtray, so depending on where you’re smoking, like say your back patio, you may or may not need an ashtray.  I don’t flick ashes on my patio floor, so I still need an ashtray.  I’m thinking that the hole could be a little wider to allow for the user to maybe just flick the ash into the receptacle without much problem.  As it is, it’s a little awkward to try and do that.  If you’re standing out in the grass, or in another area where it’s okay to ash on the ground, then this is all you need.

If you’re an outdoors kind of person who likes to take family trips to the beach, have friends over for BBQ, or just have kids running around the backyard and you don’t want them near a cigar you’ve finished that’s still burning out, then this is a recommended buy.  These would be great in company smoking areas, outside the local cigar shops, or anywhere someone might need to put a cigar or cigarette out before walking into a store.  It’d keep the cigarette butts off the ground, that’s for sure.

These retail directly from the Cigamate site at $39.99.  I actually think it’s quite worth it; especially if you’d be able to make use of its portability.  Cigar retailers can also contact them for wholesale info.  They come in two colors: adobe beige and cigar brown.  The one in the images is beige.

I don’t think this is a must-have for everyone, but I definitely think that for people whose needs this product does fit, it’s the best I’ve seen.  Those other ‘cigarette only’ models just don’t meet the needs of us cigar smokers.

CIGAMATE GIVEAWAY:  Cigamate is kind enough to offer up one of these for a giveaway to one lucky Cigar Command reader!!  All you have to do is leave a comment here in this post about your thoughts on the Cigamate before 11:59 CST Friday, July 24th and you’ll be entered in the random drawing.

No related posts.

1. 

   Kyle W. says:

   July 20, 2009 at 6:24 am

   I think these are great, especially the innovation that the company had (or you had) in having cigar-holding grooves and a place to rest a drink. Currently, I let my cigars go out on their own in the base of my chiminea, so I’d like to have one of these!
2. 

   Andy says:

   July 20, 2009 at 10:01 am

   Hello I’m in.
3. 

   Trooper says:

   July 20, 2009 at 10:04 am

   Great review, and thanks for bringing that to my attention. I agree that would be great for many situations, and it would be even better if you could ash into it.

   Thanks
   Troop.
4. 

   Dave M says:

   July 20, 2009 at 10:13 am

   Seems like a good idea for both home and the beach on a lovely summer day! Eco-friendly also!
5. 

   Rob Gianelli says:

   July 20, 2009 at 11:29 am

   Great review..I saw one of those at Doc Stogie Fresh’s 3rd annual Central Coast Herf..He was giving one away as a raffle prize..Looks pretty cool
6. 

   Keith1911 says:

   July 20, 2009 at 12:59 pm

   This sounds like a pretty good idea.
7. 

   boomerd35 says:

   July 20, 2009 at 2:45 pm

   Nice product. Definitely looks like it has a place among cigar accessories.
8. 

   Patrick says:

   July 20, 2009 at 5:37 pm

   THIS IS AWESOME!!! it would look great in any gar room and anyone can afford one! very well done!! BRAVO!
9. 

   Gary says:

   July 20, 2009 at 5:39 pm

   That would look good on my deck!
10. 

    APnWI says:

    July 20, 2009 at 6:20 pm

    NICE that thing is sweeeeet!!!
11. 

    Jim Euritt says:

    July 20, 2009 at 9:16 pm

    Looks like a good product would love to have it!
12. 

    Somica says:

    July 21, 2009 at 4:37 pm

    This is awesome. Will be a must have for my husband and his friends who come over and smoke stogies in the backyard. How can I get one?
13. 

    Evan says:

    July 21, 2009 at 4:52 pm

    I have a cigamate, and all I can say is that it’s been a great addition to my cigar smoking experience. No longer do I have to search for a place to put my finished cigars. However, I do agree with the Ricky that it would be better if the holes on the sides were a little larger, so you could ash more easily into the cigamate. Other than that, it’s a great smoking tool.
14. 

    Pearl says:

    July 21, 2009 at 4:59 pm

    This is a great idea. This would be ideal for my deck as I live in an apartment complex & we have to smoke outside.
    It would be better than using a tin can.
15. 

    John Brooke - The Weekly Cigar says:

    July 21, 2009 at 6:03 pm

    Man, I really want one of these. Hopefully I win!
16. 

    Mark Selss says:

    July 21, 2009 at 6:53 pm

    This sounds like a great product, I’d love to have it at work, it would end my co-workers from throwing their butts all over the place!
17. 

    Dan Jones says:

    July 21, 2009 at 8:13 pm

    Perfect for the pool or even on the porch deck or man cave.I want one!
18. 

    csbrewfisher says:

    July 22, 2009 at 12:14 pm

    Meh. This looks OK if you’re a business owner, but it’s a bust for the private smoker. Personally, I don’t need another thing to wash up after filling up. Also, this thing must really stink after collecting a few nubs. Part of the grace I receive as a cigar smoker results from the elimination of stink in the area, not creating another source. I’ll take a pass.

    Now, if someone would invent a affordable portable disposal device for CIGARETTE smokers, we cigar smokers would not find our hobby lumped in with cigarette smokers who cast off thousands of tons of cigarette butts in public places every year.
19. 

    Allan says:

    July 27, 2009 at 10:58 am

    HI guys thanx for all the great feedback on my cigamate , Have a fun summer, Dan’s cigamate ships today congrats

    Allan