Boveda Terpene Shield

Boveda Terpene Shield is an accessory from Boveda, the company behind patented two-way humidity control packs. Boveda describes each pack as a salt solution sealed in a permeable film that lets water vapour pass in or out, so a closed container is held at a set relative humidity. The number printed on a pack is its RH%.

Why Boveda talks about a terpene shield

Boveda uses the tagline “the original terpene shield” for its two-way humidity control used with cannabis flower. Boveda’s help site says the pack forms a single microscopic layer of purified water vapour over the trichomes, so terpenes are less likely to evaporate during storage and packaging, and that its all-natural salt solutions hold a precise humidity level. Trichomes are also what gathers as kief in a grinder’s bottom chamber, which our guide to cleaning a grinder and saving the kief covers.

The herbal packs are now sold as Vivi Fresh

Boveda has moved its herbal packs to Vivi, a herbal-only brand it created, and states that Vivi Fresh is exactly the same as Boveda for Herbal apart from its new look.

Four sizes and two humidity levels

The Vivi Fresh page lists four sizes: 1/2 oz protects up to 15 g, 1 oz up to 30 g, 1 lb up to 500 g and 5 lb up to 2.5 kg. A bag holds ten packs of the 1/2 oz or 1 oz size, four of the 1 lb size, or one of the 5 lb size.

Boveda puts the two smaller sizes, 1/2 oz and 1 oz, at 58% RH and the two larger, 1 lb and 5 lb, at 62% RH, accurate to plus or minus 2% once sealed in a container. Its page says both levels sit within the 55-65% RH range it cites as ASTM-recommended.

• 1/2 oz pack: 2 in x 2 in, 4 g
• 1 oz pack: 2.75 in x 2.5 in, 8 g
• 1 lb pack: 3.5 in x 5.25 in, 60 g
• 5 lb pack: 5 in x 6.75 in x 0.81 in, 320 g

Using a pack with flower

Boveda’s directions are to take a pack out of its resealable pouch, reseal the pouch, put the pack in an airtight container with the flower and close the lid. The page says it is safe to touch flower, and for the 5 lb size the cellophane wrapper comes off first. For dry flower it says to add a pack and wait 24 to 48 hours.

Boveda says not to mix its packs with other humidity products in the same container, because they work against each other.

How long a pack lasts

Boveda says to replace a pack every 3 months, and that a pack lasts roughly 2 to 6 months depending on how airtight the container is and how often it is opened. Used packs cannot be reused or recharged, and unopened packs have a shelf life of 2 years.