I always use coconut husk, and it's been great. Holds in humidity great, but it's also more humid where you live than where I live, so you may not need that as much. Paper towel may end up still being fine.
I honestly don't know what the supposed issue is with winter. I live in the desert. No ambient humidity. And my snakes have been fine every winter. Takes me 60 seconds twice a day to spray the tank, and it's great. If nothing else, you can always make a humidity box out of a tupperware container and damp sphagnum moss.
It's literally not hard.
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