There is no best medium.
However many have preferences. Some use natural substances like perlite, vermiculite and peat moss; some use damp paper towels and keep them moist. Some use potting soil. They all work but have pro and cons to each one.

Make sure whatever meduim you use has no chemicals added and is of a high grade. I lost an entire incubator full of eggs this year due to contaminated vermiculite. I changed asap and have a few hatching again. Another poster (Ken) informed me he had vermiculite that smelled of moth balls. Obviously he didn't use that! Some insist that perlite is the best way to go. I noticed that it too comes in various grades. Get the highest grade.

I like Black Gold Perlite. I mix my perlite with milled peat moss, and vermiculite. All three together seem to have great water cohesion, capillary action and resist drying out. I'm in a very dry area. In humid conditions I'd recommend Perlite.

Please see my post about four down from this one on mediums dated the 24th. It has a bit more info that you might find helpful.
Ric

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• Best Incubation medium - dragoncjo, Mon Jul 24 11:32:54 2006
• RE: Best Incubation medium - streamwalker, Mon Jul 24 18:16:59 2006
• RE: Best Incubation medium - dragoncjo, Mon Jul 24 18:41:57 2006