A new kind of hydrophobic hyper-cross-linked polymers (HCPs) with high surface area, large pore volume, and controllable average pore size was prepared. The synthesized HCP-0.5 sample, having the biggest BET specific surface area (1394 m(2)/g), pore volume (1.55 m(3)/g) and micro-mesopore structure (average pore diameter of 4.4 nm), was used as a novel adsorbent for removing benzene. The results of the static adsorption/desorption experiment at 298,308 and 318 K showed that HCP-0.5 has a very large adsorption capability of 19.16 mmol g(-1) at 298 K for benzene. Dynamic adsorption experiments of benzene on HCP-0.5 under dry and humid condition (RH = 80%) revealed that the existence of water vapor had little effect on dynamic adsorption capacity of benzene on HCP-0.5 and almost did not change the breakthrough time. Therefore, these synthesized polymers can be used as efficient and competitive adsorbents for removing VOCs, especially under humid conditions. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.