I have never had any great problems using a Bic. In the sticks I carry several along with lifeboat matches and a sparking bar. Every day carry I chose a Mini-Bic and have never had an issue. I like the Mini because I don't smoke and seldom need a lighter but like to have one. A small lighter makes the burden acceptable.

The only potential problems with the Mini-Bic is that it is so small if my hands were frozen it might be a problem and it has less fuel. Of course living in Florida frozen hands aren't much of a issue and not smoking I just don't use enough fuel to justify the larger version.

When I do get out into the sticks the full sized Bic might make more sense.

I have seen people use all sorts of lighters with highly spotty results.

I used to carry a Zippo. Worked fine but when I overfilled it it ate the skin on my thigh where the fuel leaked out. A couple of times when I didn't fill it it ran out of fuel. Traditional and 'manly' the Zippo has a lot of cache but it is heavy, bulky and, IMHO, not as reliable as a Bic. If I was a smoker and felt the need to have my machismo reinforced the Zippo would be good around town.

I have seen several fairly expensive refillable butane lighters fail in various ways. Saw a $100 one where the refill valve leaked so that by the third day he was out of fuel even though it was only used a couple of times.

A common observation is that many of the 'windproof' models aren't. And the ones with all the seals aren't all really sealed. At least with a Bic I know if it is not sealed with tape or in a bag I need to get it out and dry it off if I end up in the drink. The ones that look like they are sealed can give you a false sense of security.

marine flares

I agree on the bic too. I find it much more reliable than the jet type. Every jet type lighter I have every bought and tried has failed, from cheap to not cheap.

I have had bics go through the washer & dryer even and work fine after I find it in my pocket. It lost some fuel, probably from getting depressed, but it still lit up first try. I have yet to use up the fuel in a bic or cricket lighter either. I buy half a dozen every other year and rotate out my stock.

Interestingly, I have found the peanut lighter (cheap) to be great at preserving fuel, unlike the zippo which goes dry within two weeks. I have a handful of those scattered around in various kits too. I check them every six months or so and after about a year and a half, I haven't refueled and they still light. I will top off the fuel at the two year mark when I rotate the bics. I also have a nice Dunhill (expensive) and that holds fuel very well too. I haven't refilled it in about four years and it still lights up.

And I second the road flare for emergency, gotta have fire now, backup fire in the pack. I have never needed it here in Hawaii, but it can get cold at night.

Please, take no offense, I mean no disrespect but?


I'm sure our forum friends from up north are just laughing their fannies off at that statement. I guess that on top of the volcanoes it will get cold and all, but really. Reminds me of the time we took the kids to DisneyWorld in FL in February. It was about 55 or 60 degrees, I was wearing short sleeves and the Disney folks were in parkas with earmuffs and gloves. As Einstein said, it's all relative.

If I could spell it I'd wish you Merry Christmas in Hawaiian! (That darn song gets stuck in my mind this time of year)

Andy

Hi CANOEDOGS

The best lighter I've come across is the Brunton FireStorm. It waterproof, windproof and very reliable.




http://www.brunton.com/product.php?id=6

DR has a quick review at
http://www.equipped.org/blog/?p=20

I even prefer it to the Brunton Helios Stormproof lighter.

Mele Kalikimaka!

Mahalo duckear. You beat me to it. Here it is with "and a Happy New Year!"

Mele Kalikimaka me ka Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!

Aloha Andy,

No offense taken. When it gets into the 50's, maybe 60's, it just takes me out of my normal personal and business attire of shorts. Come on, we can't have that!

With some of the inclement weather up north, I bet some of our northern forum brothers and sisters might want to take a visit to Hawaii for the holidays.

As unlikely as it may be, you can get hypothermia in 50-60 degree weather, especially if it is rainy and windy. It's been in the 60's here overnight and the wind has been blustery and it's been raining quite a bit, so it is definitely our winter. I am still in shorts, but feel pretty cool.

I remember quite a number of years ago, I went camping up in the mountains from the North Shore area. I had never camped up there before and I wasn't as prepared as I should have been. During the day it was hot, we hiked and played in the streams, caught prawns, picked fruit; and every night I froze my behind off.

On Oahu, we have gone into the 40's and I believe the record low in Hawaii is 12 degrees (on Mauna Kea). Hawaii is the only state to not have had a 0 degree or colder temperature. But I have frozen my fanny off on top of Haleakala when I went up there to watch the sunrise. And we do have snow and skiing, believe it or not.

But you are right, it is all relative.

Everyone stay safe and keep warm.

Yeah, supposed to get back up to 78 degrees here again today. We got a frost warning the beginning of the week, but it didn't freeze here in Orlando dangit! I had to put on the lightest jacket I could find here for two mornings in a row, but by 10:00 am it was too hot to wear it any longer.

Of course, it is kinda nice to walk out to the back yard and just pick a tangerine or two and start eating them.

It did, however, rain buckets again last night.

I sure am glad I got to go to Denver last week. They had about 4 inches of snow on the south side of town while I was there, with a low of around 12 degrees. Felt so good to be out in it I chapped my lips something fierce. At least I got a taste of it again. Last year this time I flew home from Brisbane to a snow storm in Denver as well. Ended up shoveling the sidewalk in dang near a blizzard. It's a pity the experience doesn't ever last long enough.

OK Benjammin,

It's about 23F here right now, freezing rain coming down, (not sure how that can happen) and there is about 16" of snow on the ground, so come on up. Good news is my new 4x4 is awesome in this stuff.

Blitz