What do you think of zippos for survival lighters?

I know what you mean. Why not just replace the wick on the zippo? It does evaporate, but I carry mine everyday so i just top it up once a week or so.

Yeah, its kind of hard to replace the wick but once you do it you don't need to do it for a long time. Look in the mall for zippo stuff. I've found flints, fluid, and even wicks.

Have you checked eBay

Zippo will repair/renew any lighter for $5. Here's a link to their repair page.

Actually its totally free, minus the cost of you shipping it to them. They repair it for free and ship it back for free.

Actually, we're both (partially) correct.

To quote from their site:
"Zippo Windproof Pocket Lighter
Any Zippo pocket lighter, when returned to our factory, will be put in first-class mechanical condition free of charge, for we have yet to charge a cent for the repair of a Zippo pocket lighter, regardless of age or condition. The finish, however, is not guaranteed.

This guarantee gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary state to state or country to country. Other Zippo products carry their own specific warranties. To obtain service under this warranty, follow the shipping instructions in the FAQs.

Zippo Multi-Purpose Lighter
Any Zippo Multi-Purpose Lighter returned to our factory for warranty repair will be repaired free of charge or replaced, at our discretion. There is a $5.00 shipping and handling Fee. Damage to the Multi-Purpose Lighter resulting from abuse or misuse is not covered by our warranty. The finish is also not warranted."

Pretty good, regardless.

I've sent them a nmber trashed-out lighters I've picked up at garage sales and flea markets. Each one came back crisp and ready to burn stuff. It's a heck of a service!

-Blast

"...replace the wick on the zippo..."

Back when I was a (heavy) smoker, I used the same Zippo for probably twenty years, never had a problem. Just how much does one have to use a Zippo that the wick has to be replaced???

The jewelry section at super WalMart's carry flint and wicks for Zippos. I replaced both on my zippo earlier this year.