This isn't necessarily intended for a survival type situation...

I'm a smoker and intend to be one for a while. I like the torch style lighters. I've had a few, some advertised as "storm proof" and whatnot. But I haven't found one that's freeze proof.

Here in MN, in the winter, my lighter is in my pocket and when it gets cold it doesn't work for nothing. I want one that works when it's been out in the cold for a while. Don't want a zippo or bic, etc...

Anyone know of a torch style, stormproof lighter that actually works when it's frozen? Or is this something, due to the design of the torch style dealie, that just doesn't work when it's cold?

Nope, but I suggest a shirt pocket carry placement to keep it warmer.

Its gas under pressure, so, as butane works differently at lower pressures and temps, there likely isnt any way, barring keeping it warm, that I would see it working, simply due to nature of the fuel.

Even Zippos can be hard to light when it gets real cold.
Bics seem to freeze at about -20 on me.

Like Desperado and old Soldier say, the only things you can really do are put it in an inside pocket or warm it up in your hands before lighting it.

You may try looking at backpacking forums or mountaineering forums. Maybe shoot an email to rmiguides.com who guide mountain climbs.

I have a high altitude lighter, I can't recall the name. Its a pressurized butane lighter with a clasp lock and some other 'novel' concepts like a button compass and waterproof seal. It's basically a suped up bic.

I have used it over 12,000 feet but it was also next to my body so it wasn't frozen.

Just fill your gas lighter with Isobutane/propane mix from a commericial canister

http://www.msrgear.com/stoves/isopro.asp

you'll also probably need the Brunton fuel tool as well.

http://www.rei.com/product/708996

This should in theory give you an additional 11C colder working temperature compared to butane fuel.

Actually you may find that the working temperature of the torch using this fuel may even be slighter lower as the propane content will burn of first at very low temperatures enough to warm up the torch to get the isobutane above its boiling point of -11.5C.

Sorry, I was typing without the benefit of my contact lenses when I wrote the quote above.

When I was an avid skier, I learned to keep a small pouch on a wide (think ice hockey skate) shoe lace around my waist or neck. Inside said pouch was ID, lighter and smokes. Lighter stayed warm, smokes stayed dry, and if I hung myself accidentally by the neck cord the ID let them know who was dead.

I now use a beak-away lanyard as I have no wish to be hung by the neck. Added to the aforementioned contents are cash and a USB drive with all family med and ID info etc.

As an aside....

Try shaking the lighter when cold, it seems to help. Or try to quit the smokes, but that hasn't worked for me yet either.

What about wind-proof matches?

Sounds to me like it has more to do with the physics/chemistry of the lighter than anything else. I kinda expected that.

So help me with the conversion here, so I can decide if this is worth my while. Theoretically, the fuel mix you're suggesting should work down to about 10 degrees F, if not a little lower?

Would you think a different fuel would negatively effect the lighter, all else being equal?

IF I remember correctly isobutane burns "hotter" than propane. (or I may have that backwards) Flame size may be different. I would assume BLAST would know.