OK let me set up the seen. I am backpacking in to a remote fishing spot not a rough trip. Three hours in three hours out a nice weekend trip. Fall foliage changing the colors of the forest. Just beautiful, in the early evening hours we came upon two Bull Moose sparing. They made me a bit uncomfortable so we kept our distance. As the Sun was just about hidden we make camp. I set up the stove getting ready to start dinner, pulled out my Windmill windproof lighter from my PSK and click,,,, click,, click, click, click, nothing. My buddy pull out his;P.O.S. lighter and we where eating in minutes.

I was discussed with myself. I had in my PSK a magnesium fire starter and tinder. But my lighter failed. It was full of fluid and come to find out it won't work over 9,000 feet. We were around 10.

So I guess my post has two parts. One, if you have a windproof lighter except the Colibri Xtreme Lighter which tops out at 15,000 feet, your lighter is useless at 9,000 feet. Two, does any one know of a good small, small lighter for my PSK that will work to about 13,000 feet?

Hi lostscout,
Here is the story of a man who went trekking in Nepal. In his packing list, he notes that his "electronic" (piezoelectric) lighter stopped working at higher altitudes, while a lighter with "traditional flint" worked normally. I'd suggest a Bic or Cricket disposable. I've read negative things about Scripto, but cannot vouch for that myself. For redundancy, you could even carry a "mini" version of both the traditional flint and the piezoelectric styles. That way, you've got both the somewhat more waterproof one and the somewhat better at altitude one.
Stay safe,
J.T.

Are you sure that was not caused by temperature and altitude combined? I know that at lower altitudes and very cold temps some butane stoves won't work due to the lower temps, when taken to a much higher altitude they do work, difference in pressure and temp. It is pretty common for Himalayan expeditions to use propane/butane stoves and they work. I have never had a lighter fail at any altitude, if it was warm and dry, as in my pocket! Very strange! I'd like to hear more on this subject.

Last Christmas I visited my brother in northern Alberta, where his family was living in a trailer and were building a house. Of course, it wouldn't be Christmas at my brother's if I didn't end up getting roped into building something <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> , but doing anything in a non-insulated wood frame at temperatures of around -30 is a challenge, to say the least. He had rented two propane heaters and had one of those piezo-electric barbeque lighters. Worked fine, until one day he made the mistake of leaving it in the house overnight; we found out that a piezo-electric lighter does not light if you leave it lying around at such low temps. And neither of us had so much as a paper safety match between us <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I ended up driving to the convenience store to pick up a couple of books of matches; THOSE we left in the house from then on <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I have a piezo-electric mini-butane torch with a "refillable fuel cell" that I bought from Radio Shack. I think I tossed the "fuel cell"; it's basically a plastic Bic type lighter but without the flint/striker. I bought a couple of cheap disposable lighters the same shape and size and they work just fine. Plus, if the torch refuses to light, I can always pull it apart and use the lighter <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I've been thoroughly underwhelmed by the performance of piezo-electric lighters...so much so that I'll no longer carry one. I've found cheapie Bic lighters to be vastly more reliable in every respect.

It is a matter of unbalanced mixture of gas and oxygen. The piezo ignites only when the correct mixture is achived just like the ignition system in engines. Try the gas level in minimum, sometimes it works.

I use a piezo pocket torch for many years and I am a dedicated smoker I always have back up for fire purposes. Also my torch can be lit with a flint rod etc. when needed as it has a flame lock that leaves both your hands free. It is not to fit in a PSK but it is an important piece of equipment for me.

rothenberger pocket torch for outdoor soldering

Burak

Howbout the Solo Storm lighter does it work in excess of 9,000 feet or is it just like the Windmill? Also would the Storm be good for someone in lower altitudes?

I took it apart and "edited" the high and low flame level limit. it was in my PSK in my pocket so it was warm. It just would not light.

Perhaps I'm a luddite but...

reliably I can light some tinder-quick tab with a spark-lite - (in the psk)

Some cotton wool with a BSA Hot-spark - (hanging on the keychain)

I never consider myself equipped without a waterproof match safe with some storm-proof matches inside. They work in all conditions and have even been know to be used to light a lighter. - (stuffed in the vest pocket)

Next most reliable is the liquid-fueled lighters (provided you are religious in maintaining the fuel resevoir - (don't have one cause I'm notorious with letting it dry out)

Then the mini-bic - (one in the pants pocket, one in the jacket pocket, one in the vest pocket)

Then the fancy extra bells & whistle high temp super jet lighters - (one in the vest pocket, one in the jacket pocket - the one in the jacket has never worked well but I haven't bothered to throw it out yet - 1 yr and counting).

this one works to 15,00 feet:
Colibri Xtreme Lighter