I have thrown Bic lighters, the real ones,into pack pockets, etc. and carried them for several years with good reliability. I have also invested in a peanut lighter which I EDC on my key chain. I test it about every few months, since i rarely have to light a fre under emergency conditions these days.

If you ever have to build a fire under true emergency conditions, the trivial investment in diverse and reliable fire building gear will pay off immensely. Don't be afraid to spend a little money for this stuff.