For the most part a sparklite is like a bic with no fuel. If your bic ran out of fuel you could use it the same way after removing the guard and it would generate enough spark to work wth a cotton ball or sparklite tinder. The advantage I see is that the sparklite is more durable. It is made to spark and only to spark. After you remove the sheild from a bic, it gets a little fragile. I have had them come apart on me after removing the shield.