This may sound like a really basic question, but since I don't smoke, I know nothing about lighters. I've seen the throwaway Bic lighters, the historic Zippos, all the way up to "stormproof" styles. Among my various kits I have Nato matches, waterproof matches, Blastmatch and SparkLite. If I were to add a lighter, what makes the most sense?

there have been quite a few threads on this board over the last several months, you might search on Bic or Zippo, there are quite a lot of opinions on this topic

Malpaso:
Although I don't smoke either (I did 37 years ago) I always carry a Bic-type butane lighter in my pocket. When I am going hunting, I add some strike anywhere matches in a small ziplock bag and in a separate little ziplock bag I carry a Zippo lighter with a litlle bottle (that used to be for eye drops) with lighter fluid. I also take a ziplock back with Vaseline impregnated cotton balls. I heard that you can use Neosporin (an antibiotic) instead of Vaseline that way you can use these cotton balls to desinfect wounds if necessary.

LOL! I told you I knew nothing about lighters. After searching on Bic and Zippo, I know even less. I guess my question was the equivalent of, "What knife, what flashlight, what gun...?"

If you take a bic or other disposable type lighter with you, it will take care of 95% of your firestarting needs. Swap it out every so often for a new one, and you shouldn't have much to worry about. If you pack a blastmatch or some other sparker, you are pretty much in the green. If you use a zippo, you will have to remember to refill it with lighter fluid every couple weeks or so. If you pack a refillable butane lighter, you will have to refill it maybe less often than a zippo. There are refillable butane lighters that use a catalytic element that makes the flame darned near windproof. That might be overkill for all but the most extreme situations.

Stick with one of those 98 cent butane specials at the stop and rob counter, and do some more research. Zippos work quite a bit different than butane lighters do. Calibri makes some nice refillable butane lighters.

One of those throwaway butane lighters makes the most sense for now.

For someone who doesn't smoke, a disposable butane would probably suffice. Look for the type with the opaque body so that you can visually determine butane level. Also check for flame adjustability before purchase. Some will provide a small blowtorch like flame.

That being said, I'm a smoker (my only vice), and always carry a Zippo. Although the design is not high tech, its design is superb in its simplicity and results. It will light in high winds (i.e. motorcycle, fishing boat motoring across the lake), holds an extra flint, and can be used as a sparker if necessary. The downside is carrying the fuel, which is Naptha based. The fluid can be skin irritant. I usually carry a small can of fluid in my pack, coated in duct tape and bagged.

Being a traditionalist, an added benefit is that the fuel also works in the 2 old-fashioned hand warmers I keep in my cold weather gear. I do not recall the name, but they resemble a closed Zippo lighter stuffed in a red flannel bag.

Gerry

PS Another benefit of carrying lighter fluid is as a white trash fire starter.

I'm certainly no expert on lighters, but ...

Peiso-Electric Lighters I've heard several comments about peiso-electric lighters no lighting in very cold weather (those are the ones that get a spark from electricity generated by a trigger movement - as opposed to metal striking a flint). I always wondered by a few moments in a pocket or armpit wouldn't solve that issue.

Zippo Lighters I've heard these have problems with fuel escaping during long-term storage. That alone has kept me from using them. If used more often they might be a better option for me.

Disposable Lighters Vary as far as reliability. Well known brand names seem to do better. All are somewhat subject to long-term corrosion issues, which is why scheduled swap-out of older Bic lighters is recommended. Someone here recommended use of Cricket lighters instead. Cody Lundin prefers some kind of low-cost generic lighter, but I've not a clue which ones are those.

Jet Lighters This is my general term for lighters that seem to burn at higher pressures and have a characteristic "blow torch" type flame. Most have peizo-electric starters. The Windmill Stormproof Lighter and the Solo Storm are examples. I have both and they seem pretty equivalent and quite reliable. They can be used upside down which is good for lighting pipes, if that's your thing. I've always suspected they go through butane faster than other types, but have no proof of that.

One of the things I've not liked about most, if not all lighters is that they have very poor "reach". Picture setting up a campfire. Place a fire starter (cotton ball w/ vaseline). Place the tinder (usually small twigs for me). Cover with kindling. Add some fuel wood. Now try to use a typical lighter to reach through the tinder, kindling, and fuel wood to light the firestarter. Yeah I now I could light the firestarter first and then start placing the tinder, kindling, and fuel wood on top, but that isn't how I prefer to do it.

Anyway, I came across the Solo Candle Lighter which is made by the same people as the Solo Storm. It is an extendable lighter that can be lit both extended and unextended. Pretty cool. I really like mine but haven't used it long enough to give long-term reliability. Also the place where I bought it didn't allow color choices and mine came in black. The company doesn't offer any bright colors - wish they did. Not the best colors for outdoor use. The best choice might be the blue one. It has a peizo starter, but a traditional flame (not a jet type), which I might thing would last longer.

Also, if you do get a refillable lighter, take the trouble to go to a pipe shop and get high quality butane. Solo gives specific recommended brand names: Lava, Lucienne, King, Prometheus, or Vector - describing them as usually coming in a large 10-13 oz can with a metal fill nozzle (ass opposed to plastic). I use the Lucienne brand.

Hi there,

I've used different kinds of lighters... I would choose a Bic or Mini-Bic. They are reliable and cheap. Unless you have a specific need (for example, lighting up when motoring across a windy lake), I wouldn't bother with a Zippo and it's flints, refueling, fluid dried up after two weeks, etc.

The Zippo has it's crowd, and I like it myself, but for your situation, I would go with a disposable Bic.

Hello Ken,
A few thoughts on your post.

PIEZO LIGHTER: If it won't light, it is probably because the butane is cold. Butane will not vaporize in very cold weather. Carry it next to your body if you use a butane in cold weather.

ZIPPO: Will last one to two weeks depending on use. I have seen some on this forum suggest tightly taping the lid around the opening to reduce evaporation.

DISPOSABLES: I continue to maintain that a Cricket lighter is far superior to a Bic. Problem is, they are hard to find. Anyone that knows of a source, please post. WalMart doesn't stock them.

JET LIGHTERS: If you can't reach the tinder pile, carry one of the long snout charcoal/pilot light lighters.

I have a suspicion that the reason gas lighters sometimes won't light is because the gas has caused the tiny orifice, or jet, to corrode. Try sticking a thin, sharp needle in the orifice from time to time. This seems to help. And one final thought.
For long term storage, stay away from the flint lighters. The flint WILL degrade and get soft. In time it will completely disintegrate.

And finally, for those still sold on Bic, my son bought a pack of 100 for $10 at Sams Club. Not a bad price. But then, you get what you pay for. (Don't you, RandyO?) <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Boone