Zippo's are the most reliable of all lighters, under all conditions IN WHICH A LIGHTER WILL FUNCTION. Just ask any lighter repair/tobacconist. BUT: fuel evaporates over time, and you have to check this! Store extra flints under the wadding, but be sure they are Zippo flints. Other flints (e.g. for butane lighters) may break down over time when bathed in lighter fluid.<br>Butane lighters (relative to Zippo) are much more prone to failure at altitude or in severe cold. Lighters should be only one part of your(redundant) fire starting systems.<br><br>I polish my Zippo to a very high mirror finish. .. as in signaling mirror. I also loop 2 or 3 "rubber bands" cut from a bicycle inner tube over the base of the lighter.... great wet/dry kindling.<br><br>