Lighters

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razorsdescent

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Jan 16, 2005
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What would be the best/most reliable lighter you could have for colder enviornments. Specifically snowy and mountainy areas (like northern afghanistan)

Im going to assume that its a butane style lighter of some sort. How long does butane stay in a lighter? a matter of years ive been told but im not sure?

Thanks for the heads up and any reccomendations.
 
Butane doesn't evaporate, it'll be contained in a lighter for a much longer time than you need to worry about. That doesn't mean they are reliable lighters though, because there are several other parts that can fail.
The best advice I can give you is to carry different options to make a fire with: carry a firesteel, matches, lighter. Cheap BIC lighters work just fine too.
 
A bic will work fine as long as you keep it near your body so it doesn't get too cold. There are some small kydex rigs that allow you to do this.

Theres also the cheap butane Jet lighters that you can get at gas stations, but I've never really found them to be super reliable.

There are some specialty lighters (Brunton) but I've heard mixed reviews on those.

I would say a combination of methods would be good. A couple of bic lighters, some weatherproof matches in a match safe and then a ferro/mischmetal rod and striker all in different pockets or whatever is probably the best bet.
 
I haven't had one fail me because of the cold. I used one in around -10F to get a fire. If I wanted to rely on a lighter, though, I would test that more. I would just get a bic and be done with it, but make sure to have a firesteel as well.
 
razorsdescent said:
What would be the best/most reliable lighter you could have for colder enviornments. Specifically snowy and mountainy areas (like northern afghanistan)

Im going to assume that its a butane style lighter of some sort. How long does butane stay in a lighter? a matter of years ive been told but im not sure?

Thanks for the heads up and any reccomendations.
Click to expand...

I used BIC lighters until -30 Celsius on my Winter trips in Scandinavia and I never had a problem so far. In the cold, I carry the BIC lighter in a plastik bag near to my body to keep it warm and dry. If a BIC lighter is cold, just keep it a few minutes close to your body to warm it up.

I have old BIC lighters which are more than 15 years old and still working.

Look also at the US RSOG homepage, they share my opinion as well.

As others told you already, take other fire starters (matches, ferrorod,...) with you as well. And always bing a second BIC lighter with you!

By the way: Reinhold Messner and Arved Fuchs used lighters when they went to the South Pole in 1989...

I hope that helps you!

Best regards,

tuxtex
 
I've been experimenting with some lighters recently. Bics are very reliable, as long as kept warm. Refillable butanes seem to die when low (or out), not giving you a second chance. You can always seem to coax a couple of more flames from a bic, and if that fails, at least you got a spark. Not possible with a piezo. Good luck getting that micro-spark to catch on something.
I take pliers and rip out the metal flap that curves over the thumbwheel. Makes it a lot easier to use for the kids.(and me :p) If your paranoid of losing fuel, put a small zip-tie under the red gas lever. Cut it with a knife when needed.Just my observations.
 
quietmike said:
Don't forget the peanut lighters.
http://www.countycomm.com/sslight.htm

Like a Zippo but with o-rings to keep the fuel from evaporating.

I wish Zippo, or anyone, would make a full size version of a peanut lighter, kind of a modernized Kaschie lighter.
Click to expand...

A second on the peanut lighter, I've got 3, one on my keyring, one in my BOB and one in my glovebox, I've pulled mine out of the BOB after a year and it still was full of fluid, it can be blown out easily but if ya can start a fire with a steel than ya can definately get a blaze goin' with one.
 
I carry a bic in a kydex sleeve, some waterproof matches, ferro rod, and a peanut lighter.
Always have options.
 
If you want real world advise, take a ZIPPO.... I carried mine all over Afghanistan and in all types of weather conditions. It never failed me. If you are going up north in the Mazar-e Sharif, Konduz area you want have to worry much about the altitudes and weather as the north is pretty flat compared to east and central Afghanistan . That’s where you run into the Hindu-Kush and that’s some serious mountains!
 
ok thanks for the suggestions so far, Currently i carry a zippo in my pocket and a bic on my FLC. So as long as im in country my needs are met. I think its great that the guys in vietnam were carrying the same type of lighter as me.

My question was for a bug out bag when i get back to the states, I think im going to try one of those delta stormproof lighters. Also i have at least 5 bics scattered in my bug out bag. and of course ferro rods.
 
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