Pocket lighters - what's good?

S

Sid Post

Joined
Oct 14, 1998
Messages
4,729
Excluding Magnesium bars and the Light-my-fire rods, I need some better fire options. I have typically carried disposable lighters for melting paracord ends and similar things but, I need something more durable and more wind resistant.

Options I'm looking at are:
  • Brunton Helios
  • Windmill Stormproof
  • Windmill Delta Shockproof
  • Zippo Blue
  • Zippo classic windproof

Some questions:
  • What fuels will the Zippo run on (for when I fly to Europe)?
  • How durable are these lighters relative to each other?
  • What maintenance differences exist?
  • Which are significantly heavier or bulkier then the others?
  • Have I overlooked some good lighters?

TIA,
Sid
 
Never used any except a Zippo. Not a fan because the fuel evaporates so quickly. Looking forward to hearing what others' say...
 
the brunton is supposed to be the best. My thoughts on a classic zippo is that they can use just about any fuel, including gasoline.
 
I have a Brunton Helios in my backpack as a backup to matches. It always works and seems very tough. I have had it for three years or so at least.
 
First, let me say, I have never operated a Brunton Helios. It seems very interesting, and yet I still won't buy one. Here is why I guess.

My experience with butane lighters is they do not work well in cold weather. I hope someone has experience with the Brunton and can tell me otherwise. I would love to hear it.

I winter camp, so that is an issue for me. I refuse to have a "winter set" and a "warm weather set" of stuff.

There is always the argument that you can keep the lighter warm, but next you start saying that about your gps, then your batteries, then the next thing you know.....you are out of room in your sleeping bag! :D I prefer to just keep things simple.

Also, with the "fancy" lighters (and I have had a few) the weak link seems to be the ignition system. They say they are rated for XXX thousands of cycles. But, I personally believe that is in a laboratory, because I have had many quit. When you are actually lighting things, I think a residue builds up that causes the ignition to quit long before the ratings. At least that is my irresponsible speculation :D

With all that said, I prefer the plain old zippo! I know people are going to have negative things to say about my choice, but here is my justification.

Fuel evaporation - Yes, if you fill it, the fuel will evaporate in a matter of days. I have an easy fix. I put a ranger band around the opening, and the fuel will literally last for months! I was trying to do experiments with how long it would last, and I kept getting bored with it. Let's just say, it is WAY longer than I need. Not to mention that the ranger band has the whole "multi-purpose" thing going on :D

Ignition System - Plain old mechanical and simple. A flint last a LONG time. Even so, I carry a spare in the container. If worse comes to worse, and you have NO fluid available anywhere, you have a very good, mechanical source of creating sparks.

Fluid - You can carry 1 oz of fluid (everyone can afford to carry an ounce) and that is enough to last you a year or more of lighting fires.

Windproofness - Zippos work okay if the wind is from the side. It is how the chimney works. They way I look at it, if you have 80 mph winds, you won't be lighting a fire anyway. You are going to have to seek a windbreak, and while this feature sounds all glamorous, it is not as big of a deal as it seems.

Leaking - People claim zippos leak. I think they are talking about fuel evaporation. I have been using these things since I was 12, and have only had one leak once. That was because I filled it up too much. Even at 12, I figured that one out, and have never had the issue since.

Cold Weather - They work great. What more could you want?


Everything is personal preference, and the key is making things work for you. With the things I have mentioned, I am fine with the zippo working for me.

Like most things, I just like simple things.

As a funny side story, I winter camped twice this year with a friend that is a female (not to be confused with a girlfriend :D) and she had a fancy, expensive butane lighter. She kept trying to keep it warm, and could never get it to work the whole time on either trip. I would hear her trying to do something and kept hearing "click, click, click, click.........." I would walk over and flick a bic and piss her off every time :D At least I thought it was funny!

B
 
Last edited:
These are mighty pocketable, and have an o-ring seal to prevent leaks/evaporation. I've had the mini version on my keychian for months and it still lights everytime, and is still on it's first fueling (though I don't use it much).

http://countycomm.com/sslight.htm
 
I carry a Bic or 2 or 3. Keep 'em in your shirt pocket and the cold isn't an issue. They are inexpensive and work and that works for me.
 
The Helios is what I have and it works very well. I have only heard bad things about the Zippo Blue.
 
I just use a standard mini bic. They work fine, and are cheap, small, light, and readily available. I carry enough crap in my pockets to carry a Zippo. I do have acouple peanut lighters from County comm, and they are cool, I keep em in a few kits.
 
Some body will have to help with the current manufactor/seller, but there was a thing called an "Eterna Match" at one time...The little rod screwed into the top of it but it used plain Zippo fuel. My brother had one in his kit a LOONNG time ago and it worked. He's old as a dinosour now and cant remember what it was called or where he got it!
 
if your set on a windmill...the delta is just a normal one in some kind of annoying plastic casing... it honestly just made it much more chunky...the normal one has a rubber gasket to keep water out so they are both water ressistant....i have both but i use neither usually just rock a few bic lighters in differnt pockets and pouches
 
Some body will have to help with the current manufactor/seller, but there was a thing called an "Eterna Match" at one time...The little rod screwed into the top of it but it used plain Zippo fuel. My brother had one in his kit a LOONNG time ago and it worked. He's old as a dinosour now and cant remember what it was called or where he got it!
Click to expand...

I had one. Mine was called the "Permanent Match." As I recall, I ordered it from inside the back cover of a comic book. Cost $1.00 (plus shipping, of course!)

I recently found another one at Sportsman's Warehouse (before the bastards closed the store...) as a fire starter. It did not mention one word about putting lighter fluid in it, as they apparently intended it to be used as merely a spark generator. I put fluid in and it worked as well as my old one.

A quick check on Flea Bay had several items come up under "permanent match." Some don't look at all like the old one, but it's the same concept.
 
I like Zippos. As I see it there are only two weak points; the spring and the lid hinge. Neither of those areas are fragile but they are the bits that fail with protracted use. Used daily I find that after a couple of years or so one needs to send them in to be tightened back up. Simple and free process. Provided the thing isn't repeatedly run dry the wick last ages leaving only the flints and fuel one needs to pay attention to. I'd give them maximum points for durability. Despite their limitations I put these on a par with Trangia burners – sometimes irritating but it's unlikely I can't get a flame from it somehow. Then there's the hands free element, and that fault diagnosis is immediately obvious.

Those turbo flame torch lighters all seem to have very similar components. I've not bought a really good one, but from the way the ho hum ones fail I doubt even the really good ones have overcome the irreversible problems with ignition and gas flow that accrue over time. Brilliant ones may exist somewhere but I'd need some convincing of the strategy employed to combat that. 'Till a maker publicly acknowledges these very precise deficits and says something like “ours has a built in jet pricker...” I'm steering clear. I've got a few mundane ones around for lighting pipes and melting stuff. I regard them as niche rather than workhorses, and still readily disposable.

Beyond when they are new, I think all people that have used a gas lighter with any regularity have experienced the belching, farting, stuttering idiots that gas lighters become over time. The only thing I think that has changed here is that cheapo Clipper / Bic guy gets to grind away on that flint wheel hoping the thing will catch whereas with these although the print on the thumb can be retained the user turns into a clicking maniac trying to get the brute to light.

Zippo fuel is such a generic name here the vast majority of places do not carry Zippo branded fuel. Ask for “Zippo fuel” or “lighter petrol” and you'll get the standard yellow can of Ronsonol. Strangely, if you ask the average service sector pleb for a can of Ronsonol you will confuse it.

I flagged these up here here before. I don't know if anyone followed up on it, but they look like a great back module up to me.
 
My Brother did show me a neat device. looks like a 45 auto round but has a fill port on the bottom(removed with a multi-tool) and the top screws on..works just like a zippo but you can leave it on your dash in the sun and the fuel wont evaporate. says he got it at a flea market for $1.00!
 
Rotte said:
I carry a Bic or 2 or 3. Keep 'em in your shirt pocket and the cold isn't an issue. They are inexpensive and work and that works for me.
Click to expand...

Same here.
Keep them warm is the key.
If something is to be added, never operate with wet hand, keep the spark roller dry.
 
Anrkst6973 said:
Some body will have to help with the current manufactor/seller, but there was a thing called an "Eterna Match" at one time...The little rod screwed into the top of it but it used plain Zippo fuel. My brother had one in his kit a LOONNG time ago and it worked. He's old as a dinosour now and cant remember what it was called or where he got it!
Click to expand...

Here's one source.

http://www.amazon.com/Permanent-Match-Survival-Kits-Camping/dp/B000ANB9CK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1246867713&sr=1-2
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top