Recommend me a good lighter

cmd

cmd

Joined
Feb 7, 2004
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I don't smoke but have been looking for a good lighter to have on hand regularly. Uses would be around-the-house stuff like lighting charcoal and burning the ends of cut cord, starting camp fires when camping, and emergency firestarting if necessary.

Some important features are: small and easy to cary, reliable, refillable, works in poor conditions like wind and rain, not too expensive - $20 is expensive and $30 is about my limit.

Does such a thing exist?

Chris
 
i'd say a good old zippo. they survived vietnam, so i think they should be okay for your use :p some people will tell you to get one of those fancy inserts to make it a butane lighter, but i'd say stick with the classic configuration, it's virtually indestructable.
 
I have heard that zippos evaporate their fluid, and since a lighter for me could easily go a few weeks without use then need to work right then, it might not be a good choice.

How often does a zippo need refilling when not used to remain reliable?
 
neosporin said:
i'd say a good old zippo. they survived vietnam, so i think they should be okay for your use :p some people will tell you to get one of those fancy inserts to make it a butane lighter, but i'd say stick with the classic configuration, it's virtually indestructable.
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a lot of things survived vietnam. doesn't mean there isn't something better. zippos tend to evaporate and if you're a regular smoker then you'll probably remember to top it up but if you're not it's a pain.

get a butane lighter. i've had only good experiences with my windmill delta. sometimes i forget it's there. it's never failed to light up as well. you can go for weeks (maybe months) without refilling if you hardly use it.

there are some other good butane lighters but i've not tried 'em. i'm happy with my windmill.
 
If you have a BOAT US store near you they have a windproof butane similar to the Colibri quantums or the Windmill brand, they were $10 a couple of years ago. EMS may have a good windproof near The $30 range. Eddie Bauer may some left that have a LED flashlight in them for about $15 (they were on clearance at Christmas time.
As you may be able to tell, I love lighters, I collect them, I probably have over 50 (and I smoke)
 
I would recommend a Zippo for about $20 along with a Blazer Products Z-Plus insert:

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video of Z-Plus in action

Hot enough to melt a penny:
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Zippo with Z-Plus... Local Cigar store had a special... By the store-logo Zippo and the threw in the Z-Plus for free!
 
Anyone have an online site where you could get the Zippo and the Z-Plus delivered internationally?
 
Wepster said:
If you have a BOAT US store near you they have a windproof butane similar to the Colibri quantums or the Windmill brand, they were $10 a couple of years ago. EMS may have a good windproof near The $30 range. Eddie Bauer may some left that have a LED flashlight in them for about $15 (they were on clearance at Christmas time.
As you may be able to tell, I love lighters, I collect them, I probably have over 50 (and I smoke)
Click to expand...

I picked up a Storm Lighter from West Marine, seems like it will meet my needs just fine and the price was right. Here it is:
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...0001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=2757

The Zippo with a Z-Plus seems like overkill, but then again... where are Z-Plus inserts sold? I might just need to melt some pennies one day.

Thanks for everyones' help and advice!

Chris
 
Gotta agree with Rebeltf, a mini-Bic. Small, reliable, won't leak gas / can be kept non-used for years, cheap, and easily replaceable. No coolness factor, but when I'm camping this is my primary fire making tool.

I used to smoke, so I generally carry a Zippo, but between being a former smoker, and rooming with a smoker, I can generally remember to keep a it filled, but wouldn't recommend it for someone who wouldn't use it regularly.

I've never been partial to Colibri's. Regardless of the quality, they feel insubstantial to me, but if you must have the coolness factor, and don't want the Bic, they're a good place to start.

The other cool looking butane lighters are generally too bulky to carry for something you're not going to use, but want to have on a "just in case" basis. Although I have seen some incredibly small novelty butane lighters, they were generally low quality.

kkimo
 
Can I ask a DUMB Question? I've been thinking of getting a ZIPPO myself, but What is/are the differences between a ZIPPO and a Colibri, especially the waterproof/windproof Colibris? Seriously I'd like to know details I don't know much about lighters and usually only use a match or BIC when needed.
 
Zippos use zippo fuel or sometimes people use lantern fuel/alcohol. It is windproof because, there is a fuel soaked wick that is ignited by the flint spark.

Colibri lighters are have various ignition systems, flint/piezo(sp) and are fueled with butane (high grade stuff). The piezo ignition system uses an electric spark, and a coil heats up after ignition. If wind blows out the flame, the coil will be hot enought to reignite the fuel.

The Z insert works like the piezo.

(I'm pretty sure what is posted is accurate, but if not, someone correct me ;) )
 
Thanks a lot, I didn't know Zippos were windproof. What is this I hear about need to refill them, does the fluid evaporate or is it only used up by lighting. Also, are there any advantages/disadvantages of butane over Zippo, I'm really lighter ignorant.
 
the lid on the zippo is just metal, no rubber seals or anything. this means the fluid inside will evaporate slowly but steadily. the butane won't have this problem since its a liquid only under pressure and needs to be stored airtight.
 
I am not sure of the cost nowadays, but I swear by the Windmill Delta stormproof lighter. You can light anything in howling wind!!! It gave me a few light-up problems a while ago but I think it was a minor blockage which seems to have sorted itself out when I dropped it!!! It really is a robust all-weather lighter.
 
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