Zippo Lighters- Good For Backpacking?

Razor

Razor

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Dec 8, 1999
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Took one on a weeekend backpacking trip and used it to start fires.it worked fine.Also had matches.is it dependable for the woods?Any opinions will be appreciated.Ray

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Ray
 
Zippos are more durable than most lighters, and the flame is big. It's also windproof. The only drawback is that the fuel eventually evaporates. If you carry it in the woods, carry some lighter fuel for it.
 
If you don't have any lighter fluid, and you do have some Coleman or white gas...use it! A buddy of mine did this a few times and it never gave him any problems(other than the fuel seemed to evaporate faster than standard Zippo fluid)
 
Another good thing about your zippo...
It will work when it is very cold. Those "Bic" type lighters will quit below freezing if kept in a pack or outer pocket.
As far as the fuel evaporating goes... I don't think it'd be a problem for a weekend, or a week long trip. It would dry up if kept in a bug out bag or e-kit for extended periods of time.
Just my 2¢
Ebbtide out.
 
Personally I would never rely on a Zippo. To rely on it assumes you have fuel for it, and to my way of thinking, that is incorrect.

I would much rather carry a metal match, with one of them and apropriate tinder, the sky is the limit. If you have something to light with your Zippo, I have something to light with my metal match, and it will never run out of fuel.

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Thank you,
Marion David Poff aka Eye, Cd'A ID, USA mdpoff@hotmail.com

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A zippo can be used hands free. That is light it and set it down and have two free hands to feed tinder to the flame, block wind ect. Thats a nice option.
 
I switched from a Zippo to a Bic disposable to save space and avoid evaporation. One advantage to a lighter over a metal match is that the lighter is a convenient light source. I probably use my lighter more for finding things in the dark than to start fires.

BTW. I've been able to start fires with an empty lighter under good conditions. I stuck dandylion fuzz into the lighter and ignited it with the flint and roller.
 
I carry a Zippo a lot. Carried in a jean pocket, from a full feeding, the fuel will take about a month to evaporate enough that you can't use it. That includes the occasional use of it. So... unless you're gonna be out longer than a month, or plan on using it more than the couple of times a day that you would need to, you should be fine with a Zippo.

However, I never (repeat NEVER) go backpacking without AT LEAST 2 reliable sources of flame. I consider the Zippo to be one of those, provided I have charged it before I leave.

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iktomi

[This message has been edited by rockspyder (edited 07-06-2000).]
 
Pros:
-hand-free operation once it is on
-windproof
-bombproof
-simple operation, no error-prone mechanism
Cons:
-heavy
-needs regular refilling (level of fuel is not visible), needs to carry fuel for extended trip
-questionable reliability after water immersion
After some hesitation I replaced it with some stronger BIC type lighters in my survival kit. It comes refilled for shorter hikes in pocket though.
Just my two cents,

HM
 
The zippo does work fine, except for the fuel. I've seen soldiers carry a fuel can to keep them going. If you are a smoker you can go through fuel fast.

I prefer to carry several mico/mini Bic's. Infact I buy ten at a time and put one in the bergan, one in my fishing kit, one in my survival tin, one in my cooking set up, one in my field shaving bag, one in my trouser pocket and one in my coat.
Yes, they do not give much heat and do not like real cold or any wind. They are prone to altitude sickness, but you need to go extremely high. What they do do is give a flame, again and again. They last when stored, and give hundreds of lights. Not bad as a torch as well. When wet, just dry them out. When making a fire, prepare it properly.

My pet hate are survival matches.

What I am looking for is a really good jet lighter. I've bust a few because of the delicate heat wire they have in the jet.
What is the best pocket jet lighter? Help, please.

If you want to start a fire in the wet, then a large pen sized gas jet solder iron works a treat. Big heat that really gets things going.

 
Ooops! Done it again.

[This message has been edited by GREENJACKET (edited 07-10-2000).]

[This message has been edited by GREENJACKET (edited 07-10-2000).]
 
I carry a Zippo, but not as my backup-backup due to it's evaporation of fuel and questionable performance when wet.

When hunting, the odor prohibits it's use.

A bic lighter, kept warm with body temp and stormproof matches and a striker in a watertight container are best.

Firesteel striker and a knife aren't bad to have along.
smile.gif


[This message has been edited by Nimrod (edited 07-12-2000).]
 
When I use to smoke I carried a Zippo for years, but eventually switched to disposable lighters when I spent more time indoors. In spite of the problems with 'Zippo burn' on my leg due to leaking fuel, always diddling with flints and fuel, I can remember smiling at all of the other weenies trying to use their disposable lighters in the wind while I was enjoying my Camel straight. I still have a couple of Zippos, and use lighter fluid on a regular basis as a degreaser and cleaner.
 
I carry the Bic lighters instead of Zippos for several reasons:
1. No evaporation problem.
2. You can wade through a river, let them dry out and they still work (I have did this). If you do this with a Zippo you will have to dry the filter and refuel it.
3. If you're changing the flint in a Zippo you can lose the spring real easy.
4. It's already heavier than a Bic and you have to carry fuel too.
5. If I lose a Bic it's not as costly to replace.
6. The Bic is child resistant (nothing is child-proof).
There are probably more reasons that I can't think of right now, but that's enough for me.
BTW, the Zippo is not wind-proof, but it does take a strong wind to put it out.
If you want wind-storm-proof then buy a hand-torch lighter.
Good luck to all.
 
A few months ago, I saw an ad for a Zippo marketed for survival situations. I like Zippos, but I wouldnt trust one for that, because, as others have said, the fuel evaporates.
 
GREENJACKET...the best butane lighter I've found are the ones by Orvis or the Alaskan model sold from Cabelas. I have another one that is virtually bombproof, it's at work in my LBE and I can't remember the name. These pizo-electric ones are the best. They ignite every time, and are very shock resistant and totally waterproof. I carry one daily...they're about the size of a very slim 9V battery and are very light. The refillable butane also lasts a long time (I don't smoke, so it lasts even longer).

As to the Zippo, my thoughts are a little different. For backpacking I go with a butane lighter, but for my bug-out kit, I add a Zippo as well.

As a survival lighter, the Zippo is perfect. No it doesn't retain its fuel well at all, but can really take a beating. I carry a spare wick and extra flints inside under the felt bottom. I've use Kerosene, Diesel and even liquid paraffin for fuel. I've dropped it in a small stream and (quickly) recovered it, and after a quick drying it still worked fine.

For Urban survival, it's fine, if you head into the woods, it has its downsides. Provided you can locate or carry fuel it's great. Yes it's heavy, but it is reliable and well built.

Put into the perspective of how I use to establish communication for SF teams PACE...

Primary........Butane Lighter
Alternate......Strike Anywhere Matches
Contingency....Zippo Lighter
Emergency......Metal Match

Of course practice always makes perfect, so when things go well you use your PACE backwards…and you save your valuable matches and butane fueled lighters for real emergencies.

Just some thoughts and my opinion.

Dave



[This message has been edited by dp (edited 07-23-2000).]
 
I use zippos for back packing and also carry a Bic lighter. never had the Zippo fail yet of course I live in a warm climate and I always make sure the lighter is full when I leave the house.
 
Hi guys,

I'm back from my 4 week holiday in the US and this is the first time I have a chance to go onto Bladeforums.

I just bought myself a $9.95 Zippo lighter at Wall-Mart (plain beadblasted nickel plated) as I lost my brass one a couple of years ago and I couldn't find it at the Wall-Mart shops I visited.

I must confess that I'd rather have a "flame-less" butane (refillable) lighter becuase that doesn't lose it's fuel trough evaporation quickly and has a real pinpoint very hot flame.

But I also like the Zippo in wich you can burn many types of fuel.

I found at a German outdoor shop a nice Zippo "add-on" which is a special fuel tank that you put in the original Zippo instead of the cotton wadding and that keeps the fuel from evaporating and leaking.
It only costs a couple of Dollars.

If you wish to have a butane flame, they even sell a butane tank/ ignition system that you can use instead of the normal Zippo internals and it starts the butane release when you flip open the Zippo and you ignite it by normal flint ignition, quit neat !
This is for the Zippo fan that would like a butane lighter in Zippo clothes
biggrin.gif
.
This insert also only costs a few bucks.

Cheers,

Bagheera


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[This message has been edited by Bagheera (edited 08-01-2000).]
 
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