Windproof lighter wanted

[mik matra]

Hi guys,

Been having 'issues' with the mini Bic lighter on windy days or if the flint gets moisture on it. Tried the weatherproof matches and now I am moving on to the windproof lighter.

The same guilty parties apply: Small and Lightest you know of.

Thank you.

Mik.

[Jim C]

Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel mini is the lightest one I've used.

For lighting an alcohol or gas stove, that's all you'll need. If you're lighting wood, or want some insurance, bring a few Vaseline cotton balls in a small ziplock bag.

I haven't tested these in a monsoon, but I have lit a stove in wind and rain, and even a fire in light rain.

P.S. If you do go the wind proof lighter route, check what the maximum altitude it works at. I have a Soto butane lighter (that wouldn't qualify as particularly light), that won't light above fairly modest altitudes.

[Ken Thompson]

Tried a couple versions years ago. All were crap at altitude. All had their elements burn out after a while. Not worth the expense, IMO.

I can smoke in the rain, what issues are you having? How do you store your lighter? Where's your second mini bic?

[McDowell Crook]

I echo Jim's comments completely. I tried a butane waterproof lighter for a while and it failed completely on a long trip. Will never use again. Then on a trip last winter I had two brand new bic lighters fail, one of which was inside my jacket, warm and protected from the elements. What are the odds? I was just glad there was a hiker in the vicinity who helped me light my stove.

I now carry one bic lighter (if it works, great but I don't expect it to) and a Light My Fire ferro rod with several vaseline cotton balls. I use esbit so the cotton balls are critical, but they're light and, most importantly, dependable.

[Franco Darioli]

"I now carry one bic lighter (if it works, great but I don't expect it to) and a Light My Fire ferro rod with several vaseline cotton balls. I use esbit so the cotton balls are critical, but they're light and, most importantly, dependable."
Would you believe 2x mini Bics and 1x ferro rod for me ? (not on overnighters…)
BTW, taking a hint from another thread, it seems that it is easier to use a Ferro Rod with a carbon blade than stainless steel.
(it works that way for me with my carbon Opinel compared with the SS Mora)
Yes I know some come with a custom made striker.

[mik matra]

I am not looking for a flint rod but rather a lighter that throws a blue sharp flame unaffected by wind….like an electrician's torch when soldering the ground wires together. Make sense?

[mik matra]

[Franco Darioli]

Yes I think that we got the idea , you are talking about something like this one :

https://www.masterappliance.com/heat-tool-products/butane-powered/microtorches/microtorch-mt-5
or this one :

http://www.heatgunstore.com/iroda_mj_280_turbo_lite_lighter___torch-details.aspx
BUT (you knew that a but was going to come up) what some are gently trying to suggest is that a mini Bic and some "fire starter" (IE a tiny bit of cotton ball impregnated with Vaseline) will work better.

[mik matra]

Ta Franco for the options :-).

Though, I fail to see how a mini bic lighter will be any good with a vasaline soaked cotton wool if the flint is fouled from moisture and is not making any spark. Someone just mentioned that theirs fouled even when keeping it well away from moisture. Although I have been lucky and mine hasn't lost it's spark on any trip yet.

To the point though I wanted a more direct and stable flame to ignite the Esbit blocks. My cook system is already busy enough (got a fosters can cooksystem) with plenty of parts…..don't really want yet another ziplock bag of starters (I can see the attraction of the piezo starter jetboils, just so easy and convenient to use lol).

[mik matra]

@ Ken T. "what issues are you having? How do you store your lighter? Where's your second mini bic?"

1.Issues are I want something that is not so wind affected. I can huddle stuff around etc etc but it's still a pain lighting an Esbit block in windy conditions
2.Lighter goes in the pot. Never lost the spark (my mates have), more concerned about wind.
3.Second Bic????? I don't take 2 tents, 2 sleeping bags, 2 sporks etc etc lol

[mik matra]

I am yet to hike above 1300m (Australia's highest peak is only 2200m) so altitude will probably not be an issue.

[Franco Darioli]

3.Second Bic????? I don't take 2 tents, 2 sleeping bags, 2 sporks

At Tarptent we are working very hard to match the weight of a Mini Bic (22g) but we have not managed to do that as yet
I can make a spoon out of a stick but not sure if I could make a Mini Bic
I have used a Mini Bic at 3000m something, you are safe in the land of Oz with that.

oh Boy Oh Boy I love my Mini Bic !!!

( I am waiting for the Tour De France to start, there goes my beauty sleep. I am now 10 years behind with that)

Please don't use P.S. , Ben2Worlds doesn't like that.
I used to add a P.S. at the bottom of all of my posts , somehow Ben made a fuss over that.
I think he was envious of my familiarity with Latin.
Veni, Vidi, Vino.

[Bob Moulder]

when it comes to the butane torch-type lighters. Most weigh around 2 oz.

Lightest (umm… least heavy) I have found is this one which is spec'ed at 1.4 oz but actually weighs 1.594oz (45.2g) on my scale with some fuel in it.

I don't actually use it in the field… only when doing stove testing at home in order not to waste fuel in my precious Mini Bics, and to get the darn Esbit lit already. :^)

In the field, when it's somewhat windy I simply light the Esbit tab with a Mini Bic behind the stove windscreen. That has worked well so far, but then I've never had to light it in a truly stiff breeze.

If I were going to encounter gales like that all the time with nowhere to find shelter from the wind, I'd just bite the bullet and get a MSR Reactor or Windboiler; those things are impervious to cyclones.

[Mike M]

check out the Windmill lighter line, they have a couple of "stormproof" lighters- I have one in my hunting pack- weights are 1-2 oz depending on model, they are refillable too

[Ken Thompson]

"3.Second Bic????? I don't take 2 tents, 2 sleeping bags, 2 sporks etc etc lol"

LOL fire is my only redundancy. 2 mini bics weigh the same as one full size one. All three would be lighter than a torch type lighter.

[Ken Thompson]

That one is the one where the element burned out in short notice. Good luck Mike.

[Jerry Adams]

same here – bic flint lighter gets wet and quits working

I have several cheap piezo lighters.

I got an expensive piezo lighter but it didn't work as good as the cheap ones

[Mike M]

I've had mine for 7-8 years; saved my butt when I dumped a canoe on the Bighorn in December

I either got lucky with mine or you got unlucky with yours????

[Ken Thompson]

How about a bic with a piezo ignitor?

bic

[Ken Thompson]

Must be me then Mike. :(

[Mike M]

Interesting- haven't seen those before, might have to pick one up

no idea on Windmill warranty, maybe worth checking???

[Jeffs Eleven]

I carry a soto pocket torch. Ive had enclosed pocket torches that fail. The soto one is made to lut a cheap lighter in it and it becomes a torch. I use it for lighting stuff in the mountains and wind.

The two bic trick is good too because a lot of times your lighter is cold and wont light. With two you can rotate, one in hand one in armpit or beltline.

The soto is sweet so far. Wonder how long the piezo will last?

[Greg Mihalik]

A Soto Pocket Torch –

– is a big piece of equipment.

[Hikin’ Jim]

Yeah, the Soto Pocket Torches are big, but they do work. I take mine on shorter trips where weight isn't so significant. Danged convenient.

Re elevation: A piezo lighter shouldn't have much in the way of problems below 1500m elevation. Above 1500m, it can and will, particularly in winter in my experience. Above 2500m, good luck even on warm days.

HJ

[Don A.]

I'm always on the hunt for the perfect lighter, particularly for esbit. Torch lighters are great. Totally windproof, good up to about 8000ft, cheap and refillable. At higher elevations I use a Mini Bic which is temperamental, often requiring a long time to get a flame and don't even mention wind around one. What I currently carry is one cheap (ebay) refillable torch lighter, filled with high quality Colibri butane and a mini bic for when the torch stops working. Both lighters have a semi-transparent body that I can see the fuel level through. Having had a recent experience of having two butane lighters run out of fuel and my strike anywhere matches not light I'm a bit paranoid about these things.
I think the ideal lighter would be a windproof torch flame type, use a flint ignition, and a fuel not subject to temperature or altitude. Oh, and lightweight. A good old Zippo fills some of the requirements and I would consider using one but the fuel evaporates quickly. Some have wrapped their Zippos in cut off pieces of bike inner tubes to control the evaporation.
I'm testing the high quality butane fuel. My research came up with reports of clogging due to impurities in less well refined butane.
Scripto makes a lighter smaller than the Mini Bic. Has anyone tried it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvWni2hxH4c
The black bodied lighter and the mini Bic at the right are what I now use.
Flame on the torch lighter

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