BICs and Clippers come pre-filled. The other three lighters we tested come empty and you must fill them with the appropriate fuel, which you also must buy.

A household candle lighter is much different than an “everyday carry” lighter for your bug-out bag. Your lighter’s housing needs to be a durable, waterproof material for the latter, while a soft flame in a pretty casing is perfect for the former. Consider how waterproof and windproof your lighter will need to be, then decide from there. What are the different types of lighters? But should you truly need a weather-resistant lighter, the UCO Stormproof Torch is your best option.The Saberlight Sparq Plasma Lighter features a windproof and splash-resistant design to keep the lighter’s internal battery and plasma components safe from the elements. The lighter also boasts easy operation via a simple, ON/OFF switch. 6. UCO Stormproof Torch Selecting a reliable survival lighter is arguably one of the most important gear choices you’ll make. In this Buyer’s Guide, we will highlight the most important factors to keep in mind when choosing between the best survival lighters on the market today. Let’s look at what you need to keep in mind when selecting a survival lighter: After all, the point of buying a survival lighter is so that you’re prepared for ANY survival scenarios that could arise in the future. Choosing a lighter, therefore, that is either refillable or rechargeable is a smart selection.

Although, just because you expect to encounter adverse weather on your trip doesn’t mean that you need to bring along a highly weather-resistant lighter. Now, I don’t mean this lighter doesn’t light consistently. It does. The Zippo was the third most reliable lighter in that regard, lighting 175 out of 200 times. H/T to this reddit thread for giving me the idea for this test, as well as the idea to test a Clipper lighter in the first place.) Reliability Test To determine my final list of the best camping lighters, I put them through a series of tests that replicated the harsh scenarios I’ve experienced in the field. Windproof

What Makes One Lighter Different than Another?

Zippo Matte Lighter: 20+ minutes when submerged with lid closed; didn’t bother testing with lid open Waterproof – The most important feature of a waterproof lighter is that it’s waterproof. It needs to be able to be completely submerged in water without its performance being affected. Make sure you read the instructions carefully because some of these lighters can’t be opened under water and others can. The last factor we’ll discuss in this guide is choosing between the types of fuel survival lighters use to function. This choice can determine how useful your lighter is when you need it and also plays a role in how easy it is to refill. Certain fuels are more accessible than others, and recurring cost also has to be factored in. Generally, there are four types of fuel we’ll discuss: lighter fluid, butane, electric/arc, and plasma.

On the plus side, Zippo fluid is made of a petroleum distillate which ignites easily and burns cleanly. Survival lighters should be cared for and handled differently than disposable lighters. They are, of course, made for survival purposes and should be treated as such. In this Frequently Asked Questions section, we’ll answer some of the common concerns about survival lighters and provide some insights into the best ways to use and maintain your new lighter.

Alternative Ways to Light Your Backpacking Stove or Start a Campfire

Unless you need a highly weather-resistant lighter such as the UCO Stormproof Torch, I’d recommend you go with a flint lighter. Also called jet lighters, turbo lighters, or cigar lighters, butane torch lighters contain butane stored in a pressurized chamber. The fuel is forced through a nozzle with air, creating a very intense, strong, and hot flame. They are basically like mini Bunsen burners. While neither truly windproof nor waterproof like UCO’s incredible stormproof matches, this lighter was the most wind- and water-resistant that we tested.