There are long lighters, short lighters, Zippos, and BICs. You’ve got electric lighters, and lighters that look more like a lightsaber or a blow torch. There are many different types of lighters, but here is our break down of the different types of lighters.
Which Type of Lighter Should I Get?
Now why would you only want to limit yourself to just one lighter? I’ve got at least one of all of these lighters. If I had to pick one I’d probably go with the basic BIC lighter, but different tasks are done better with different lighters. You probably don’t want to light a fire cracker with a blow torch, and its a lot easier to start a camp fire with a blow torch than it is with a plasma. Luckily, you don’t have to just pick one. Match the tool to the task.
Zippo Lighter
The Zippo lighter is time tested, and there have been many copies and knockoffs made of this classic fire starter. The ability to refuel them means they can last forever, or at least until you run out of fuel to refill them with. Zippos are relatively simple, and people like that the flame can stay lit without having to hold down a button, until you close the lid. If you’ve got a good amount of zippo fuel, its a great lighter choice to have on hand
BIC Lighter
BIC Lighters are extremely popular among preppers because of how many uses you can get out of them. You can get 3,000 lights out of a BIC Lighter, and you can Store BIC Lighters really well, so you’ve always got a stash. Buying BIC Lighters in bulk can save you a lot of money, and give you a LOT of fire making ability. We found this great deal on Amazon for a bulk pack of BIC lighters.
Torch Butane Lighter
There are several different types of Torch Butane Lighters, and they’re my favorite to use. These lighters are just fun. I find it hard to call these lighters, but they’ve replaced most of the uses I have for lighters. A 3 or 4 inch blue flame just burns a lot hotter and faster than a 1 inch red/orange flame from a BIC. This is the most common example of a butane lighter.
Personally, I prefer a culinary torch. This is my favorite lighter. It’s small enough that you can throw it in your pack if you’re going camping, but big enough to toast a crème brule, or to reach as far as most any long reach lighter, as long as you don’t need to be delicate. This is my go to for any lighter application, and for most quick torch applications too. I use to use it to light my propane grill that had a bad ignitor. It would have been easy to fix the ignitor, but blow torches are just fun. It burns through fuel quicker than most, but I just don’t care. It’s a lot of fun, and doesn’t burn through fuel too fast, but it’s not as “fuel efficient” as a BIC.
Plasma, Electric Lighter
Plasma and electric lighters are attractive because they’re rechargeable. You are no longer reliable on a fuel for fire. The lighter releases charged ions that create an arc, almost like lightening, and that’s what is able to light things on fire. Are they effective? Yes. I like them because of the capacity to have them connect to an electricity source, like a solar panel or a battery, and I’ve got a sustainable lighter.
Long Lighters
They make both long plasma lighters, and long BIC lighters. If I’m using a long lighter I’m either lighting a candle, lighting a pilot light in a furnace or a water heater, or I’m lighting a propane stove or grill. If you’re lighting candles primarily I’d recommend the long plasma lighter. It’s precise, and works great for that purpose. In fact, this long plasma lighter is actually listed as an electric candle lighter, and has pretty good reviews for a lighter at this price point.
If you’re lighting a gas appliance, I’d go with a BIC. The actual flame I’ve found lights the fuel quicker, and has less likelihood of singing my eyebrows off. If you’re looking for a deal on those, this amazon deal are authentic BIC lighters, and are a reasonable price for a 4 pack. Not great, but reasonable.
The Most Reliable Lighter
BIC Lighters are the most reliable. It’s self contained, so if you don’t press the button, you won’t dump all the fuel out. It also moderates the fuel usage better than the torch type lighters. Also, it isn’t reliant on a charge like the plasma type lighters. They just plain work.
In a true survival situation, no lighter is as durable, or as reliable as a ferro rod (AKA flint and steel rod), but I’d rather have a couple lighters I could use before I had to turn to a ferro rod. I generally pack both into my pack. I’ve tried a few ferro rods, and this is my current favorite.
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