What's a Good Windproof Lighter?
What would you suggest for a windproof lighter that is simple and dependable?
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Question:
What would you suggest for a windproof lighter that is simple and dependable?
Submitted by – Bill, Lenexa, KS
Answer:
At the last Outdoor Retailer trade show, I scored a very cool lighter from a Japanese company, Soto, that’s trying to commence business in the US. I love this lighter because, although it’s a bit heavy and bulky (2.2 oz. and about 4 inches long) it kicks ass. I left it outside my tent one horrid night in Wales on our Editors Choice Trip, and it puffed right to life for my morning brew-up. It’s windproof, submersible, but the cool thing is that, rather than refilling it with butane (which can be a hassle), you just pop a fresh disposable lighter into the handle, and it powers right off that (not Bics, but the squarish generic lighters found everywhere).
I mention this lighter because it’s cool. Problem is, you can’t get it in the US just yet, and disposable lighters do make me a feel guilty on the green front. So I’ve got some other options, too.
E-Gear’s refillable Windmill ($45. Egear.com) weighs only 1.1 oz. It keeps a flame in howling winds, and a rubber o-ring keeps it dry even if gets dunked. A much more affordable and equally awesome option is the Primus Power Lighter ($17, primuscamping.com, which weighs 1.7 oz. and refills off an almost- spent fuel canister using the Primus Filling Adapter ($15). I love this refilling tool. It’s a great way to suck out and make use of the dregs of a fuel canister. —Kristin