look for one of these...

http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/fire/firepiston/rb2/index.html

when Les Stroud had them first on his TV show, they were very few and far between and they were all over 100 dollars, now they are half the cost, and lots of people are making them. All you need is string to form the gasket on the plunger.

I'd rather rely on needing string I take off of my clothes than lighters that run out of fuel or are fragile and get cracked and then leak massively flammable fuel on my stuff.

Anyway, just a thought. that and a few of the $7 mag/iron scrape deals should get you through for quite a while.

 

Hatch is right. Its tough to beat mag filings for starting fire in bad conditions. And the sparks from the steel will start the magnesium. You could go with a flare. Those start easy and will burn completely underwater. Butane lighters will slowly leak over time and piezo ignition systems don't work when wet.

 

got a brunton butane lighter that I use every day and it's99.9% reliable.they also make nice compasses

 

I know it may not be the best, but take a look at this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ronson-Jetlite-...m56334b4095&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65:12|66:2|39:1|72:1205|293:1|294:50

I found one at Wal Mart and liked it so much that when I went to go get another one and they didn't have them, I found one online. It is definitely windproof, I've held it in front of fans to see how well it burns, and it always does. I've used it camping and had no problems what so ever. It will run for around 30 mins on one fill of quality butane. The flame is adjustable and scary hot. Just something to think about, $7 shipped compared to $45 shipped.

 

A Bic in a ziploc bag.

 

I dont even do that the only problem with a bic is when its windy.. but Ive droped it into the water picked it up blew it out and it light the frist time.. Im not to conserend since you should simply have at least 2 ways of lighting fires me I bring tinder thats water proof and burns for a long time super easy to light a fire with it and you dont have to look for good fuel wet wood works fine with it just not dead wet wood.. everytime I go camping it rains really badly I have yet to fail lighting a fire.. its simple air fuel heat thats it.. getting the fire off the ground helps alot.. water proof matchs or huricain matchs can do the job better then a lighter..

Simple insurance is..

Bic lighter cheap works if that fails

hurician matchs that fails or you run out because of inexperince or lack of good wood

maginsuim fire starter (last resourt) or light my fire fire steel..

I buy the wax firestarter that comes in the a green bag that is in like every department store in the cheap camping section..

also what my friend use is what he use to light the charcoal bbq which is a plastic rapped cube that works well as well..

 

What the trainedtosave said.

No point spending more. These things are reliable and lightweight. Even if it does get wet, it's fairly quick and easy to dry out, and you should have a fire steel or similar as a backup in these situations.

 

Some good points. I've been using a magnesium flint-stick for years and it's always been my go-to when all else fails. That being said, after a long day of deer hunting in the woods the last thing you want to do is start scraping magnesium and putting together a tinder bundle. I want to know that my first option is a super reliable lighter so that I can start a fire instantly and only go to the flint-stick when all else fails.

 

Keep several small bic lighter around. Even when they're soaked, you can blow them out dry easily. I also have waterproof matches with me. If you use your last fire to dry out some starting kindling, then your set to go.

 

Yeah, my backup is the army mag block as well.

 

I've seen good reviews for this "peanut lighter". I don't know how windproof it is, but the case appears waterproof and durable.

 

Thanks Snapdragon



Thanks Snapdragon! That was very helpful. I've never heard of those lighters but they definitely seem waterproof and tough. A perfect little lighter you can always carry on your key ring.

Winchester94

 

I'm just gonna say it, Zippos are great lighters, but they don't always light right when you need them to, they have a nasty habit of leaking fuel to the air. I do use on camping, but I carry a back up

 

I always keep my zippo on me, and I keep some extra fuel in my BOB (they produce a a stainless steel container for fuel) and mine is always reliable if I make sure to take care of it.

 

To me, nothing beats a firesteel. I bought my first one about two years ago and I haven't looked back. I use mine almost on a daily basis and it has never failed me yet. They will light even when wet.
I always carry some dryer lint in a prescription bottle on me whenever I am out in the woods or hiking for tinder. It lights really easy and I can have a fire in no time. Just my two cents worth.

 

Well, I would say this is one of those categories you would want redundancy.

I like the Windmill Pro- about 50$. It has a window so you can see the fuel level, windproof, waterproof, shockproof and because you put the fuel in it you can use the higher octane stuff for higher elevation. When you light it, it is like a mini blow torch- like a cigar lighter (but the "fast and light" version- arf).

I carry a Swedish Steel AND weatherproof matches AS WELL.

 

Nobody has mentioned the Silva Helios yet.
I have one and though I have not had a chance to test it in extreem conditions it looks like it will go the distance
my only complaint is the fuel chamber is quite small and you have to remember to fill it regularly

 

These are astounding lighters!
Rugged and well built, they last ages. The jet flame is surprisingly fuel efficient and EXTREEMLY hot and clean. The flame is also entirely directable, you can even use it upside-down.
I wholeheartedly recommend this lighter, my only qualm with it is that with the version i got, the lid was a bit loose.
GET THESE LIGHTERS!
www.turboflame.co.uk
It has and will continue to serve me, and I trust it entirely.
Much much better than any Zippo or Bic etc.
Solid steel construction, burn temp of about 1300°c (2372° F) capable of welding soft metals and glass, and the fuel lasts an amazingly long time.
I cant recommend them enough.
www.turboflame.co.uk

 

I just carry a bic in a bag.

 

I didnt mean for that one to come off as a **** like as it looks seeing it a second time, but no if your already carrying a zippo, dropping a couple flints is just good habit.

Those things will manage to light on fumes for a while. The flint is nice enough to give warning when its going bad. (The infamous push forward to push back to strike)

That being said I would never pack one as my primary means of starting a fire, that also being said, do you have any idea how many times I've burn my finger trying to anyway. lol I'm a smoker, tried quieting 1001 ways, But I always leave the house with a fully fueled Trans Am Zippo that I've carried since I saved my lunch money for 3 weeks to buy in Jr. High

 

Those things will manage to light on fumes for a while. The flint is nice enough to give warning when its going bad. (The infamous push forward to push back to strike)

Tell me about it! It get annoying as hell! But true they do light on fumes, but as is my Zippo and run dry in about a week or two in Georgia humidity. That's on average 90%. Go out to an area with much lower, and you Zip will get sucked dry quickly, especially if your case is loose. lol I carry mine on camping trips to do Zippo tricks before I light the fire, you should see the looks form the young scouts. :]

 

5 bics in a ziplock bag

 

NO to Bics

Try a bic for real out on a hike and you'll probably figure out its limitations pretty quickly. They blow out really quickly in a bit of wind. If you need an ongoing flame to say burn an end of a rope or to start an esbit etc. they are virtually useless.

Bics are great for cigarettes- not even cigars!

Forget about it.

 

Learn how to use a bow drill and make or buy a fire piston. I carry a couple bic lighters and a firesteel, and a mag starter as well.

 

I have used Bics before, their flames not being adjustable is a downside to me, I use those little jewel lighters with adjustable flame, and then I modify it to make as large a flame as I can.

 

5 bics and a jerry can of gas, 3 phosphurus grenades, 5 more bics.....:thumb:

 

I use a bic quite a bit. Then again i smoke, so it's going to be with me regardless (try lighting a cig with a firesteel everytime )

I don't know how you guys are having trouble keeping them lit in the wind - done properly i've had no problems and i've been in just about every kind of weather. You just have to shield it.

Add some vaseline soaked cotton make up pads and you're pretty much good to go - you can light those just with the spark from a bic (it's easier if you take the spark guard off, but it's not usually necessary.) So if the fuel runs out you'll still have fire.

However - having said that i usually still carry a firesteel. It's good to have a couple of ways to go

 

I have a helios and a Blazer Torch lighter. Been pretty happy with both of them but dang they are spendy.

That Cabelas lighter is just a knockoff of the Helios. I have seen them and they are okay. Only use them when you have to.