Fire is essential when you are faced with an emergency, or when you are outdoors on an adventure. That makes a survival lighter very important. Even though you may have snacks or edible food, a fire can be used to heat up food or provide lighting.
When you are putting together your survival kit, a survival lighter is one of the must-have items to include. Luckily, there is a wide range that you can choose from. If you are looking for a lighter, you should consider the best survival lighter.
In this buying guide, we compare the 5 best survival lighters to help you make the best choice according to your needs. Here is a quick guide.
This is an excellent waterproof lighter that is orange in color and comes two in a pack. It has been made with safety in mind, as it has an O-ring sealed cover that has a locking clasp.
In terms of fuel, it has butane that has been refined four times with a capacity of 1.2g.
The lighter is also the right size, featuring dimensions of 2.6″ x 1.6″ x 0.6″ with a weight of only 23g when it does not contain fuel.
The lighter is windproof and has a piezo-electric ignition, so it can be used in any situation.
Product Specifications
This is a lighter that resembles a torch. It is charcoal in color and comes two in a pack. It is characterized by a 3-torch flame that is wind resistant.
Quartz powers its ignition, and it can do a dual-action fire.
It uses butane as fuel, and it is refillable. You can know about the levels through its window.
The lighter has a rugged design with excellent finishing. It comes with a cloth fitted pouch for proper storage and to protect its finish.
Product Specifications
This is a safe, budget-friendly lighter. It is windproof and features the exclusive Zippo click. The lighter has a matte finish that does not show fingerprints or scratch easily.
Unlike many lighters, it has an all-metal construction with a design that makes it windproof. It uses the zippo lighter fluid that is refillable and can even be used for a lifetime.
The Zippo Matte Pocket Lighter is not only made in the USA, but also comes with a lifetime guarantee – if you have any issue, the company will fix it for free. When you buy the lighter, you have to keep in mind that you buy the Zippo premium lighter fluid separately.
When you purchase it, you can check the bottom. The stamp will let you know if it is genuine or not.
Product Specifications
This lighter can start a fire regardless of the weather conditions, including wind, as it is wind resistant. You can use the magnesium rod to do over 16,000 strikes and at 5,500°F.
It comes two in a pack. It is compact and lightweight at the same time, weighing less than 2 ounces. When you purchase it, you get a 100% money-back guarantee.
Product Specifications
The Icfun lighter has been made with a waterproof design with a metal ring cover and locking clasp, making it suitable for any setting. It has an IP56 waterproof system to ensure that no water seeps into the lighter.
It is multipurpose, not just for lighting cigarettes. It is perfect for lighting outdoor fires and can make a great emergency fire starter as well. Unlike many lighters, the Icfun lighter is an electric lighter and rechargeable by USB.
The lighter is a dual arc lighter. It is also flameless, which makes it very safe.
The lighter consists of a high-quality ABS and zinc alloy material that is durable. It also comes with a lanyard for convenience when you need to carry it around. The product comes with a 60-day guarantee.
Product Specifications
All the above lighters are great choices if you are looking for a survival lighter. In this section, we hope to make your decision making even easier by focusing on the specifics. Here is what we have.
If you are more into electric lighters as opposed to the fuel ones, then the Icfun lighter would make the best choice. It is electrical and rechargeable through USB.
If you are looking for a well-rounded lighter that can serve other purposes as well, then the Swiss Safe 5-in-1 Fire Starter would be the ideal choice. It also has a built-in compass, paracord, steel scraper, and whistle, which can all come in handy when you are in an emergency.
Best for Tracking Fuel Levels
Being able to track the fuel level when you are planning a trip is very important, as it can help you to plan accordingly. If you are looking for such a lighter, then the Vertigo by Lotus Cyclone Triple Lighter is the best choice for you.
Even though all the above lighters have been made such that they are convenient to carry, the lcfun Waterproof Lighter beats them all, as it comes with a lanyard that makes carrying the lighter even more convenient.
If you are budget oriented and looking at the price, the Zippo pocket lighter would be your best bet, since it retails as only $14.65, making it the cheapest comparatively.
All the above lighters are great picks, and it all depends on your priorities and needs. If you are looking for a regular lighter, then we recommend the Vertigo lighter. It does not have much of a price disparity compared to Zippo and comes with great features, such as being able to track your fuel level. If you prefer the electrical kind of lighter, then we recommend the Icfun lighter. If you are looking for something well-rounded, then your best pick would be the Swiss Safe 5-in-1 Fire Starter.
Even though we have made things already easy for you by recommending the best choice, it is also important to know how to choose a survival lighter. Some of the factors to consider when you are looking for a survival lighter include the following:
It is good to consider how you plan to use the lighter. A lighter is not primarily used for lighting a cigarette, and it may not necessarily only be used for lighting a campfire. Many uncertainties may happen in the wilderness or the case of an emergency. It is good to get a lighter that is multipurpose.
Different survival lighters have different reliability. If you need to light a fire in the wild, you need to consider the reliability of the lighter. Matches can work well in lighting up fires, but they won’t work in the case of adverse weather such as rain or cold. Butane lighters are a good choice, but may not be the best when it is cold either. Wick-based lighters can work well in any weather condition, but they tend to leak.
When you are looking for a survival lighter, it should be as versatile as possible. A waterproof lighter is very handy. It has the right cover that will prevent water from sipping in. That will give you confidence that when you are rained on, or the lighter falls into the water, it is still safe.
The worst thing you can do is get a lighter that has been made with a brittle material. It is better to choose a material that is tough and durable. That explains why many lighters are made using stainless steel. The best part about stainless steel is that it is corrosion resistant even with prolonged use.
When you are faced with an emergency, or you want something for survival, you should look for a lighter that is as portable as possible. It should be lightweight and easy to carry. It should also not take up so much space in your survival kit.
Different lighters have different flames. Most regular lighters have flames that are not able to work in some weather conditions, such as wind. In that case, you should consider a lighter that has a direct flame, such as torch-like flames. They can work in any weather condition and are safe.
With the above features, it will be easy to find a survival lighter that’s useful and reliable. It is also good to check user reviews so that you can see what you are getting into. If there are many positive experiences, then you are also likely to have a positive experience and vice versa.
As much as price is an important consideration, most of the time, the price will be a reflection of the features that come with a survival lighter. The more the features it has, the higher it is likely to cost. However, there are cases where the price will not necessarily reflect quality. You can find an inexpensive, high quality lighter. In some instances, the brand has more influence on the price than the quality itself. Most renowned brands are likely to charge you more.
In your due diligence, you should research and compare to make the best choice for your needs.