As we reach the end of our exploration of EDC utility items, we encounter ourselves in front of the lighter. A must for smokers and survivalists, I see no reason why anyone could add this item to their EDC kit. In certain circumstances, having a reliable lighter could prove extremely useful, besides lighting a cigar, candles, or a campfire. Let’s discuss some of the key factors you need to know about when choosing a lighter for your EDC collection.
Table of contents
Lighter types
First off, let’s take a look at the most common mechanisms a lighter uses to emit fire. We’ll cover a few basics connected to the main three lighter flame emission varieties.
Soft flame
The most typical type of lighter, standard amongst most manufacturers, is known as a soft flame or yellow flame lighter. You’ll find this type of flame in most lighters, including the ones from infamous brands such as Bic or Zippo. Most soft flame lighters employ liquid lighter fluid, which eventually will need to be refilled.
Torch
Next we have a type of lighter known as torch, and it’s the standard in butane-fueled lighters. Their name is derived from the torch-style flame emitted by such lighters. It provides additional resistance to wind and typically burns at a way higher temperature, when compared with soft flame lighters. Similar to soft flame lighters, they need to be refueled, which will require pressurized butane gas to be used.
Arc
And finally, the remaining type of lighter is commonly known as arc or plasma lighter. This type of lighter produces a spark that creates a plasma conduit between two or four electrodes. They’re powered by a rechargeable battery instead of fuel, hence the electricity-generated plasma beams are impervious to wind. Additionally, they provide an increased water and splash resistance.
Lighter uses
Non-smokers might be asking themselves, why would I need to carry a lighter? It could offer quite a lot of utility, if you’re aware of the additional uses they can provide. While these potential uses might not be required on a day-to-day basis, they could certainly be considered under special circumstances. Or simply as a backup plan. If you’re not completely convinced, perhaps the old adage of “it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it” could sway you.
Smoking
The most obvious and common use for lighters to this day remains to light cigarettes or cigars. That’s what comes up in our minds thanks to all the movies, tv shows, or advertisements depicting this use. If you’re a regular smoker, of tobacco or something else (wink, wink), or enjoy the occasional cigar every now on then, having a lighter handy will always be needed. Unless you don’t mind having to constantly look for someone else who might have a light.
Sterilization
Strongly connected with the need to have a first aid kit as part of your EDC load-out. Provided you know a bit about the subject, you never know when you might need to sterilize medical instruments. It may sound overdramatic, but a lighter could help if you don’t have alcohol or other sterilizers at hand. Applying fire to a needle or knife, killing bacteria before medical use, could be (literally) a life saver. I know it isn’t 100% effective, but when in a pinch you have to rely on whatever is at hand.
Camping & emergency use
Connecting to the previous point made, if you’re heavily into camping and outdoor activities, a lighter can be a crucial survival tool you’ll want to have on you during your adventures. You can use it to light campfires, cook, sterilize (as previously mentioned), or even allow someone else to pinpoint your location of you’re in need of emergency assistance. Important ask here, as we’ve unfortunately witnessed it plenty of times, please be careful when using a lighter for these purposes, specially if you’re in a forested area. Last thing we’d want is to accidentally cause a wildfire that could have an irreparable effect on the environment.
Illumination
We’ve already covered flashlights as a key utility EDC item in a previous post. However, if you don’t carry one or if you do and the batteries die up on you, guess who could come to the rescue? Though it’ll be a temporary and very limited illumination, a lighter can allow you to quickly find your way – or perhaps light a torch or lantern to provide a brighter light source, for example.
Lighter materials
Last key factor to consider when selecting a lighter is, certainly, its materials, which can have a huge impact on the overall design and usability in such an item. Most companies produce lighters from brass, steel, or some type of plastic, but you can also find more premium materials like titanium, silver, or gold being used. In some cases, they might actually incorporate multiple materials into their product designs.
Metal
Like for most EDC items we have discussed in previous posts, metal remains one of the more sought materials due to its durability and ruggedness. Downside, as we’ve also previously highlighted, is the added weight a lighter made from metal would incur in your pocket or preferred carrying method. Metals such a gold, silver, or brass might provide a premium look, whereas titanium or aluminum will provide the same benefit with a lesser burden. But beware, prices for lighters made from such materials (especially the more premium ones) can go up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Plastic
The most common material found in non-refillable, cheaper lighters is plastic, usually some form of polymer. While they might be way lighter (pun intended) and scratch or smudge resistant, their look appeal might leave you wanting. Some manufacturers also employ this material on arc type lighters, due to the reduced production cost and increased easiness to incorporate an rechargeable battery. Cost wise for us buyers is major advantage too, since prices for lighters made of these materials would be considerable cheaper in comparison to metal ones.
Useful tips
Design that speaks to you
As with many of our EDC items, you’ll find there’s plenty of lighter designs available in the market. They all differ in their shape, form, and construction. Some have upper-side or side sparking mechanisms, some can provide an inverted flame, others have a cap to protect the flame source. These factors combined with ergonomics influence the way you operate the lighter, and how comfortable the grip in your hand may feel like. Hence, in the end, the choice of your ideal lighter comes down to your personal preference.
Having said that, in only applies unless you need a specific type of lighter of a given purpose, say lighting cigars or for outdoor activities. In such a case, your selection options might be more limited. While we discussed the materials employed earlier, I forgot to mention that there’s also a myriad of finish options for metal lighters available out there. Anything from brushed, stonewashed, or polished to powder-coated or anodized colors can be applied to provide distinctive finishes to a lighter.
Maintenance and refueling
Similarly to other EDC items in our collection, lighters may not require a complex maintenance but they’ll require refueling eventually. Whether is refilling its chamber with propane or butane through an accessible port, or recharging the battery with a USB-C cable. Certain lighters, however, could require you to replace some components when they wear out, for instance the wick or flint. Being able to do this, or refuel or service in some particular cases, may need you to disassemble the lighter, so you may want to consider this when you’re choosing certain lighter models out there.
Weather the elements
The type of flame source we discussed earlier not only has an impact on the fuel required, but also on the resistance to water and wind a lighter will have. Lighters aimed for outdoor use can feature windproof or water resistant flames, or even a waterproof body. Though given their specific purpose, usually these lighter variants will require you to spend more bucks to be able to enjoy such features. Thus, always keep in mind your intended purposed, as well as your budget, when trying to decide which lighter will better suit you.
Do your research
If there’s a particular brand that piques your interest, go to their website. Browse their product offering and see more detailed information about product characteristics. If you’d like to compare lighters from multiple brands, then visit an online retailer like Amazon or Mukama. Product selection will be more varied, to easily find the combination of materials, types, and features you’re going after for your perfect lighter.
Buy wisely
Some brands offer a discount for your first purchase, provided you subscribe to their newsletter. Many will also have discounts on occasion to get rid of their older inventory. Both manufacturers and online retailers will advertise special sales and promotions on holidays like Father’s Day, Black Friday, and Christmas.
Key takeaways
Here are the key points you should have learned about lighters:
- Three most common lighter types, based on the flame they produce, are soft flame, torch, and arc.
- Fuel-based lighters utilize liquid lighter fluid or pressurized butane gas, or a rechargeable battery in the case of arc lighters.
- Typical uses for a lighter include smoking, sterilization, illumination, camping, and emergency situations.
- Most refillable lighters are made of metal, plastic, or a combination of both.
I trust you’ll find this information helpful during your quest for that ideal lighter. Stay tuned for future posts (check out our recent posts here). Should you have any questions, please leave a comment below or reach out to us. Until next time!