High elevation lighters

[MisterTinkle]

Does anybody have experience with reliable wind resistant, high elevation lighters?

I've used matches, 'Bic' lighters, grill lighters, and a refillable butane grill lighter when camping, but none are very reliable at elevations of 10,500' or above. I can get matches to light at elevation, but wind and damp fuel can raise the challenge of matches. Butane lighters are adequate up to about 9,500', but morning coffee can be a challenge at elevation!

I always carry matches, but I would prefer to have a 2nd option for lighting campfires and stoves. Any specific product experience or recommendations?

 

[off.track]

zippo?

 

[IggyB]

I carry a Zippo. Just fill it with fluid a couple days before trip so it's not soaking wet as it may take a few tries to light that way.

 

[James86004]

I have had the same problem, and finally started carrying my Bernz-o-Matic. It works very well for lighting fires, stoves, and lanterns.

 

[Yudda]

How about Isobutane/LPG from expedition stove fuel bottles.

Use the brunton fuel tool: http://www.expeditionexchange.com/brunton/




along w/ a good refillable lighter.


THEN AGAIN....****** do i know....i live near the lowest spot on earth !

so im not exactly a high altitude specialist.


Hope it helps,

rob

 

[Bogo]

I use a MSR white gas backpacking stove. Built in flint has worked nicely lighting it when I camped at 12k feet.

 

[Scott Brady]

I have had difficulty with the Brunton lighter working at high elevation. I have owned mine for close to 10 years. Otherwise, it works fine.

We were attempting to light a stove on Humphrey's Peak (at about 12,000), and the Brunton would not light. The cheap Zippo we had in the pack did. . .

 

[Yudda]

I have had difficulty with the Brunton lighter working at high elevation. I have owned mine for close to 10 years. Otherwise, it works fine.

We were attempting to light a stove on Humphrey's Peak (at about 12,000), and the Brunton would not light. The cheap Zippo we had in the pack did. . .

Hi,

Was the lighter filled w/ regular lighter butane or a butane/propane high altitude mix ?




Also for Zippo fans, i use a strip of rubber electrical tape to seal the zippo for storage. The Fuel wont evaporate as quickly. (Heck that tape is probably the most useful thing in my pack.)
Silicone repair tape would probably work as well.

IMHO a better lighter is the IMCO triplex. about 6-7 dollars....candle feature...perfect for lighting stoves or fires and as a candle....problem is its difficult to seal unlike the zippo.



hope it helps.

Rob

 

[MisterTinkle]

I carry a Zippo. Just fill it with fluid a couple days before trip so it's not soaking wet as it may take a few tries to light that way.

2 votes for Zippo's! I'll have to check it out.

I have had the same problem, and finally started carrying my Bernz-o-Matic. It works very well for lighting fires, stoves, and lanterns.

That would definitely provide the flame! However, I think I would prefer something that I can use while hiking/packing also.

Use the brunton fuel tool: http://www.expeditionexchange.com/brunton/

I have read that the Brunton works well for wind resistance, but some people have reported problems at elevation.

I use a MSR white gas backpacking stove. Built in flint has worked nicely lighting it when I camped at 12k feet.

Sounds like a good feature on the packing stove. Mine doesn't have that, so I need either a new packing stove, or an external light. I would like to find something that I can use for packing, truck camping, and campfires.

Was the lighter filled w/ regular lighter butane or a butane/propane high altitude mix ?

IMHO a better lighter is the IMCO triplex. about 6-7 dollars....candle feature...perfect for lighting stoves or fires and as a candle....problem is its difficult to seal unlike the zippo.

My refillable butane lighter was filled with standard butane. I hadn't thought of using a butane/propane can. I will have to try that.

I hadn't heard of the Imco Triplex. Looks like a good option and inexpensive.

Thanks for the suggestions and opinons!

 

[Lynn]

I've had a couple of the 'windproof' butane lighters, but as entioned, they didn't work at higher altitudes.

To me, the best thing for lighting stoves at any altitude is a metal match like this:

Works at any altitude, any weather conditions, etc.

 

[Christophe Noel]

When I did my solo sea kayak trip of the Sea of Cortez, Brunton was a sponsor and they were generous enough to give me 3 of those $75 lighters. Before I left, two of them showed signs of trouble, so they sent me 4 more for a total of 5 in my kit. Not one of them worked worth a darn. This at sea level! I spent several weeks communicating back and forth with Brunton on those lighters and while I had some success with later versions, my remaining 3 lighters almost never work over 5,000 feet which is where I live.

Not a super product.

For a fail safe solution - Industrial Revolutions is now selling a match that would make Promethius proud.

 

[MaxYedor]

I have had the same problem, and finally started carrying my Bernz-o-Matic. It works very well for lighting fires, stoves, and lanterns.

Started carrying mine too, makes lighting anything and everything way easy, also good for melting ice, soldering battery terminals, breaking free stuck nuts/loc-tite etc.

For back-packing, good old fashioned matches and flint have always served me well.

 

[chrismc]

Started carrying mine too, makes lighting anything and everything way easy, also good for melting ice, soldering battery terminals, breaking free stuck nuts/loc-tite etc.

For back-packing, good old fashioned matches and flint have always served me well.

Are you guys using the MAPP version (as in the photo)? How well does MAPP burn under adverse conditions? I have the straight propane version, and I know the flame gets pretty soft when the it gets up high and cold. I have one of the older MAPP torches with my plumbing kit at home, not as portable as the propane one.

 

[MisterTinkle]

When I did my solo sea kayak trip of the Sea of Cortez, Brunton was a sponsor and they were generous enough to give me 3 of those $75 lighters. Before I left, two of them showed signs of trouble, so they sent me 4 more for a total of 5 in my kit. Not one of them worked worth a darn. This at sea level! I spent several weeks communicating back and forth with Brunton on those lighters and while I had some success with later versions, my remaining 3 lighters almost never work over 5,000 feet which is where I live.

Not a super product.

For a fail safe solution - Industrial Revolutions is now selling a match that would make Promethius proud.

Thanks for the feedback on the Brunton. If you had problems at 5000', it isn't something I want to rely on. I think my best options are: matches, flint/magnesium firestarter, and basic lighter.

 

[James86004]

Are you guys using the MAPP version (as in the photo)?

Sorry, I am using a propane version. Mine is a little older - I didn't find the exact one on the website, so I just grabbed the first photo I saw. I have used the propane one at 9,000 feet in very humid monsoon season, and it worked well.

At the telescope, which is at 10,600 feet, we regularly use the MAPP version and it works well.