Fire in the wilderness is an absolute must. It let you stay warm, boil water, and cook food with its warmth. The smoke keeps bugs away and the flames light your camp and scare predators. The two most common reasons for people dying are dehydration and hypothermia. Fire can actually help you prevent both of these conditions by staying warm and boiling water for purification.
I never go into the wilderness without my ferro rod. It is the most reliable fire starter that I own. However, when I have a choice I will take a lighter as well. Lighters are by far the fastest way to start a fire. There are a few different types of lighters, and some of them were designed specifically for wilderness survival. In this article, we will cover the different types of lighters available and which ones may fit your needs best.
Zippo Style Lighter
The most functional lighter you can use is a Zippo-style windproof lighter. Not only is the flame windproof, but you can set the lighter down upright and it will stay lit. This allows you to keep your hands free to handle tinder or other materials. These lighters are tough as nails and typically made in the USA. Zippo brand lighters come with a lifetime warranty.
The feature I like most about Zippo style lighters is the way it uses fuel. Because it holds liquid fuel, you can refill the lighter with any flammable liquid. In a survival scenario, it is not uncommon to stumble across an abandoned vehicle or home that might have a flammable liquid left around. You could siphon gas from a gas tank, grab some cleaning supplies, pick up a bottle of strong liquor, or use your bug spray. When you really start looking, you find that lots of common liquids are flammable.
One downside of the Zippo style lighter is the cost. They are on the high side averaging around $20, but you can find them as low as $10. In addition, they do not do well with high elevations.
Butane Torch Lighters
Butane torches are common and can be purchased at any gas station or convenience store. These lighters are generally not as tough as a zippo and have both plastic and electrical components. The plastic parts are more prone to break, and the electrical components cannot get wet. You will not find a warranty on these typically.
The butane flame is windproof, and unlike the Zippo it can actually shoot a flame in any direction. When you are hunched over a tinder bundle trying to get it started, this can be very helpful.
A drawback of these torches is that you must hold down the button to keep the flame going. However, the main issue is refueling. You must have butane gas to refuel these lighters, and this can be very hard to find in a survival scenario. These cost about as much as a Zippo.
Metal Match Lighters
These little lighters are common on survival sites and in many ways work like a Zippo. The metal match fills with a little fluid from a reservoir. Then you strike it against the striker instead of flicking a wheel like on a Zippo. Once lit, the fuel will keep it going for quite a while. Like a Zippo, you can use any flammable liquid to refuel this lighter. Another advantage is that it is completely waterproof when closed up.
One issue is that the metal match will go out long before a Zippo would. Typically, you do not need a lighter to stay lit for several minutes, but if you do then this lighter would not work. The other issue is that the wicks used on most metal matches are cheap and end up being far from windproof. You can pick one of these up for just a few dollars.
Electric Plasma Arc Lighters
These lighters were invented in the 90’s originally as a candle lighter. This lighter has two electrodes. When triggered, it shoots an arc of electricity from one electrode to the other. Any dry material place into the arc will catch fire. There is no flame, so this is the most windproof option you can bring. Also, high altitude does not affect these lighters.
The biggest issue with these lighters is the need for a charge. You can light one of these up around 100 times before it needs a charge, but eventually you need power. If you plan to use one of these, I suggest you buy a battery pack to bring some extra juice with you. Plan on spending some money on arc lighters.
Bic Lighter
These disposable lighters may not come to mind for you, but they should. You can get them for about a buck, and they are reliable. I can’t tell you how many times a disposable lighter from a gas station saved my life.
Of course, these lighters are not windproof. They also require you to hold down the button to keep the flame going, so they are not hands-free. However, they are cheap enough you can keep two or three in your pack.
High Altitude Floating Lighters
This is probably the most uncommon lighter on our list. They are priced at about the same point as arc lighters, but they have some cool features. It uses a butane torch, but it has been modified to get a longer flame for starting fires. It is designed to float, so you can get it back if you drop it while crossing a stream. It is also completely waterproof. You can run it through your washer and dryer, and it should come out just fine. These are also adjustable so you can modify the flame to handle high altitude scenarios.
As is with the standard torches, this lighter must be refilled with butane gas. If you have access to gas for refills, this could be a good option. This is especially true if you are hiking at elevations of 5,000 ft above sea level or higher.
There are lots of different options to quickly get a fire started in the wild. Any of these lighters are going to be better than trying to start a fire by friction or even with a ferro rod. Don’t get me wrong, I always keep my ferro rod and I always know how to make a friction fire. I am just a believer in working smarter VS harder. A lighter greatly helps with this.
You need to consider the pros and cons and decide which options to carry with you. I own all of these lighters, but when headed into the wilderness I take my Zippo and two Bic lighters. These have always been my lighters of choice and that will likely never change. However, you might see more value in other options. Whichever ones you pick, be sure you know how to use them. Get out in the woods or in the backyard and light some fires. It will ensure you can quickly use your lighters when you need fire to survive.