Lighters

[bishopj]

What kind of lighters do you folks take on the trail i was thinking about some bics and 2 box of matches as backup. What do you think.

[Old Hiker]

I haven't used matches in years. 2-3 Bic lighters, but probably more, as I tend to squirrel them away in nooks and crannys. I forget about them until I got to the bottom of the pocket, bag or whatever. I also have some sort of very light weight fire starter as well: dryer lint, cotton ball + vaseline, ping pong ball, commercial starter, whatever.

[Fog Horn]

If your matches are a back up, you probably only need enough to get you to the next resupply point, so about three days worth. A cheap, lightweight book of matches should work fine.

[Charlie D]

I have had trouble getting Bic lighters to work when my hands are wet. There is another lighter that is a kind of piezeolectric (sp?) that works much better. I have found them in tobacco stores.
I agree about the book matches,,, you have a good place to strike the match, as long as it is dry.

[Yukon]

Coleman butane lighter

[leaftye]

Bic lighter and firesteel.

[Blissful]

Bic and I had a back up of matches. But never had a problem with the Bic.

[Spokes]

Here's some hiker trivia:

Thru hikers prefer white bic lighters. They're always the first to sell out in all the trail town stores.

Why?

Because the fuel level is easier to see through the white ones.........

Now you know!

[mlkelley]

I carry a full sized white bic as my primary source of flame with a white mini bic as a backup. And, 4 stick matches that have been in my kit for over 4 years without being used. Have had several folks on the trail refuse a light from my white bic lighter, saying that white bics are "bad luck".

[veteran]

You could use one of these, a little overkill tho.

[Skidsteer]

You could use one of these, a little overkill tho.

How does one of those perform when temps drop below 20 F?

[Rocket Jones]

How does one of those perform when temps drop below 20 F?

When that happens, I just hold the trigger, one flick of my white bic and *FWOOF*, it ain't below 20F anymore.

[Spokes]

........... Have had several folks on the trail refuse a light from my white bic lighter, saying that white bics are "bad luck".

Section hikers no doubt..........hehehehee

[swjohnsey]

BIC lighter don't work when wet so it is good to have some kind of backup. After they dry out they will work again.

[Pedaling Fool]

Just use simple bics and have a few of them as backup. I used to carry "water-proof", notice the quotation marks, they're a freakin' joke. I don't bother with matches any more.

[Point Man Chef]

Call me overkill BUT I just like having 3 ways to easily start a fire. Maybe pyro vs. overkill?! I keep a small WHITE Bic in my cook kit. I have some dryer lint, matches in a water "proof" container and a BlastMatch that came with some starter material in a small pouch in my pack. I just like knowing I got three ways.

[harryfred]

I have a ACE lighter (disposable butane) you get a whole bunch of them for a buck at Wally World you can see the fuel in it and the flame is adjustable nice for lighting my alky stoves. that is packed with my cook gear. I always have a Bic and a SAK in my pocket, hiking or not. I use it on heat shrink and lighting torches. Plus its just handy to have a little fire always available There is also a small box of strike any where matches in my emergency bag. a 1 qt ziploc that has first aid, tent patch, needles and thread, super glue ect.

[StubbleJumper]

I keep it simple. Two mini Bics in the summer, and matches in the winter. I've had bad luck trying to use lighters when it gets cool, so just as happy to carry wooden matches.

[SurferNerd]

I carry 1 BIC, and 5 Anywhere Light matches. If your BIC gets wet, STOP pissing on it. Put it somewhere that ain't wet.

[fiddlehead]

I use the cheap Thai lighters i get here in Thailand.
I doubt you can find them in the states.
When it's cold and your hands are freezing and you're trying to light your stove, those child-proof things can suck.
I've had people show me how to remove them but I've broken lighters trying it.
A lighter needs to be reliable and easy to light. Especially in extreme conditions.

The cheap thai ones have a huge flame too.