While poking around recently in REI’s camping gear, I saw something that at first made me scoff: a $55 “stormproof” camping lighter, right next to the five-buck “stormproof” matches. But then I checked out the specs: the Windmill Delta Stormproof Lighter uses a catalyzer coil that will hold a flame even in 70 – 80 mph winds.
The gas flow is adjustable, allowing a flame at variable elevations, and the 2 oz. lighter is shockproof and water-tight. Customer reviews say it’s a bit bulky but quite reliable. If you camp at the state park like my family always did, you may not need to lay down the cash (though street pricing puts it more around $40), but if you’re the serious outdoors type, a reliable flame can be a big comfort.
Stormproof Lighter [REI]
Street Pricing [Google]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]
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4 Responses to An (Almost) Eternal Flame: Stormproof Lighter
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Great lighter, I’ve had one for over 6 years, not my everyday burner but I use it at least 4 or 5 times daily. I’ve also had a small can of butane for as long. They also make a smaller pocket lighter that has the same mechanism and isn’t quite as waterproof.
I’m not as thrilled with mine. Whoever designed it needs to rethink how the top hinges. It does not open up a full 180 degrees and trying to light kindling under a campfire is a royal pain. You have to hold down the thumb trigger to maintain the flame while manuvering the top in and around sticks to get the flame down to the kindling etc… I typically end up having to light a small piece of kindling and putting that down into the base of the sticks/papers which defeats the whole purpose of having a wind-proof lighter eh?
Friend of mine has a similar lighter by Brunton the Helios. It performs as advertised that it won’t blow out but the he has had problem with it not staying lit at altitudes. Nothing extreme just 6000-8000 ft. He also tells me that it specifies that it needs to use high quality butane. Something about cheap butane with low impurities that can clog the burner orifices.
also, these pressurized butane lighters suck when youre changing altitudes, brought one on a climbing trip (2+ weeks, a few thousand feet of elevation gain in a short amount of time each day) and the thing was completely unreliable. My bic and my matches worked fine though