Our top camping lighter picks
Budget Pick : Bic Mini Lighters
“One of the most common pocket lighters available.”
Best Versatility : Soto Pocket Torch
“An innovative design to provide the user with the maximum versatility.”
Best Compact Size : Zippo Windproof Lighter
“Small shape and weight are best for minimalistic packers.”
Most User Friendly : MSR Handheld Piezo Igniter
“Simplistic design works with a push of a button.”
Best Battery Powered : UST TekFire Pro Lighter
“Eliminates the need to use any kind of liquid fuel.”
Built for Durability : Exotac titanLIGHT Lighter
“You can replace almost any piece of the lighter.”
Best Reliability : MSR Strike Igniter
“Neither moisture nor pressure affects their performance.”
Best Refillable : Zippo Flex Neck Utility Lighter
“Easily refillable to prolong its lifespan.”
Best Controllable Flames : Scorch Torch Skyline
“Adjustable flame control to increase versatility.”
Butane-free Design : Saberlight Plasma Beam Lighter
“Easily rechargeable and can produce a flame for up to three hours.”
Bic Mini Lighters
- Type : Butane
- Refillable : Yes
Bic Mini Lighters are some of the most common pocket lighters available on the market. They are used widely and for more than just camping. These lighters have a simple design, and everything you need to light something up comes in a pocket-size tool.
Each Bic lighter gets up to 3,000 lights. Although they are not expensive to buy, it is possible to refill them with a pushpin. Many come in different designs to appeal to a variety of buyers. If you have one you love, you can keep it with you long term as long as you don’t lose it.
Bic Mini Lighters are simple but still considered child-resistant since you have to smoothly strike the wheel on top to ignite while almost simultaneously pressing on the red trigger. Each lighter is safe, receiving a 100% quality inspection before dispatch.
What we like
- Simple design makes them easy to use.
- Safe and reliable after receiving quality inspection.
- Child-resistant with dual trigger design.
What we don't like
- Small shape means that they are easy to lose.
Soto Pocket Torch
- Type : Torch
- Refillable : Yes
Soto Pocket Torch uses an innovative design to provide the user with the maximum amount of versatility. It comes in two pieces, the top being the pocket torch, which is black and has a lime green trigger and a valve to control the flame.
The bottom piece, which the pocket torch slides onto, is a refillable butane lighter. It does not come with one of these lighters, but it does accept any standard rectangular disposable lighter. It does not fit round disposable lighters, such as the aforementioned Bic lighter.
Soto Pocket Torch is powerful, so practice care and review Leave No Trace principles before using it. It is wind-resistant, making it easy for you to start your camp stove or fire no matter the weather. Note that it is only designed for use below 5,000’ in elevation.
What we like
- Innovative design provides extra power and control.
- Refillable lighter capacity keeps it useful long-term.
- Wind-resistant for an easy light no matter the weather.
What we don't like
- Does not come with an appropriate lighter for immediate use.
Zippo Windproof Lighter
- Type : Butane
- Refillable : Yes
Zippo lighters were widely popular when they first came out in the 1930s. However, due to their design, they had issues with lighter fluid evaporating faster than most, and they lost popularity as Bic and other companies began to craft more reliable lighters.
Zippo has since worked on dramatically improving its lighter. This product is windproof and small. It weighs only 1.9oz and is only 2.2” x 1.5” x 0.5”. The exterior is crafted with steel and comes in multiple colors and designs.
This Zippo Windproof Lighter allows for the replacement of not only the lighter fluid but also the wick and flint. These extra parts are sold separately, but it is convenient if you start to notice the lighter’s reliability decreasing. Zippo lighters use specific lighter fluid as well.
What we like
- Replaceable parts ensure prime performance for longer.
- Small shape and weight are best for minimalistic packers.
What we don't like
- Requires specific fluid to refill the lighter.
MSR Handheld Piezo Igniter
- Type : Igniter
- Refillable : N/A
MSR Handheld Piezo Igniter does not resemble the other lighters in its shape and handling. Instead, it looks like a long, hollow rod with a button at the end and a grip in the middle.
Ignite any flame with this handheld product. Simply press the button at the back, and a spark is lit that lights up your choice of canister stove. The element that provides ignition is protected within the igniter tube, making it more reliable than the typical stove-mounted igniter.
Notice that the MSR Handheld Piezo Igniter is not called a lighter but an igniter. Tools like these focus on producing a spark instead of using an unnecessary amount of fuel to burn a flame. It collects a small amount of gas from your stove to help ignite it and then lights it up while the gas is on.
What we like
- Simplistic design works with a push of a button.
- Igniter tube protects the igniter element for extra reliability.
- Doesn’t use fluid to make a spark.
What we don't like
- Only compatible with gas stoves and not radiant stoves.
- Cannot use if a product doesn’t emit gas.
UST TekFire Pro Lighter
- Type : Plasma/Electric
- Refillable : N/A
Ultimate Survival Technologies TekFire Pro Lighter uses a unique technology involving a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The battery is stored inside the lighter and eliminates the need for any kind of liquid fuel.
It works by using the battery to create a high-voltage electric arc between two prongs. You initiate it by using a spring-loaded wire latch. After 10 seconds, a safety feature turns it off to save the battery. If it does run out, plug it in with any USB port.
The lighter isn’t all you get with this product. There are inner ParaTinder paracord strands you can sew for first aid or as a fishing line. The red thread in the center of the lanyard can be used to light fires by exposure to the UST TekFire Pro Lighter. It comes with a limited 2-year warranty.
What we like
- 10-second safety feature helps to save battery.
- Eliminates the need for fluid by using a battery.
- Comes with extras that provide enhanced survivability.
What we don't like
- Battery life is unreliable in the outdoors.
Exotac titanLIGHT Lighter
- Type : Butane
- Refillable : Yes
Exotac titanLIGHT Lighter is crafted for precision and long-lasting durability. It uses patent-pending air vents under the flame to reduce wind disturbance, and a flame guard provides even more protection from gusts.
To light it, use the high-spark flint wheel to trigger it, and the convection-assist combustion provides reliable lighting. Protect the wick with a small screw-off cap. Many lighters with a similar design are less efficient since this one has two O-ring seals to keep it from evaporating.
The Exotac titanLIGHT Lighter is refillable to give it a longer life. To do so, unscrew the bottom cap and fill it with 3ml of fuel. Do not overall. You can replace almost any piece of the lighter. It is even waterproof to more than 1 meter, although you pay for a premium product.
What we like
- Air vents under the flame protect from the wind.
- Refillable to extend its life.
- Convection-assist combustion makes it more reliable.
What we don't like
- Expensive compared to similar products.
MSR Strike Igniter
- Type : Flint
- Refillable : N/A
MSR makes another igniter even more straightforward in its design. Use a flint igniter if you like to use products that hearken back to the olden times when a fire was first used without gas or electricity. This lightweight product is only 1.4oz and measures 8.5” x 4” x 1.5”.
Flint lighters are about as reliable a product as you can hope for so long as you know how to use them properly. Neither moisture nor pressure affects their performance, and they can be used to light anything that uses gas.
The MSR Strike Igniter produces a 5,500°F spark to light up any stove quickly. It lights for between 3,000 and 12,000 strikes, depending on its proper usage. Once you light up, sit back after using the built-in bottle opener.
What we like
- Produces spark hot enough to light any gas stove quickly.
- Flint technology basic and easy to use.
- Lasts longer through more strikes than average lighters.
What we don't like
- Only gas products can be lit with these lighters.
Zippo Flex Neck Utility Lighter
- Type : Butane
- Refillable : Yes
Zippo hasn’t stuck to only one lighter style since its inception. Different forms and shapes in a lighter are more or less useful for specific scenarios. This Zippo has a long, flexible neck that emits flame when lit to make something that limits your need to reach into a fire or over a flame.
You can adjust the flame with the dial on the side to reduce or enlarge it before lighting. This controller also increases its safety, depending on the situation. Most of the lighter has a durable metal construction, and it is coupled with a child-resistant safety button.
Like the other Zippo lighter, this Flex Neck Utility Lighter uses a Zippo-specific premium butane. You can refill it with this to prolong its usability.
What we like
- Flexible neck provides safer use.
- Child-resistant safety button increases safe usage.
- Refillable to prolong its use.
What we don't like
- Only refill with Zippo-specific butane.
Scorch Torch Skyline
- Type : Butane
- Refillable : Yes
Scorch Torch Skyline Lighter focuses on giving the user maximum control. It is safe and easy to use, with a cap that closes over the top of the lighter where the flame emits.
The external trigger sparks the flame, and it is equipped with an adjustable flame controller to maximize its versatility. This lighter is made to work well for cigars but works equally as reliably when used while camping.
It uses butane and can be refilled when it starts to run low. The company believes in its Scorch Torch Skyline lighter and gives it a one-year limited warranty upon purchase. It also comes in a velvet gift pouch and a variety of different colors.
What we like
- Adjustable flame control to increase versatility.
- Safety mechanisms to protect users.
- Refillable to extend usability.
What we don't like
- Butane tanks are smaller than average and increase the need for frequent refills.
Saberlight Plasma Beam Lighter
- Type : Plasma
- Refillable : N/A
Get techy with the enhanced plasma wave technology included in this lighter’s design. It functions using this technology with a lithium-ion cell battery on the lighter’s inside. It is easily rechargeable and can produce a flame for up to three hours before hitting zero.
Since it uses a battery and plasma technology, there is no need for any chemical like butane. It is said to be healthier for the user and the environment, although only incrementally. It is also airport-safe and can get 300 uses per charge.
The Saberlight Plasma Beam Lighter is energy efficient, so a quick charge with the USB is more than enough. Instead of a flame, the beam tech makes it windproof and less hassle in inclement weather. It is bigger than some other products, at 4.1” x 4” x 2.7”, and weighs 11.2oz due to the battery.
What we like
- Butane-free design is slightly healthier, and no refills are required.
- Quickly charges for prolonged use when you need it.
What we don't like
- More expensive than similar items.
- Must have charge to function properly.
Camping Lighters Buying Guide
Buying a lighter for camping depends on what kind of gear you already have and the situations you commonly use them. Different types will work better, or you might prioritize control over the size of the flame. If you don’t know what you need, read through the buyer’s guide below.
There are 4 considerations to think about before buying a camping lighter.
Types of lighters
There are quite a few different types of lighters. What you want to light with them and how you do it will determine which type will be most effective for you.
- Butane lighters are the most common, like in the Bic Mini Lighters and Zippo’s Windproof Lighter and Flex Neck Utility Lighter. These use variations of butane fuel to create a flame. These lighters hold onto a consistent flame for as long as their trigger buttons are held or if the fuel runs out.
- Jet/Torch use fuel, such as butane, projected through a special nozzle that performs like a carburetor by mixing air and fuel to maximize the burn rate. An example of this is the Soto Pocket Torch that uses a refillable lighter to maximize its burn rate.
- Plasma/Electric lighters use a rechargeable lithium-ion battery to produce electricity or a plasma band between two prongs. Products work without being refilled with butane like the UST TekFire Pro Lighter or the Saberlight Plasma Beam Lighter. You do have to remember to charge them frequently enough, though.
- Electric coil lighters are the kind we have in cars. They use energy from a car’s battery to heat electrodes moving in the coil. When connected with something, this energy transforms into a spark or a hard zap for anyone willing to stick their figure on it.
- Flint lighters are a throwback to days of old. They use a flintstone or metal and hit it against something else hard to create a spark. MSR Handheld Piezo Igniter and MSR Strike Igniter both use flint methodology to create a spark. The issue is that they only work well when used with a gas stove.
- Disposable lighters are simply cheaper and often more challenging to refill, or not worth it. They are not very environmentally friendly but are typically very easy to use.
Flame size, shape, and temperature
Lighters can create a spark, such as flint lighters. More often than not, they create a spark on the inside and produce a visible flame on the exterior. It is this that we hold to a camp stove, a fire, or a candle.
Depending on what you need to light, the flame’s shape and size will determine how effective the light is. The temperature can also be influential. This is why many campers value a torch lighter since it works to be as effective and burn as hot as possible. This heat speeds along combustion and lights a campfire more quickly than a small, cool flame.
Some lighters, such as the Scorch Torch Skyline, allow you to control the size of your flame. This often influences the temperature as well, since a bigger flame produces more energy and heat. They might have a little slider that moves horizontally with “+” and “-” symbols, or a dial to turn up and down.
Being able to control the flame is also a safety mechanism, not only put there for convenience. If you are trying to light a candle, having a bigger, hotter flame puts you at a higher risk of burn. Having to hold a small flame for longer while you wait to get sufficient light from it is another way to burn yourself if you aren’t careful.
Refillable
Refillable lighters are a more environmentally friendly option to choose. They make it so that you do not need to buy a new lighter each time it runs out of fuel. This is incredibly handy when it comes to lighters that use a wick, like Zippos. Fuel evaporates quickly through the wick, draining the interior faster than in other lighters.
Almost all lighters nowadays are refillable if they use fuel. This includes the Bic Mini Lighters, although they are slightly more challenging to refill, and many people lose theirs before they get the chance to fill them back up again.
Wind-resistant and waterproof
Camping while using a lighter is a unique situation compared to other common instances when a lighter is used. You can find yourself at the end of a long day of hiking with no way of preparing your food but with your camp stove. You can’t use it in your tent safely, so you go out to brave the weather.
If the weather is blustery, rainy, or misty, you still need to eat or warm yourself. Having a lighter that is weather-resistant helps to further this cause. A lighter can be made more weather-resistant by having a wind covering that rises above the area where the flame is produced, like in the Exotac titanLIGHT Lighter.
Plasma beam lighters are also quite weather-resistant because of energy technology. It is not easily snuffed out by light rain or wind unless the current is severed for too long.
Amanda Williams
Amanda Williams is a writer, plant-nerd, and outdoor enthusiast. She has traveled extensively, around the U.S., throughout Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Everywhere she treks, she takes time to enjoy the outdoors. John Muir is her hero. She aspires to inspire people to live better as he did.
