Bic lighter or butane jet lighter?

J

jzmtl

Joined
Jul 29, 2007
Messages
434
Which one would take with you if you were to go camping somewhere? Flint lighter like bic seems to be dependable, not much can go wrong with it besides running out of flint or fuel. It's small and light, but suck in the wind, and can't point the flame sideways. Piezo ignition butane jet lighter is bigger and heavier but seem to be much more windproof, and easier to light especially when you have gloves on etc, and you can point the flame toward pretty much any direction. But on the other hand piezo can fail without warning, leaving you no way to ignite the flame.
 
At that point why not just carry both or maybe storm proof matches? Personally, I used alot of my bics to make fire on almost all of my camping days. I still practice on using the firesteel, but sometimes I just use my bic and PJ cottonballs to start a fire quick in the winter.
 
Well it's not really a pratical question since we all will have more than one way to light a fire. :) But I'm just wondering, if you were to pick one, which would you pick?
 
I'd pick a Bic over a Piezo ignition butane jet lighter - it's lighter and even if the fuel gets accidentally ejected you still at least can make a spark. Sure, it's no good in the wind but it's not difficult to create a windbreak out of a jacket. Piezo ignitions are pretty reliable from my understanding - it's a quartz crystal that mechanical pressure is applied to which creates an electrical current (i think). I have heard butane jet lighters aren't reliable at high altitude.

Bics are cheap and light - I'm more likely to carry two bics than two jet lighters. And redundancy is a good thing.

Now, if I were MacGyver and I needed to defeat the bad guys with a paper clip, some bits of wire and a battery, a jet lighter might come in real handy for soldering tasks... ;)
 
I never had a bic fail on me except when they get wet. I had nice and espensive butane lighters that I have used in the bush and daily(I smoke). They are pretty good until like you said they just stop working. So in my opinion, go with a bic(a real bic not the cheap ones).
 
I prefer a Windmill lighter over the Bic. I've used a bic for years but the jet flame works better for me. I always have a ferro rod and scraper as a backup.
 
I chose the torch type lighter. As I explain on my website:

I used to have a Bic Mini model in my PSK, because Bics seem to be the most reliable of the disposable butane lighters, and because the Mini takes up little space and room in my kit. However, I switched to a refillable torch style butane lighter, for several reasons. The first and most important: torches combust the butane more fully than regular lighters do, thereby producing flames at a much higher temperature. My torch puts out about a 2,500 degree Fahrenheit flame, which is high enough to get nearly anything burning as tinder, if normal tinders are in short supply. Nylon packstraps, Spectra cord, cotton towel, compact discs, shoes, chocolate chip cookies... Whatever it is, if it's the only thing you have to try to start a fire with, you probably can, using a 2,500 degree torch. I also like that torches allow you to hold them in the actuated position for extended periods without burning your fingers, since the lever is farther from the flames. Torches also are more wind resistant. Finally, their flames can also be directed downward or sideways, instead of only up.

However, keep in mind, when reading the above, that it is just one of several of my back-ups, along with a firesteel, SparkLite, permanent match, fresnel lens, and true flint and steel.
 
Bic. over the jet.
The jets are not dependable at altitude. Not matter what the manf. says the alt. adjustment is tricky if it works at all, mine didn't ! I spent a lot on my windmill but over about 7K ft it just does not work right.
 
On windy nights the Bics were not able to light my fires so I purchased a Windmill. It hasn't ever failed me and lights in the strongest wind. If I were in a survival situation I would have a backup, but for every day use the Windmill seems to be very well built.
 
I'm with 2dogs,

When they work, Jet lighters blow away Bic's, and so I EDC one. I do, however, carry a 'flint' rod as it is actually impossible for one to fail. Knowledge of starting fires by 'rubbing sticks together' is also reassuring.
 
Good question! Great answers! I EDC a jet liter, mostly because I like it better for lighting cigars than a bic style plus whenever I hand it to a friend to light their cigarette, it gives them fits and then nearly takes their eyebrows off! :)

That said, I have BICs in every pack, kit, vehicle, and tool/tackle box 'cause they're so cheap!

J-
 
Well, I prefer the torch lighters.
A.) Because I smoke cigars (LOL to the above poster. Guys set half or more of their cigarette on fire if they don't know what I'm handing them).
B.) They are MUCH, MUCH hotter.
C.) They are refillable.

I carry two.

That being said, I also carry 2 Bics, waterproof matches, and a magnesium starter.
 
Bic's are cheap and the mini's are light. I have one to use for my cook kit and a backup for my PSK. I also carry a few waterproof matches, a no-blow-out joke birthday candle or two and a firesteel. I have Tinder Quick tabs in a spy capsule and an Esbit fuel tab, as well as alcohol gel hand cleaner. Doggonit, if i can't get a fire started, I'm already dead :)
 
It hasn't been mentioned yet, but the fuel consumption in my torch lighter is way higher than that of a Bic. I EDC the torch lighter, but my kit has a Bic simply because I'd rather be able to have a single flame a virtually unlimited number of times. In the context of a survival situation over several days, I'd be concerned that the torch would run dry. But then again I haven't tried any of the better quality ones either.

Like Dale said, I pack enough backups that starting a fire is the least of my worries.
 
I' like bic's, cheap,and I don't have to worry about keeping up with them or anything,if you break or lose it it was a buck.And I always carry a ferro rod as back up in case it does fail. But for what they are their actually pretty durable imo.
 
zippo:thumbup:
 
I saw in a recent Smoky MTns Catalogue they are now carrying Zippo butane lighters. Kinda pricey but Zippo quality.
RKH
 
akennedy73 said:
I'd pick a Bic over a Piezo ignition butane jet lighter - it's lighter and even if the fuel gets accidentally ejected you still at least can make a spark. Sure, it's no good in the wind but it's not difficult to create a windbreak out of a jacket.
Click to expand...

I grew up around Albany NY - it gets cold and windy there. We learned about "turning up" BIC's and similar lighters to get something like the jet effect out of a cheap lighter. They tend to work better in the cold weather when they are up a bit. Just have to remember to warn the chippie doll at the bar before she lights her... Oh wait, no smoking in bars in so many places these days maybe it's not an issue any more! Crank up the cheap lighters, leave the fancy ones at home to show off to company.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top