Lighters for Bushcraft and survival.

Here I put four different kinds of fueled lighters to the test.
I give my honest opinion on them.

[@howardvarley8795]

I totally agree with you Rob about the Bic lighter. I live in a coastal area where it’s Always windy and relying on a Bic for fire could end up getting you killed from hypothermia . I carry 3 full Jet lighters which still work in gale force winds when even matches are useless.

[@michielvanbekkum896]

I carry a small Bic and it always works... Inside 😉 Great video. Always suspected the arc lighters won't work for outdoor; now I know. When I'm playing outside it's a firesteel and a refillable double flame jet lighter for me. Catch you in the next vid. Cheers

[@dennisleighton2812]

Nice comparison. Personally, I've never experienced that problem with a Bic. That Jet lighter looks great, so I'll try get one. I think I would first light a candle (inside the tent if necessary) and take that out to the kindling. Good candles are better in the wind and one gets candle lights that protect the flame as well. I don't buy the criticism of getting wet either. That's what ziplock bags are for! Cheers Rob, I'm glad I found this video. Your practical approach is refreshing, as usual. Cheers

[@tangobravoxray8692]

I've had an Exotac for a while now. I keep 2 spare flints and tiny brass compass inside the fuel cap. In a real survival moment you can also use the cotton wool from inside as tinder and try and light it from the flint. I also replace the seals with factionally fatter ones with a high temperature rating. Another good video. Many thanks.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

I don't think I'm going to use it much , I just don't like the leaking.

[@ChrisSurrey]

Nice one Rob, I love those jet lighters too

[@martinclift9970]

Great review rob (had to rewind when you said you had a small bic I had to make sure it wasn’t about something totally different 🤣)

[@jaalgr]

Great video Rob

[@LaurentGouzouAKALynx]

I’ve been watching your excellents videos for a while and really like your approach. I own a TitanLight from exotac and it’s a great lighter. To me it’s major advantage is that it’s sealed so your fuel doesn’t evaporate with time like with a trusty zippo. About the leakage problem everyone who have use a zippo lighter for his smoking habits (me it’s smoking my english blend tobaccos in my pipes) knows that you have very careful to to overfill them because once you put it in your pocket it will certainly leak and burn your skin. So to me the exotac is perfect because even if I don’t use it for months it will be ready to light.

[@robertfuller8445]

I use the Soto extendable pocket torch . Never fails. Fill with Coleman -27 60/40 gas. The extension allows you to put the flame exactly where you want it. Remove the little safety button and never look back !

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

That's cheating...🤣🤣🤣

[@robertfuller8445]

@@RobEvansWoodsman I know, I'm old and lazy.

[@ccmogs5757]

Have to agree , great jet lighter the SOTO , i"ll have to look at removing the safety button :)

[@michaelpepper7230]

I gave you a thumbs up because of the fact thumbs down piss me off too.

[@keepthefaith35]

Have to agree with everything you've said. I have about 5 jet lighters and the are also refillable versions which I carry. I have matches and ferro rods too. Atvb Malcolm 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@farquharwilson2523]

Good honest no nonsense review Rob. I like the exotac but I'm too tight to fork out for one and the leaky cap kind of puts me off. Love the wee jet lighters at 89p for 2 and refillable. Plus they are in nice bright colours. Bics are a waste of time would use a clipper over them anyday, but they are popular over in the States, maybe they don't have clippers over there?

[@dukehanwell]

Tea candle is my favourite! Cheap, light, waterproof, no small part to break, no leakage, reusable over and over again & so on... with simple ordinary lighters & good fire steel as a backup that what I really need! I try to keep things simple 😉 nice video Rob! I like to see some of your DIY bushcraft kit ideas! Just ideas for some future videos 😉🙂

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Ideas are always welcome, it's difficult when you're stuck in the same spot and can't go camping.

[@Interestingness101]

It's Good to watch nice honest reviews on You Tube. Thank you for your honesty. My own experience is... I've used Zippo, Imco Triplex Super, BIC, Clippers and Torjet jet flame lighters and all disappointed me when it came to fire, stove and Hurricane lamp lighting. And if you ever come across a lost Clippers lighter when your camping in woodland in Wales then you'll know I was there because I'm always losing those blooming things. As you may already know Flint ignited lighters become problematic when damp or dirty. Electric ones are a bit more durable to a flint but they do eventually wear and the little Piezoelectric igniters hammer mechanism always seem to break or the Piezo crystal becomes damaged and is too weak to ignite the gas. My only sources of ignition in my own Fire kit are my 10mm Ferro rod and lots and lots of wind and water proofed matches, plus a box of Swan Vesta strike anywhere matches. The matches are my go to multi purpose and the Ferro is my secondary and both have never let me down. Through rain, wind and snow I've always managed to make fires for a nice hot brew thanks to just matches or Ferro rod. Well, That's my two Penneths worth. Thanks for sharing! 👍

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

I prefer a ferrorod and skill! Love big matches also.

[@shanesworkshop922]

Great info and it’s really nice to see an honest opinion even if lots of people may not agree. The bic mini is appealing because of its size and price but isn’t the most reliable lighter available especially in cold weather situations like you just pointed out. That being said I do keep a couple on hand as a back up. Thanks for sharing.

[@grahamwinter5536]

👍At last someone who share my opinion on bics😊. I always have one or two (or rather a clipper in my case) as a backup but prefer the refillable jet lighters as well.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Great minds Graham.....

[@grahamwinter5536]

@@RobEvansWoodsman 👍😎

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

I'm thinking of a jet insert for my old Zippo.

[@grahamwinter5536]

@@RobEvansWoodsmanI just looked that up. Looks like a great idea. I have an old zippo too 🤔.

[@anthonydeacon881]

I use the Clipper lighters. They are pretty reliable if you keep them dry and warm (like in an inside pocket). They are refillable (unlike Bics) and I prefer the transluscent ones that you can see the fuel level in. They are cheap! There is no good reason for not having several stashed away around your person and kit. They do not work well in a howling gale, but what form of firelighting does? It is not beyond the wit of intelligent man to contrive a suitable shelter (even in the worst of conditions) in which to cultivate the start of a fire. Well, okay, you may struggle a bit on the wave-swept deck of a boat in a stormy sea.

[@steveevans1914]

Totally agree. Bics seem to be harder to get hold of as well. Only thing about a Clipper is to make sure it's got a new flint in and fully loaded with gas.

[@simonh6371]

@@steveevans1914 Bics are good as backup in survival kits, the reason being they have a lot more gas in than any lighter which you refill yourself as they're factory filled and sealed under pressure. I smoke 20 a day and used a large BIc every day for 7 months before it ran out.

[@steveevans1914]

@@simonh6371 Don'ton't get me wrong. I have a number of unused smaller Bics in various kit just prefer the versatility of the Clipper. Refillable, can change the flint (even take out the flint mechanism and use it as a mini survival kit sparker) and Bics, around here at least, are getting pretty hard to find. I agree though, I smoke myself, and Bics do seem to last forever.

[@thanoshalo7102]

I carry a CLIPPER lighter..it has a built in removable striker wheel that i use for chard cloth..pretty cool☺

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Clipper are definitely better than bic.

[@philleath-dawson2113]

Its a common fault on Excotac, mine also leaks and hard to ensure you fill them properly as you seem to add only a small amount of fuel for the reservoir. Most of these would also struggle with lighting a ranger band if the weather was bad enough to need to light a fire this way. Ferrorod is waterproof and longer lasting.........

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Ferrorod, pot of big UCO storm matches and a jet lighter would probably have me happy for any trip.....and an ESEE tool.

[@Zenmastersean]

Fun video. Guilty... I always have a bunch of bics scattered about in my gear. There's a reason they're the most stolen item in the world... but as an ex smoker, you can't beat a good zippo (similar to your leaky cool bad ass looking outdoor lighter) or torch lighter for first time every time lol. In that wind youd be better off going primal flint and steel with char and let the wind help instead of interfere. Stay healthy brother. Thanks for sharing.

[@anhatur]

I use the cheap gas lighters quite a lot. Not because they're any good (I don't even use Bic or any other big brand but the cheapest flint lighter I can get), but because I can easliy forget my lighter and they're easy to have around and stick into whatever pocket I may have. If you're used to having at least two or three lighters on you, randomly spread around in your pockets somewhere, chances are pretty good you'll have at least one functional one. I wondered about the arc lighters, but like you I kind of doubted how much they could do, save lighting up candles and canister stoves. And I may get a Maratac Peanut lighter one day (the XL version), hoping they won't leask so bad, but it's an investment. As you say, if you can keep the wind of, it can be a very easy way to start a fire. And while that's perhaps not bushcrafty and all, you sometimes just need a fire now. I have one jet lighter, the Primus branded one, and it's finicky as heck. I have more experience with it not working than seeing it work, and if I bring a lighter with me I want it to be at least half dependable. So if you've found a jet lighter you can actually depend on, I'd be glad to hear as I like the basic idea.

[@thebritishbookworm2649]

Nice video 📹

[@omadon7331]

That video just reassured me not to spend money on any Arc/Coil lighter. Watched few videos about their practicality, and I'm not impressed. Nice comparative overview. Cheers!

[@alexandergutfeldt1144]

Nice overview! I've used them all, except for the exotac (expensive!) . They all work. If you know how to baby/maintain them, they all work very well. My approach is to carry multiple 'lighters', but also carry some emergency tinder. Waxed cotton pads, waxed paper, fatwood, pick your favorite bring at least two. The bushcrafty way (borders on religion for some) may be to rub two sticks together, craft & use a bowdrill, bang a pebble against the knife or strike a ferro rod... (in order coolness😇 ), I've done that too, with more or less success, with the emphasis on 'less' , not on success 😊 ... but in the end all that counts is a good cup of hot tea!

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Been there done that on most techniques. Can't beat a good strong flame, pissing about with fancy techniques makes a nice video and looks impressive but real world firelighting is a no frills affair.

[@jooky5]

My favorite is a zippo with the butane insert

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Perfect, I've been meaning to get the insert, one or two jets?

[@jooky5]

@@RobEvansWoodsman two jets

[@simonh6371]

For longevity i.e. in an actual survival kit for when you need it, you can't beat Bics, small or large. They have more gas squeezed in them than you can do inside a refillable lighter from a gas bottle, because they're filled under pressure and factory sealed. Take it from me, a full time smoker. I had a Bic full size and used it every day for 7 months before it ran out. Also the flints are much bigger than the ones you buy separately, about 3x as long. There's a US youtuber who took one out of an old Bic and put it inside the scales of his Victorinox, he tested it as a firesteel believe it or not and it started his cotton tinder on the 2nd strike, a bit finicky, but possible. On a day to day basis I use Clippers and have multiple small ones in my pouches and bags I take out to the woods, with spare flints. As a backup I have a True Utility petrol capsule (peanut) lighter on my keychain. I filled it when I bought it more than 6 months ago and it still lights first time whenever I check it, the petrol doesn't evaporate because of the rubber seal on the lid. Jet lighters are good but they get through a lot of gas.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Agreed on all counts but I still prefer to use a jet lighter in the field. 80% of the time I light fires with a ferrorod anyway and dare I say it.....I like big matches, uco storm in bad conditions.

[@simonh6371]

@@RobEvansWoodsman Yep I always take a ferrorod anyway, and have storm matches stashed for just in case.

[@seanthomasdowd]

I totally agree about bics, but I have been toying with the idea of getting a tesla coil lighter

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

New one on me mate. I'll Google it now

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Looks the same principle as the Arc lighter at first glance.

[@seanthomasdowd]

@@RobEvansWoodsman tis the same just by it's proper name

[@s.e.hebert7307]

I saw a video where the guy ground down the flint from an empty lighter then lighted that with a spark. I haven't tried it yet, but I do want to try trying to light magnesium shavings from the spark of an empty lighter.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

They go up quickly, if you intend to light a sustainable fire from magnesium shavings make sure you have a good pile of dry material to catch off it.

[@neemancallender9092]

Flick your Bic Dime a dozen get them every where Cheap as chips Protect it from the wind Tried all the refillable lighters Which means you have carry a refill supply Zippo love them but drys out too fast and you can no longer get the little capsules of fuel (giving my age away) Zippo with a gas insert but never know when they are going to run out The rocket lighters are great but never know when they will fail But there again I carry cotton wool with vaseline

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

I remember the fuel capsules.

[@oldpisces49]

Heyyyy Rob.... Honest amd truthful as always!! Is the Jet refillable?? The xotac... Is that usin regular lighter fluid, and flints replaceable please?? Thanks for narrowin down the acceptable choices! ATB.....

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Jet is a throw away job, 89p for two! Regular fuel on the exotac and the flints are replaceable, haven't worked out how yet!

[@farquharwilson2523]

@@RobEvansWoodsman I'd look at those jet lighters again, my ones are refillable. 89p for two in nice bright colours. Great wee lighters.

[@archie2archie]

standard size bic,the standard for smokers last 20 odd years.

[@neilcastell6951]

i still use matches most of the time, but do carry a ferro rod and a couple of gas lighters for a back up, i was carrying a zippo but have grown tired or constantly refilling it. lol I was recently give an odd lighter ... its a flint and striker on a rod, instead of fuel there is a small wick. ps .... Battery pack ... ??? .... come on man

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Don't tell me that you don't take a battery pack on your weekend trips.

[@neilcastell6951]

@@RobEvansWoodsman ... nope ... charge my phone/camera battery before going, it can last 3-4 days i'm away,

[@neemancallender9092]

what happened to the box of matches? In Boy Scouts you were allowed two matches to start your fire

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

They became safe and small here for the snowflake generations!

[@clivedunning4317]

Dear Neeman Callender. The UK was robbed of " strike anywhere" matches by the EU ! About 3 years ago the EU prohibited, for health reasons, a precursor chemical used in the production of strike anywhere matches. Swedish Match/Bryant and May the largest (only?) matchmaker supplyng the UK would not re-formulate production. Because of this you can only obtain safety matches in the UK. Old well known brands such as 'Vulcan', 'Scottish Bluebell' and 'Englands Glory' have gone. Swan Vesta continue, but only as a safety match. I put up a post on the internet about this problem 3 years ago . . ." EU steal England's Glory" . . . Sad; the passing of an era !

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

@@clivedunning4317 awful, I still have some strike anywhere matches, watch my next video for a fix!

[@clivedunning4317]

Thanks Rob, love your human, real videos. I always had strike anywhere matches on me. I'd candle wax a small bundle of 5 or 6 and wrap them in a double layer of cooking foil. Used to carry three or four of these bundles spread around my clothes. The advantage of these matches was twofold, apart from the advantage of striking anywhere, dry stone, knife blade etc., you had "divisability". You could give matches to those who had none(for whatever reason). Hate messing about with the striker strip on safety matches, you have to keep them bone dry. Bought 200 boxes of Englands Glory from Bookers cash and carry before they disappeared, so I'm OK. Also, jet lighters are great, try lighting a fire with a bic, up a mountain, 8n Scotland and . . . you won't have a cup of tea ! . . .

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

@@clivedunning4317 cheers Clive, I'm really gealous over your matches,.

[@The_Arby]

Best lighters are cheapest...Canny stand those Ark lighters, canny even light a cigarette properly with them, lol...My best solution, is use Tea candle, light that, then place near fire :-)

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Can't fault the old school candle under the twigs method, used it for years .

[@alexandergutfeldt1144]

🕯 works like a charm!

[@joannearduin7801]

🤣