Going to take a chance

[Mr. Whippy]

Wenger popped up an ad for their camping lighters on FB today.  After looking at the videos, I decided to take a chance and ordered one from Amazon.

The Hydor.  I'm hoping it is more durable than most of the butane lighters I've had.

[nuphoria]

They look nice
Which colour did you go for?

I have the Wenger one which looks like an Alox knife - so far it's holding up well, not that I've tried to use it up a mountain or down a well or anything!

[Mr. Whippy]

Black.

You know, these butane lighters don't work well at altitude.  It's a pressure thing, I suspect.  They also are a little fiddly when the temps are really low.

Not that either of those situations apply on the farm--at least not often. 

[space cowboy]

The BIC lighters we have here in America are very dependable! They quit working when the fuel is depleted.

[Mr. Whippy]

The BIC lighters we have here in America are very dependable! They quit working when the fuel is depleted.

Agree.  I do like some performance aspects of butane lighters though.

[Nhoj]

BIC lighters are nice cheap Butane lighters. But I always lose them before I can refill them.

[Mr. Whippy]

I didn't realize Bic used butane too.  I guess I mean butane jet lighters vs Bic style lighters

[Nhoj]

Sorry for the derailment... I'm sure that the Wenger lighters are a million times better than disposable or refillable BICs. If I had some extra money I would buy a Wenger lighter, but those are a little more than I'd pay for a lighter.

[Mr. Whippy]

Sorry for the derailment... I'm sure that the Wenger lighters are a million times better than disposable or refillable BICs. If I had some extra money I would buy a Wenger lighter, but those are a little more than I'd pay for a lighter.

For the price, it's pretty darn hard to beat Bic lighters.

There are times where I like the jet flame characteristics more than the lazy Bic flame.

[Rich S]

If you need a lighter, get a Zippo! Best lighters ever made IMHO. Carry an extra flint in the bottom. They will light on most anything from lighter fluid to gasoline.

Rich

[nuphoria]

I prefer Clippers to Bics for cheapos. Feel nice, look good and easily refillable.

That said, I have a thing for lighters so I barely ever need a back up throw away one!

[jzmtl]

I never had any luck with jet lighters, they always end up with no flame/clogging (no matter fuel selection) or unfillable, hope you have better luck than I did, especially consider their price.

[tattoosteve99]

For high altitude wenger has the clava. I did a search for the lighter you said and I found that one too . Let us know how good it is, ie, build quality, piezo, length of time before refill etc.

[Mr. Whippy]

I never had any luck with jet lighters, they always end up with no flame/clogging (no matter fuel selection) or unfillable, hope you have better luck than I did, especially consider their price.

Jie,

It was sort of an impulse buy, really.  Two of the jet lighters I've had did the same thing.    One was a Colibri and just became completely fiddly before breaking a part.  I have one that I got as part of an Ebay package of knives and multitools.  I don't know who makes it but it still runs great, but gets hot in your hand.  I'm hoping for the same function, without burning my fingers.

[jzmtl]

What's the warranty like on the lighters, same as the knives?

Look at it this way, you are taking one for the team on whether expensive jet lighter makes a difference.   

[Cupboard]

there's always the option of a gas soldering iron with a blow torch tip
Mine works really well!
Not so pocketable though...

[stealth007s]

What's the warranty like on the lighters, same as the knives?

Look at it this way, you are taking one for the team on whether expensive jet lighter makes a difference.   

Xikar lighters have a lifetime no questions warranty, I'm not sure about other brands though. Let us know how that Hydor works out for you Nate

[Nhoj]

Is it bad that I want a Wenger lighter because of the brand even though I have a lighter that works?

[stealth007s]

Is it bad that I want a Wenger lighter because of the brand even though I have a lighter that works?

I wouldn't think so. Isn't that what collecting is about?

[Nhoj]

Is it bad that I want a Wenger lighter because of the brand even though I have a lighter that works?

I wouldn't think so. Isn't that what collecting is about?

Yup anything Victorinox or Wenger is just 

[Mr. Whippy]

For high altitude wenger has the clava. I did a search for the lighter you said and I found that one too . Let us know how good it is, ie, build quality, piezo, length of time before refill etc.

2500M is only around 8000 feet.  I think Estes Park, CO is higher than that...

[Mr. Whippy]

So, it arrived.

I went for the black Hydor.  Here's a shot of it with a standard BIC lighter for comparison:





Here it is, cocked and ready to go...


Flame comparisons:
Wenger:


Bic:


My impressions:
As a brand new lighter, it functions great.  Sometimes, it takes two clicks to get it to light, but a lot of butane jet lighters are like that.

We'll see what the verdict is in 6 months or so...

[stealth007s]

Nice looking lighter Nate. Keep the jets clean with some compressed air and bleed it about once a month before refilling and it should do you good for a long time.