This means that you should have some sort of fire starting device on your person as part of your EDC at all times, since you never know when you’ll find yourself in a survival situation. Easily the best fire starting device to carry on your person is a good lighter, and specifically, a good camping lighter.
The difference between a camping lighter and any ordinary lighter is that camping lighters are built with a more durable body and a stronger flame, so they can better withstand the elements and the high wind.
Here are 4 of the best camping lighters on the market (and we go into what features the ideal lighters should have after the reviews).
Tesla Coil TM USB Rechargeable Windproof Arc Lighter
The Tesla Coil lighter is unique from the previous lighters on this list due to the fact that it runs not on fuel but on electricity. It’s also perfectly rechargeable via a simple USB, so you can recharge it anywhere and on practically any electric device that you can think of. Many people prefer an electric lighter over a fuel run one for environmental reasons and the fact that it is fully windproof. If you like an electric option, the Tesla Coil is one of the best lighters for camping that you can buy and the sleek design only adds to its appeal.
Zippo Emergency Fire Starter
The Zippo Emergency Fire Starter may not be the prettiest looking lighter on the market, but as long as your camping lighter is durable and strikes a flame every time, that’s all that matters. That’s also exactly what the Zippo fire starter excels at. It comes encased in a lightweight but durable plastic case that has been sealed with an O-ring seal that keeps water and moisture out and the fuel inside. But it’s neatest features is the fact that it sells with four waxed tinder sticks that are water resistant and will allow you to get a fire going when dry tinder and kindling are not available. This ugly duckling just might be the best camping lighter you can buy.
Scorch Torch Dominator Triple Jet Butane Lighter
Last but not least, we come to the Scorch Torch butane lighter. This lighter is a great option because it is robust both on the inside and the outside to ensure that it will last you for many years. It accomplishes this will preserving a light weight of only four ounces and a height of less than three inches. It’s also completely refillable with an adjustable flame control system that is very easy to use. Additional features that make the Scorch Torch worth checking out is a cigar punch accessory, an automatic open safety cap, and a one year warranty from the manufacturer themselves. All these bells and whistles surely make this one of the best camping lighters period.
Tacklife Electric Lighter
When it comes to camping lighters, you need something capable, modern, and preferably convenient. Electric lighters are made to work when regular lighters simply won’t. The Tacklife is an electric light that offers more control and a safer overall lighter. With the push of a button, you create a powerful 700V flameless design. This is safer and can be used for extended periods of time without burning yourself. The lighter is also rechargeable and charges via a standard USB charging handle. The battery will last 300 ignitions and will auto shut off after ten minutes. This lighter is water and windproof which makes it well suited for the great outdoors.
Features That Your Camping Lighter Should Have:
Elements are going to be working against you, not for you, in a survival situation. That’s why it’s important that you have a reliable camping lighter that can go up against those elements and provide you with a strong flame in even the worst of conditions. For this to be possible, your lighter has to meet a certain set of features.
The first feature is that your camping lighter must be durable. If your lighter will break after just falling on a hard surface, it has no place as a part of your EDC or in your survival kit. The top camping lighters are made out of durable materials such as stainless steel and will work even after being dropped several hundred feet.
Your camping lighter also must be completely waterproof. A lighter can be made waterproof if a sealant is over the body that keep the fuel inside and any water or moisture outside. You should be able to submerge your lighter in a swimming pool or a lake and it should still be able to work.
Your lighter must be very lightweight and small. It should be able to fit in your pocket and be accessed in a hurry. While camping lighters are going to be a little heavier than the Bic disposable lighters that are commonly sold at checkout locations at convenient stores, it’s only because of the stronger materials that they are made out of that enhance durability. Camping lighters are still small and inconspicuous enough so that they don’t take up too much space.
Last but not least, the best camping lighters should be refillable (or rechargeable if you’re using an electrical model) to ensure a wind resistant and warm flame. Disposable lighters mean they cannot be refilled and must be thrown away when the fuel runs out. Generally speaking, only more cheaply made lighters are disposable, which is another reason why you should go with a refillable model instead.
Each of the four camping lighter models that we have listed meet if not exceed this criteria that we have set. You’ll be able to toss them around, accidentally drop them in water, carry them around all day in your pocket, and refill them up with more fuel and they will all continue to work well for you.
