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In a survival situation, without a fire, you are going to be in for a rough time. The best survival lighters are going to be a dependable brand that you can trust for lighting a fire in an unplanned scenario with many flicks available to you before dying.
Having a decent survival lighter could mean many different things depending on who you are. Some people just look for the bare features and then others will want more, like glow-in-the-dark, lighter cases that are waterproof or a case that allows the lighter to float, but one of the main things to be concerned about when looking for the best survival lighter is reliability and how easy it is to use the lighter.
For a survival lighter you have other options of course, but it depends on your skills. There are fire starters that require you to use a Ferro rod, tesla lighter, zippo, or even primitive fire-starting methods.
But most backup lighters we carry like the Ferro for extra precaution. Most preppers store up on lighters, the good old simple kind. A Bic lighter. In a real survival situation would you rather have a lighter or Ferro rod?
It’s recommended to have more than one way to start a fire. I would suggest at least two or three. A lighter, matches and a Ferro rod are what I use and I can also make primitive fires by a few methods, but it is very difficult under certain conditions.
In this post, we will cover the best survival lighters and brands of lighters to be using in your survival kit.
Top Lighter Types For The Best Survival Lighters
1. Bic Classic Lighter
Features: 12 pack, child safety guard, top quality, assorted colors, oval-shaped for a classic fit in hand
The Bic lighter is going to be the best overall survival lighter as it is the easiest to use and most reliable. A lighter you can depend on is an absolute must. Since every lighter, especially the cheaper ones aren’t going to have the same quality as a Bic lighter.
One downside about bic lighters is they do not have many features, but they are a very popular brand and undergo many quality checks to ensure they are the top brand in lighters.
They aren’t waterproof or windproof but usually, after you get them wet you can get them working in a few hours. The company suggests not to refill them but there are tutorials on how to refill them if you wanted to.
The benefits of having a bic lighter are they are rapidly available, the packs are budget-friendly, and if you do run out of butane then it is always a good option to have a backup lighter or have another way to start a fire.
2. Survival Frog Tesla Torch
Features: Waterproof, Windproof, Flameless Top, Facing Dual Arc, USB Rechargeable
Here is a lighter that was made for survival. Start a fire in any weather as long as you have a full charge! Simply plug it in via USB and charge it up and then you have a great survival lighter with many cool features.
Some of the features are a waterproof case, top arcs for easy light, rechargeable, a lanyard, 120 decibels for emergencies, Para-tinder Cord, and can be used as a flashlight.
Though it is easy to use, I do not think it is as reliable as a Bic, although if just features would win the battle of the better survival lighter, this would no doubt win as it is one of the highest-rated lighters of this year. But it does have a lot of nice features and the ratings were all very good I thought.
3. Suprus Waterproof Plasma Lighter
Features: Waterproof, 3 mode flashlight, dual arc, rechargeable, plasma, emergency whistle
Another lighter that doesn’t need the good old butane fluid. Just plug it in and charge it up. Charging only takes 20 minutes and it has a power level check to know what the level of the battery is. It uses dual plasma arc beams and a convenient and durable lighter.
The casing is made from stainless steel and is secure storage for water resistant seal to keep the elements out. A lanyard with a survival whistle.
It too is made for survival and is windproof and waterproof, a 3-mode flashlight too, and would be a great lighter for a survival kit.
4. Topkay Torch Lighter
Features: Windproof, butane, refillable, 2-pack
A powerful jet torch flame, works well in high wind, producing a burning hot flame. Having a visible tank is good too so you are able to know when you need to refill it. Overall this lighter is going to be a good backup lighter for a survival kit to ensure you have the proper backup gear.
Not really a bad lighter at all. You get 2 for the price of one pretty much and has a good flame, and produces enough heat from it to get the job done.
Not my first pick, but it is a decent lighter for being able to start a fire with a torch like this here. There is a better torch letter but they are a bit bulkier so it is fairly good buying them in a pack.
5. Zippo Matte Survival Lighter
Features: Windproof, Refillable, Metal Case
A classic Zippo that has plenty of colors to pick from. This lighter is not waterproof but it is windproof and has that unique click sound we as a kid loved hearing. For a survival scenario, I wouldn’t want it to be my go-to. But not to disregard its quality or reliability or anything, I would just like it as a backup or my second lighter, as I would prefer a Bic any day.
A well-designed lighter supporting metal, it has been designed to work anywhere, a windproof design that will not let the wind put out your flame. The metal casing can slide out and be disassembled.
A super slim, classic lighter that is iconic. I have been a fan of Zippos for years now. As a backup lighter for one of the best survival lighters, this definitely would go into my bag as I really do think this would be a good second option.
Zippo recommends that you use their zippo fluid and replacement parts for maintenance. This lighter does not come with fluid either so you need to get that with it.
Conclusion
Well, there you have it. We went over the best survival lighters and started with the Bic lighter as the best overall survival lighter and then the Tesla Torch, Plasma, Jet flame torch and last we looked at was a classical Zippo. These were not in order just by lighter type, the best for survival and having in your gear.
There are many types of lighters and you would be surprised at how many lighters there are each type is so different and each really has its own purpose and usage.
Some of the best kinds of lighters are just the regular old run-of-the-mill lighter. A true lighter that deserves to be called “the best”, is a reliable one you can count on in any situation and many of us preppers believe Bic takes the cake on being the top dog in survival lighters.
When seeking the best lighter for survival remember to have at least 2-3 different ways that you are able to successfully ignite a fire. Either a lighter or two or a lighter and matches and a Ferro rod or something for starting a fire. A backup is important to have, I cannot stress this enough, if you are prepared then you will not have any trouble if you lose a piece of equipment like a Season 1 contestant from Alone, except in a real-life survival situation you don’t get to press a button to tap out.
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