Lighter Buyer’s Guide

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Father’s Day is coming up, and a favorite gift for cigar smokers is a butane lighter. We’ve done our fair share of lighter reviews here at Nice Tight Ash, and we want to share what we look for in a quality cigar lighter, whether you are getting something for dear old dad or for yourself. For Father’s Day, I’ve got the “Four F’s” for selecting a lighter: Format, Flame, Function, and Features.

Format

The first decision to make is whether you want to buy a personal lighter (I usually refer to this as my “carry lighter”) versus a table top lighter. A personal lighter is a standard size lighter, small and light enough to carry around in your pocket. A table top lighter is larger, heavier, and is good to keep in your smoking room or man cave (if you’re lucky enough to have one), or to bring with you to a herf. If someone has been smoking for awhile, chances are they have a personal lighter already, so picking up a table lighter for them might be a good choice for the veteran smoker. If they don’t have a good personal lighter, or recently lost one, go with that format.

Flame

Second item to look for is the type of flame, and the number of jets in the lighter. The most common butane lighter flame is the thin, sharp “laser” type of flame. It burns a bright blue. These jet flame lighters will have between 1 and 4 jets (a.k.a. burners). More burners usually means a thicker, and thus heavier, lighter. Also, more jets means a hotter flame, which could lead to overheating the cigar and ruining its flavor. Not that multiple jets is always a bad thing. It’s usually quicker to get thicker ring gauge cigars lit with the broader flame offered by multi-jet lighters, and if you are patient when lighting cigars, overheating isn’t an issue. So consider the size of the cigars your dad or yourself smokes, and pick accordingly. Table top lighters will usually have multiple jets or one really large one.

The second type of flame is the soft flame. It runs on butane, but the flame resembles that of a traditional Zippo or Bic-type lighter. These are usually very nice, elegant lighters. I have one that I wont at a herf, and I love it. Except for when I’m outdoors. Then I just get burnt fingers and an unlit cigar. If your smoker spends a lot of time smoking outdoors or on the golf course, a soft flame might not be the best choice as a primary lighter. But as a second lighter or for someone who gets to smoke indoors mainly, it can be a great choice.

Function

Having used a myriad of lighters over the years, as well as having sold quite a few different models when I worked at a retail tobacconist, I’ve developed some definite opinions on what makes an easy to use lighter. First, take a look at the button on the lighter. It should be decent sized, with a solid amount of resistance but not requiring gorilla force to engage it. When passing a lighter around at a herf or on the golf course, the button can get really hot if it’s close to the flame and used for a long time. I developed a really nice blister one day working at the shop when we had a few thousand people walk through the door, and I was helping people light their cigar, because the button got so hot. High quality can prevent this, or a button on the side of the lighter, away from the flame, can help avoid it all together.

A couple things to keep in mind if there is any kind of lid or cover over the ignition. Make sure the lid folds far enough back from the flame that it won’t bump into the end of your cigar when putting it to the flame. And one of my biggest pet peeves is a cover over a flame that has to be manually lifted before lighting. Some might call it a safety feature. I call it a royal pain in the ass. A good lighter will have the cover lift out of the way or slide back when pressing the button. Another annoyance is not designing the lighter so it is readily apparent how it works or opens up. It’s a lighter, not a jigsaw puzzle. If you look at a lighter, and think “How the hell do I work this thing?” then look to the next one on the shelf.

Features

– Fuel Capacity

Any avid cigar smoker can tell you that a high fuel capacity can make or break lighter. Great build quality, easy of use, and sparkling design don’t mean spit if you have to lug a can of butane around with it.

– Fuel Window

A window of the side of the lighter to show how much butane is left is a nice bonus.

– Easy Flame Adjustment

Any quality lighter will allow you to adjust the flame with a small screwdriver, but some offer easy to use wheels that can be turned with your fingers.

– Cutters & Punches

More and more lighters are coming with built in punches or cutters (and I’ve seen a couple with both). These are a bit gimmicky to me, and don’t tend to work as well as separate cutters and punches. But undeniably handy if you forget. (My personal choice: go with the Xikar Ultra Combo if you want both in one package.

–Warranty

It’s unfortunate fact that even the best lighters will break, either through a mishap or overuse or a defect. A lifetime warranty is especially nice, and increases the value of a lighter. If you’re spending $40, 60, 80, or $100 on a lighter, knowing you’ll have it for a lifetime makes the price tag seem less prohibitive.

–Build Quality

Look for lighters that are built solidly and with quality materials. One big item to check for: the finish. Lighters spend a lot of time in pockets, rubbing up against coins, keys, cutters, and other assorted miscellaneous stuff. A finish that can stand up to that kind of abuse is definitely a good feature. Some lighters will come with cases to help protect against this kind of wear and tear.

–Design & Asthetics

There’s no accounting for taste. Everyone has their own personal style, so the design of a lighter is completely subjective.

Hopefully, I’ve given you all the information you need to go out and buy a quality lighter this Father’s Day. Remember these four F’s when you go shopping, and it hopefully you or a loved one will have a lighter they can rely on for years.

Our Lighter Reviews

• Bugatti B-1
• Xikar Ultra Cutter & Lighter
• Zippo BLU
• Lotus 20
• Tatuaje Table Lighter by Lotus

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