Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Plasma lighters?

Anyone using a plasma lighter? I like the rechargeability of them plus they "should" be free of elevation effects.

I've read up some on them but I've never used one. I think they'd be great for camping and hunting but I wouldn't trust one to replace my Zippo for emergencies. Electronics can go bad. A small container of lighter fluid in my pack is a reliable backup.

I've tested one out for over a year and surprised at how reliable it's been.
It's probably three or four times heavier than a disposable and needs recharged. That's about the only drawback I can think of.

I still prefer scripto clear. Maybe it's because I used a disposable butane lighter all of my life. I adjust them high, which is why Bics aren't for me. You can even take them apart to set the flame higher.
The only true advantage I can see to the plasma type is that it doesn't blow out with wind. Also, wet hands don't touch a striker and make it wet and unable to ignite.
These are the few considerations besides going for one with a good review.

Thanks for the thread B, I was not aware of such but just received an orange Explorer from amazon. I ordered it for my wife to use for lighting the indoor fire.

Might just go ahead and order a longer one for the bbq.


Done, ordered one for the barbie, ebay less that $10.

Just ordered two.

Yes, that is the one from amazon, and THIS is the one for the bbq.

I am pretty pleased with the Explorer.

Have added pictures for size comparison.

I got 2 of these for $17. They work very well for camp stoves. The piezo lighter on my Coleman propane stove only works half the time. So far this has been flawless. They're far better than butane lighters at high altitudes and in the cold.
For emergency use in the field, though, I want my Zippo in my pocket. Liquid fuel is more reliable than a battery.

These come in a very nice box that probably costs as much as the lighters.

I mentioned that the piezo lighter on my propane stove only works half the time. If you see a spark, it's working. The problem is the gas isn't getting to where the spark is. This plasma lighter takes care of that problem. I just have to make sure it's charged before a camping trip or carry a power pack of some kind just in case.

I'll take a Zippo any day over a disposable for emergency use. For one thing, you can light a Zippo and set it down. You don't have to keep your thumb on it. That gives you both hands free to handle the tinder. Lighter fluid will light at any temperature or altitude, unlike butane. I've done a number of demonstrations for scouts comparing the 2 types for fire building in bad conditions. Zippo wins.

I see plasma lighters as a very good tool for the outdoors but I want my Zippo in my pocket for a backup.

We use a couple for lighting candles. I tried using one to light some magnesium shavings and it was kind of a dud. Even a strike-anywhere match took a long time on those, but a spark rod got it going after a good direct hit.

Put one in my pocket not long ago as a backup to the piezo on my flame gun. Dang safety got switched off in my pocket and when I pulled it out I found out what that little bugger feels like on your finger. No burn, just a good pinch.

Two is one, one is none, so I guess three is two. I carry a disposable, a spark rod, and some mongo hurricane matches and tinder in my pack. I like Zippos, but since I don’t smoke, I always let them dry out on me. Lighter fluid has become a specialty item around here; grocery stores don’t have it, or maybe they hide it.

Those big windproof matches are amazing. You really can poke a lit one in the snow and have it come back out burning like Hell. They do require a striker, but come with several.

Remember when we had real strike anywhere matches? Most of this stuff wasn't needed because we had GOOD matches.

hurricane matches are meant to be lit with a Bic which you then put in your pocket before you burn your thumb.

I love my lighter. Always works.
After I bought the fist one for my kit I got a second one to keep in my Jeep.
It's nice being able to light up a stogie while going 70 with the top and doors off.

funny. I click on that link and it's $19.95. don't ya just love Amazon?

Amazon has a couple dozen brands that are about identical and with the Explorer name on them. They're different brands and prices but I suspect that they all come from the same Chinese factory. They have 2 different types of burners as seen in these photos. One has the spark on top and the other has it down inside. I don't know if one is better than the other. Has anyone compared them? Just from looking at the photos, it looks like the top spark type would be easier to get in the tinder.

This thread caused me to order one similar to the orange one above. I have mini Bics in packs by the dozen but find them difficult in the wind and w/ gloves like the real world offers. Zippos are great but never seem to have fuel when I need it.

I tested the explorer yesterday w/ gloves and the wind and it easily lit my cotton balls and other fire starters. It did not work well w/ a bundle of dry grass and twigs. I think that carrying tinder/fire starter that works in all conditions is probably the key.

YMMV


mike r

In my limited experience with these lighters, they do best with some kind of tinder or fire starter. They don't get hot enough to get twigs burning. The best homemade tinder I've found is vasoline coated cotton balls. I carry a bunch in a ziplock bag all the time. Many guys who make them use too much vasoline. You have to keep the centers of the balls dry. Vasoline itself won't burn. You need to tear one apart to light the dry cotton in the middle. Once it's going, the vasoline on the outside will vaporize and burn for a long time. A plasma lighter will light the dry cotton almost immediately so you don't have to stand there holding it waiting for it to start burning.

Try slices of bicycle inner tube.

Lights easy, burns pretty long, and hot, and is 100% waterproof.