A Zippo in the pocket...

[the iron horse]

It's a good thing to be able to start a fire when needed.

What do you think?

 

[Birdmang]

If you smoke or need to light things on fire, it works. What more are you asking approval for?

 

[messerist]

When I joined the Army I smoked and began carrying a brass Zippo lighter. After I quit I kept carrying that lighter for thirty years. Came in handy numerous times.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I like Zippos more than I like my knives.

I have numerous Zippos and only one Ronson, which I have on me more.

Still though, Zippos come in handy.

 

[ForumSurfer]

I like my zippos. I never carry them. When it comes to lighting a fire, they suck. The fluid dries up without maintenance and they're only moderately windproof. Leave them be and the fluid just dries up. I just quit smoking, but when I did smoke...zippos made my cigarette taste like lighter fluid. If it turns upside down in your pocket, it leaks and leaves an irritating red mark on your thigh.

If you think they are cool and you like them...carry it all you want. But a $1 bic lighter or some safety matches are much better all purpose fire starters that will work when you need them.

That being said, I have several and I like them.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

A real old Zippo will work almost anywhere with a little basic maintence.

 

[451 Detonics]

As a smoker I always have a lighter in my pocket and I detest the throw away butane lighters. On most days when I am wearing jeans you will find one of these in my pocket...from left to right

Scripto Clearview, Camel Zippo, stainless Zippo w/Z-Plus butane insert, A no name but one I like, my Grandfather's sterling Zippo, and my Blue Bird...it contains a tiny music box that play's my alma maters fight song.



When dressed in other than jeans I like something smaller and this means my brass slimline Zippo or a vesta...something satisfying about striking a match...



Of course a suit calls for something more refined and that is when this gold filled Ronson case and lighter of my Dad's finds it's way into my pockets.

 

[jbkebert]

The post #5 says it all. I carry a bic lighter all the time. But when it gets real cold even a bic won't flick. So in my pack I carry cotton balls saturated with vaseline and a swiss match. This combination works when nothing else will. Zippo's a cool but I would not bet my hide on one.

 

[451 Detonics]

For those who like Zippo's but not the fuel you should try one of the Z-Plus inserts, I use one in a stainless Zippo and it is great...nice jet flame.

http://www.amazon.com/Z-Plus-Butane-Insert-Zipp-Lighters/dp/B000B7TH8I

for fire starting I keep one of these kits in every vehicle and in my BOBs.



Inside is permanent match (these hold fuel forever, I have one I filled over 10 years ago) a chunk of fat wood, a metal match and striker, cotton make up pads, twine soaked in paraffin, a razor and a small saw.

 

[JShirley]

Is that razor from Countycomm? How do you like it?

John

 

[joeq]

I was alway's rather unimpressed with Zippo's. They dry out quickly and are anything but wind proof. I know some folks love them.

 

[REAPER4206969]

Good thread.

I'm currently in the market for a Zippo for EDC.

 

[Dimis]

I love my Zippos (im a smoker) I have two a fairly abused plain chrome with warn edges and a new in the box engraved ace of spades Zippo

with that being said I still carry a standard Bic lighter in my pocket in the truck and a few other locations because they tend to light more than the zippo between refuelings

fire is a GREAT thing to have in a survival situation and its all fine and good to get the magnesium whatchamacallits and doodads etc. but a good Bic lighter will last a looooong time

 

[Cosmoline]

I prefer the Windmill delta. It runs in all temps and weather conditions.

 

[earlthegoat2]

For those who like Zippo's but not the fuel you should try one of the Z-Plus inserts, I use one in a stainless Zippo and it is great...nice jet flame.

This is just more proof that I get dumber everyday. I still understand yet carry Zippos depite their deficiencies.

I had never even heard of this product until today.

Just put it on my wish list for my next order. Which will probably be this week.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

County Comm

County Comm carries a small, sealed lighter (the Peanut) that uses regular lighter fluid (no pressurized stuff), but does not "dry out" the way that Zippos do.

I don't smoke, never have, but for a few years a carried a Zippo everywhere.

I got tired of having it dry out, so that I'd get ready to light something (e.g. for a young lady) and the darned thing wouldn't fire up. So eventually, I just quit carrying it.

I still have one . . . or maybe two, but I don't use either one.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

A Zippo in you pocket is hard to beat as long as you have a can of lighter fluid in you other pocket.

 

[451 Detonics]

Is that razor from Countycomm? How do you like it?

John

Yes it is...the metal match, saw and some of the other materials are from them as well. I spend way too much time on their website. The razor is stouter than I thought it would be but it is a disposable item. For inclusion in an emergency kit it is okay but not really that good for daily use.

 

[JShirley]

Okay, thanks. I had wondered whether they were worth buying, or if something like a Spyderco Grasshopper would be worth the extra cost.

 

[ultradoc]

I believe that Zippos have a lifetime warentey also

 

[bigfatdave]

I used to smoke, and used to have fluid/flint lighters, including Zippo brand.

A butane lighter is generally superior for ignoring and counting on long-term. Disposables are cheap enough to saturate your life with, last a long time, and are compact. If you want to start a campfire they're enough.
Now, if you want to light other things on fire and/or melt stuff and/or thaw out stuff, a butane jet lighter is better, I've had various over the years, the most versatile was a pipe lighter with a wide range of adjustability, everything from 18" billowing flame down to 3/4" tight jet that could be used to bend glass tubing.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

My Zippo usually stays home with the gun cleaning kit; but more often than not I do carry a European military lighter my son gave me as a gift. I do not smoke, but often outdoors being able to start a campfire can mean the difference between staying or leaving when the weather shifts.

I have carried a pocket knife and matches or lighter just-in-case since my childhood (visits to the homeplace in the mountains with my dad to hike or plink tin cans with a .22). Carry kit in an M1 Carbine magazine pouch included water proof matches, section of candle, bandaids, aspirin, Tums, cough drops, fishhooks, 10ft fishing line, spare bootlaces. My field jacket usually has a similar kit in the side pocket, and I have found that an Altoids can with mini-first aid kit (including single edge razor blade and matches) comes in useful even if you need it only once or twice a year.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I carry one of the Countycomm peanut lighters. It is sealed with an O-ring so the fuel won't evaporate. It'll last at least 3 or 4 months before needing a refill.

 

[451 Detonics]

Okay, thanks. I had wondered whether they were worth buying, or if something like a Spyderco Grasshopper would be worth the extra cost.

Nice thing about the razor is how sharp and thin the blade is, pour some alcohol over it and it would work for emergency first aid. Plus with as many of these kits as I have put together for myself and family and friends the razor was fairly cheap.

I forgot but in addition to the items in the pic I have added a mini pry bar from countycomm...



And if I can find it I have one of AG Russell's Ultimate Pen Knives, this little thing has a 1 1/2 inch blade of VG-10 and titanium scales. It weighs .2 oz and showed up wicked sharp...if I can remember where I put it this will go into my BOB kit as well.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

If you find yourself welding, grinding, or flame cutting .... get the BIC out of your pocket.