Battery op cigarette lighter

**bulrush** · 03-06-2009, 02:12 PM

Could a battery operated cig lighter be useful where other lighters would not? There's a few on sale on Ebay.

This is the kind that heats up a coil inside the unit.

**Norse&Native** · 03-06-2009, 02:22 PM

Probably not. So, you need a flame, and all you've got is this battery operated lighter...then the battery dies. Then what? If you don't have a battery you don't get to survive? Isn't that pretty much like life now anyway?

I don't mean to sound like an @$$, but how could a battery operated lighter ever be a necessity? It's just another mechanical device subject to failure if it gets wet, or cold, or if there's no electricity, or the coil breaks from getting dropped, or any other number of things.

That's my .02.

===EDIT===

I just don't understand why anyone would put any stock in some electronic lighter. Especially someone that frequents a survival forum. Even packing a battery operated lighter seems contrary to a survival mindset. Not only does it seem silly to me, but it seems pretty negligent on the operator's part to want to rely on something that is inherently subject to failure.

I'm kinda pi$$ed off about this. Not at you, just at the idea of a battery operated lighter. I'm mad because I can't think of any good reason to have a battery operated lighter.

**crashdive123** · 03-06-2009, 03:41 PM

While I probably wouldn't buy one, if it was all I had to start a fire I would certainly use it.

I just don't understand why anyone would put any stock in some electronic lighter. Especially someone that frequents a survival forum.

I think that is precisely why somebody would at least investigate a piece of gear. Remember, not everybody is geared toward "primative" survival. Survival is survival, and being able to start a fire in a situation where I needed to would be valuable no matter what method I was able to do so.

**bulrush** · 03-06-2009, 03:56 PM

Originally Posted by Norse&Native

I just don't understand why anyone would put any stock in some electronic lighter. Especially someone that frequents a survival forum. Even packing a battery operated lighter seems contrary to a survival mindset. Not only does it seem silly to me, but it seems pretty negligent on the operator's part to want to rely on something that is inherently subject to failure.

I never said *I* would buy one. I couldn't figure how it would be useful, requiring a battery and all. So I asked here if anyone might possibly find a use for one in a camping or outdoors scenario. It seemed more like a trendy thing, than useful.

Although while the battery lasted, it is windproof, but it would be unlikely to light even a damp stick, much less a wet one (which would then be used to light your fire).

**crashdive123** · 03-06-2009, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by bulrush

I never said *I* would buy one. I couldn't figure how it would be useful, requiring a battery and all. So I asked here if anyone might possibly find a use for one in a camping or outdoors scenario. It seemed more like a trendy thing, than useful.

Although while the battery lasted, it is windproof, but it would be unlikely to light even a damp stick, much less a wet one (which would then be used to light your fire).

It would (as would many other things) work well for starting tinder like char cloth, cotton, sisal, cattail, and many other natural tinders. No different than touching a toothpick to the hot burner on a stove.

**Alpine_Sapper** · 03-06-2009, 04:47 PM

I carry spare batteries all the time. Lighter fluid only goes so far. I wouldn't mind having the lighter as a backup to a butane lighter, I just wouldn't keep the batteries in it in my BOB or my daypack. While I definitely wouldn't use it as a primary firestarter, hell, another backup at, what, 8 oz, maybe? Why not. I wouldn't pay to much for it, though. A sweish fire steel would be just as useful.

**klkak** · 03-06-2009, 05:10 PM

I carry a Brunton firestorm lighter. It works pretty good in cold or damp conditions. I included a picture of it.

**Norse&Native** · 03-07-2009, 01:02 AM

Originally Posted by crashdive123

While I probably wouldn't buy one, if it was all I had to start a fire I would certainly use it. I think that is precisely why somebody would at least investigate a piece of gear. Remember, not everybody is geared toward "primative" survival. Survival is survival, and being able to start a fire in a situation where I needed to would be valuable no matter what method I was able to do so.

Very true. I don't always see things that way, that's why I spend a lot of time beating my head into a wall. Thanks for the insight.

**crashdive123** · 03-07-2009, 01:05 AM

Originally Posted by Norse&Native

Very true. I don't always see things that way, that's why I spend a lot of time beating my head into a wall. Thanks for the insight.

Now if you could just generate enough heat to get the tinder going while you do that...

**Nativedude** · 03-07-2009, 01:39 AM

With a butane lighter you could use the butane on a piece of cloth (cotton shirt tail, pants leg or sock) to ignite a fire, especially in damp or wet weather, but, I believe, a batt. op. lighter would have a tough time igniting a fire, unless you had extremely dry, fine tinder. If it was wet you would, most likely, have a very hard time getting it started or possibly not get it started at all.

**crashdive123** · 03-07-2009, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by Nativedude

With a butane lighter you could use the butane on a piece of cloth (cotton shirt tail, pants leg or sock) to ignite a fire, especially in damp or wet weather, but, I believe, a batt. op. lighter would have a tough time igniting a fire, unless you had extremely dry, fine tinder. If it was wet you would, most likely, have a very hard time getting it started or possibly not get it started at all.

All the more reason to carry a small tinder kit with you.