It'll soon be warm enough for us to get back outdoors and explore the wonders of the British countryside, but we all know that the UK version of pleasant weather and the rest of the world's are a little different. Even in our best months, we’re susceptible to a bit of a breeze, so lighting your campfire or BBQ can be difficult at the best of times.
There is a tool to save you from your struggles, though: a refillable or rechargeable windproof lighter. These trusty bits of kit have a little more oomph than your average, so even if the wind does pick up as you're hiking or backpacking, you’ll be better prepared. Some are even waterproof! Read on for our guide and picks of the best metal, electronic and butane gas lighters on Amazon and eBay.
Quick List - Top Windproof Lighters
A recommendation service that carefully researches each product and consults with experts across many disciplines. We are constantly creating new content to provide the best shopping experience from choosing ‘cosmetics’ to ‘food and drink’, ‘home appliances’ to ‘kids and baby’ products, reaching users all across the United Kingdom.
While they may seem similar in many ways, windproof lighters have some key features worth considering before making your purchase. Understanding how the lighter works is key to getting an effective flame, regardless of the weather situation.
The first feature to consider is whether you want an electrical or a fuel lighter. In this segment, we’ll take a look at the pros and cons of each style.
Electric lighters, which are sometimes called arc or plasma lighters, are considered the most convenient. This is because they only require charging, instead of fuel, to ensure a solid flame. Not only that, but electric lighters tend to be better at withstanding other perverse weather conditions such as rain and snow too.
The charging time can vary, but most companies provide an estimated number of lights before they expect it to run dry. While this is convenient if you’re prepared, remember that if you run out of charge while you’re in the wilderness, you haven’t much chance of finding a plug to fill it with juice again.
A fuel lighter will require you to purchase a bottle of butane, which are readily available and easy to find in many shops. A bottle or tin will usually provide you with enough gas to refill your lighter several times over, and it’s straightforward to do as there is a small refill valve on the bottom of the lighter.
The issue is that carrying two items means packing more gear, which isn’t great if you’re trying to travel lightly. Furthermore, butane is highly flammable, so it could present a more dangerous scenario if you’re not careful with how you look after it.
Also, fuel lighters rely on flints to work, and these will wear down over time and mean you won’t be able to create a spark. They can be replaced for a small cost, however.
The next most important feature to recognise is how long the lighter will be fuelled. This will differ depending on whether you choose of fuel or electric.
Electric lighters will give you either the full charge time that can vary from 1-3 hours, or they will indicate how many “uses” it has, which, again, ranges from below 100 to over 500. The estimations with fuel lighters are a little trickier as they usually don’t provide the tank capacity or how many times you can use the lighter.
Luckily, these are easy to refill as you can carry butane. However, if you want the information, look for the top brands like Zippo, as there is more chance you will get these specifications from them.
The chances are, when you’re out and about in the great British (or perhaps any other) outdoors, the wind isn’t going to be the only element looking to spoil the party.
So, with that in mind, it’s worth checking to see if your purchase is either waterproof or at least water-resistant. As we mentioned earlier, this protection usually comes with electric windproof lighters.
Waterproofing will often come in the form of a case, which, when locked, keeps out any moisture, even if you’re unfortunate to drop it a puddle or something similarly as wet. However, you’ll be required to close it up every time, otherwise, it won’t have these properties.
Finally, while lighters aren’t necessarily the most cumbersome of equipment, they aren’t all made equal either, especially when they're designed for outdoor activities. Therefore, if you’re someone who likes to travel light, having a smaller one that will fit inside your pocket might be better than one that requires space in a bag.
Electric lighters can range in size; however, fuel styles do tend to be smaller. That said, you have the whole “Should I bother bringing the butane bottle?" debate to decide on, although if you fill up before you leave and aren’t going away for too long, this can be avoided.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ronx Flameless Electronic Lighter | ![]() | Everything a Windproof Lighter Should Be | |
2 | Zippo Chrome Lighter | ![]() | Still the Coolest Lighter Money Can Buy | |
3 | Malmes USB Windproof Lighter | ![]() | Know When You're About to Run Out of Juice | |
4 | Kaari Plasma Lighter Loimu X2 | ![]() | The Ultimate in Weatherproof Lighters | |
5 | Kollea Triple Jet Lighter | ![]() | A Unique Water-Resistant Fuel Option | |
6 | Q&G Dual Arc Lighter | ![]() | Take Your Lighter on Every Expedition | |
7 | Tesla Coil Lighters™ Windproof Arc Lighter | ![]() | Sleek and Stylish With Great Windproof Tech | |
8 | Navpeak Three Torch Lighter | ![]() | Two for the Price of One With Visible Gas | |
9 | Lcfun Electric Waterproof Lighter | ![]() | Safe and Capable of Standing up to the Elements | |
10 | Jobon Cigar Lighter | ![]() | A Cigar Lighter Made for All Kinds of Relaxing |
While it might not be the smallest of the lighters, this beauty from Ronx has by far the best qualities. First of all, it has a mammoth 500 uses, so you'll be able to stay out in the wild all summer if you want to. It's also water-resistant and has a battery indicator using a 5-light system.
However, where it stands apart is the long, bendy neck which will enable you to get to those hard-to-reach places just that little easier, all while reducing the risk of burning your digits. All of that for under £10? You really can't argue.
Call us old, but if something has been at the forefront of lighter technology for nearly 100 years, they deserve to make the ranking. The Zippo lighter rose to prominence with the American soldiers during WWII, so we believe that if they can make it through the trenches, they'll survive your trip to a campsite in the Lakes.
Not only are they windproof, but due to the chrome casing, these classic Zippos are water-resistant when closed too. They might not offer the most advanced technology in the world, but they're still one of the most reliable refillable gas lighters – and by far the coolest.
What sets the Malmes apart from any of the other electric windproof lighters that we've seen already? For us, it's the charge indicator that gives you a visual sign that you're going to run out of juice. Just like on any of your other electronic devices, this will hopefully prevent you from getting caught out.
The charge time and amount of uses are respectable and plenty for your average camping trip. While it might not be waterproof, it is at least water-resistant, plus, there's a handy built-in torch too.
This lighter is available in three different colourways, two of which are camo, the other black. So, it isn't going to be something you want to misplace. That said, it has one great advantage: it's completely weatherproof, so bring on the wind, rain, dust or dirt because this will stand up regardless.
On top of that, you get around 80 uses per charge. Although this isn't a massive amount, it should be more than enough for a weekend away camping. Unless you're a closet pyromaniac, that is.
With this fuel offering from Kollea, you don't just get one jet stream, you get three. This flame enhancement ensures you have a stronger flame regardless of how breezy it is becoming. The safety lock also reassures that everyone will be kept a bit more protected should the gizmo fall into the wrong hands.
The design of the lighter is a little different than your average, however, this makes it easier to burn certain objects as you aren't required to stick your hand in when doing so. Plus, this is one of the only water-resistant fuel lighters out there, so it's a good option for those who'd prefer a butane refillable.
With the word "explorer" in caps down the side, there are no points for guessing the audience of this one. The electric lighter is perfect for all kinds of adventurers because it is windproof, waterproof and even capable of working at high altitudes since it doesn't need oxygen to light.
Furthermore, the casing is available in many different colourways. We would recommend the bright orange as this is probably the easiest to find should you accidentally drop it, but there are camouflage options if you'd like to be more discreet.
Whether we like it or not, this is about as close as many of us will ever come to owning a Tesla. And, while it might not be the hands-free car we all had in mind, it's still an effective piece of kit. Unfortunately, the charge time is unknown, but you'll get up to 300 uses out of this electric lighter, which is pretty impressive.
We also rate the safety lid that ensures that you won't accidentally turn it on in your pocket. In fact, the whole design is very much reminiscent of a classic Zippo, only using an electric arc that powers on at the touch of a button. Sadly, even though Elon is a master of tech, there are no signs this is safe from the wet.
What's better than one windproof lighter? Two, of course. With this pack from Navpeak, you'll double the size of your fuel tank as there will be twice as many. Plus, we love that they have used clear glass, as this enables you to see how much fuel you have left, even if you don't know the definite capacity.
At the bottom of the casing, you will find a butane gas flow regulator, which allows you to control how big or small the flame on the lighter is. Unfortunately, it is neither waterproof nor water-resistant, so you'll want to keep it safe should the weather turn.
This windproof lighter from Lcfun takes approximately 1.5 hours to charge via USB before you reach full capacity. From there, this safe and durable piece of kit will survive pretty much anything the heavens can throw at it due to its windproof and waterproof nature.
On top of its durability, the lighter also has a flashlight with three different modes, making it a very versatile addition to your pack. The only problem could be that the flame is close to the handle, which may prove tricky when it comes to starting deeper-positioned fires, such as those at the bottom of a campfire.
Getting the ball rolling is this fuel lighter from Jobon. It uses a heavy-duty metal casing with an ergonomic grip, which makes it easy and comfortable to use. In addition to the grip, the ignition button is straightforward and generally only requires one click, too.
While the design is for cigar smokers (hence the name and the fact it has a cigar punch in the bottom), the resolute flame should also stand up to heavy winds outdoors. Some have found that due to the mesh case, it does become dirtier a little quicker and this can be difficult to clean.
While many regular lighters are fine for indoor situations, they aren’t designed for outdoor use, especially if it's windy, rainy or snowy.
Specialist windproof lighters have a more powerful ignition which means the fuel has a much stronger and greater flame flow. This extra power enables the flame to withstand rougher conditions much better.
Many of these lighters are also designed differently, with enclosures that redirect the wind either above or below it. Always refillable or rechargeable, they are less wasteful than disposables and a must for outdoor enthusiasts!
Let's face it, if there's one thing you need to make sure of when you're heading on a camping, hiking or backpacking trip, it's that you've packed the right gear. If you're in need of some guidance, check out some of our suggestions below.
With the recommendations in our ranking, we're confident that you should be able to get a flame going no matter the weather – all that's left to do is find the right one for your packing situation. Here's to enjoying the great outdoors, and building the best campfires.
Author: Lewis Clark
No. 1: Ronx|Flameless Electronic Lighter
No. 2: Zippo|Chrome Lighter
No. 3: Malmes|USB Windproof Lighter
No. 4: Kaari|Plasma Lighter Loimu X2
No. 5: Kollea|Triple Jet Lighter
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Automotive
Baby Products
Beauty
Books
Business, Industry & Science
Computers & Accessories
DIY, Garden & Tools
Electronics & Photo
Fashion
Grocery
Health & Personal Care
Home & Kitchen
Large Appliances
Musical Instruments & DJ
PC & Video Games
Pet Supplies
Sports & Outdoors
Stationery & Office Products
Toys & Games