Zippos have been around before WWII, and these iconic lighters are still around today despite the constant competition that comes from inexpensive disposable lights that you can purchase at gas station checkouts.
It may be due to Hollywood marketing that always has Zippo lighters in movies in which the action hero casually takes out his Zippo from his pocket and then heroically tosses it onto the trail of gasoline before walking away from it all with an incredible explosion taking place shortly after.
It's important to note that with a growing number of consumers Zippos are now becoming more popular since people now understand that quality is better than quantity. Survivalists are beginning to become more interested in Zippos because they can burn a variety of fuels.
After the break, learn more about Zippos and the range of fuels they can burn as well as discover a brief history lesson on these lighters and why they've become valuable to preppers today.
Next Page »
I always have used lacquer thinner. Since I work in a paint shop and had lots around for free.
I keep one in the bug out bag fully fueled and shrunk wrapped.
And if a bic gets wet, you can dry it out and be back in business in a few minutes.
Keep it in a pocket close to your body and it won’t have that problem.
Yeah, I generally keep lighters in my pockets. When they do get cold, I’ll warm them up with my hands. I’ve not been in a climate cold enough that a Bic did not work. And honestly, in a survival situation, the bic is king. If it gets dropped in a puddle of water, or if your gear gets wet, a Zippo will be water logged as where a bic, you just blow it off and bam, your good to go.
Yes I’m sure you’ll argue the fact that you keep your zippo in a air tight bag…and always keep extra fuel…but really, if I were to carry a bic lighter in both pant pockets, and keep an extra one in every pocket in my pack, I’ll be able to light more fires than I’ll know what to do with, and still be lighter than carrying a zippo with extra fuel.
A closed Zippo is waterproof, where as a bic is out of commission for a while once the flint is wet. As someone that works outside and in all kinds of weather, me and most of my crew have all moved to Zippos. Also a Zippo doesn’t care how cold it is. -30°F would force me to keep a bic warm, but my Zippo rides in a pouch on my belt.
In the service, everyone was always asking for a light… I took the mechanism out of a Zippo lighter and filled the “case” with stick matches. When someone ask for a light, I’d flip open my Zippo and pull out a match… you should have seen the looks. LOL
Already done it last year
That’s why I don’t over fill mine and I don’t put it in my pocket upside down.
Ranger bands 🙂 I have quit a few zippos and have my favorites (ones that don’t leak as much) they use a qc check on the bottom but they changed the system and I have no idea what it means on the newer ones. I think the fit of the hinge and top have a lot to do with leaks and how fast it evaporates. It bugs the hell out of me to watch someone with a new one steady flicking the lid open to loosen the hinge for one hand opening
I love mine…made in 1964 just like my Chevy truck…!
Nick Smith at what temp won’t a bic light? I lived in the Arctic for five years and have never seen one not light.
Extra weight to carry for fuel? Bad idea for a BOB. Just carry a Bic. Or some steel wool and a 9V battery for multiple uses.
Ive got a nice brass one thats now 25 years old…zippo is great! Glad to see yours is still going strong!
If you check the zippo website. .they have lighter fluid containers that you can carry spare fluid in your bag or pocket. Really cool.
Jeff Gallup this is the other side…I did my own engraving on it…personalize it…lol…I used to have my great-gpa’s 33 patent pending…lost or stolen…just know I don’t have it any more…-_-
Sucks about your great grandfather’s being missing…maybe it will turn up one day…i lost mine last summer. ..i thought one of the movers swiped it when i was helping my dad move…luckily it had fallen down between the seats of my pickup truck and i had it back after missing it for two weeks.
Jeff Gallup it’s been gone for over 15 yrs now…not the only thing like that I’ve ever lost…unfortunately…
They dry out how’s that helpful
I’ve left a bic outside at -15 f and had no problem with it lighting.
I prefer a bic. They are cheap. A 5 pack is only $4. Also they aren’t easy to break like the article says. You have to practically hit it with a hammer to break one. And unless you buy a $100 model a Zippo only holds fluid for about a week.
When I’m in a survival situation I make my own fractional distillation plant and make my own Zippo lighter fluid.
Some leak some don’t. I have had many that didn’t leak at all.
either have a koolaid container filled with wicks and flints plus endless supply of lighter fluid vs a koolaid container filled with disposable bics…. fought this one out with myself years ago… bic won… the only plus to zippo is my pennsylvania heritage.
Who the hell has a buyout bag, I’m gonna stand and fight, might need the lighter to burn the corpses tho. III%
Don’t overfill, don’t put in your pocket upside down, and light it after filling to burn off any excess. I’ve owned several Zippos and never had a leak.
Love my Zippo. But. Can we talk flints? To say they are ever lasting is ridiculous
Zippos are great no doubt. But I always carry a half dozen Bics. I’m my rig, in my backpack and tactical bag and in my B.O.B…..
Never had one just break randomly and I’ve even run over a ccouple with my 4 wheeler.
And I live in N Wyoming where -20 to –30 is common. I have left Bics in my rig overnight and lit a smoke with one in my console in the morning….. No problem.
Just saying
I’ve kept a Zippo since I was thirteen
Agreed i have to fill mine once a week or so. Keep fluid at work, home and in car
Lol I have both. What’s the problem?
I carry guns and bullets and will take whatever lighters my enemy carries.
Joey Cortez
four clickbait pages to get your anwser.
1. Zippo or other lighter fluid.
2.Acetone dropped directly on the wick for will burn for 30 seconds
3. White gas (coleman fuel) needs some type of moderator (perfume ?) to slow it the evaporation rate.
3 Fuels loge diesel, Kerosene, and BBQ lighter fluid don’t evaporate gast enough.
Spencer Camden
I’m tired of having to go to another page….Just tell me…Ready to unfollow!
They’ll start grass huts burning with the flip of the thumb.
Clean up your page! I WILL NOT go to several pages to get answer.
Amen.
Me too!
My problem is that rarely use mine and when I do the gas is all gone evaporated. Love the look and the big flame that it produce tought but I think a few Bics and a magnesium striker or steal striker is way better when SHTF.
My problem is that I rarely use mine and when I do the gas is all gone evaporated. Love the look and the big flame that it produce tought but I think a few Bics and a magnesium striker or steal striker is way better when SHTF.
Charcoal lighter fluid WILL actually work, if you’re not afraid to strike the wheel about 10 times in rapid succession. It doesn’t work that well, but it will in fact light.
they leak a lot and can burn your skin bad from the fuel
The fact that you can pull a zippo apart to load it with fuel means it can, and DOES, leak. A few days in your pocket and it’s dry. Naptha is also a carcinogen.
Kerosene, works but very hard to ignite, gasoline works a little too well but I never tried Colman fuel, I always thought of charcoal lighter fuel as being the same s**t
GET A BIC !
Bill Bissinger
Joseph Roush
You are constantly refilling it due to evaporation.
Curt Rathjen