I was also able to light the Clipper more easily in a slight breeze. Where it took the BIC 2 minutes on average to start lighting consistently after having been submerged in water, it took the Clipper 1 minute. It is also slightly more wind- and water-resistant than the Mini BIC. While not nearly as ubiquitous as the Mini BIC, it performed actually better in our tests.įor starters, like the Mini BIC it lit a perfect 200/200 times. The Mini Clipper is another excellent backpacking lighter. And adventurer Andrew Skurka uses a BIC in his Cadillac Stove System. Every year plenty of AT and PCT thru-hikers complete their hikes having used only Mini BICs. If you’re worried that you need something beefier to take into the backcountry, don’t be.īIC lighters have been put through the ringer countless times by backpackers of all varieties. It’s an easy problem to overcome though - I usually have luck with using my hand or windscreen to block the wind long enough to light my backpacking stove. The wind was blowing a few miles per hour at the time of this photo. Without some sort of windscreen, a BIC is hard to light in even a slight breeze. The flame is difficult to light in even a slight breeze. The BIC’s main drawback is how poorly it holds up in windy conditions. (To dry it out quicker you can also run it up and down a piece of wood or your pants leg for 30 seconds.) After performing 3 “Soak Tests” with it - submerging the lighter in water, shaking it out, and then trying to light it in 1-minute intervals - it took an average of 2 minutes before it started lighting again consistently. The Mini BIC is also decently water-resistant. When I struck the BIC 200 times, it lit a perfect 200. Supremely affordable and available everywhere, the Mini BIC earned our Top Pick award because of its reliability, value, and ultralight weight. The 5 lighters we tested Top Pick: BIC Mini Lighter It isn’t as easy to find in the US, however - you’ll likely have to pick one up online or at a head shop. The Clipper Mini Lighter is an excellent alternative. It was the most wind- and water-resistant lighter we tested.Īlso, it’s important to point out the Mini BIC earned the top score in our tests by the slimmest of margins. If you need a lighter for backpacking in extremely wet or windy conditions, we recommend the UCO Stormproof Torch. A simple windscreen can usually solve this problem though. The Mini BIC’s only downside is it’s not wind-resistant. It is ultralight, reliable, decently water-resistant, and a great bang for your buck. Our tests confirmed what backpackers have long known: the BIC Mini Lighter (commonly called the “Mini BIC”) is the best lighter for backpacking. We bought 5 of the best backpacking lighters available and set about testing their water-resistance by soaking them in water, their wind-resistance by trying to blow them out, and their reliability by striking them until we got blisters.
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