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Review
In the last year, I have purchased no less than five new butane torch lighters. This article will review the pros and cons of these five lighters along with the price I paid and the place I bought each lighter. The links provided will take you to that product’s page on Amazon.com. By you clicking these links and purchasing, we will earn a commission. Your price will be the same whether you click our link or navigate to Amazon some other way.
Product: Ronson Jetlite Butane Torch Lighter
Place of Purchase: Amazon
Fuel Type: Butane
Warranty: 1 Year
Cons: Doesn’t do anything special(except light your cigarette when you need it to)
Pros: Good flame, easy to refuel and adjust, solid construction
My Rating: 10 out of 10
The Ronson Jetlite Butane Torch Lighter is a no-frills, what you see is what you get performer. The controls are simple and straight forward. The case is rugged and all visible parts are metal. It comes in a variety of colors and patterns but the basic design of the lighter itself has a Gothic flare. The Ronson Jetlite came pre-fueled, so that made it really convenient. The solid body cast construction lends its heft, it feels like a tool in your hand. The hinge spring is tight and holds open and closed admirably. I believe this is the lighter to buy if you’re looking for the best value on the best quality in a New lighter
Product: Ultimate Survival Technologies Klipp Lighter
Place of Purchase: Target.com
Fuel Type: Butane
Warranty: 2 Year
Cons: Plastic construction, difficult to adjust
Pros: Reliable ignition, versatile
My Rating: 9 out of 10
The UST Klipp Lighter with Biner is an excellent choice for outdoorsmen of all kinds. The included biner allows attachment to a belt loop, MOLLE or just about anywhere else. The lighter itself is really reliable even if it is a little difficult to adjust up or down. The only thing that keeps this lighter from getting a perfect score is its plastic construction and the effort that is required to adjust the flame. I quit trying to adjust it because I was afraid I was going to break it while adjusting it. And while the biner clip is nice, it’s not all that sturdy. If you have this thing hanging off you somewhere and it were to get snagged, that plastic biner could break without you knowing it and leave you in desperate need of fire. Not that big a deal for most smokers, I personally don’t leave the house without two lighters. But what if I still carry two but also clip this one somewhere and just sort of forget about it? Now, you see, I got a backup to my backup.
Product: Luxury Butane Torch Lighter
Place of Purchase: Walmart
Fuel Type: Butane
Warranty: N/A
Cons: Quit working after second refueling, lock switch
Pros: Came fueled
My Rating: 5.5 out of 10
This lighter did alright for a couple fuelings, then just completely crapped out on me. The little electro spark mechanism still works and when you pull the trigger it sounds like gas is flowing out but no matter how I adjust it, it will not light. It’s too bad because it really seemed like a solid lighter at first. I will say this, this lighter has a feature that I’m not sure that I want a lighter to have. This Luxury Butane Torch Lighter has a lock feature that allows you to ignite the flame and then lock the valve open. I’ve had more than one fire in my hands and “locking” the fuel valve open on a lighter just seems like a bad idea to me.
Product: Ultimate Survival Technologies Wayfinder Lighter
Place of Purchase: Amazon
Fuel Type: Butane
Warranty: 2 Year
Cons: Plastic construction, very difficult to adjust
Pros: Dependable, sturdy, locks shut
My Rating: 9.5 out of 10
I like this lighter a lot. And really the only thing I count against this one is the near impossible ability to adjust the jet. Yes, it’s made of plastic on the outside and you all know how I feel about plastic but this lighter feels really sturdy. It has a metal clip that holds the lid securely closed. And when you unclip it, you still have to push a little spring-loaded button for the lid to pop open and expose the igniter button. It also has a compass and lanyard loop, giving it added versatility. If you’re a deer hunter, this is a great lighter for you! Perfect color, dependable light for your cigarette(if that’s what you call it) and there’s a compass in case you get lost. I know a lot of hunters and I have been a hunter all my life. One thing I think we all have in common is our life may have never been dependent on us having a compass on hand but there’s been a handful of times that a compass would’ve come in pretty handy.
Product: Spark 4-in-1 Multi-tool Lighter
Place of Purchase: Amazon
Fuel Type: Butane
Warranty: N/A
Cons: Cheap tools, wouldn’t refuel
Pros: Came fueled, worked great until it ran out of fuel
My Rating: 5 out of 10
The Premium Spark 4-in-1 is a nice idea and properly executed, could have worked. A sort of latter-day Swiss Army knife of lighters. And it feels solid in the hand but the first time you try to use one of those tools that’s attached, you’ll likely find it inferior in quality to plastic cutlery. It’s just cheaply made and while the lighter initially worked well, when it ran out of fuel I never could get it to refuel.
Summary
I can recommend the Ronson Jetlite Butane Torch Lighter without question or regard to taste. It is simply the best value on the highest quality available on the market today. You will never go wrong carrying a Ronson in your pocket.
Both UST Ultimate Survival Technologies lighters are well worth the money. They are quality-made, I’m just not a fan of plastic when it can be avoided.
The other two, the Luxury Torch and Premium Spark, I would not purchase again. They were cheaply made and while they would be better than nothing, they would not be any more reliable.
Please leave any comments or questions at the bottom of the page or email or text anytime,
Joseph
bossman@dependableflame.com
(405)693-5678
I have a similar torch lighter to the Luxury Butane Torch, but mine automatically locks when you turn it on. Does this one do the same? Or is it more of a selection feature? Because I agree, having a lock option on a torch seems like a dumb idea.
Also, how large is the flame for your most recommended torch, the Ronson Jetlite? I need a large flame and often times the smaller torches just don’t cut it.
Thanks
Thank you, Isaya, for the questions. The Luxury Torch that I have, you are able to lock it but you do not have to. It also came with a base that was not the most stable.
As far as the Jetlite goes, it can be adjusted down pretty small and if turned all the way up, the flame can be up to a couple inches long. You should definitely give the Ronson a shot and let me know if you have any trouble getting it lined out. I’m here to help.
Didn’t know so much went into lighters, but it definitely opened my eyes as to what to look for in a good one. By the way, did you see that new sparkless lighter they showed on TV recently? That thing looks sick!
Thank you, Jasmere. Sparkless lighters have been around in one form or another for a good while. The Piezoelectric type provide a dependable ignition and needs no batteries or charging. The plumbing in some of those lighters can be a problem but the igniter itself is rather reliable.
While I love new technology, I just can’t get excited about a USB lighter that has to be recharged. I’ll take mechanical over electric any day of the week.
I think I will go with The Premium Spark 4-in-1 since I will need it for a short amount of time so I won’t need it to refuel so it won’t be a problem for me.
It worked well when I first got it, Furkan. Maybe yours will hold up better. I would caution you, when using the knife pay close attention. It can easily flop around and cause you to cut yourself.
Very good, useful comparison, and review information on the various torch lighters. It is also helpful that you recommend your favorite, and that you let us know where to purchase them, if we are so inclined. Ronson lighters have been around as long as I can remember, and that is quite a while. They have always stood for quality.
That’s a good point, Tom, and I think it’s always good to support American owned businesses. I’ve lit my pipe regularly with a 70 yr old Ronson Adonis. Thanks for dropping by and holler if I can help you in any way.
Hello Joseph,
Thanks for your detailed article on torch lighters! I was looking for a lighter that is durable and different than your average BIC lighters for cigarettes.
I don’t condone smoking, but my friend has been doing so for many years and doesn’t intend to quit even with the trend of vaporizers.
Therefore, I figured why not give him a torch lighter for his birthday.
Great break down on ones you’ve tried. I think I will go with the Jetlite. It seems more stylish and more affordable than your regular zippo.
Thanks,
Eric
Thank you, Eric, for your comments. The Ronson Jetlite is a fine choice. It is a solid piece of equipment that should serve you well. As for smoking, if you don’t condone it maybe you’re smoking the wrong kind of cigarette.
Very interesting and informative post. I agree with you on all fronts. You can’t beat a Ronson lighter. They have been around awhile and most of their lighters withstand the test of time. I like the Jetlite the best it’s got nice simple lines and a quality build, a must have in my opinion. Now the torch lighter looks good, it’s too bad it wouldn’t refill after the second time. I like the lock option because I had a friend that used one like that to heat glass so it could be formed into different shapes and they need to be stationary for that particular reason. Anyways, thank you for the great post, I think you may have sold a Ronson Jetlite. Thank you!
Thanks, Karl. I hoard the used Jetlites I find because they’re so reliable. If you ever have a problem with one, purging the tank completely before refueling will usually solve your problem. Those electric ignitors seem to last forever.
I realize you are reviewing Ronson lighters but I feel folks need to know that regardless of the brand if jet lighter you buy if you run ronson fuel in it very long at all it will clog up and stop lighting. Do yourself a favor and spend the extra money and get the most refined fuel possible. I bought a blazer torch lighter from a snap on tool dealer nearly 30 years ago and it’s still going. I’ve replaced the screens and filters in it multiple times. Everyone gives me their lighters to repair and the common issue with nearly all of them is ronson fuel. It is extremely oily. It does not flow well thru the tiny hoses or micro filters. It clogs quickly. After using it for a while if you decide to try a quality 5 ,6 or more refined fuel use caution. The setting for the ronson is prob way higher than it will need to be. I’ve nearly burned my face off after switching to Lava Butane. It’s like fuel injector cleaner. It gave 12″ flames on the setting I had it with ronson fluid.
Thank you for the information David! I have been using Vector butane for the last couple of yrs.