Yea, it’s just a cigarette lighter…
… but I still think it’s pretty cool.
Well, Hurricane Rita has made landfall and while all the suffering and destruction is in the news, I’m a normal, sane everyday person. The rest of the year, I’m a… um… backpacker who also likes to target shoot and occasionally fish. Every time there is a some kind of disaster, for some reason, I feel the urge to check the backpacking gear. This time found me down to one cigarette lighter for the stove. I prefer the mini bic lighters, as they are the smallest and lightest out there.
When I stopped into the local Kwik-E-Mart they were all out, so I picked up one of whatever was near the counter. I didn’t really look at it and I forgot the price, probably under $2
My finger is an extra inch away
As you can see in the picture when I finally took a look at it, I realized how perfect a lighter it was. I am forever slightly burning my fingertips lighting the butane stove (here, a MSR SuperFly). Not badly, it’s just one of those uncomfortable things you live with while you get your chance to roam the outdoors. But I think someone really put some extra thought into this lighter. Perhaps it was meant to light pipes or something, as your fingers stay further away than is normally the case.
The Bic - getting ready to burn my finger
It’s called a “Gibson slide lighter” (PDF), and good luck finding it. I just think it’s a fluke that it just happened to be in the same store as I was. Patent #6655953. The UPC code number is 6 47150 20316 7 (first and last digit being type and checksum). Just in case you are a, um, backpacker friendly retailer.
Just for the record, I haven’t seem any indication of what the rate is on my “return on investment”.
Years ago I remember using my Leatherman to rip apart the little child proof thingie that you had to click in each time you wanted to flick your bic. Child resistant lighters have been improved so they are more adult friendly, which could also be described as being less adult annoying. This lighter seems to rely on adult strength as the child resistant feature, either that, or it’s feature free. Fortunately, I don’t have any kids around to try that out.
The other cool feature is this transparent window on one side. Instantly, you can tell if the reason why the lighter does not light might be because it’s out of fuel.
It failed the dunk test, but that’s not a big deal, because every other disposable lighter has also. The dunk test is preformed by filling a sink with water and dunking the lighter completely underwater for a moment. (Yes, I do stuff like that all the time, why?) Pull the lighter out and do anything reasonable to get the water out (shaking it, blowing on it, whatever). Now try to light it. Now put an extra lighter in your gear, somewhere in a zip-lock bag. Add a pack of waterproofed matches too.
The last feature, I didn’t even notice until I had gone back and bought three more. Looking at the bottom, this lighter is refillable. Furthermore, when that little plastic thingie is moved over to expose the filler port the lighter is locked and prevented from firing its piezo igniter. I think this it to prevent those improved idiots from trying to refill the lighter and light a M-80 at the same time. Nowadays I suppose you just have to design for that.
Mike Says :
In my experience, most push-button (piezo) lighters pass the dunk test just fine. Just shake and blow on them, and they light right up.
2005-09-28 12:21 PermalinkStandard Mischief Says :
They eventually all dry out, but I haven’t had any luck, inside about 5 minutes, getting a dunked lighter to light.
2005-10-09 20:06 PermalinkJesse Says :
Ive had “the amazing slide lighter” around for about 2 yrs. using it mostly everyday. It has saved my pocketbook $60 - $80 / yr. vs. the standard bic model. Can of butane (fuel, for all you child safety adults) will last 3-6 months @ $2.99 a can - whatta deal!!! If the manufacturer of this product is reading please continue to make - great product.
2005-10-21 06:24 PermalinkThe only complaint I would have about lighter would be I just recently had to buy a 2nd lighter because i was at the lake and small grain of sand seemed to be behind the piece that slides and it almost impossible to light. Its ok I bought 2 pk. at Dollar General - $1.50. AMAZING, and thank you.
Christie Says :
I purchased one of these lighters a few months ago. I was amazed and intrigued. It always lights with every strike. I love that you can see the butane to know how much fluid it has. It is refillable!!! I have to keep it under lock and key, my roommates try to take it. I decided to get one for them and a few friends. Once I had class for them on how to operate it, they say it is irreplaceable. This is the best, I use to get callouses on my thumb from striking the wheel on other lighters and if it was hot, got burned, this is no longer an issue. Thank you to the maker, from a nicotine addict, grilling nut, and candle addict. My thumb thanks you too!!!!!!
2006-05-03 20:30 PermalinkBobby T. Says :
I purchased one of these lighters last year on the evening of July 4th as I was having lighter problems lighting fireworks. I picked up a couple of these hoping they would last though the night. I was pleasently surprised they lasted completely through the night with 0 problems…
I stopped in the Right-Aid I got them from last year & was pleased that they still had them, so I bought 6, one of every color… I’m fully prepared for the 4th this year…
2006-06-26 00:16 Permalinkjoe Says :
Amazing!!!!….not. I bought one, noticed it was refillable, bought the butane and noticed after refilling, I must wear out my fingers getting the P.O.S. to light. The Piezo spark system is working, but the valve is unreliable. Once again another fine product from P.R.O.C. Guess I’ll break out the ol’ Zippo again!
2006-08-02 14:50 Permalinksherry oglesby Says :
I love my amazing slide lighter and want more where do i find the. the store does not carry them any longer
2006-10-07 17:54 PermalinkHow can I get more
the only butane i have found that works
Standard Mischief Says :
Sherry, you can order direct from the company, http://www.gibsonent.com , but you have to order a case lot. An entire batch of 56 lighters will set you back $56 + $20 shipping (this price quote is a year old though). Otherwise, you just gotta get lucky at the gas station and Kwik-E-Mart stores.
As a follow-up, after a year of storage in a humid environment, one of my lighters died from a spot of rust or something keeping me from igniting it. I still think these are awesome lighters, as long as you consider them in the disposable category. Even though you can refill them, and they are built rather well for something disposable, eventually they will wear out.
2006-10-07 23:37 Permalinkmicmister Says :
i hav that same lighter its the best lighter iv owned altho wind is defintily not its friend
2006-10-11 18:06 PermalinkAngel Says :
i love this lighter. one mine have made it in an out of water just fine. two i have got’n them @ walmart, the pharm an a few speedways. a big plus they work after u refill them hello that is a big deal to anyone who has paid $ for a refillable an it never works after the first refill. an yes it is great for around kids an adults who act like kids or just your beer pal who’s had one two many.
2007-03-21 23:44 Permalinki have had my first one for around 2yrs, an it still works
Bruce Says :
Bought two in several weeks at a Race Trac and knew how useful they could be. Unfortunately, when I went back for a few more, they were our and the clerk said they did not plan on getting any more. Luckily, I still have the first one and plan to refill. Haven’t seen them anywhere else here in the DFW area.
2007-05-12 13:16 PermalinkRoze Says :
Been using the Amazing Slide Lighter for over a year constantly. Having issues w/my finger now. Has anyone else had/have issues w/pain or damage to their index finger???
2007-05-25 01:13 PermalinkDavetech Says :
My slide lighter worked fine when I got it, but over a few days time it became harder and harder to pull the slide with my thumb. After a week it became a two handed ordeal because of the strength required.
2007-10-15 17:16 PermalinkI just figured it out. I soaked the lighter in water with a little dish detergent. Apparently dirt and oils accumilate under the slide and make it sticky. I do a lot of work in my shop and smoke with dirty hands.
Now I know how to fix that problem and so do you!
Michael T. Says :
I’ve purchased two of these lighters, both of them brand new, and both of them kept prefectly clean (no dirt as suggested in the previous post).
Both of them have jammed up within a matter of a day or two of first using them. Both have (as mentioned by a previous poster) so much resistance that they require more strength to trigger than csn be provided by one hand alone. In both cases, playing around for a while by adjusting the adjustment lever up and down will *eventually* let you get a couple of lights out of the thing before it jams again.
There is a fundamental flaw in the design, I just don’t know what it is. I know I wouldn’t waste my money on another one though.
2008-03-13 20:43 PermalinkStandard Mischief Says :
Michael T.: I’ve had one of mine freeze up exactly like you said when I kept it in a damp humid environment. I thought it was a fluke, but you may be on to something. All the rest of mine are OK, although my pattern of use is sporadic and non-smoker-ish
2008-03-14 02:32 PermalinkElena Says :
i love this lighter.
2008-08-05 06:26 Permalinki lost one of the two i had and i feel very sorry as i cannot find in Greece.
Where can i find them on line?