You’re about to light up a fat doobie, but you’ve got a serious problem. Your lighter just went bust. No flame, no game. It’s a sad night as you’re forced to make a quick run to the gas station to pick up another Bic. Sad.
There’s a solution to that though – which is why you’re probably here already. Get a better lighter! Maybe even get one that doesn’t use fuel at all (yea, those exist). There are tons of options and most of them won’t break the bank at all.
Before we go there though, let’s address the elephant in the room.
Lighters vs. Matches
You may be aware of a bit of a controversy when it comes to lighting up: lighters or matches? An argument of the ages. Staunch supporters fill both sides of the hall and there seems to be no end in sight.
My personal preference is to use a lighter, for several reasons. First is it’s just a lot simpler to use. You open it up, you push the button, you get fire. There isn’t a whole lot to worry about. With matches you have to move your arm a slightly greater amount than you’d need to do with a lighter and I’ll be honest, that’s just a bit too much work for me. Plus if you mess up you have to do it again. Good lord. Who could stand such a thing?
Back on the serious side of things, lighters last quite a bit longer too. Even those that run on lighter fluid or butane will last several months unless you use them a lot. They’re a lot smaller too, which makes them easy to store as well as take with you.
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There is the big issue of taste though. As much as I love my lighter-focused lifestyle I’ll readily admit that there’s a tiny bit of a goofy taste when I use open flame lighters compared to matches. It doesn’t personally bother me but I can definitely understand how it might irritate some. If that’s a big sticking point for you then I’d look at grabbing yourself a tesla coil lighter – no fuel used at all. More on that below though.
Otherwise, sticking with matches is about the best way to go.
What Are the Best Features for Weed Lighters
If you’ve decided to go with a lighter for your weed then you’ll need to know what to look out for. Below are the three major factors I think you should keep in mind when grabbing yourself a new one.
Longevity
“If the lifespan of your lighter is something that’s a big deal you’ll definitely want to check out the tesla coil lighters then.”First and foremost is how long these things last. There’s little point in getting yourself a nice lighter if it won’t last very long. Luckily, most lighters these days will give you several months of moderate use.
Traditional lighter fluid or butane lighters do have a lifespan though, no matter how big the tank is. That’s a major advantage of tesla coil lighters – they run off of electricity, which means you can recharge them.
Sure the battery will deplete over several years of use but it’s several times the length you’ll get from a fuel based lighter.
If the lifespan of your lighter is something that’s a big deal you’ll definitely want to check out the tesla coil lighters then. Otherwise, fuel based lighters will do you well.
Ease Of Use
If you’re lighting up a blunt this isn’t as big of a deal but if you’re trying to light up a bowl, ease of use is a big thing. How many people on this earth have burned their thumbs or fingers trying to light a bowl with a tiny Bic lighter? Thousands and thousands, I’m sure.“For those of you looking to avoid burned fingers from bowl-lighting, I’d suggest getting something with an angle on it.”That’s why getting something that’s easy to use for lighting up is pretty important. For those of you looking to avoid burned fingers from bowl-lighting, I’d suggest getting something with an angle on it. It’s amazing how easy it is to get the flame where you need it when you’ve got a bit of a grip and a 45 degree angle.
Another thing to consider is the comfort of the lighting mechanism. Bic lighters are unbelieveably uncomfortable to light and that freaking grinding drives me up a wall. There are plenty of lighters out there that have much smoother wheels or have simply replaced them with buttons altogether. That makes it way easier to use and a lot more comfortable.
Price
This is a bit obvious but it’s worth mentioning. While most of the base models on these lighters are pretty cheap (most are under $20) a few of the specialty lighters can get pretty expensive. Many of the specialty Zippo lighters can run you $50+.
That’s totally fine if that’s what you’re planning on paying for, but if you accidentally hit the purchase button before you see the bigger price, that’s no good at all. Make sure you keep in mind how expensive your lighter is.
Beyond that, you get what you pay for. While lighters can be very cheap, you can feel it. Having a hefty, quality lighter is a wonderful thing. You’ll thank yourself after you feel the difference.
Looks
I’m obligated to put this down because it makes a huge impact on the types of lighters I look at. Sure, a hot pink Bic lighter will do you just fine, but looks are everything man. I’d much rather pay an extra $15 for a lighter that looks seriously sweet.
And trust me, there are tons of super cool looking lighters out there. Dragons, skulls, horses, colors and just about anything else you can imagine. Sure, this doesn’t affect the functionality but it plays a part nonetheless.
My Top Lighters for Weed
Below I’ve picked out my favorite lighters that I think work as the best lighters for weed. I’ve got several different types depending on what people are looking for. Below that is a list of what I personally think are super coolest looking lighters. I’ve got awful taste though, so good luck with that.
My #1 Pick: Tesla Coil Lighters Windproof Dual Arc Lighter
This. Thing. Is. So. Cooooool. Seriously, I love it so much. It’s windproof, has a cover, has dual arcs and looks absolutely gorgeous. If you’re planning on lighting up a blunt with a few friends this is something that’ll seriously impress them. It’ll also avoid the lighter fluid taste and you won’t need to worry about it going out if it’s windy.
There is a big drawback though, and that’s that it won’t work for anyone planning on using a bowl, a bong, or any other device with a partially enclosed lighting area. Since there’s no flame there’s no way to heat the area up enough. There is a fun little hack to get around it though – the I-Tal Wick. I’ve got a full section on it below but it’s basically a wick that you use to light your other devices off of. It removes any nasty taste, lasts for a while and is super cheap.
Beyond that though, it’s extremely easy to use. Since there doesn’t need to be any surface-on-surface contact for this to light up (which you’d need in a traditional lighter) they can put the turn-on mechanism anywhere they want. In this lighter it’s just on the side – it’s also extremely easy to press so you don’t need to worry about your thumb being sore from using it a lot.
As we mentioned above, if you’ve had issues with the lighter fluid taste in the past you’ll be pretty content with this. The only concern you’ll have regarding taste is burning the end of your blunt too much. It’ll take a time or two to figure out how long you’ll need to live it on, so be prepared for a bit of ashiness in the beginning. Once you get passed that, your weed should be 100% natural, unburt and un-fuelified.
And look at it… it just looks so cool. Classy, straightforward, simple, effective. The Tesla Coil Lighter is definitely my favorite lighter of the group.
My #2 Pick: Tomolo Silver Color Jet Flame Lighter
For those of you feeling a bit left out with the Tesla Coil lighter due to your choice in smoking device, have no worries. The Tomolo works great for any device that’s a bit more closed off.
My favorite thing about this lighter is the awesome angle it’s got. The lighting mechanism branches off at about a 45 degree angle from the handle. This means you’ll be able to hold your hand comfortably instead of craning it around to get the lighter near enough. It also means you’ll have better control and will really lower the risk of you burning your thumb. I’m a simple man and fewer burnt thumbs gets a big thumbs up in my book.
One thing you’ll need to pay attention to is how close you get the flame to your lighting area. The flame that comes out of here is instant and very hot. That means there’s a good chance of you burning your pot if you get the flame too close, and that’s easy to do. Make sure you’re paying attention.
For those of you worried about safety, you’ll be happy to see that the Tomolo lighter has a cap that’ll cover the lighting mechanism. If by any chance someone accidentally hits the trigger, you won’t have to worry about anyone getting accidentally torched.
Finally, this lighter looks fantastic. It’s not as awesome as the one above but it’s not too far off. The white and chrome look great together. Definitely a great addition to any smoke set.
My #3 Pick: Pack of 4 Single Jet Flame Torch Lighter
Those of you looking to go the economical route, you’ll be happy with this set. It’s a pack of four single jet flame torch lighters. They’re very powerful, long lasting and simple to use.
Similar to the lighter above, these are jet flame torches. That means they’ll light up very fast and very hot. My personal opinion is these work far better than traditional lighters, but that’s just me. Either way, they’ll definitely do the job of lighting shit on fire.
They’re also really comfortable to hold and use. Similar to the Tomolo, their lighting mechanism is angled so it’s extremely easy to point and control. Instead of having a button on the side, these are on the back, meaning you can point it forward with your hand and control the button with your thumb. It’s really easy to point around at the lighting area of any smoking device.
Finally, they’re really cheap. Far cheaper than either of the other options I’ve listed so far. While the Tesla Coil Lighter is cheaper in the long run as it’ll last for years, these are significantly cheaper up-front and they’ll last you for a good while.
My #4 Pick: Zippo Lighters
If you’re in the store for something that’s got a bit of a different style, you’ll be looking towards Zippo Lighters. While my favorite looking lighter is #1 on this list, there are plenty of strong competitors in the Zippo lineup. And they’ve got so many freaking styles of lighters. You can get lost on Amazon just looking at these. I can speak of experience.
In fact, that’s the reason I put a “Coolest Lighter” section in this article – that wasn’t originally planned.“Having a lighter you feel looks awesome can’t be said enough – it really is a great feeling!”As far as ease-of-use, Zippo lighters are pretty good.
The lighting mechanism is easy to operate and a lot smoother than some of its cheaper counterparts. It might be a bit hard to twist it around to the top of your bowl, but it’s far from impossible. I’d definitely rate this below the jet flame torch lighters but if that’s not something that’s hugely important to you then it’s not a big deal.
You’ll also have the potential to notice a bit of that fuel taste when you take a hit. That’s never really bothered me too much but for those of you who do mind, you’ll probably want to look at a different options.
But the number of styles… man, that’s definitely the coolest part about Zippo lighters. Having a lighter you feel looks awesome can’t be said enough – it really is a great feeling!
Coolest Lighters for Weed
And on that subject, here we are. This is the result of an hour long binge looking at lighters on Amazon. Below are some of my favorites that you found. If you find something cooler let me know and I’ll add it to the list – I’m sure I didn’t find all of them.
Open Flame Lighters
Tesla Coil Lighters
Using an I-Tal Wick
For those of you interested in trying a more natural smoking experience (or those that need an open flame) you’ll want to look into using an I-Tal Wick. These are pretty neat. They’re basically just very long strings (wicks) that you can light first, then light your other shit off of it.
If you’re looking at grabbing a Tesla Coil Lighter you’ll find this to be very handy. Just light the end of the wick and then light your bowl or bong off of it. Easy peasy.” You’ll have a strong clean flame free of butane or any other chemicals.”Aside from that, the big draw here is the natural experience you get. You’ll have a strong clean flame free of butane or any other chemicals. Because of that you’ll also get a better taste and smell out of your experience. If that’s something that bothers you a lot, this will make your high way better.
It’ll also help your lighters last a bit longer, especially if you normally smoke with others. If anyone needs to light off of you, just pass them the wick that’s already lit up – no reason to waste more fuel.
I-Tal Wicks can be a fun, green and natural addition to your smoking experience. You can grab 40+ feet for only a few dollars too, so it’s pretty cheap. If you’ve never tried one before, give it a shot. It’s pretty neat.
Wrap Up
Getting a new lighter can be as simple as going to the nearest gas station, but it doesn’t have to be. The lighters shown up here are a tad bit more money but in my opinion offer a much more rewarding experience.