Gear

Hi 

I recently purchased a Primus Power Lighter (from the UK , posted here to where I live in NW China). I wanted a reliable lighter for my stove, but this Primus lighter does not work well at altitudes greater than 2000-2500m. It does not ignite, or only ignites after many attempts. When I drop down to a lower altitude it works fine, so I can only assume it is a problem related to atmospheric pressure.

By contrast, the cheap Chinese cigarette lighter I carried as a backup worked well (cost 0.0015% of the Primus lighter). Is this an isolated problem, or do you need to redesign the product?

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Dear Pete,

The lighters are not designed by us but we buy them from “lighter specialists”. We make some basic testing before buying but this does not always include high altitude tests. In this case we have one previous customer report on high altitude problems.

The PowerLighter has a different kind of burner and cannot be compared with the very low cost standard lighter. Apparently it is more sensitive to low atmospheric pressure.

Best regards,

PRIMUS AB

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cannot be compared with the very low cost standard lighter

In that it doesn't work, whereas the 7p Chinese throwaway lighter generally does...? 

Hi I have the same probleme with my ligther  at more than 3000 meters.

Use flint and steel and you can't really go wrong with it.

I have a Light My Fire Army Model  and its worked well for me, there are other design/makes out there but most are the same.

> the cheap Chinese cigarette lighter (cost 0.0015% of the Primus lighter)
[...]
In that it doesn't work, whereas the 7p Chinese throwaway lighter generally does..

7p = 0.0015%?  Hmmm

0.0015% = 0.000015

Therefore the original price was 7p/0.000015 = 466667p = £4666.67.

That's one expensive lighter.  No wonder Monty's upset that it doesn't work...

I too use a Firesteel. This month I found on the Light My Fire website that they now have a Mini version too, I bought one from a shop in the states on Ebay and it arrived a few days ago, its excellent and weighs only 16 grams for 1500 starts, it starts my Coleman F1 stove even on its lowest setting so I can use it in the tent porch to start the stove. Haven't seen anywhere in the UK selling them yet but they are on Ebay and online US sites.

One reason I have recently upgraded to the Firesteel is that I can use the firestell with gloves on a lot easier than trying to start a normal Bic lighter with gloves on which I find quite hard to do when I'm cold and wild camping.

Oops. Well, 7p versus a tenner, you get the drift

At least shops like Needlesports have the nuts to mention the problem on the version they sell (midway down page), it's obviously intrinsic to this design of posh lighter.

Good for lighting joss sticks, mind.

I am considering purchasing one and was impressed with the fact that it works upside down.

Planning a trip to Australia? ... 

There seems to be no easy way to get that precious "spark". I've had a Turboflame for a good few years now; that works upside down, twin jets etc. Problem is, when it's cold, (like me, urgently wanting a brew followed by a bowl of scram), it doesn't like being inverted. It seems that I, despite being thick and small minded, must have the forethought to put the damn thing in my pocket beforehand. A steel would be good but isn't great for the meths burner; even the meths won't ignite eagerly when cold. Glad I bought the gas adaptor, some nights it's the only way to get a meal.

Any other lighters I can try? That or get a brain.

Hi Smeg,

 I find that those piezo 'sparkers' dont work when they get even slightly damp. On the otherhand those bic lighters (the ones with the wheel and flint) work even after running them under the tap.