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When it comes to barbecuing there’s lots of big factors that can affect your grilling experience, and one small but vital one, is the type of lighter you use.
Your lighter can be the difference between a safe and unsafe BBQ, so it shouldn’t be overlooked.
We’ll be breaking down which lighters are best suited for barbecuing and why. From multi-purpose lighting tools, to BBQ specific lighters, we’ll examine them all.
Comparison of the Best BBQ Lighters
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What Makes a Top of the Line BBQ Lighter?
There are a few things that make an exceptional lighter, one of which is wind resistance. For safety reasons, if you’re grilling outside, a lighter with wind resistance will not only make barbecuing easier, but safer for all involved.
Each lighter will utilize different gas for fuel, from butane to propane, make sure the odor of the fuel in your lighter isn’t going to irritate you or those around you.
A refillable lighter will be more cost friendly in the long run, so invest now to avoid a headache later. Be sure to consider the length of the lighter. A longer lighter, around 15 inches, is pretty standard. Look for something over a foot long to keep your hand far away from the flame.
Types of BBQ Lighters
When looking for your lighter you’ll come across a few different types:
Arc Lighter
An arc lighter is typically electric and operates on a low voltage. This would be the standard Bic lighter that we’re all familiar with.
This lighter is ideal for smaller projects in closed quarters. Arc lighters are very commonly used for barbecuing and are a safe, effective choice.
Flame-less Lighter
A flame-less lighter creates heat from a closed element such as an electric element or artificial coal. These lighters are best suited for situations where an open flame isn’t allowed.
Flame-less lighters can be tricky to work with, since you have to get whatever object you’re trying to ignite quite close to the heat source.
If an open-flame lighter is permitted, it’s best to go with that when lighting your BBQ.
Butane Lighter
Butane lighters burn fuel to create fire and are handy when a consistent flame is needed. Many butane lighters are resistant to wind and ideal for outdoor areas.
Butane lighters can produce a high-energy flame that stays lit until the top is closed. Butane or propane lighters are going to be a great option for your BBQ.
Willy's Top Picks - Best BBQ Lighters
Here are the top 2 best BBQ lighters:
Review of the Best BBQ Lighters
Now that you know a little more about what to consider when looking for a BBQ lighter, let’s examine some products on the market right now.
Best Overall:
BIC Multi-Purpose Lighter
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers are very happy with the working of this unit for various reasons. It has a great design and is equipped with safety features to ensure your hands stay away from the fire so you can operate the lighter without burning them. It’s available in different colors too. Some buyers did seem to have an issue with the button design, as it seems to be a little hard to ignite. However, that became easier as buyers used it a few times.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This unit caught our attention for many reasons. Firstly, it has a very ergonomic design, which enables it to be lightweight and easy to work with. Furthermore, it features a child-resistant mechanism and has passed more than 50 quality and safety inspections. It has a long metal wand that keeps your hands away from the fire.
This classic lighter comes with a long handle and neck making it a safe choice for any BBQ.
The Bic lighter has a safety lock making it child-resistant. This lighter runs on fuel and has an open flame.
Who Will Use This Most
This unit doesn’t have the option for an adjustable flame; thus, it wouldn’t be the ideal product for those of you looking for such a product. The wand is pretty long, thus can be used to reach deeper candles. Furthermore, it is available in different vibrant colors, making it stand out from the rest of the kitchen equipment and is easy to spot.
Bottom Line
There are plenty of products on the market; however, not all of them work as well as this one. All in all, it is incredibly affordable and comes with an easy-to-use design. The great quality, reliability, and commitment to safety it provides make it a great investment for all.
This affordable lighter is familiar and reliable, but won’t last more than a month or two. If you’re going to be using your lighter quite often, a rechargeable option would be more Eco-friendly in the long run. The Bic lighter has a long neck and safe trigger making it a great option for multi-purpose use.
Runner-up:
Saberlight Extended Arc Lighter
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
This unit is a user favorite product for many reasons. Firstly, the design it features is very ergonomic and innovative; thus, the operation is smooth and easy. It has a plasma wave instead of a flame; thus, it’s windproof and splash-proof. Furthermore, it has a rechargeable battery and a 1-year warranty, which makes it Eco-friendly and durable.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This unit features an incredibly innovative design that enables it to perform all the activities a traditional lighter can but in a better way. It features plasma wave technology, which creates a plasma wave much hotter than fire. Furthermore, it houses a rechargeable ion cell in place of fuel and can be charged within an hour.
Main features: This lighter uses plasma energy to create a wave or heat between two elements at the tip of the lighter.
The wave is extremely hot and can light anything you need it to. It has an extra long neck making it safe for grilling.
The Saberlight runs on a rechargeable lithium battery. One charge gives you 3 hours of use.
Who Will Use This Most
This unit has endless uses, given its incredible construction. If you worry about your lighter always running out of fuel, this product doesn’t cause that problem as it is easily rechargeable via USB. Furthermore, it is flame-less, so it doesn’t go out by wind or water. Plus, the extendable neck enables it to be great for candles, grills, etc.
Bottom Line
There aren’t many products that take into account durability and Eco-friendliness; however, that isn’t the case with this unit. Overall, it is one of the best products on the market. It is incredibly durable and reliable and is easy to operate and charge. All of this makes it a great investment.
The Saberlight is a high-tech plasma arc lighter that has major cool factor, but can be unsafe in the wrong hands. The ignite button is very easy to slide, and could cause accidental injury around small children.
This rechargeable lighter will light your BBQ just fine and you’ll never have to replace it since it doesn’t run on fuel.
3. Imenou Electric Arc Lighter
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers are pretty ecstatic about this unit for many reasons. It is lightweight and portable, which makes it easy to travel with. It also has a long and flexible 360-degree neck that makes it easy to bend in different angles. Furthermore, buyers find it very long-lasting as it never runs out of fuel and can be easily recharged.
Why it Stands Out to Us
It stands out to us for many reasons. Firstly, it is rechargeable, unlike other fuel batteries that run out of fuel in a matter of weeks. Furthermore, it has a long neck, which can rotate in different directions. It features a safety lock for user protection and immediately turns off the igniting spark beyond 10 secs of use.
This plasma electric lighter boasts a 360 degree flexible neck that allows you to ignite even the tightest spots. It’s rechargeable battery takes away the hassle of running out of fuel unexpectedly.
It’s windproof and has a safety switch making it safe for even small children to interact with.
Who Will Use This Most
You don’t have to worry about this lighter running out of power to work on as it contains a large lithium-ion battery and can be easily recharged. It is very lightweight and portable; thus, it is great for traveling. Furthermore, it has a long and 360-degree flexible neck so it can bend at different angles and directions to fit the situation.
Bottom Line
This unit is what comes to mind when you mention a product that is efficient, safe, and easy to operate. It has an innovative design and is highly reliable and durable. It has many uses and is one of the most durable and reliable options on the market. This makes it a great investment.
This is a very safe option for any family looking to keep hazardous lighters away from their kids, but the lighter needs to be recharged often. Its compact size and windproof heat makes it a great camping option, but make sure you have an outlet close for charging.
4. Uniwood USB Electric Arc Lighter
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers are very happy upon buying this unit. Many buyers compliment this product for lasting an incredible amount of time where normal lighters would fail. It has a very easy-to-work mechanism that is safe to use as well. It is incredibly well-built and is highly reliable and durable.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This unit stood out to use for many reasons. The product is rechargeable, so you don’t have to worry about it failing you. It has a long neck and is rotatable plus enables easy handling of the product. Once fully charged, it can be used up to 400 times. Furthermore, it even has a year-warranty that makes it incredibly reliable.
With a rechargeable lithium battery, this windproof and splash proof lighter would make a great BBQ tool. It has a safety lock to prevent unwanted burns, and has a flexible 360 degree neck for multi-use.
Who Will Use This Most
This unit doesn’t use any harmful chemicals to ignite, which means it is Eco-friendly. It is also pretty affordable, making it accessible to people on a budget as well. The unit is equipped with a safety mechanism, thus can be used in homes with children. The overall construction is lightweight, and it is pretty portable, which makes it great for traveling.
Bottom Line
This product is perhaps one of the most convenient lighters on the market. It has all the features that an ideal lighter would have. It is incredibly reliable, as well as efficient. It features a 12-month warranty that makes it durable too. Considering all these, this unit seems to be a worthy investment.
The Uniwood USB Electric Lighter is a safe, flame-less option that is wind and splash proof, but the battery is known to have issues maintaining a charge. However, the product comes with a 2-year warranty, giving you some peace of mind.
5. Blusmart USB Electric Arc Lighter
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers seem to love this unit and appreciate it a ton. It features a 2-year warranty that makes it incredibly reliable and long-term investment. Furthermore, the design is incredibly ergonomic, and its operation is smooth. It has multiple uses and is Eco-friendly as well. All of this combines to make it a user favorite product.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This unit sparked our interest due to many reasons. Firstly, it is powered by a Lithium-ion battery that can be fully charged within one-hour and offers more than 400 sparks per charge. Butane can be harmful; therefore, it uses plasma technology, which produces a windproof and splash-proof electric pulse.
Another lithium powered, rechargeable electric sparking lighter. This lighter also features a 360-degree flexible neck, and an energy saving feature. The lighter has a safety lock making it family friendly, and a sleek design.
Who Will Use This Most
Not many lighter designs take into account child safety, but this product surely does as it features a safety lock. It even automatically shuts off after 10 seconds to save energy usage. The flexible and rotatable design enables it to be used for a variety of purposes. Furthermore, it can instantly light up candles, fireplaces, grills, etc.
Bottom Line
Last but not least, this product has won the hearts of many by its impeccable design and easy to use nature. The overall design is well-equipped with all the necessary features to ensure a smooth operation. It combines safety and convenience and will be a safe investment.
This USB Electric Arc Lighter has many useful features, but no warranty. Its compact size makes it easy to travel with, but make sure you bring your own USB cord for charging. This is a good option for a flame-less electric lighter for anyone on the go.
Benefits of Investing in a Quality BBQ Lighter
If you are still not convinced about buying a quality BBQ lighter, perhaps looking at some of the benefits it offers will intrigue you enough to do so. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits a quality BBQ lighter can have:
Safety
A good quality BBQ lighter is equipped with safety mechanisms that ensure user protection. Some safety mechanisms include a safety locking mechanism that inhibits the lighter from accidentally switching on to harm someone and an automatic turn-off feature that shuts off the lighter after 10 seconds on its own.
Windproof and Splash-Proof
If you plan on going on a trip or an adventure where you would need to operate a lighter in an outdoor environment, wind and water splashes are two big factors to consider. Electric lighters are equipped with special technology that creates a plasma wave or electric pulse instead of a normal flame. This wave is wind and splash-proof.
Durable and Reliable
Lighters are a daily-use item for most people; thus, you wouldn’t want it to run out of fuel quickly as that would require you to keep repurchasing them frequently. However, a good BBQ lighter would last a long time without running out and is incredibly reliable. These often come with a warranty, which ensures that they are a long-term investment. Also, electric lighters are easily rechargeable, which enables them to work longer than a standard lighter would.
Easy to Operate
They are plenty of products on the market; however, not all of these lighters are built to cater to the needs of a consumer. However, a good quality BBQ lighter would be equipped with a very user-friendly design that enables easy handling and a simple on/off mechanism, so operation is smooth and efficient. Furthermore, many BBQ lighters are equipped with a long neck that enables it to reach farther while keeping your hands away from the fire. The neck is flexible as well, so it can bend in different angles and directions according to need.
Conclusion
Many of the lighters on the market right now are leaning toward electric, plasma heat sources, which are not only a fun and new way to get your BBQ started, but keep you and your family safe with flame-less ignition.
But at the end of the day, you can’t go wrong with the BIC Multi-Purpose Lighter as a reliable, tried and true option for any home’s outdoor grilling station.
Ultimately, choose what’s going to get that flame started and continue to serve you over time, so you can get to the fun part: barbecuing.
People Also Ask
People tend to have a lot of questions regarding the use of lighters to know how safe they are. Thus, here's the answer to some of your most frequently asked questions so you can get a better understanding of how they work.
What is BBQ Lighter Fluid Made From?
BBQ lighter fluid is also known as a charcoal lighter fluid, which is a highly flammable liquid employed to enhance the ignition of charcoal in a grill. These are of two types, either petroleum-based or alcohol-based. Plus, they can work for both lump charcoal as well as briquettes.
Can I Light My Gas Grill with a Lighter?
Yes, a long-necked butane lighter can be employed to light a gas grill in case you have an ignition problem. Otherwise, you would use the normal piezo button to ignite the grill.
What is the Liquid Inside a Lighter?
The liquid one sees inside a lighter is butane, which is a highly flammable, colorless, and easy-to-liquefy gas. It is liquefied to be used in gas lighters and butane torches, whereas wick torches and burners utilize Naphtha, which is a flammable, hydrocarbon mixture.
