Men's Journal

Whether you’re a man of vice or dependent on flame for survival, these new lighters will make sure you’re always prepared.

by Steve Mazzucchi

KGM Vector Pinnacle
Climbers are usually stuck carrying a Ziploc bag of Bics on their ascents, since the piezoelectric igniter on most butane lighters won’t work at oxygen-starved altitudes above roughly 8,000 feet. But by using a redesigned ignition, the weather-resistant Pinnacle brings fire to the summit. Its lean burn system allows for flames at as high as 12,000 feet and is miserly with the fuel, too, affording 900 lightings on one fill. The flame isn’t as afterburner-strong as some other outdoor lighters, but it gets the job done. [$75; cardinalgear.com]

Xikar Pipeline
Pipe smokers are willfully retrograde, at least when it comes to vices, so Xikar created the Pipeline with a classicist’s eye. Though it uses butane here, its turn-of-the-century design has a flint igniter that, shall we say, rewards persistence. But the Pipeline does have smart touches: A tamper slots into the bottom, the lid flips over 180 degrees to get out of the way, and the flame escapes the port at a right angle for easy drawing into a pipe when you hold the lighter sideways. [$60; xikar.com]

S.T. Dupont Minijet
Emerging from the inner jacket pocket of a well-tailored suit, the Minijet is an unexpected punctuation mark. Its brass body comes lacquered in an array of colors and delivers a butane torch with a press of the metal stripe along the side. That movement doesn’t feel as satisfyingly precise as those of the other lighters here, but we did appreciate the window along the opposite edge that indicates fuel level, so you’ll never blow your cool with the dispiriting click of an empty lighter. [$150; st-dupont.com]