Colibri Extreme II Wind-Resistant Lighter

Grabbed this lighter along with a ton of other gear. Didn't notice the price until I got home. For what it cost, I am a little dissapointed with the performance of the flame. My butane soldering iron at work makes a better torch flame than this thing. I wish they would've left the compass off. They could've done something better to differentiate the flame end from the fill end. To it's credit, it has met my needs by being waterproof, starting fires in the wind, and lighting cigarettes on the freeway in the Wrangler with the top down; however for the price, I was expecting better performance. I probably would not buy another one.

Colibri makes elegant lighters. This is one in body armour and a drysuit. It's intelligently designed for lighting a pipe held in your hand close in front of your eyebrows. It will do that as safely and reliably as possible, many many times. Unfortunately, out there you don't need a dignified pipe lighter; you need a miniature brazing torch. You need a durable tongue of flame far from your fingers hot enough to light birch bark in a breeze. It only needs to be there a few times between refills, but it needs to be there in exuberant abundance. This lighter comes nowhere close: maximum jet is 2 cm., maximum duration is 10 sec. and it's immediately beside your thumb. Point that down into a pile of tinder or the vapor well of a gas stove and try not to burn yourself. It can be done but it would be safer with a 5 cm. flame at the end of a 5 cm. tube. The compass, contrary to earlier testimony, is a reasonable decision. Instead of a pointer the entire printed disk rotates, a good design for a small cheap sturdy compass. Acquisition is slower because of increased mass and momentum, reduced damping and significant fussiness about inclination. Because the mass is imperfectly distributed the axis has to be precisely, dynamically oriented for free rotation, but that can be easily accomplished by anyone not palsied, impatient or on any but flat calm water. It seems unaffected by the steel clip and gave identical readings to fancy expensive compasses, albeit with more effort and less incremental precision. I wouldn't suggest relying solely on this tiny compass, but then I wouldn't suggest relying solely on a piezo-electric lighter, either. That's right: with a [$] gizmo in your pack you're still going to carry matches. You probably won't use them, or the compass, but it's wise to have both, just in case.

The compass is worthless, but the lighter is great! It stays lit in extreme environments, and the filament, is very durable especially compared to a past coleman lighter that was similar. Waterproof, robust feeling, and very dependable. Not sure how long the gas lasts yet and the compass is broken I think.. it fell off it's spindle. It is slightly heavy for what it is, but it reassuring to have a reliable, hot light despite the conditions.

This is a great lighter. It really is wind resistant. It lights when its really windy and stays lit. It is even waterproof. I love it.

This is an awesome lighter. Do not rely on the compass, which is seemingly useless. This lighter lit for me when others (bics, etc) failed due to cold weather. It's like carrying a small torch with you, which leaves no small measure of reassurance.