I don't smoke, so what am I doing with a butane lighter in my pocket? My life has no end of candles, lanterns, and fires to light, that's why. I had one of Brunton's "Stormproof" Helios lighters until it turned out to be worthless at altitude on a mountain, where making a fire might be important. Besides, the Helios opens so wide you can't reach it down into votive lights or fat candles or into the thick of kindling.

Solution: the Colibri Quantum Xtreme CX lighter. It's nice and narrow---fits anywhere. Its "Electro-Flame" ignition has proved fully reliable. And you can dial in the altitude you want it to light at; it changes the fuel/air mix to suit, good up to 15,000 feet. No other lighter does this.

It lists at $100. The lowest price I found was at eLighters, $80---available in black, white, pearl, and blue. REI has a gaudy orange model with what looks like a clear fuel container and maybe lighter weight, but full price: $100. The weight of my black one is 1.85 ounces.

-- Stewart Brand

Colibri Xtreme Lighter
$50
Available from REI

NOTE: We are now linking to the Xtreme II, the second incarnation of the lighter reviewed above. If you have any positive or negative feedback regarding the newer lighter, please let us know in the comments below. -- SL