lighting your stove

[monkeyboy]

After struggling with damp matches in the wind and rain I decided to try a fancy windproof (crackhead) lighter. It did not work at all at altitude. What works for you?

[allthumbs]

water/wind proof matches from any surplus store, or even (dare i say) REI

[iain]

[rr666]

plenty of white gas spilt everywhere usually works for me

[mwills]

i agree, multiple lighters is the way to go (twight says so ) - put them in your lid, one in each jacket pocket, and one with the stove. be sure you get the clear plastic so you aren't guessing when it might die.

[monkeyboy]

Thanks!

[Dave_Schuldt]

Regular cigarette lighters, carry 2 in case one gets wet.

[Alpine_Tom]

There are two kinds of lighters out there; the old style flint-type (cheap) and the newer piezoelectric (sp?) that's more expensive and may be the wind-proof one you used. I had the identical experience at Camp Schurman, my brand-new lighter piezoelectric lighter not lighting. Fortunately we had matches too (unfortunately, I left the freezedried food in the car, so all we had was some dried soup and hot chocolate ). The cheap (89-cent) lighters work just fine, in my limited experience.

[Bronco]

Methinks the sparks created by the flint on the cheap lighters are sufficient by themselves to ingnite white gas fumes.

[hakioawa]

Expensive lighters suck. I bought a clear placstic one at REI for $40. It generally does not work above 6K feet. The cheap ones work better. I think the flint ones work best. They put out a big enough spark, that you may be able to get something lit w/o any fuel.

[Smoker]

Well, I suppose I'll weigh in, for obvious reason,

 

The standard bic works fine up to 14,400'

keep one in with the stove, and if you really want it to work at elevation, keep one close to your body so it stays warm and keeps the butane from getting sluggish.

 

It'll spark up everytime.