Lighters

[Consigliere]

So I was browsing at my local B&M the other day and a really gorgeous lighter just happened to catch my eye. It's a Lotus T3 table lighter with a triple flame head and a really interesting art deco stripe design on the front. I was wondering if anyone has a Lotus lighter or has had any experience with them, I would like to get some input before dropping $50 on a lighter.

[cigar no baka]

I own a similar if not the same lighter. It cost $49.95, gun metal, triple flame table lighter. It's a great lighter, but a bit fincky. It won't work well when it gets really cold, you have to warm it up (keepin it in my pocket for a few minutes does the trick). And it will sometimes take 2-3 strikes to get it to light, but it always lights after the 2-3rd attempt. It holds a shitload of butane so I don't have to fill it up very often. Well worth the $50. I've had it two years plus.

[BigMacFU]

Don't waste the money. If a lighter is going to cost that much, it should at least have a built-in cutter or punch. Spend 10 bucks on a zippo and 40 on cigars, you'll feel much better.

[ashauler]

Don't waste the money. If a lighter is going to cost that much, it should at least have a built-in cutter or punch. Spend 10 bucks on a zippo and 40 on cigars, you'll feel much better.

Well, at the risk of exposing my "cheapness", this hits my cigar purchasing philosophy dead on. I don't spend my $$ on the fancy accessories, and save it for cigars. I have a couple of "cheapy" torch lighters that work fine when I have to use them in windy conditions, but other than those times, I use a bic or matches and they work perfectly.

Same for me with cutters, the $4 cheapy guillotines work fantastic and last quite a while before getting dull and needing replaced. One of my b/m's gives pretty good ones away at events, or if you make a large enough purchase. It doesn't hurt as bad to lose one or throw one away because its worn out.

For some, the accessories contribute greatly to their smoking experience, and I don't knock that at all, for me its just not the case. A $50 lighter + a $40 cutter = some pretty nice cigars, imho.

[chefchris]

Buy a box of Fumadores at Holts ($40) and get a free lighter that works fine. Problem solved.

[BigMacFU]

Buy a box of Fumadores at Holts ($40) and get a free lighter that works fine. Problem solved.

yup, that works great too.

[cigar no baka]

I guess I'm in the minority here, not that i give a rats ass. I smoke a lot of higher end smokes $10 and up, and lighting them with a bic or gas station torch would be like buying USDA prime steaks, cooking them up perfectly to medium rare with nice crust on the outside, then eating them on paper plates.

Diamonds in a goats butt, as my dad would say.

[BigMacFU]

In the case of cooking though, the flame power can make a difference. A steak house cooks a steak at over 900º, that's a lot of BTU's. A butane flame is a butane flame though with a cigar. I wouldn't use a bic, but cheapy butane flame is just as good as a colibri, dupont, or xikar butane flame. And with the former two, just as reliable if not better. But, if you can afford a Xikar lighter, get it, they're probably the most durable butane lighters made. But even they sell ones for 30 bucks.

As everyone knows though, something like this is still ultimately preference.

[ashauler]

I guess I'm in the minority here, not that i give a rats ass. I smoke a lot of higher end smokes $10 and up, and lighting them with a bic or gas station torch would be like buying USDA prime steaks, cooking them up perfectly to medium rare with nice crust on the outside, then eating them on paper plates.

Diamonds in a goats butt, as my dad would say.

Well, since I do the dishes and the wife cooks.......I'm all about the paper plates. I understand where your coming from CnB, just different strokes for different folks.

[bigwhiteash]

Steaks cooked to MY preference would likely bleed through a paper plate

I love my Colibri Afterburner, so far, it hasn't let me down. ($17.00 on eBay), but I'll use whatever is on hand. I would like to have a nice table lighter though

[Consigliere]

Thanks for all of the replies. I get that most people would rather spend the extra cash on cigars instead of a lighter, but then again, I've always been an accessory freak. To me nice cutters and lighters enhance my experience. I wouldn't go so far as to pay two to three hundred dollars for a Davidoff cutter, I find that a little ridiculous. But $30 to $50 bucks seems reasonable. I was more wondering about the quality of the Lotus brand itself. I really enjoy the looks of the Lotus table lighter, but it only comes with a one year warranty, while there are some Xikar lighters I like as well that have lifetime warranties. I went back the other day and inspected it a little closer, and it seems to be very well constructed. One of these days I suppose I will make a decision....

[bigwhiteash]

My theory is this, If it is something that will make you happy, then value can not truly be measured by retail price alone. After all...I won't hesitate to buy something for $20.00, hold it in my hands, and marvel at how beautiful it is, chop the end off of it, and burn that mother down to ashes.. leaving me with only fond memories, and a worthless piece of printed, embossed paper!

I have read good things about Lotus lighters. as for warranty... if it's gonna break, it probably will within a year.

[Mizicke5273]

I got a free Colibri a while back from CI with a purchase I made. Works great. Holds a good bit of butane, never failed me.

Even then I decided to buy a new light last night while at a B&M down here in Miami. For no reason other than I liked it. It wont make my cigars taste better or fill my cooler. But still I think its always handy to have more than 1 lighter around. Its a $40 Cigar Savor made buy Altadis, and it looks like an ST Dupont ligher, and Ive always liked the way those looked. I was jsut in the mood to buy something other than a cigar, even though I ended up buying a few anyways.

Not to mention Im the guy that buys a new pair of ATV gear at least once a year, well other than boots. I tend to like buying accesories for my hobbies because to me each one adds something new. Plus I like variety.

[cigar no baka]

One more thing I'd like to add. I'm buying more soft flame lighters than torches nowadays.

I only but one or two lighters a year, to replace the ones that crap out, or just to add to my collection. What I've noticed though is that soft flame lighters are a lot less complex thus are far less fidgety than torches. They also seem to last a lot longer, less inside to break over time. Plus, I'm beginning to love lighting with a soft flame, I just think it works better.

I still carry a torch for when I'm outside and it is too windy, but if the wind is not up, my soft-flame lighters work peachy keen.

[Consigliere]

There was actually a review of this exact light in CA this month. They seem to like it as well, not that I base much of my buying on reviews I find in CA. Especially since most of the items are extremely out of my price range, I mean, everyone likes a nice watch, but $20 grand?? I think not. I wouldn't even drop that on a watch if I did have that kind of disposable income.