Imagine for a moment that you are sitting down with the guys around your new bar, in your new mancave, with a box of newly-acquired Cubans. Now imagine the look on everyone’s face when you offer each of your friends one of those coveted cigars.
They admire them, smell them, lick their lips, and get ready for an experience that only comes along once in a blue moon. Then, you pull out a cheap Bic lighter, or worse yet, a book of matches from the hotel you stayed at two years ago. Watch how those expressions change.
Buzzkill, you say? That’s exactly right. To create the ceremonial atmosphere you are looking for, you need a lighter that impresses as much or more than the cigars you pass around.
Among the most sought-after cigars in the world, The 1903 Edition Sampler Pack features a selection of cigars hand-crafted in small batches by expert torcedors.
We’ve put together a list of 2024’s best cigar lighters to make sure you never suffer the same fate as our hypothetical host. You can choose for style, functionality, or both. You can opt for lighters fit for the likes of Batman, or Jacques Cousteau. Do you need a lighter that you can easily slip into your pocket or do you need a solution for your mancave? Whatever your needs happen to be, we’ve got you covered.
Form and functionality come together in the Xikar Allume to create one of our favorite options on this list. This cigar lighter is well balanced and will fit in anywhere.
For the price, you will not likely find another option quite like the Scorch Torch Skyline. This compact lighter is easy on the eyes and has plenty of lighting power to light cigars for months to come.
When you combine the benefits of all the lighters that are common with windproof lighters, you get the Lotus Hercules as a result. Lots of great features in a good-looking package.
The Explorer everything-proof plasma lighter is one of our favorite lighters on this list. The latching lid creates a protective seal to safeguard the lighter from the elements, and the tough ABS Zinc alloy case adds to the durability of the lighter.
The best thing about this lighter is how versatile it is. You could use it in a torrential downpour at the top of a mountain if you were so inclined. And if you were to drop it in a river or lake, the fact that the lighter is bright orange and floats means you’ll be able to recover it with ease. To top it off, the rechargeable lithium battery means you’ll never be without a light, so long as you’ve got a USB charger on hand.
The Vertigo Quad 4 Torch lighter has it all in its name. This butane-filled lighter supplies a total of four wind-resistant torches which work simultaneously. The Vertigo Hornet is one of the more convenient cigar lighters on our list because of the included lanyard hole and ease of use. Operation is very easy as all you need to do is press a button to both release the lid and light the quad torches.
Another nice feature of this entry is the side-mounted trigger. No matter how long you hold the button down, you never have to worry about getting too hot from the flame. That, with the very strong torches, means there is not a cigar around that this lighter cannot handle. If you are looking for an affordable lighter that you won’t need to worry about, the Vertigo Hornet is a fantastic choice.
Another of our favorite cigar lighters comes in at number 3. The Mantello Catador is cost-effective, functional solution for cigar smokers on the go.
The first thing that you will notice with this cigar lighter is how great it looks. The design features and steel trim on the black body will remind you of lighters coming out of the ‘50s. This lighter even comes in a stylish gift box to complete the look. No one would ever guess that the Mantello Catador is priced as low as it is.
The powerful triple jet flame, built in cigar punch, adjustable gas flow dial, and one-touch operation come together to create a lighter that will perform with the best of them. If you need a dependable lighter but don’t want to spend an arm and a leg, look no further.
Cigar lighter come in a variety of sizes and weights. Some like them large and heavy while others prefer lightweight options that are easy to put into your pocket. The Scorch Skyline is one of the cigar lighters you will find from the latter category.
With three jet flames, you won’t have any trouble lighting your cigar, despite the relatively small size of the lighter. Filling this lighter is very easy. All that you need to do is fill it with standard butane and wait for ten minutes. After that, the Scorch Skyline will light every time you need to celebrate with a cigar.
This lighter will work for a long time thanks to the smaller flame size, and you can keep track of the butane level with a quick look through the butane viewing window.
The design of the RAAM Zippo-inspired cigar lighter creates a classic look that always makes a great inclusion to a smoking kit. Added to the zippo factor, the RAAM cigar lighter also has an industrial look with the brand name engraved on the front giving the lighter a rugged look and feel.
The functionality of this lighter is top-notch. The flip lid is strong and gives a satisfying click when closed and the flame level adjustment dial is easy to find and use. The twin flames are an attractive blue color that is sure to draw attention, but the ability to light cigars is what is important and this lighter excels in that department.
The RAAM Double Flame is one of the best cigar lighters in 2024, and you’ll be happy to know that it won’t cost you as much as you may expect.
At number 6, we have a small yet substantial cigar lighter from Xikar. When you are shopping around for cool cigar lighters, the Allume should be on your list of considerations.
Cigar torch lighters have to be strong enough to light up a good amount of tobacco quickly and you won’t be disappointed with the effectiveness of this entry. In fact, the Xikar Allume is powerful enough to work with pipes, as well.
The side ignition button may be a new experience for many, but it makes for a safe light every time. Your thumb will never be anywhere near the business end of this lighter. The butane level viewing window is also a nice touch as you’ll never have to worry about firing blanks when it comes time to show off your new toy.
When you need a plasma cigar lighter that doesn’t mess around, the Saberlight Sparq XL is always a good option to consider.
Many consider this entry to be the best cigar lighter, hands down. Not only does it sport a triple plasma lighting unit that can handle anything that you throw at it, but the one-touch operation and flip-top cap also make it one of the easiest options to use.
This lighter is not small. Let’s just get that out of the way now. It is compact enough to fit into your front pocket with ease but there is definitely some heft to it. That said, the large-capacity lithium polymer battery lasts for a longer time than most and can easily be recharged via USB for added convenience.
The lighting power that the Saberlight Sparq XL brings to the table is capable no matter where you happen to be, thanks to the windproof triple arc plasma torch.
Anyone looking for a high-end cigar lighter that is sure to turn heads, should definitely check out number 8 on the list as it just might fill that need.
The S.T. Dupont Minijet is one of the top cigar lighters that you will find, and it’ll fit easily into any pocket, even the little change pocket in your jeans that you never know what to do with. The small size makes this lighter a no-brainer when it comes to putting together a lightweight EDC kit. No matter where you happen to be, you’ll be able to light up with ease.
Size isn’t the only thing that this lighter from Dupont has going for it. The one-touch operation is dependable, and filling is always a breeze. It also comes in a huge array of colors, so you’ll be able to grab one that perfectly suits your style and personal penchants. The sleek chrome trim with branding in classic cursive also makes this lighter look great.
For cigar smokers that have a hard time holding onto a good lighter, the Z Plus Extreme is probably a good lighter to consider. The Z Plus is small but the fact that this lighter comes in a pack of two means you can always keep one stashed away as a backup.
In terms of looks, you aren’t going to find a lot of other torch lighters that share the same design features that you get with the Z Plus Extreme. The flip cap is similar in function to a classic Zippo, but once you pop the top the differences are clear.
There is a tapered button for ignition that has just enough traction to keep your thumb in place, and it is set lower than the torch output, so your fingers stay at a safe distance. One of the best features, however, is the clear body which allows easy viewing of all the innerworkings of your cigar torch lighter.
If you are looking for a quality cigar lighter with punch, the Scorch Dominator is a fantastic budget option for you to consider. For what this lighter brings to the table, the price is almost unbelievable.
The Scorch Dominator is a great-looking lighter that has a robust industrial design and plenty of heft for its size. The compact nature of this lighter means that you can take it anywhere, but you’ll never have to sacrifice power and functionality just to carry a smaller cigar lighter.
The triple jet torch is more than capable to light up anything that you might require, and the flip-top cap ensures that the flame outlets never get clogged or dirty. Of course, the velvet carrying case that’s included is a nice touch too.
The JetLine Super Torch is one of the smallest cigar lighters on our list, but that doesn’t mean power and functionality come in below most of the others. In fact, in terms of this lighter’s ability to light full-sized cigars, JetLine Super Torch is impressively successful.
For the size, this lighter comes with an impressive fuel tank making it the perfect companion for on-the-go use. The JetLine Super Torch will keep going for longer than most and the small size means you can carry it with ease.
Another great thing about the fuel tank is that it is completely clear making it easy to keep tabs on how much butane you have left. The convenience of the easy flip lid is also a nice touch. Pressing the ignitor once opens the cap. On the second press, the three blue torches light up. This cigar lighter is known for being dependable and we stand behind that claim.
Pros
Compact design is easy to carry
Powerful triple torch can light cigars with ease
Clear body makes monitoring butane levels simple
Unique design
Cons
May be too small for some
Lacks the premium look and feel cigar some look for
Another cool cigar lighter for our list is the Galiner. This affordable option has all the great features its more expensive cousins come with, but it also adds some of its own unique traits.
The flames will be the first thing that you notice. While most other lighters sport the triple blue torch, the Galiner provides a quad torch that burns in a bright red color. If you are looking to get noticed, this option will certainly turn some heads.
The torch outputs are protected by a spring-fit lid that pops open as soon as the ignitor situated on the side of the lighter is pulled down. The switch is low enough to protect again accidental burns, which is another nice feature.
Add all that to the fact that you get a viewing window to monitor butane levels, a cigar cutting tool, and a perfect size for any pocket, and you have yourself a definite contender.
One common thing that you’ll see in our cigar lighter reviews is that we like it when cigar lighter makers combine form and functionality. Luckily, the cigar lighter from Cigarism does a great job at that.
In terms of lighting capability, Cigarism holds its ground with flying colors. The four torch flames are more than enough to light up your favorite cigars and they look great while they’re doing it. There’s no need to worry about carrying around a cigar cutter, either, as this entry comes with a built-in cigar punch.
Refilling the lighter and adjusting the flame size is also quite clever. Using the included multitool, you can both release the pressure in the tank before refills and control how much flame size you get. When it comes to knowing when you need to refill this lighter, the convenient viewing window takes the guesswork out of the equation.
For the price that this cigar lighter is going for, you really can’t ask for much more than what Cigarism brings to the table.
For anyone looking for a butane cigar lighter that checks all the necessary boxes for being a solid lighter, the Xikar Cirro Altitude is a perfect choice.
There is a certain 1950’s vibe to the Altitude that we can’t get enough of. The trigger depresses to activate the thumb shield and ignite the single torch flame in a single click. No need to fuss with any double-click mechanisms with this lighter.
If you couldn’t tell by the name, what really makes this lighter special is the fact that it was engineered with high altitudes in mind. If you enjoy mountain climbing or just happen to live up in the hills, the powerful single windproof flame will always be at your side.
There are a couple things that you should always keep in mind while looking for the best lighter for cigar use. One is that the flame should be powerful enough to light up the beefiest of cigars with ease. Another thing that you have to pay attention to is how reliable the lighter is. Does it light every time? It should. Of course, your cigar lighter should also be compact and easy to carry. Well, Tripple Torch has all that in spades, which means this entry should make it onto your list of considerations.
One thing that you’ll notice about this option is that it has a distinctive look. So distinctive, in fact, that it’ll be a noticible addition to any cigar kit. If you are looking for a small lighter that has plenty of power and looks great, Tripple Torch is a fantastic option.
If you can imagine for a moment that your smart appliances at home were somehow crossed with your windproof plasma lighter and then that lighter was dressed up in a tuxedo, you would have a good idea of what the Dual Arc Plasma Lighter is all about.
This entry might be at the bottom of our list but it is one of our favorites. In fact, we are talking about the only electric cigar lighter that has touch activation and looks as if it could belong on the Batwing. The black version is particularly sharp, but the shiny blue, gold, and silver options are also appealing.
Speaking of lighters that are perfect for car use, the one-hour USB charge is enough to give you up to 400 uses. Combine that with the flameless plasma lighting mechanism and you’ll never have trouble smoking your cigars on the road.
Our final cigar for our list is another futuristic option for you to consider. The clean lines and compact design makes the Lotus Hercules a perfect choice for anyone looking for a lighter that will look great in any setting, be it at a business lunch, a club, or a day out with the guys. The Lotus Hercules is also quite small, making it easily pocketable, no matter how big your pockets are.
Feature-wise, this cigar lighter has all that you would need in a good lighter. The one-touch ignition makes for convenient one-handed use, and the flip cover for the torch elements doubles as a heat guard for your thumb. You’ll also benefit from the attached cigar punch and convenience of the butane level window. Maybe the best feature, however, is how the twin flames actuate. The two torches are angled perfectly to create a single point of heat at their tips, which means this lighter can be used for cigars with ease, but also pipes, barbeques, incense, and much more.
Pros
Comes in three color schemes
Concealed cigar cutter
Gas window
Stylish, futuristic design
Cons
Twin jets take a bit longer to light than options with more
Before getting into the hows and whys associated with buying great cigar lighters, it would be a good idea to talk about why finding a great lighter is so crucial to enjoying the smoking experience. Cigars require an even light to burn correctly.
Cigars are comprised of several elements, each of which adds to the overall flavor, and they need to be lit evenly to provide the intended experience. The wrapper, the binder, and the tobacco inside all have their own characteristics, but the combined effect is what cigar aficionados are after.
Because of their size, cigars also need lighters that burn very hot. A normal cigarette lighter can do the job, but it takes forever, and you risk not lighting your cigar evenly. To solve that problem, cigar lighter manufacturers create options that are hot enough to quickly and evenly light even the largest of cigars.
If you are looking for a relaxing smoking experience, an improperly lit cigar is the last thing that you want. You’ll spend your time trying to get your cigar to burn evenly while never truly getting the taste that you should from it, and that’s why cigar lighters are such a big deal.
What types of cigar torch lighters are available?
Now that you know that you need a cigar lighter, you should know what types there are available. There are thousands of options on the market, and some are clearly better than others. The best ones can be categorized into two main groups, which are butane torch lighters and battery-powered arc lighters (plasma). Butane torches are the most widespread options out there and are preferred by many, but plasma lighters are quickly catching up.
Butane Torch Lighters
Butane torch lighter are popular because there is so much variety on the market. From high-end to affordable, these lighter offer convenience, efficiency, and reliability to just about anyone’s cigar kit. Torches also come in a variety of configurations which is something that helps in their versatility.
You can find butane torch lighters which feature a single torch flame, some with double, triple, and even quad torches. Some are designed to have the tips of multiple torches touch to create a pinpoint hotspot for max effectiveness over a small area, while others offer a heat distribution signature that is more spread out. The number of torches that you choose should depend on the types of cigars you generally smoke.
Butane torch lighters are also popular because they offer some choice as to the type of fuel used. These lighters are filled with liquid butane, but the quality of available fuel types varies quite wildly. For many, the standard canned butane is fine, but aficionados tend towards the higher end of the spectrum to avoid any chances of altering the flavor of their cigar.
Clearly, the pros that come with using refillable butane torch lighters are many. The fact that they burn clearly and efficiently makes for an easy win for these lighters as butane is both safe and affordable. Other benefits include giving you the ability to carry spare fuel with you. As long as you have your lighter and a bottle of butane with you, lighting up should never be an issue. Add those benefits to the fact that butane torches are nearly windproof and hot enough to set just about anything aflame, and you can see why so many people love these lighters.
If we were to get into reasons not to use opt for the butane torch options that are available, our main focus would be on portability. While it’s certainly true that you can refill your butane lighter anytime you want provided that you have a bottle of butane with you, it also means that you have to remember to have a bottle of butane with you. Without it, your lighter can end up a paperweight pretty quickly.
Plasma Arc Lighters
Plasma arc lighters are fairly new on the scene when you consider the relative age of butane torches, but these options have cemented themselves in the world of cigar lighters for good reason. These gassless lighters create incredible amounts of flameless heat that add no additional taste to whatever it is you light with them. They are weatherproof, including water and wind, and the internal batteries usually last for several hundred uses before needing a recharge.
The list of benefits is long with plasma lighters which explains their popularity. In the cigar world, double and triple arcs are common choices for anyone looking for a clean option that offers heats well above what any flame source can provide. The only main caveat is that you’ll need to rotate the cigar while you light up, which can be a little frustrating until you get the hang of it.
As with butane torch lighters, there are a couple aspects to plasma arc lighters that some might prefer to shy away from. For one thing, they are powered electronically which means there is an internal battery that needs to be charged via USB. In most cases, cigar smokers won’t have any trouble finding a USB charging point for their plasma lighter, but if you are camping or in some other off-grid scenario the dependability of your lighter can begin to diminish.
Another consideration is the size of the arc. You’ll find single arc lighters which are a bit small for most cigars, double arcs which are better but still not quite there, and then triple arcs which provide ample heat to light just about anything. There is a bit of a learning curve to using these types of lighters for cigars, as well, but once you get it figured out, getting a nice even light is certainly achievable.
FAQs
1 – Why do I need a cigar lighter?
The need for a cigar lighter comes down to the desire for an even light that doesn’t take a long time. Cigar lighters are also known to provide a clean taste which is perfect for when you want to enjoy the flavor of your cigar without the addition of weird additives and toxic materials coming in through your heat source. If you need another reason, consider the coolness factor. Every cigar smoker who cares about what they are doing wants a lighter that goes well with their cigar kit.
2 – How do a choose the best cigar lighter for my needs?
When it comes time to deciding on a good cigar lighter, the choice comes down to how you are going to use it. Both plasma and butane torches are clean-burning and effective ways to light your cigar, but each comes with its own maintenance needs. Do you prefer packing a USB charging cable in your cigar kit or a bottle of butane? Do you want to devote the extra time necessary for plasma lighters to do their work for the added benefit of a cleaner light, or are the faster butane torches good enough for you? Our suggestion would be to buy one of each and try them out. You might find that both types are useful in different scenarios.
3 – What flame types are available?
For butane, you can get torch flames in single, double, triple, and quadruple configurations. If flame color is an important factor for you, you can find red, blue, and green flames.
For plasma, you can get single arcs, double arcs, and triple arcs. For cigars, don’t opt for anything smaller than a double arc plasma lighter.
Light it Up!
Well, there you have it. The Men’s Gear guide for the best 17 cigar lighters of 2024. Whether you are looking for a cigar lighter to use on the weekends, for special occasions, or for daily use, there is a perfect option for you here on our list.
As you can see, butane torch lighters are much more common than their plasma counterparts, but that doesn’t mean arc lighters should be overlooked. Both approaches to lighting your cigar have their merits and deciding on a particular style usually comes down to a simple case of preference.
With butane, you get more options and generally more affordable choices. Of course, you will have to factor in the need for a bottle of butane to take care of your refilling needs, but for most use cases the extra weight that the bottle adds is a non-issue.
When it comes to plasma, you get a cleaner and hotter heating element, but the size often leaves something to be desired. Be sure to opt for a large plasma lighter to solve that issue and only pick one up if you have a plan for recharging it. You should also remember that the lifespan of the lithium battery will dictate the life of the arc lighter, as is the case with much of today’s tech.
To make your choice, keep this in mind. Your cigar lighter should compliment both your personal sense of style and the look of your cigar kit. If you tend to opt for products that exude a classy air, choose a lighter that fits that role. If you imagine yourself sitting atop a 14’er, smoking a celebratory cigar to commemorate a successful summit, go for a sporty option that is guaranteed to work at extreme elevations.
Whatever you do, choose a cigar lighter that you will enjoy.
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