BengalBoy's WindProof Cigar Lighter RoundUp!! S.T. DuPont Colibri Blue Rhino & Vector Cigar Torches!! What Type of WindProof Lighter is Right for You? I Give you My Pick for the "Bleeding EDGE" P.I.M.P'a'Nado!!



Well, I love sunglasses, cigars and lighters almost as much as I love wireless gadgets.. And because I think of things like lighters as not only functional......but fashionable as well... I have more than one. Different enviroments and social situations call for more than one kind of dress,,,,, right??? So why would you carry your $400 DunHill Unique Sport with you when you were boating??? That's right, a oil fueled and flint flame lighter just won't cut it outside when you need to light that 'n "Kick Ass" CAO Soprano Edition "BOSS" stogie.... NO WAY!! Too Big, Too Moist and Too WINDY!! Burn your fingers all to ,,,,,but everyone will say.... "Hey, that's a Nice Lighter!!"

So, cigar smokers in particular need a WindProof lighter when they are outside or in enviroments where you need to get ignition fast as easy... So, I present to you my review of the newest and most interesting WindProof Lighters at this time.

1. S.T. DuPont "X-tend" series lighter.
2. Colibri Quantum "Sapphire" series lighter.
3. Colibri Quantum "EnterPrise" series lighter.
4. Blue Rhino "AfterBurner" series lighter.
5. Vector Table Torch.



All of these lighters have different personalities and are designed for different users as well as different enviroments. But every single one of them has that one Special Characteristic That made me Pick it for this test.....

They are all "P.I.M.P." !!

So get yourself a Nice Cocktail, your favorite Smoke, and of course your P.I.M.P.'st wireless device.....and read on my Fellow Cigar Smokers for the perfect windproof lighter and my pick as the "Best Windproof Lighter for the Bleeding EDGE P.I.M.P.a'Nado"....



Now, as some you already know, BengalBoy is a long time cigar smoker from back in the day when I used to sneak the little Swisher Sweet "RawHide" "Ropes" or something like that...... hehe.. little cigars that looked like the ones Clint Eastwood smoked in the "Good, Bad and the Ugly" "Fist Full of Dollars" etc.... Now, I love lighters and the "Oil & Flint" ones are my favorites and most collectable investments. However, my Dunhill Unique Sports, however good it looks.......... just isn't something I want to carry with me on my boat or outside to the pool, beach, or ballgame. The chance you will lose it or drop it on a hard surface is something to think about....but the most practicle reason is that it just takes to long and can be too difficult to light a nice cigar in outdoor enviroments. Blown out flames and burned knuckles are not good for Type "A" personalities!! That's where the "WindProof" lighter comes in.

Windproof Lighters, also known as "Cigar Torches" are Butane powered and unlike my "Cartier Lighter"..... are not flint ignition with a languid flame ...... but are like torches where the flame is focused, forced under high pressure, and extremely HOTTTT!!!!! For cigar smokers it results in a quicker light and a flame that is not easily blown out or across your fingers and knuckles while holding the lighter... OUCH!!

Oil & Gas Flint Lighter Flame...

WindProof or Torch Lighter Flame...



See the Difference????

Now, all of our Lighters in this Roundup are Torches, but all are different in their personality or design. Some are definitely outdoor personality lighters while a couple of them are most certainly intended for "Da'Club" and more "Sophisticated" pursuits.....



Here you see the width of the lighters compared to each other... From left to right, ...

Blue Rhino "AfterBurner" in Gunmetal, Colibri Quantum "Enterprise", Blue Rhino "AfterBurner" in Titanium, Colibri Quantum "Sapphire", and S.T. DuPont "X-tend" Special OpusX Edition in Chrome.. All lighters save the Afterburner are turned ignition button front.



So, let me begin with the S.T. Dupont Xtend Windproof Lighter in the Limited "OpusX" Edition.

1. S.T. DuPont X-tend Torch Lighter "Opus X" Special Edition.





This lighter is made in Paris, France by what is generally considered the World's Finest Lighter company. S.T. Dupont creates limited and highly collectible cigar & cigarette lighters ranging in price from a few $$ hundred to a few $$ thousand dollars. Along with Dunhill, certain lighters made by S.T. Dupont are really investment quality pieces just like a fine watch. Available in a highly polished aluminum, as well as black & red laquer finish, the X-tend lighters come with a 2 year warranty. You have to send the lighter in for service or warranty work and cannot return it to the original store of purchase for warranty claims.





Packaged in a cardboard outer sleeve and hard plastic case, the S.T. DuPont X-tend comes with manual and warranty books.









The X-tend is a very Beautiful machined aluminum case with a integrated "ignition" lever built into the side of the lighter. You can see it better on the black version.... notice the chrome bar?? Thats the "ignition" lever...



At the bottom of the lighter you will find the fuel filler nipple and flame height adjustment screw as well as a fuel level window.



At the top of the lighter is a unique flame "shutter" that scissors open when the ignition lever is pressed and closes when you release the lever.





The shutter prevents pocket lint and other forign objects from clogging or affecting your sensitive burner. Performance with the single burner is top notch and the fuel resevior holds enough butane to last me a week or more of constant lighting. Ignition is always positive and everything is made and works like a fine pen or watch. At $150 it is by far the most expensive lighter in this roundup...... but when you hold it and use it you see and feel the quality of the materials and construction.



Extremely P.I.M.P., the S.T. DuPont X-tend lighter is cool on the town to light a Kitten's cigarette or to light up that Victory Stoogie at the 19 hole. Its class and quality rolled up in a sporty design.

2. Colibri Quantum "Sapphire" series lighter.






The Colibri brand of lighters are very well known among smokers due to the large variety and wide price range. The Quantum "Sapphire" series lighter is an example of Colibri's high range lighter and at $100 is its most expensive at this time. With a 1 year warranty you can carry the Colibri into the store you purchased it from or contact Colibri for RMA instructions on where to return for service and repair. Made of some alloy but nicely chromed and finished with a mirrored gray body. The most interesting cosmetic touch, though, is the "Sapphire" LED light that glows when you raise the burner cap to enable the electronic ignition bar. Seems silly.... but the execution and cosmetic appearance of the lighter makes this one of the greatest little novelties I've ever seen in a tobacco product. Everyone comments on it when you light up in a Night Club or light the cigarette of the little Hottie bummin a light at the bar.



The "Sapphire" comes in a heavy cardboard box with embossed lettering and cardboard outer sleeve. Inside you will find your lighter, warranty and manual, as well as a very nice,,,although bulky leather pouch for protecting your investment.