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The Best Cigar Lighters for Your Stogies

‘Toast the foot’ of your favorite luxury cigars to perfection with this list of top-rated lighters.

a group of lightersThompson Cigar, Xikar, Zippo
Danny Martinez

By Danny Martinez

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After choosing your stogie, the next — and arguably most important — step is to light the cigar. It’s here, in the typically austere world of luxury cigars, that the real aficionados like to add a bit of flare when toasting the foot. Regardless of the style you choose, finding the torch to get your bullet and pulling that perfect first draw is key. But just like the many faces of cigars that line the shelves in your local shop, there are a lot of different kinds of lighters out there. Soft flame? Triple torch? Focus triple torch? Pinpoint quad torch with a quick action stroke ignition?

Products in the Guide

Considering the attention paid to every little detail of a stick’s construction, it is no surprise that the flame used to spark it is also a crucial part of the experience. So, we assembled this simple guide and a list of cigar lighters that are awesome additions to any BOTL/SOTL’s (Brother/Sister of the Leaf) collection.

To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.

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Best Overall Cigar Lighter

Pros

  • "Hot Rod" Design
  • Award-winning and highly rated
  • 7mm punch attachment
  • Large fuel window and control wheel
  • Sturdy, all-metal design

Cons

  • Not wind resistant
  • A bit heavy for the size
  • Fuel Type: Purified butane gas
  • Ignition/Flame Configuration: Single action push button/single torch flame

It is impossible to recommend any kind of accessories without pointing in the direction of XiKAR. The brand has a reputation for being top-marked in design, functionality, and customer satisfaction. They stand behind each product with a lifetime guarantee. However, with the Forte, you’ll not likely need it. The single torch and large fuel wheel create a flame that is easy to control. So this lighter is fit for newcomers who don’t want to burn their fresh $30 puro. But the sophisticated “Hot Rod” inspired design gives it a distinguished look that impresses veteran tobacconists time and again. For $50, you cannot find a better lighter.

Best Upgrade Cigar Lighter

  • Fuel Type: Purified butane gas
  • Ignition/Flame Configuration: Single action push button ignition/wide dual torch flame

I know I said, “no Zippos” earlier in this guide, but hear me out on this one. No product has earned the title “best upgrade” like the brand-new Butane Torch Inserts made by Zippo. The old wick inserts kept Zippo, the most famous name in man-made fire around the globe, out of the cigar game for actual smokers. That’s because they made your smoke taste like gasoline (I learned the hard way). But the new torch inserts have changed that. Now, the personalization and customization that made Zippo a household name comes to the world of cigars. I lean more toward the Dual Torch Inserts for cigars as they offer a wider heat point, great for an even burn on a corona or robusto.

Best Budget Cigar Lighter

Pros

  • Expendable
  • Found everywhere
  • Many color options available
  • Lightweight
  • Large fuel control wheel

Cons

  • Not built to last forever. Upgrade ASAP
  • No fuel window
  • Plastic body
  • Fuel Type: Purified butane gas
  • Ignition/Flame Configuration: Push button ignition/single torch flame

As far as being the most dependable, affordable, and easy-to-find fire starter, Scorch Torch brand lighters have shown themselves to be the best. These simple machines get the job done and are available in multitudes of sizes, colors, torch variations, and fuel types. I opt for the butane single torch flame models, as they offer a higher level of control when first lighting my stogies.

a hand holding a black and blue objectDanny Martinez

The modern design of the ErgoGrip made it a comfortable fit in the hand. It did feel less durable than other lighters tested, being made of plastic. But for less than $15, I wasn’t too worried about it.

Best High Tech Cigar Lighter

Pros

  • Touchscreen panel
  • Fast and long-lasting USB charge
  • Available in a wide range of colors
  • Fast cooling time

Cons

  • Over $50
  • Sleek design lacks durability
  • Small fuel control wheel
  • If the battery runs out, this lighter is useless
  • Fuel Type: Purified butane gas
  • Ignition/Flame Configuration: Electric ignition/focused triple torch flame

The Vector Icon II is easily the most interestingly designed lighters tested. It is sought after for its one-of-a-kind touch screen and smooth, obsidian feel. It looks like a gemstone when sitting inside your at-home humidor. The touchscreen panel puts this lighter on the more fragile side of items on this list.

a person holding a lighter
Use this hot lighter with wide gauge cigars.
Danny Martinez

But the remaining all-metal body gives it a weight that keeps it secure on the table. The Icon II’s three torches pitch to the center, creating a focused funnel of heat like a laser. This hot flame is best suited for wide gauge cigars like robustos, gordos, and Churchills.

Best Soft Flame Cigar Lighter

Pros

  • Easy to use roller bar flint starter
  • Large fuel control wheel
  • Large fuel window
  • Runner up for Best Upgrade Cigar Lighter

Cons

  • Over $100
  • Heavy and bulky. Best for home, not travel
  • Soft flame’s heat is harder to control than a torch’s
  • Fuel Type: Purified butane gas
  • Ignition/Flame Configuration: Flint ignition/soft flame

Most of the selections on this list are torches. So, it was important to take a moment to highlight a soft flame lighter for those who opt for a slower, cooler start to their stogies. XiKAR is an iconic maker of cigar accessories. As far as the U.S. Patent Office is concerned, that is not an opinion. It’s a certifiable fact.

They awarded XiKAR’s Xi cutter with a copyright that forbids duplication– indefinitely. All of their products are magnificently designed, and their soft flame butane lighters are some of the coolest I have found. The Meridian walks the line of stylish and functional with a Draper-esque gusto. As a regular smoker, this item is top on my holiday wish list.

Best Electric Cigar Lighter

Pros

  • Water Resistant
  • Wind Resistant
  • Rugged, with a built-in flashlight
  • 1-3 Hours to fully charge. Very fast
  • Great value for under $50

Cons

  • Not as hot as a torch or soft flame
  • 10 second safety time-out
  • Only two color options are available
  • Many imitators on the market
  • Fuel Type: Electric/USB charge
  • Ignition/Flame Configuration: Push button/dual electric arc

If you are on the market for an electric cigar lighter, odds are you are taking it outdoors. That is a large reason the Frog and Co. Tough Tesla 2.0 won our Best Electric Cigar. Full disclosure: it would have won anyway. The reliable, four-prong electric arc generates an impressive amount of heat for an electric lighter. If you are going to light a lancero or panetela this is a magnificent heat source.

The fire generated from the clean electric arc roasts the foot of the cigar with no carbon burn-off. The resulting first drag is a pristine stream of smoke that is 100-percent smooth tobacco flavor. The tough design and the durability of the arc, actually being able to run underwater, made this a must-have for any enthusiast who likes to take their stogies camping with them.

Best Compact Cigar Lighter

Pros

  • Oversized fuel tank
  • All-metal body and frame
  • Lifetime warranty
  • Dynamic fuel adjustment wheel

Cons

  • Over $50
  • Narrow fuel window
  • Pull cap is known to misfire
  • Slow to cool after use
  • Fuel Type: Purified butane gas
  • Ignition/Flame Configuration: Pull cap ignition/wide dual torch flame

The design of the Turrim model of cylindrical torch lighters is absolutely brilliant. Made the same size as most luxury cigars, this unique and powerful lighter fits any travel case, taking up minimal room and providing maximum style. Turrims are highly sought-after lighters for enthusiasts on the go. It has the weight and build of a tabletop lighter, but it fits easily in your pocket.

New smokers might lean toward the single torch model of the Turrim line. For the price and the control of the heat, that is not a bad choice. But for the experienced BOTL/SOTLs lighting their wider gauge coronas and grandes, the dual torch offers a wider and hotter heat point.

Best Cigar Lighter with a Cutter

Pros

  • Sturdy construction
  • Sharp V-Cut Attachment
  • Durability that punches far above its price point
  • Many colors to choose from

Cons

  • Too much heat for smaller gauge and petite sticks
  • Small fuel adjustment wheel
  • Small fuel tank
  • Over $50
  • Fuel Type: Purified butane gas
  • Ignition/Flame Configuration: Triple action pull button ignition/triple pinpoint torch flame

Lotus brand lighters are among the easiest to find in the US. Most shop owners love them because there are rarely any returns. On the whole, Lotus is known for building no-frills, tough-as-nails, well-engineered torches that never fall apart. The Duke V is no different. The Duke V is a bit heavy for the size. But its narrow, compact design makes it easy to fit in your pocket or a travel case.

a person holding a cell phone
Lotus lighters are loved by shop owners and cigar lovers equally.
Danny Martinez

The design and simplicity of this touch give it a shelf life that far outpaces its price point. The Duke V is a prime choice for the cigar fan who is looking for a steadfast placeholder before dropping some coin on a big upgrade.

Best Tabletop Cigar Lighter

Pros

  • Punch Plate attachment with 3 sizes
  • Wide array of color options
  • Elegant and decorative design
  • Oversized fuel tank

Cons

  • Over $100
  • Small fuel control valve. Set it and forget it
  • Slow cool down after use
  • Fuel Type: Triple filtered butane gas
  • Ignition/Flame Configuration: Push button ignition/wide quad torch flame

It feels like most tabletop cigar lighters look like avant-garde art pieces or repurposed tea kettles. That’s why I absolutely love the design of the Quadpump by Vector. It has the look and feel of an old-timey welder, wrapped in a sleek metallic skin available in a number of color options.

The weight and base of this table torch make it a secure table dressing and an eye-catching accessory for any smoker’s lounge. If you are tired of the flimsy designs of the more popular table torches, this is a magnificent upgrade from a company with a reputation for quality.

Best Luxury Cigar Lighter

Pros

  • Flawless build
  • Vintage design
  • Large fuel control wheel
  • Windscreen flame shaft for better outdoor use

Cons

  • Small
  • At best, over $500
  • Many imitators — don’t get swindled. Buy directly or from a vendor you trust
  • Fuel Type: Purified butane gas (high quality only)
  • Flame Configuration: Flint tube ignition/single torch flame

Dunhill is the absolute pinnacle in British fashion and design. For nearly one hundred fifty years, the house of Dunhill has remained at the forefront of status and class by adhering to a steadfast dedication to craftsmanship. Opening a box of these lighters is like opening a box to an engagement ring. They are stunning. The Dunhill Turbo is built to precision in Switzerland and is available in two color options. But, a number of high fashion designers have their own unique covers and skin plating available (at auction).

The flame produced from this magnificent machine’s single torch matches that of the dual and triple torch of lesser models, using up more butane than they do in the process. However, the oversized fuel tank will keep you from needing a refill too often.

Cigar Lighters 101

Soft Flame: Slow and Low

This refers to a soft yellow and orange flame, like those found on a classic Bic lighter. It usually burns between 1300-1500 °F.

Pros:

  • Easy to control indoors
  • Slowly toasts the end of the cigar
  • Associated with a better flavor experience.
  • Highly accessible. If you don’t have the $150 for a XiKAR Meridian, you can substitute it with a Bic or…
    • Matches: Great soft flame lighting sources. Just be prepared to use several in the process. Let the sulfur burn out upon ignition. Otherwise, the taste of a freshly struck match will permeate throughout the cigar.
    • Spills: Thin strips of wood, like cherry or cedar wood, you light first and then take to your cigar. Adds a desirable flavor to a cigar. Especially delicious when paired with Connecticut Shade cigars. However, the long, thin ash created can be a nuisance and has been known to ruin a three-piece suit.

    Cons:

    • Easily blown out by the wind
    • Lower heat takes more time to light the bullet completely
    • Burn can be uneven, leading the cigar to “canoe”
    • Do not use a traditional Zippo
      • The petroleum distillate blend that fuels a standard flint-and-wick Zippo has a powerful flavor. It will ruin your cigar irrevocably, filling it with the taste of gasoline.

      Torch Flame: Clean and Efficient

      These are pointed blue flames, like those found on a welder’s torch. They are much hotter and burn between 2200-2700°F.

      Pros: