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Windmill Classic Stormproof Lighter
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Windmill Classic Stormproof Lighter

Item # 783689

$45.00

Item qualifies for annual
REI Member Refund (typically 10%)

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Stop struggling with wet matches and cheap disposable lighters and experience the stormproof performance of the Windmill Classic lighter.

  • Catalyzer coil provides a powerful flame that can withstand 70 - 80 mile per hour winds; lighter burns a clean, hot flame at 2,000°F
  • Flame Indicator Window located on the side of the combustion chamber glows when lighter is ignited
  • Reliable piezoelectric ignition system delivers over 30,000 ignitions
  • O-ring seals keep water out when cap is closed
  • Refills easily with premium butane gas, sold separately; visually monitor fuel level with the Fuel Level Indicator located on the narrow side of the lighter
  • Not designed for use above 8,000 ft. in elevation
  • Please note: Unit ships without butane gas

Imported.

Item 783689

Windmill Classic Stormproof Lighter Specs

Specification

Description

Weight1.1 ounce
Dimensions2 x 1.75 x 0.6 inches
MaterialPolycarbonate

Windmill Classic Stormproof Lighter Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Windmill Classic Stormproof Lighter
 
2.1

(based on 9 reviews)

22%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Compact (5)
  • Lightweight (5)
  • Easy to use (3)

Cons

  • Ineffective (6)

Best Uses

  • Backcountry camping (4)
  • Campgrounds (3)
  • River (3)
  • Winter camping (3)
  • Reviewer Profile:
  • Avid adventurer (3), Outdoor professional (3)
  • What Is Your Gear Style:
  • Minimalist (5)

Reviewed by 9 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-9

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Feb

11

2009

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

 
1.0

broken easily

By frog

from Danbury N C

About Me Avid Adventurer

Site Member

Pros

    Cons

    • Ineffective

    Best Uses

      Comments about Windmill Classic Stormproof Lighter:

      When this lighter worked it worked o k The coil that provides the fire broke with in one month and the latch that holds the top shut broke with in two weeks.

      • Gift:
      • No
      • What Is Your Gear Style:
      • Comfort Driven

      Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

      (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

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      Mar

      18

      2009

      (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

       
      5.0

      Ten years later.

      By Mister Owl

      from Los Angeles, CA, USA

      About Me Outdoor Professional

      Site Member

      Pros

      • Compact
      • Easy to Use
      • Functional
      • Lightweight

      Cons

      • Expensive

      Best Uses

        Comments about Windmill Classic Stormproof Lighter:

        I've had one of these for over ten years now and it's still working. The first three of those years I was an avid cigarette smoker and this lighter saw frequent and regular use. In truth, I've always been surprised I haven't lost it yet. Oh yeah, I've long since stopped smoking, thank you for asking.

        To counterpoint a couple of the critisms that have been offered I have the following to say. Yes, the hinge does appear weak given that it is made of plastic. However, unless you are doing wild, Zippo tricks it is ample. Granted, I also was never one to let the snap open. Same thing applies to the clip that holds the top closed. Mine is still going strong, but again, I don't snap it close. With regards to the catalyzing coil, I have a hard time imagining it failing short of a manufacturer's defect. You aren't supposed to put your cigarette up against it like one does with a car's cigarette lighter. I will admit that when the wind is strong enough to blow out the flame leaving the coil still glowing it would be difficult to light a latern, stove or the like. However, a disposable lighter, firesteel or matches would prove to equally useless. You'll still be able to like your smoke though.

        Perhaps the quality has declined over the years, but I did want to point out that I know of at lease one Windmill Classic that is over a decade old. YMMV

        • Gift:
        • No
        • What Is Your Gear Style:
        • Comfort Driven

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

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        Feb

        27

        2009

        (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

         
        2.0

        Carry a bic.

        By shadygr8dy

        from Pine Barrens, NJ

        About Me Outdoor Professional

        Pros

        • Compact
        • Easy to Use
        • Lightweight

        Cons

        • Expensive
        • Ineffective

        Best Uses

        • Backcountry Camping
        • Campgrounds
        • None anymore
        • River
        • Winter Camping

        Comments about Windmill Classic Stormproof Lighter:

        This thing worked great for two months. It decided not to light anymore out one January evening in an ice storm. It sparked, glowed orange but wouldn't ignite a kerosene soaked cotton ball!

        You can buy 90 disposable lighters at the dollar store for the price of this. Buy a magnesium fire starter and sweedish steel you'll be ahead financially, and they won't let you down when you need it. Spend your money on some other gadget

        • Gift:
        • Yes
        • What Is Your Gear Style:
        • Minimalist

        Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

        (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

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        Jan

        14

        2009

        (2 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

         
        5.0

        You get what you pay for

        By Danlab

        from Reno, NV

        About Me Avid Adventurer

        Pros

        • Compact
        • Easy to Use
        • Functional
        • Lights first time
        • Lightweight

        Cons

        • Cost
        • Fuel capacity

        Best Uses

        • Backcountry Camping
        • Campgrounds
        • Day Trips
        • River
        • Survival
        • Trips
        • Winter Camping

        Comments about Windmill Classic Stormproof Lighter:

        Picked this up a few weeks back and have hardly left home without it.

        At first I felt that it was a little bit overpriced (considering you can get a disposable lighter for 85 cents) but soon realized that the functionality, durability, and ease of use outweigh the price by far.

        While the fuel capacity is nothing to brag about, there is enough fuel to last for a couple of minutes of burn time, and is still the best lighter I have ever used.

        It lights the first try 99% of the time

        Overall, the quality of the lighter far outweighs the price and this is by far the best lighter I have ever used.

        • Gift:
        • No
        • What Is Your Gear Style:
        • Minimalist

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        (2 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

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        Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

        Mar

        27

        2009

        (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

         
        1.0

        Spend your money ElseWhere

        By Walldiver7

        from New Mexico

        About Me Avid Adventurer

        Pros

          Cons

          • Ineffective

          Best Uses

            Comments about Windmill Classic Stormproof Lighter:

            I bought two of these a few years back from a peg in [...]. It was the very same lighter.... for around [$] if my memory serves. My son's lasted him a few months before quitting and mine lasted me about a year. I wouldn't recommend these to anyone! Now we just buy packages of Bic lighters.

            • Gift:
            • No
            • What Is Your Gear Style:
            • Minimalist

            Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

            (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

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            Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

            Feb

            28

            2009

            (1 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

             
            1.0

            Poor quality very dissapointed

            By harrydirtdigger

            from Vancouver

            Pros

              Cons

                Best Uses

                  Comments about Windmill Classic Stormproof Lighter:

                  The hinge and clip are very weak. Thats what happened to mine as the guy above the good review ?????Must work for windmill lolAnyway yeah the clip is plastic and gives up easy then because it kept coming undone the hinge broke soon after. [...]

                  • Gift:
                  • No

                  Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

                  (1 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

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                  Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

                  Nov

                  8

                  2009

                   
                  1.0

                  Does it need to be storming to work?

                  By smokeater

                  from Granite Bay

                  About Me Outdoor Professional

                  Site Member

                  Pros

                  • Compact
                  • Lightweight

                  Cons

                  • Ineffective

                  Best Uses

                  • Backcountry Camping
                  • Campgrounds
                  • Day Trips
                  • River
                  • Winter Camping

                  Comments about Windmill Classic Stormproof Lighter:

                  Whgen it works, it works great. But if you really need it I would not depend on it actually functioning. I have had this lighter for approx. two weeks and have used it in the field once when it failed to operate. Checked it when I got home and found that either the fuel had leaked out or I had failed to fill it completely. Giving it the benefit of the doubt I filled it up and so far it has failed to ignite about 90% of the time. I am returning it ASAP.

                  • Gift:
                  • No

                  Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

                  Was this review helpful? Yes / No

                   - You may also flag this review

                  Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

                  Sep

                  30

                  2009

                   
                  1.0

                  Not dependable

                  By Oni

                  from NY

                  About Me Casual Adventurer

                  Site Member

                  Pros

                    Cons

                    • Ineffective

                    Best Uses

                      Comments about Windmill Classic Stormproof Lighter:

                      Worked well for a few trips, now works sporadically. I have had it for 7 years and I have treated it well. It still looks new. It just doesn't light dependably.

                      • Gift:
                      • No
                      • What Is Your Gear Style:
                      • Minimalist

                      Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

                      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

                       - You may also flag this review

                      Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

                      Jul

                      22

                      2009

                      (0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                       
                      2.0

                      Unimpressed

                      By Kev

                      from Conshohocken, PA

                      About Me Casual Adventurer

                      Pros

                      • Compact
                      • Lightweight

                      Cons

                      • Ineffective

                      Best Uses

                      • Backcountry Camping

                      Comments about Windmill Classic Stormproof Lighter:

                      I was ready to be wowed by this [$] lighter. In fact, I don't think it produced ANY flame the first time I took it out for use on the trail(yes I put butane in it). The coil thing glowed but that is the only thing I am sure about. Thankfully I had my Sparkie fire starter with me.After I got home I started playing with it in a dark room so I would be sure to see any flame. I discovered that a flame would appear for a split second then disappear - what the lighter was doing was blowing itself out! I adjusted the flame height, which is a little tricky, need to have a very small and stout Philips head screwdriver, about what you would need for eyeglass frame screws. I discovered if you turn the flame height screw all the way down to minimum a flame will not blow itself out. However, for [$], I expect more. My wind resistant grill lighter cost me about $10 and it worked the first time I used it.

                      • Gift:
                      • No
                      • What Is Your Gear Style:
                      • Minimalist

                      Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

                      (0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

                       - You may also flag this review

                      Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

                      Displaying reviews 1-9

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