Online: www.REI.com
URL for this product:

From the U.S. and Canada — Call 1-800-426-4840
Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT.
International — Call 1-253-891-2500
Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT. English language only.

ORANGE

Windmill Classic Stormproof Lighter

$45.00

(21)

Item # 783689

REI Members get back an estimated $ 4.50 on this item as part of their annual member refund.

The REI Member Dividend

The REI dividend is a unique benefit of membership in the REI co-op. It's comprised of your member refund—typically 10% back on eligible purchases—and/or your REI Visa® card rebates.

Each March, active REI members and REI Visa cardholders who earned a rebate receive a refund in the form of an annual dividend notice.

Only active members receive annual dividend notices. To maintain your active status as an REI member, you need to make net merchandise or shipping purchases of at least $10 per year, unless you joined that year. Member numbers are issued in one name and only that person receives the member refund. Your number can be used by others in your family, but it cannot be transferred to someone else.

Questions? Call us at 1-800-426-4840 for more about your dividend or its redemption.

Learn more

This item may be available in your local REI store.

FREE U.S. STANDARD SHIPPING Through February 20. No minimum purchase! Learn more

More videos

To view videos or use the zoom feature on REI's websites, please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player.

NOW PLAYING

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
Not designed for use above 8,000 ft. in elevation; when using at elevation, adjust flame setting to lean and keep fuel tank full; store in temperatures above 35°F
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
Please note: Windmill Classic Stormproof lighter ships without butane gas

Imported.

Item 783689

View all Windmill products

REI Membership

REI Membership $20.00

Windmill Classic Stormproof Lighter Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Windmill Classic Stormproof Lighter

2.2

(based on 21 reviews)

29%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Compact (10)
Lightweight (10)
Easy to use (8)
Functional (5)

Cons

Doesn't work (9)
Pricey / poor value (6)

Best Uses

Backcountry camping (8)
Winter (6)
Camping (5)
Day trip (4)
River (4)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid adventurer (9), Outdoor professional (5)
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Survivalist / minimalist (13)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (8)

Reviewed by 21 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-10

Previous | Next »

Feb

2009

(8 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

broken easily

By frog

from Danbury N.C.

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

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.

Jan

2009

(5 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

You get what you pay for

By Danlab

from Sparks, Nevada

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

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.

Dec

2009

(4 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

2.0

Overpriced, but still working...

By CML51

from now in Sudbury, Ontario

See all my reviews

Comments about Windmill Classic Stormproof Lighter:

I have had mine for 10 years. It stopped working at one stage, but I took it apart (being careful to keep track where things went!), fixed the switch, and reassembled it. It now works like new. It is overpriced, gets very hot if you use it for anything except lighting a cigar, and does not have a flame (making it less useful than you might think for lighting fires), BUT it is very light and for the most part very reliable.

Mar

2009

(4 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Ten years later.

By Mister Owl

from Los Angeles, CA, USA

About Me Outdoor Professional

See all my reviews

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

Feb

2009

(4 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

2.0

Carry a bic.

By shadygr8dy

from Pine Barrens, NJ

About Me Outdoor Professional

See all my reviews

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

Jan

2011

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Not Reliable

By Free State

from Chicago

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Cons

C'MON ARGH
Expensive
Ineffective
Unreliable

Best Uses

Warming a pancake

Comments about Windmill Classic Stormproof Lighter:

When new, this lighter was awesome. I read a review from an Army guy that he could solder with this in a pinch. It's seriously nice... Until I needed to light a fire while winter camping and all of a sudden it's just going to glow and not really have a flame. ARGH. and my buddy is making fun of me as we are shivering. luckily he brought matches. And I had barley ever used it and treated it well. I took it home and adjusted and messed with it and warmed it up... it just stopped getting hot. the coil glowed but I could hold my hand a half inch above it for a whole minute. You are better off with REI storm proof matches and a back up flint. This is the SECOND expensive lighter I have returned to REI. I'm done.

Mar

2009

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Spend your money ElseWhere

By Walldiver7

from New Mexico

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

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.

Nov

2011

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

Great until it isn't

By gottagetout

from Arlington, VA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Easy to Use
Lightweight

Cons

Ineffective

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Day Trips
Winter Camping

Comments about Windmill Classic Stormproof Lighter:

I bought one of theses a couple of years back. It was great out of the package and lasted about a whole season of hiking an canoeing trips. This lighter has two design flaws though. The catalyzer coil can fall our of the top of the lighter, making it harder to ignite. The hinge point for the lid is a bit on the thin side. I dropped it out of my pack (about 3 feet) onto dirt and the lid broke off. Great gadget, but a bit brittle.

Jun

2011

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Best, most reliable lighter

By mhoram

from Chandler, AZ

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Easy to Use
Functional
Lightweight
Reliable

Cons

Expensive
Latch breaks

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Cold temperatures
High altitude
Survival
Trips
Winter Camping

Comments about Windmill Classic Stormproof Lighter:

The Windmill lighter is a piece of kit that I never leave at home. It is part of my EDC (Every Day Carry). It has proven itself in all conditions, all temperatures and at all altitudes that I care to be in.[...] I have used their support four times in the last five years, the most recent last month. They remain consistently one of the best I have dealt with.

Feb

2009

(2 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Poor quality very dissapointed

By harrydirtdigger

from Vancouver

See all my reviews

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. [...]