If you don't want to mess with the old-fashioned Flint replacement, weekly refilling of liquid fuel, and changing and trimming a wick, this is your answer. The butane is ignited by a spark that you generate yourself by pushing a button, no batteries required. It is made beautifully, and fits perfectly in your ZIPPO case. And the butane does not evaporate like the liquid fuel does, so it can wait for years for you to use it, unlike the liquid fuel which evaporates within a few days to a week. Also, there are no flints to replace. It lights every time, and you can adjust the flame to your height. And, like the old-fashioned ZIPPO, it is indeed windproof. The perfect lighter in your favorite old case. I'm ordering two more for my friends as gifts. Read more
Dude when these guys design something they knock it out of the park. I buy the Zippo I want, and then I put one of these bad boys in it, and the Zippo is made in the USA, and the butane insert is made in China at the factory in China. So I am still carrying and holding a US lighter lol I do what i can they don’t make these here and they are aweosome. So well designed and engineered and honestly manufactured. The finish on these is impeccable and surprisingly durable. Dang do these things work good as intended I am a pyro and an outdoors type primitive camper and primitive woodsman history enthusiast, I use propane heaters and the like, I burn wood, I burn various fire pits, charcoal grills, I smoke, I like to start random little fires whenever there is an excuse anywhere that it’s appropriate, and I have always loved lighters. I have spent so many hours debating the relative merits of Bic vs Cricket vs Clipper vs etc etc., debating various types of fuels/combustion methods including DISSIM, torch/jet, plasma arc, petroleum/lighter fluid (classic zippo), tsubota pearl, various different ignition sources such as piezo or steel and ferrocerium (“flint”), combustion catalytic conversion hand warmers with built in lighters etc etc. These are really good lighters. Zippos are already so solid and proven and they kicked it out of the park with the butane inserts imo. Doggone Zippo still killing it after all these years. Wish i had my original USS Decatur - DDG 73 - Zippo that I bought in the ship’s store onboard when I was a young recruit in the 1990s and I was serving on the Decatur when she was commissioned. I bought it before she was commissioned, after she was christened but not commissioned yet and she was still going through Bravo trials in Bath Maine before sailing to Portland Oregon for the christening ceremony. That lighter was beautiful and I am sad to this day the box was lost in a move that had this lighter in it. Grrr/uggghhhhh. Oh well. That’s life! Read more
Great insert with a solid useable flame. Seems to be durable and of high quality. Fitment is perfect in a standard Zippo case. Only downside is that it seems to have a relatively low butane capacity, so it doesn't last too long. Works great though! Read more
It works good but the flame is pretty big and it doesn't always light on the first try. I also think the button is a bit small. I would prefer if it worked liked the original and the gas came on when it's opened. The flame size is not adjustable. Read more
Like most cigar smokers, I suppose, I use a torch lighter most of the time out of sheer convenience and wind-resistance (and where I live, in South Texas, wind is an almost ever-present feature). However, it’s very easy to scorch a cigar with such a hot flame, imparting a change to the taste. For that reason, I find a soft flame lighter to be preferable. Problem is, standard lighter fluid can also impart a bad taste. This little insert is the best of both worlds. It lights a cigar evenly and quickly, without charring, and with no taste of lighter fluid. I like the heft of a metal Zippo and it just feels and looks classy. However, like any soft flame, it’s useless in even a slight breeze. Because of that, I’ll light up indoors and then head out to the porch (since smoking is verboten in the house, per domestic management) or just bring it out on a calm day. I’ve only been using it for a few weeks,, so tough to assess long-term reliability, but I use good butane so I’m hopeful it’ll hold up. I’ll revise my rating accordingly if necessary. So far, it’s great. Update 4/26/25: Still works great. A top-off with butane lasts a good while, and my example doesn’t have a crazy-tall flame like some reviewers report. Bonus: unlike torch lighters, you can take this through TSA checkpoints at the airport the same as a standard Zippo. I’m very happy with it. Read more
