How do you light your bowl?

[bluenoser]

Currently I just use one of those long bbq lighters with the flexible end but thinking about getting something different for lighting my pipe. Looking to keep it cheaper, thinking either a pipe insert for my zippo (or more likely a new pipe zippo) or getting one of those cheap butane lighters with the pipe tool built in the side. I use matches through the winter as the butane bbq lighter doesn't work well in the cold, assuming any butane will be the same. My cigar lighter is the same in the cold. Yet I get frustrated with the frequency of needed refills of a zippo. Would like something a little nicer than a bbq lighter but can't decide what I want.

What do you guys use?

[Emperor Zurg]

Regular zippo or kitchen matches here

[Scott W.]

Zippo , matches, bic. Anything but a torch

[CentralTimeSmoke]

I’m curious as an aspiring pipe smoker—doesn’t Zippo fluid alter the taste? That’s always been a no-no for cigars.

[bluenoser]

I used to use my zippo for cigars until I got my first torch. I found you might get a slight "off" taste off the first couple puffs but once its burning on its own (no longer sucking exhaust fumes out of the lighter) my ever so humble palate couldn't notice anything. I assume a pipe zippo would be the same.

[Emperor Zurg]

I’m curious as an aspiring pipe smoker—doesn’t Zippo fluid alter the taste? That’s always been a no-no for cigars.

Not really. Maybe just a touch as you are lighting but even that is gone as soon as you take the flame away. I light every cigar with a regular zippo too. Half the time or more I don't even use Zippo fluid. I just fill it with Coleman fuel. Coleman fuel seems to dry up quicker than actual Zippo fluid but it's cheaper and usually handy so I use it anyway.

[Brimy]

Usually matches for me, but I just picked up a vertigo "pipe lighter".

[Cool Breeze]

I’m curious as an aspiring pipe smoker—doesn’t Zippo fluid alter the taste? That’s always been a no-no for cigars.

There are things you can do to avoid it.
1. Don't overfill your Zippo. If you overfill and the wick gets completely saturated, you're going to get the fuel taste. Every time. I probably only fill mine halfway on average.
2. Let it burn for 3-4 seconds before lighting.

I have found if you do these 2 things, you get little if any taste of the fluid.

I use pretty much anything on hand other than a torch.
Matches, Zippo (the pipe specific one), Bic. Heck I even have a bonafied pipe lighter that rarely gets used. lol

[Bruck]

Bic or wooden matches.

Mrs. Bruck once got me a fancy pipe lighter which was absolutely excellent for a couple months then it quit, like all expensive lighters I've ever had.

[bluenoser]

I think I'm leaning towards a zippo with a pipe insert. Don't want anything to expensive or fancy, just like the angled flame for a relight half way down. Saw some nice looking butane pipe lighters (soft flame) with the built in pipe tools but they were cheap Chinese and I assume would be more headache than worth.