Top 5 outdoor lighters

Two things: the flame and the opening. An outdoor lighter has a jet flame, gas under high pressure that comes out as a small blowtorch flame and doesn't move with the wind.

And it has a cap or a lid, because sand and fluff in the opening is the most common reason a lighter gives up outdoors. Everything made for that is under outdoor lighters.

The best all-rounder is the PyroTorch Quattro at 9.95 euros: four flames side by side and an on/off lock, so it can't just switch on in your pocket. If you want two, the Twin Lighter Set holds a long one and a compact one: one for the stove and one for your pocket.

Wind isn't something you need to worry about with a jetflame. That flame burns under pressure and stays steady no matter how much it blows around you. That's exactly why people never go back to an ordinary lighter once they've used one with a jetflame outdoors.

The real problem is dirt. A lighter loose in your coat pocket fills up with fluff, and one in a beach bag fills with sand. As soon as something gets into the valve, it burns unevenly or not at all.

That's why all five in this list have something that seals the opening: a slide cap on the 5x Prof Slidecap, and a flap that closes automatically on the Atomic Bullet.

They're all refillable. Outdoors that's not a luxury but a necessity: you use one of these far more often than a lighter sitting in the kitchen drawer. Check out refillable lighters for the full range.

Where you keep it

Start with where you keep it. If it goes in your trouser pocket, you'll want a flap or a lock; otherwise it can switch on while you're walking and the gas is gone before you need it.

If it stays in a bag or a box, the seal matters less and how strong the flame is counts for more.

Number of flames

Next, look at the number of flames. One jetflame is enough to light a barbecue, a campfire or a gas burner. More flames make the flame wider, which helps with a broad surface like a charcoal briquette or a firelighter. They don't get any hotter.

How many you need

And think about quantity. Outdoors you lose lighters far more often than indoors. A set of five like the Prof Jet or the slide cap pack costs almost nothing per piece, so it doesn't matter if one ends up left in the grass.

Which gas to use

Refill with high-pressure butane gas, usually 45 PSI. Universal lighter gas has too little pressure for a jetflame and gives a flame that keeps cutting out. See which canisters fit at lighter gas.

Sand and fluff

If it stops working after a day at the beach or in the woods, don't throw it away straight away. Nine times out of ten there's sand or fluff in the valve. Blow the opening clean with compressed air, let the gas escape for a few seconds and then refill it. Usually that's enough.

In the cold

Butane performs worse in the cold, as the gas doesn't vaporise as well below ten degrees. Keep it in your hand or inside pocket for a bit before using it. Flying with a jetflame? Read can you take a lighter on a plane first.

If you want one that can do everything, take the PyroTorch Quattro: four flames, a lock and at 9.95 euros you're set. If you'd rather have two at home, one long and one for your pocket, the Twin Lighter Set is the smartest buy on the list.

The other three you choose by price and quantity. Outdoors you lose them, and then a set of five is a wiser starting point than one expensive one.