I don't smoke, so it's unlikely I'd carry one. I have brought a small magnifying glass with me, and it earned its keep.

I carry several Bick lighters when in the outdoors, Zippos leak fluid occasionally which has a smell most game can easily detect.In my experience Zippos are usually empty or low on fuel anytime you need em.

I would only bring a zippo with plenty of extra fluid. I figure I would probably be tempted to use the fluid as a fire starter. I would be more likely to bring windproof-waterproof matches in a waterproof container and a couple mini bic lighters. There's also a few field methods that, depending on experience, you could use in a tight spot. Also consider what you would use for kindling. If you're caught in the rain, you need something dry. If you click through the survival links on Field and Stream's site, you should be able to find the survival kit in an altoids can. I might not go with that exact kit, but it brings up a lot of good ideas.

I always carry a plastic lighter because its cheaper. Zippo style lighters I have owned were leaky sometimes but they were cheap ripoffs.

I'm not so sure that I would rub two boy scouts together... some might get offended or start cracking Michael Jackson jokes... but I do like the dryer lint idea. that stuff is pure kindling edge, so it would go up quick. And if you can get ahold of a couple ounces of C4, that would work pretty well too. most people don't realize, C4 actually burns quite well, and won't explode unless you put it under pressure... so just light it and don't shoot it... if you manage to get ahold of some in the first place. I understand the government doesn't like the average person to have stuff like that!

Just don't forget to periodically replace those Zippo flints. Cheaper and more dependable to just flick your Bic.

Bic lighters are the safest and easiest. Keep them in different places, like pants, belt, pack, car, etc.

You don't have to worry about running out, because one will last months. Even if torn in half, they are still great spark producers, with a very long flint. (Has anyone ever run a flint out before the gas?)

Since the Marines teach this item in cold weather survival, I accept it as fact.

i like to carry a couple bic lighters in someting waterproof as well as a magnesium fire starter(coghlans makes a good one that is pretty cheap)

Carry a bic, if the cotton in a zippo gets wet it won't dry out.

I went camping two nights ago. I was above 5,000 feet in Va., with between a foot and a foot and a half of snow in most places, depending on drift.

I used a little newspaper, a cotton ball swabbed with petroleum jelly and a mini bic. I also scrounged some carboard and aluminum foil to keep the fire off of the snow.

I also had strike-anywhere and conventional matches in a variety of waterproof containers stashed throughout my pack.

I also used lighter fluid to stack the deck.

Everything worked great, and I had a lovely hot dinner before hitting the sack, which turned out to be a wet, windy, lumpy experience.

I have noticed that my swabbed cotton balls are starting to dry out, even in their zip-lock bag. I'll have to use them up around the house, and make a few new ones.

I carry a Zippo in my pocket, a ferro rod on my knife sheath [www.hedgehogletherworks.com], a magnesium/ferro rod set, pro-force matches [storm matches], and different tinder items [Wet-fire cubes, jute twin, petroleum jelly cotton balls]

But like the others have said the Zippo does dry out, I live in AZ and it drys out just about every week, so I have to fill it up before hitting any trails or it won't work.

i always carry a bic lighter they are cheap yet reliable

i prefer zippos in windy conditions they stay lit longer

a Bic lighter and a small bottle of Purell hand sanitizer. The hand sanitizer burns and is great for starting a quick fire.