Review on Clear Xikar Stratosphere II High Altitude Lighter: Single Jet Flame, Windproof, Ergonomic Design For Durability And Dependability by Mufti Capers

And we're talking about the relatively moderate heights of North Carolina's Appalachian range. I live in Greensboro, but I carried this lighter to my family home in Boone, NC, in the heart of the Blue Ridge mountains, and it simply wouldn't work. When I could get it to light, it wouldn't fire well, but that was only when I could get it to fire. Evidently, piezo-electric lighters are difficult to light and operate at altitude. I had hoped that the Xikar Stratosphere would handle the mountains of NC--we're talking only around 3300 feet--but it won't, and that's after I bled the tank and refilled it at altitude. Still, sub-spotty performance. I give the lighter four stars, though, for amazing, superior performance near sea level, or the relatively low altitude of the NC Triad/Greensboro area. I don't think the problem is the lighter's fault; it would seem to be the nature of the science involved. When I spend more time in Boone this summer, I can see if the lighter acclimates accordingly, but since I bled it and refilled it, I doubt that the pressure's the problem. It's probably more the altitude and the piezo effect. Get a Bic for serious altitude--reliable and much cheaper--and enjoy the super performance of the Xikar at lower 'tudes. I'll update this review if the performance of the lighter improves over the summer.