I have been camping for several years. I had limited chances as a child but have been camping a lot the past 20 years. I love backpacking and consider myself moderately equipped although I can never have enough gear. I want to spend more time winter camping. I typically carry 25 - 45 pounds (~11 - 20 kg). I generally use a tent for shelter. I generally hike in the woods and rolling hills of Indiana.

INITIAL REPORT

PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS

Manufacturer: Essential Gear
Year of Manufacture: 2009
Manufacturer's Website: Essential Gear
MSRP: US $55.00
Listed Weight: 2.5 oz (71 g) on website, 2 oz (57 g) on package
Measured Weight: 2.5 oz (71 g)
Listed Length: 3.7 in (9.4 cm) same on both the website and the package
Listed Diameter: 1.2 in (3.05 cm) on website,1.5 in (3.8 cm) on package
Measured length and diameter are consistent with measurements listed on the website.
Wrist lanyard is a piece of cord 19.5 in (50 cm) long that loops through the case and has a locking device to hold the two ends and a cord lock to adjust the size of the loop.
Colors available: Blaze Orange (tested), Matte Black, Clear, Smoke Black and Smoke Green

From the website:
The TREKKER has all the standard features of the Windmill Stormproof Lighters, Plus

Extra Large Fuel tank
Over 1,000 ignitions on a single fill
Easy grip rubberized case
Includes wrist lanyard
Fuel capacity of 4 grams
Standard Windmill Lighter Features include:

Catalyzer coil provides ultimate windproof flame
Withstands winds of 70-80 miles per hour
Burns with clean hot flame at 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit
Flame Indicator Window located on side of combustion chamber glows when lighter is ignited
Fuel Level Indicator visually reveals fuel level
Piezo-Electric Ignition System eliminates need for batteries or flints, which fail when wet.
Piezo-electric system permits easy, one-handed operation good for over 30,000 ignitions.
Water Resistant O-Ring Seals keep water out when lighter cap is closed

The packaging and the website are inconsistent in their weight and size descriptions. Perhaps the packaging can be modified to be more accurate. I believe that the website is accurate from my own measurements.

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

The Trekker came packaged in a plastic clamshell which included a folded piece of heavy paper that lists features and specifications on the outside and when opened it reveals instructions. Also received with the Trekker was a can of fuel. This is a 3.38 fl oz (100 ml) container of pressurized butane that says it is "quadruple refined".

The insert in the package reads "WATER RESISTANT 5 O-ring seals keep out when cap is closed" This reads a little strange to me. I think they meant "keep *water* out". Although this appears to claim there are five O-rings, I can only see one where the cap meets the body of the lighter.

Filling the lighter was quite simple. I simply inverted the lighter and inserted the tip of the butane canister into the fill valve on the lighter and depressed the tip until the lighter was filled. Looking through the window on the side of the lighter can check this.

The lighter is enclosed in a somewhat soft textured case. The top is hinged and is held closed by both a stainless steel wire catch and a small catch that is spring loaded. When the button is depressed (with the wire catch released) the lid pops open via a spring loaded hinge. I fear this hinge could be a potential weakness because it appears to just be plastic and does not feel very sturdy to me. Once open all I need to do is depress the "ignition lever" which is simply a thumb button.

When lit the flame is difficult to see in the light but the flame indicator glows and lets me know it is lit. The first few times I tried to light it I had to try multiple times to get it to light. After adjusting the flame level I had much better luck. The flame is adjusted by turning an adjustment ring located at the fill valve. It is clearly marked with a double pointed arrow with a + at one end and a - at the other to indicate which way to adjust to raise and lower the flame.

The lanyard is long enough to easily go over my wrist and could quite easily go over a larger wrist than mine.

Also included in the shipment were a 2010 Essential Gear Catalog and a letter from the President of the company. The letter states that Premium or Quadruple refined fuels are recommended for all windmill lighters. It also says this type of fuel is a blend of butane, propane and isobutane, which can be stored under higher pressure and that the higher-pressure fuel burns cleaner.

It also says that Trekker lighters work reliably up to 9,000 ft (2700 m) and claims they have had them work at 12,000 ft (3600 m). They suggest leaning the gas mixture by turning the adjustment towards the "-" as altitude increases.

READING THE INSTRUCTIONS

The included instructions are clear and concise. I did not find it necessary to read them to get the Trekker to work but after reading some tips on adjustment and operation it became easier to adjust and operate the lighter more efficiently.

TRYING IT OUT

After playing a bit and getting used to the operation of course I wanted to see how it worked in wind. Just my luck it was a calm day. I did not let that deter me from testing it further. My first "wind" was a fan. The Trekker stayed lit when held in front of the fan, but I was careful to hold it so that the flame was blowing away from my thumb. I wasn't satisfied with just the fan so I later held it out the window of a car at about 35 mph (56 kph) and it again stayed lit. I think I will try it at higher speeds during testing.

This is one large lighter

Flame indicator window

Flame difficult to see

PLANNED USES

I will be using the Trekker for all of my fire starting needs during the test period. Mostly lighting my liquid fuel stove and my candle lantern. I will be using it for some campfires since the weather is getting cooler and I need to test this lighter.

SUMMARY

Overall I am happy with the product so far. My only concern is the hinge on the cap. I will be watching it closely to be sure it will hold up to regular use. This lighter is rather bulky but I suppose that is the price to pay for waterproof and the large capacity fuel reservoir.

While I doubt it could affect performance, I do wonder if the soft rubberized surface will collect residue from handling and cause the Trekker to look dirty.

I would like to thank both Essential Gear Inc. and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to test the Windmill Trekker Lighter. Check back in approximately two months to see how it fares in field use.

Test Report by Roger Ault

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