Are Zippos Worth It?

Zippo lighters have been the choice of combat heroes and movie stars since the 1930s, but they come with a hefty price tag! Below we'll give you the scoop on Zippo lighters and get to the bottom of the question, "are Zippos worth it?".

History of Zippo Lighters

The first Zippo lighter was made in 1933 by George D. Blaisdell in Bradford, Pennsylvania. After struggling with inferior foreign-made lighters, Blaisdell had a vision to develop a reliable, long-lasting lighter made from high-quality materials. The first Zippo lighters were actually made from brass, but the company switched to steel due to the metal shortage brought about by World War II. While Zippo was never officially affiliated with the military, these lighters became popular with the armed forces during the second World War because of their durability and wind-proof technology.

Are Zippos Worth It?

$20+ may seem like a lot of money to pay for a lighter, but Zippos are certainly worth the price. With their limited lifetime warranty, Zippos are guaranteed free of material and workmanship related defects, and the company will repair or replace defective products even if your lighter is 50 years old! Zippos are windproof and able to stay lit in harsh conditions, which has made them popular with the military. You can go ahead and take your zippo camping, hunting or hiking without fear of damaging it - they're durable, rugged and built to withstand the elements. 

Zippo lighters are made of high quality materials and as a result, actually tend to appreciate in value over time. As long as it's in good condition, old ones often sell for more than new ones making the Zippo an investment!

Zippo lighters stay lit in harsh conditions

Are Some Zippos Better than Others?

At their core, all genuine Zippo products are built with high quality materials and the same level of workmanship. Every Zippo lighter is backed by the same guarantee "it works or we fix it free", indicating that the company stands behind all of its products equally. The main reason why some Zippos are more expensive than others is collectability. Limited edition designs, collectors editions, and models adorned with high-end materials such as gold and silver will cost you more, but they're not any better in terms of technology or reliability. 

A solid gold Zippo can cost you upwards of $12,000 USD

Where are Zippos Made?

Zippo lighters are made in America, by Zippo Manufacturing Company in Bradford, Pennsylvania. Zippos have been made in the USA since the company's inception in 1932 (the first lighter was made in 1933). To date, over half a billion Zippo lighters have been manufactured.

How Can You Tell if a Zippo is Real?

Check the bottom of a Zippo to ensure it's the real deal. A genuine Zippo is inscribed with the Zippo logo, a serial number, the manufacturing location "Bradford, PA" and a set of Roman numerals indicating the year the lighter was made.

Do Zippos Have a Lifetime Warranty? 

Zippo stands behind their product offering an "it works or we fix it free guarantee". No matter how old it may be, you can send your Zippo Windproof Lighter back to Zippo who will fix it back into good working order. All you have to do is fill out a short form, package your lighter in a sturdy envelope or box, send it back to Braford PA, and let the folks at the Zippo Repair Clinic work their magic. For customers outside the USA, Zippo has representatives and distributors in many other countries.

There you have it! Although expensive, the Zippo brand has stood the test of time, and earned a reputation for quality, durability and high-performance.

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