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Wind, cold, stiff fingers – and you still need a flame: since 1933 Zippo has built refillable all-metal windproof lighters with a chimney, plus hand warmers and the genuine accessories to keep them going.
Zippo windproof lighters from the Zippo Manufacturing Company in Bradford, Pennsylvania
The chimney around the wick shields the flame from the wind
Fluid, wick and flint are easy to replace
Lifetime on the mechanism of the windproof lighters · 2-year warranty with us
Zippo is the classic windproof lighter: a rectangular metal case, a hinged lid, the chimney that keeps the wind off the flame and the unmistakable click when you flip it open. You light a Zippo with one hand, refill it with lighter fluid and replace the wick and flint yourself. At Swiss-Sale.ch you can buy Zippo in Switzerland: six Classic models, the 1941 Replica, the refillable hand warmer and the genuine supplies – lighter fluid, replacement wick and flints. Whether it is for the campfire, the gas stove at camp, a cold morning in the hide or a gift, this page shows which Zippo suits you and what you need to keep it running.
Classic windproof lighters: six models in the same Classic case (3.8 × 1.3 × 5.7 cm, approx. 55 g), each with its own finish. The Zippo 200 Brushed Chrome with its horizontally brushed front dates back to 1933 and, according to Zippo, is still its most popular lighter. The 205 Satin Chrome has a smooth, silky finish, while the 250 High Polish Chrome is buffed to a mirror shine and has been in the line since 1938. The 218 Black Matte became the first matte Zippo in 1984, the 221 Green Matte follows the same idea in green, and the 236 Black Crackle wears the textured black finish that made Zippo famous in the 1940s. Each one comes in a gift box.
Zippo 1941 Replica: this reproduction of the 1941 model has flatter sides with sharper edges, a four-barrel hinge and a flatter insert with square edges – for anyone who wants the design of the early years.
Zippo 12-hour hand warmer: the refillable metal hand warmer comes in Black and High Polish Chrome. It gives flameless heat from a catalytic burner – up to 12 hours on a full fill and about 6 hours on a half fill. A filling cup and a fabric pouch are included. More models are in our hand warmers category.
Refill supplies: Zippo lighter fluid 125 ml for windproof lighters and hand warmers, the 100 mm replacement wick and a dispenser with 6 flints – both fit every Zippo windproof lighter.
The story starts in the early 1930s at the Bradford Country Club in Pennsylvania. George G. Blaisdell watched a friend struggle with an Austrian-made lighter: thanks to its chimney it worked in the wind, but it was clumsy, needed two hands and dented easily. In late 1932 Blaisdell redesigned it with a small rectangular case and a hinged lid, keeping the chimney. The result could be used with one hand. He coined the name from the word "zipper". The first Zippo was made in 1933, and the patent was granted in 1936.
From 1941 Zippo dedicated its entire production to the US military; this is when the lighter with a steel case and black crackle finish appeared. Since the mid-1950s every Zippo has carried a date code on its base – first for quality control, today a valuable tool for collectors. The design has stayed essentially the same.
Inside the case sits a removable insert: the fuel chamber with cotton and felt at the bottom, the wick in the chimney at the top. When you roll the flint wheel down with your thumb, it strikes a spark from the flint and lights the fluid-soaked wick, while the chimney shields the flame from the wind. The only way to put it out is to close the lid – a Zippo does not go out on its own.
To fill it, pull out the insert, lift the felt and slowly saturate the cotton with Zippo fluid until it reaches the top; do not overfill and wipe off any excess. A Zippo is shipped without fluid, and because fluid evaporates even when you do not use the lighter, it is worth topping up before every trip. With average use you replace the flint every few weeks via the screw at the bottom of the insert, and you can keep a spare flint under the felt pad. Trim the wick once or twice a year and replace it after two or three trims.
Swiss-Sale.ch gives you a 2-year warranty. On top of that, Zippo grants a lifetime manufacturer warranty on the mechanism of its windproof lighters – Zippo’s promise is "It works or we fix it free™": any Zippo is restored to perfect mechanical condition free of charge, regardless of its age or condition. The finish is not covered. For the hand warmer Zippo gives 2 years; the catalytic burner is a wear part. Warranty claims are handled through us.
Outdoor and camp: a Classic windproof lighter lights campfires, gas stoves and barbecues even in the wind. Pack a bottle of lighter fluid and a set of flints and it stays ready on multi-day trips.
Hunting and the hide: in its fabric pouch the Zippo hand warmer keeps your hands warm in your jacket pocket for up to 12 hours – flameless and running on the same fluid as your lighter.
Everyday carry: the 205 Satin Chrome and the 218 Black Matte are low-key companions for your pocket or backpack.
Collectors and gifts: the 1941 Replica and the 236 Black Crackle carry a piece of Zippo history, and every Classic model comes in a gift box. You will find more ideas among our gift sets.
Swiss-Sale.ch is a Swiss specialist retailer for Zippo: you order with shipping from Switzerland, no customs duties, and warranty claims are handled through us. If you have questions about choosing a model or refilling, we are happy to advise you personally. At our showroom in Menzingen, collection or viewing is possible by prior arrangement.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Zippo (Zippo Manufacturing Company) |
| Origin | USA – Bradford, Pennsylvania |
| Founder | George G. Blaisdell, first Zippo in 1933 |
| Speciality | Refillable all-metal windproof lighters, hand warmers, genuine accessories |
| Manufacturing | Windproof lighters: Made in USA |
| Warranty | 2-year warranty / lifetime manufacturer warranty on the mechanism (windproof lighters) |
| Range at Swiss-Sale.ch | Classic windproof lighters · 1941 Replica · 12-hour hand warmer · lighter fluid · replacement wick · flints |
Swiss specialist retailer – shipped from Switzerland, no customs duties, warranty handled through us.
