Lighters & torches
by Clipper
The Clipper Soft Touch lighter is a refillable, pocket-sized flame source with a rubberised anti-slip body that feels noticeably different from a standard plastic lighter. Built on the same platform that earned Clipper its cult following — the removable flint system, the consistent flame, the round barrel — this Soft Touch edition adds a smooth, matte coating that sits better in your hand and doesn't slide off sloped surfaces. You get a random colour, so each one's a small surprise.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Clipper |
| Edition | Soft Touch (collector's edition) |
| Body coating | Anti-slip rubberised matte finish |
| Fuel type | Butane (refillable) |
| Flint system | Removable and replaceable |
| Barrel shape | Round (standard Clipper) |
| Colour | Random |
| SKU | HS0169 |
Pair this with a Clipper butane refill canister to keep it running indefinitely, or grab a set of replacement flints so you never have to bin a perfectly good lighter. If you're rolling, a decent rolling tray and some filter tips complete the setup.
We've stocked Clippers since the early days of the shop, and they outsell disposables by a wide margin — not because they're flashy, but because they just work. The round barrel is designed to fit naturally against a curved palm, and the entire lighter is built to be refilled and maintained rather than tossed. Fill it with butane through the valve on the base, swap the flint when it wears down, and you've got a lighter that lasts years instead of weeks. That's the environmental argument sorted without even trying.
The feature that really sets Clipper apart is the removable flint housing. Pull it out and you've got a thin poker — handy for packing down the contents of a cone or clearing a blocked bowl. It's one of those design details that feels accidental but clearly isn't, and it's the main reason Clippers became the go-to lighter in smoking culture. Every tobacconist in Amsterdam has a jar of them on the counter. There's a reason for that.
The honest limitation? The standard Clipper body is smooth plastic, which can get slippery if your hands are damp or if you're outdoors. That's exactly what this Soft Touch edition fixes.
Pick up a regular Clipper and then pick up a Soft Touch — the difference is immediate. The rubberised coating has a velvety, slightly grippy texture, almost like the soft-touch finish you'd find on a decent phone case. It doesn't attract lint the way some rubber coatings do, and it doesn't peel after a few weeks in your pocket. The matte surface also means no fingerprint smudges, which is a small thing but keeps the lighter looking clean.
Weight-wise, it's virtually identical to a standard Clipper — light enough to forget it's in your pocket, solid enough that it doesn't feel like a toy. The flame mechanism, spark wheel, and gas valve are all the same proven components. Clipper hasn't reinvented anything here; they've just made the outside more pleasant to hold. Sometimes that's all an upgrade needs to be.
We get asked this at the counter constantly. Both are reliable. Both light first time. The difference comes down to what you do after the fuel runs out. A Bic is disposable — once it's empty, it's landfill. A Clipper is refillable and has a replaceable flint, so a single lighter can last years if you maintain it. That alone makes it the better buy over time. Add the removable poker tool, and it's not really a contest for anyone who rolls or packs bowls regularly.
| Feature | Clipper Soft Touch | Standard Bic |
|---|---|---|
| Refillable | Yes — butane valve on base | No — disposable |
| Replaceable flint | Yes — removable housing | No |
| Built-in poker/tamper | Yes — flint housing doubles as tool | No |
| Body shape | Round barrel | Oval/flat |
| Grip coating | Soft-touch rubberised (this edition) | Smooth plastic |
| Lifespan | Years with refills | Until fuel runs out |
The one area where Bic wins: the child-safety mechanism is slightly easier to operate for adults with limited hand strength. Clipper's spark wheel requires a firm roll. For most people, that's a non-issue — but worth mentioning.
Yes. The Soft Touch edition uses the same refill valve as every other Clipper. Turn it upside down, press a standard butane canister into the valve on the base, and hold for a few seconds. Wait a couple of minutes before lighting.
The removable flint housing doubles as a tamper or poker — pull it out and you've got a thin rod for packing cones or clearing bowls. That built-in tool, combined with the refillable design, makes it the default lighter in most smoke shops across Europe.
It holds up well with daily use. The rubberised finish doesn't peel or crack the way cheaper coatings do. After a few months of pocket carry, it may show slight wear on the edges, but the grip stays intact.
No — colour is assigned randomly. Clipper produces these in a rotating range of solid matte colours, so you'll get whichever one we pull from the box. Think of it as a lucky dip.
Not in the way a jet lighter is. Clippers produce a standard soft flame that can be cupped with your hand in a breeze. For genuinely windy conditions — think beach or hilltop — you'd want a jet or torch lighter instead.
Roughly 3,000 ignitions on a full fill, depending on flame height and how long you hold it. For an average daily smoker, that's about 2–3 weeks before you need to top it up.
Last updated: April 2026
