Matches 20cm (PROF) 40pcs

PROF 20cm Matches — Long Reach, Low Profile

PROF 20cm matches are extra-long wooden matches designed to light pipes, joints, candles, and anything else that keeps your fingers at a safe distance from the flame. Each pack holds 40 matches in a slim, flat box that slides into a jacket pocket or stash bag without adding bulk. At 20cm per stick, you get roughly twice the reach of a standard match — enough to angle into a deep pipe bowl or hold steady while a wick catches.

If you've ever singed your thumb trying to spark a short match at an awkward angle, you already know why these exist. The extended wooden stem gives you a solid 8–10 seconds of burn time before the flame reaches your fingers, which is more than enough for most lighting tasks. The PROF brand has been a staple in European tobacconist shops for years, and these particular matches strike reliably on the box strip without snapping.

Why Long Matches Beat Short Ones (and Lighters)

We get asked all the time: why bother with matches when lighters exist? Fair question. The honest answer is taste. Butane lighters add a faint chemical flavour to your first draw — most people don't notice it with cigarettes, but through a glass pipe or with a carefully rolled joint, you can tell the difference. A wooden match, once you let the phosphorus head burn away for a second or two, gives you a clean, neutral flame. That matters if you care about what you're tasting.

The 20cm length solves the other classic match problem: reach. Standard 4–5cm matches are borderline useless for lighting a deep-bowled pipe or a candle that's burned halfway down its jar. You end up tilting the match downward, the flame races toward your fingers, and you either drop it or burn yourself. With 20cm of stem, you can hold the match level or even point it slightly downward and still have plenty of wood left. We've timed it — you get a good 8–10 seconds of usable flame per match, compared to roughly 3–4 seconds on a regular kitchen match.

The one honest limitation: wind. Matches lose to a windproof lighter every time outdoors. If you're mostly lighting up outside at festivals or on a terrace, keep a lighter as backup. But indoors or in any sheltered spot, these are the better tool.

How to Use PROF 20cm Matches

1. Slide the matchbox open and remove a single match. The slim box design means they're packed snugly — pull straight out rather than at an angle to avoid snapping the stem.
2. Hold the match about 3–4cm from the phosphorus tip and strike firmly along the box's striking strip in one smooth motion. Short, hesitant strokes tend to crumble the tip rather than ignite it.
3. Once lit, hold the match at a slight upward angle for 1–2 seconds to let the initial phosphorus flare burn off. This removes the sulphur taste and lets the wood catch properly.
4. Bring the clean flame to your pipe bowl, joint tip, candle wick, or birthday cake. The 20cm length lets you keep your fingers well clear — angle as needed without rushing.
5. Blow out the match once you're done and place it on a heat-safe surface or ashtray. Don't toss a still-glowing match into a bin — common sense, but worth saying.

From Our Counter

We've stocked various match brands over the years, and the PROF 20cm pack is the one that keeps selling. Customers who buy glass pipes or herbal blends often grab a box at checkout — it's become one of those quiet best-sellers that doesn't need a flashy display. The flat box is genuinely pocket-friendly at roughly 21cm by 4cm, thinner than a smartphone. It doesn't poke out or bend in a back pocket the way some bulkier match boxes do.

One thing we've noticed: the wood on these is denser than the cheap long matches you find at pound shops. They don't snap mid-strike nearly as often, and the flame travels down the stem at a steady pace rather than racing. Small detail, but when you're on your 30th match of the evening lighting candles for a dinner party — or your 3rd relight on a stubborn pipe bowl — it adds up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: April 2026