Siglo Chameleon

When it comes to lighting a cigar, there is no shortage of options, and in the course of doing lighter reviews for several years, I have occasionally found myself trying to make the case for or against a lighter based on a particular feature it offered. Whether it has been a soft flame versus a torch, a single flame versus multiple, or a pointed jet torch versus a flat flame, it seems like each review gets us one step closer to exhausting all the options people can come up with.

And then a lighter like the Siglo Chameleon comes along.

WHAT IS IT?

The Siglo Chameleon is the latest entrant in the steadily growing wide flat flame lighter segment, this time coming from a brand based in Hong Kong and owned by The Pacific Cigar Co. Ltd., which is also the distributor of Habanos S.A. products in the Asia Pacific region.

But with a name like Chameleon, it would seem that the lighter would offer more than just a way to light your cigars, and it does. As the body begins to warm up—which happens while the flame is coming out of the lighter—the body changes color from a solid black to a bright shade of blue. When the body cools down, it returns to solid black.

As with all of Siglo’s products, the Chameleon comes with a one-year warranty that covers manufactory defects as long as proof of the original invoice is provided.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

The Siglo Chameleon has an MSRP of $154.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Simply pull down on the large, ridged ignition mechanism to start the flow of butane and then provide the spark that will get it burning. In terms of the color changing aspect, as the heat from the flame warms the body of the lighter, it begins to change color, starting from the area around the flame and moving eventually towards the base, and if used for a long enough amount of time, will completely change color.

From there, gently toast and light your cigar, and then release the ignition to extinguish the flame and begin the process of the lighter cooling and turning back to its original color.

In terms of the color-changing aspect, the company does not disclose exactly what makes the body change color, other than to say it uses a thermochromic material to achieve the effect. While the heat of the ignition causes the change in most instances, you could also warm it with a hair dryer or another lighter to achieve the same result, and if you wanted to accelerate the change back, you could put the Chameleon in the refrigerator or hold it against a chilled beverage. Also, the ambient temperature will affect the rate of color change; there were times when I left it in the sunlight coming in from my office window, and noticed that it took a good bit longer to change back to its original color.

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL?

It changes color. While there are other flat flame lighters, including wide flat flame lighters, there aren’t many lighters that change color.

PROS

• It Feels Great in The Hand — From the moment I first picked the Siglo Chameleon, I loved the way it felt in my hand, as it is hefty but not heavy.
• The Ridged Ignition Is Unique and Functional — While the body of the lighter is fairly smooth, the ignition provides a lot of grip and texture thanks to its ridges.
• The Punch Cutter is Solid — First, I like that the punch cutter opens up more than 90 degrees in relation to the body, which provides a bit of extra room to position your cigar, particularly if you smoke larger ring gauges. Second, the cutter itself is sharp and easy to use as well, using the small flame adjuster to eject the cut tobacco.
• This Is an Incredibly Fun Lighter to Let Other People Use — I’m always intrigued to see people’s reactions—or lack thereof—to the fact that this lighter changes color. One person didn’t notice it and asked what was special enough about this lighter to have me review it, while one of my uncles used it and immediately thought I had switched the blue-ish lighter for a black one when he wasn’t looking.
• It Doesn’t Get Too Hot in the Hand — For a lighter that uses heat to change its color, the Siglo Chameleon rarely got too hot to hold onto. Even an extended period of lighting cigars that turned the entire body blue didn’t make it overly warm, though I wouldn’t recommend touching the very top of the lighter as that does tend to get a bit hot.

 

CONS

• The Flame Can be Hard to See — In decently-lit environments, the flame can be hard to see, and seemingly harder to see than its peers. This can present a bit of a challenge when it comes to lighting your cigar, but since the flame puts off a good bit of heat, the real risk in my use was to my fingers. I didn’t burn myself, but my digits did get warmer than I would like from time to time.
• There’s No Fuel Window — Frequent readers of lighter reviews on this site will immediately know why this is an issue.
• The Flame Adjuster is Small and Requires a Tool — This might be a trade-off for the benefit of having a punch cutter, but as someone who is constantly fiddling with the height of the flame, needing a tool to do so is an obstacle I wish I didn’t have to overcome.
• The Finish Is Prone to Chipping — I would highly suggest finding a pouch for this, or at least keeping it out of your pocket, especially if there will be keys or a cutter in said pocket with the lighter. The finish can chip in small spots, leaving tiny white spots behind.
• There is a Lack of Color Options — A minor drawback, but at the moment, there is only the black-to-blue color option. Hopefully, Siglo adds a few more as I would love to see some variety offered.

THE COMPETITION

As I have noted in recent reviews, wide flat flames are a fairly recent development, but the market has seen a number of very solid options emerge. While the prices for this subset of the cigar lighter market tend to be on the high side, the options are increasingly plentiful.

• Caseti BigFlat ($120) — Outside of the color-changing body and the ignition mechanism, the BigFlat is a pretty close competitor to the Siglo Chameleon, as it offers a wide flame and a punch cutter. I loved the BigFlat for a number of reasons, including that it offers a visible fuel window, so this would really be a toss-up for me. Both are great lighters, though if forced to choose, I don’t think I would pony up the extra $34 for the color-changing body.
• Porsche Design Spacecraft ($200) — In terms of lesser-known brands, Porsche Design is one of my favorites, and the last couple of lighters from the company I have used have all been fantastic. The Spacecraft is no exception, and it offers a unique push-up design that sees an internal body slide up as part of the ignition process while offering a similar wide flat flame. It also offers a fold-out punch cutter and lacks a fuel window, just like the Chameleon. This is another coin toss in terms of which one I’d pick, though the more I think about it I don’t think I’d be willing to pay $46 more for the Spacecraft’s very appealing design, as much as I like it.
• Vector Icon IV ($95) — This lighter is notable for its USB-rechargeable, battery-powered ignition, which offers one of the most reliable sparks among every lighter I’ve tested. That said, you have to keep the battery charged, and the flame felt a bit underpowered. It’s a decent option, but this is one case where I’d shell out some extra money for the Chameleon.
• Siglo Havana Sunrise ($193) — This model features a smaller flat flame torch, while the ignition uses a side-squeeze model and the color lives up to the lighter’s name, changing from orange to yellow. The flame adjuster is larger than that of the Chameleon, while there’s no punch cutter. I haven’t used this model yet, but judging by features I’d likely stick with the Chameleon.

SHOULD YOU BUY IT?

Yes.

The Siglo Chameleon is a fantastic lighter when it comes to doing its core task, and unless you are absolutely opposed to the color-changing aspect, there’s not much to dislike about it. I still want a fuel window and a bigger flame adjuster, and I’d highly suggest a protective sleeve to keep the body looking good, but beyond that, I have really enjoyed using this lighter. The ignition and fuel flow are both great, the flame is steady and consistent, and the cutter makes for a nice add-on for those who like that style of cut. It is on the expensive side, but if the price is palatable, the lighter will certainly deliver.

 The lighter used for this review was purchased by halfwheel.