Whenever I see a new lighter, whether for review or not, I ask myself the same question: what problem does this solve? We’ve clearly mastered the idea of how to put fire in our pocket, so then each new releases becomes about making it more useful, more convenient, more affordable, more durable, and so on.

In the case of the Vector Icon II, this lighter not only tries to improve on the original Icon, but seemingly tries to nudge forward a very small portion of the cigar lighter segment, those that use a rechargeable battery that gets its power via a USB connection.

The basic premise is that the battery-powered version can offer several quick sparks in succession, which optimize the butane ignition process and provides for a more reliable lighting experience. Having used several such lighters, that is certainly true. Whether the rest of the lighter’s features make this a recommendable product remains to be seen.

WHAT IS IT?

Functionally, the Vector Icon II is a triple flame torch lighter, with the three jets arranged in a triangular configuration to provide a thick column of flame. In terms of using it, it’s very similar to other lighters in that you flip open the lid, which begins the flow of butane. However, instead of a traditional mechanism that you pull, push or press to spark a piezo ignition, the Icon II has a touch-sensitive panel that engages an internal battery to provide several quick sparks that light the butane.

Beyond that, the lighter offers a large fuel window on the back side, improved venting and a flame adjustment mechanism on the base. It is available in eight colors: gunmetal satin, black matte, black crackle matte, sparkle blue, sparkle black, red lacquer, chrome satin and prizm.

It measures 3.25 inches x 1.25 x 0.9375 and weighs about 3.4 ounces.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

The MSRP on the Vector Icon II is $85.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

As noted above, it is fairly similar to a standard lighter. Flip open the lid and then tap the panel instead of engaging a traditional mechanical ignition. It’s remarkably simple and efficient, though when I’ve handed it to people to use for the first time, they seem to take a moment to orient themselves to it as there is no ignition mechanism, which seems to be the starting point for many lighters.

On the note of how it works, one of the must-dos in order to get the most out of the Vector Icon II is to be sure to fully open the lid, since this is what regulates the flow of butane. Whether you flip or pull it back, do so with conviction. Anything less will result in suboptimal butane flow and thus a less than ideal flame, and it’s surprisingly easy to not open the lid all the way. It feels like a matter of a millimeter, but it makes all the difference in the world.

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL?

While the prizm finish of the Icon II that I used for the review is certainly unique, the clear standout is the battery-powered ignition. The ignition on the Icon II and similar models stands out because they offer several quick sparks in succession—you’ll notice them by the clicking sound—and that significantly ups the chances of the butane being ignited on the first try. Quite simply, as long as there is butane in the tank, the battery is charged and the flame adjustment set properly, you are pretty much guaranteed of the Icon II igniting on the first try.  

PROS

  • It Is Incredibly Easy to Light — There is almost no physical strength needed to light the Vector Icon II; simply tap the touch-sensitive panel and the ignition is triggered. If you have arthritis or other issues that make using a lighter challenging, this is certainly a fantastic option.
  • It Puts Out a Lot of Flame — If you smoke thicker cigars, or cigars that use heavier tobacco, you will definitely appreciate how much flame the Vector Icon II offers.
  • It Is Visually Distinctive — Not many lighters light up, so if you’re looking for some extra visual splash, the Vector Icon II certainly offers that. You can take that a step further with the prizm finish, dial it back by opting for something like the solid black or chrome options, or go somewhere in the middle with the red or blue options.
  • It’s Still Pocket Friendly — It’s a triple flame lighter so it’s decently sized, but you can easily put this in your pocket or travel humidor without too much trouble.
  • It Tells You How Much Juice It Has Left — Both butane and battery, that is. The large fuel window is great, even if it’s not tinted, and the front panel has four dots that show you how much battery is remaining. Each dot represents about 25 percent of the battery life, and from my experience, it takes a good bit of usage to get darken that first dot, let alone the second.

CONS

  • It Offers Too Much Flame — If you smoke a range of sizes, the Vector Icon II might not be the lighter for you. While it handles big ring gauges with ease, it overwhelms smaller vitolas.
  • You Have to Keep It Charged — It’s one thing to keep a lighter filled with butane, it’s another to do that and make sure it’s charged. Without a charge, the Vector Icon II won’t light, and you’ll be forced to find an outlet to recharge it, assuming you have a cord, of course. Thankfully the battery lasts a respectably long time, but it will eventually drain.
  • The Tank Feels Small — While I never found myself running out of battery, I did find myself having to refill the Icon II a number of times. I don’t know whether it’s the size of the tank, the amount of consumption by the burners, or a combination of both, but this lighter seems to require more frequent fill-ups than the average triple flame.
  • Flip That Lid Open Wide — This is something you generally don’t have to think about with your lighter, but to get the most out of the Icon II, you need to make sure you flip the lid wide open. What I considered a normal flip wasn’t enough, and the lighter sputtered as a result. It’s also remarkably easy not to open it all the way.
  • But Don’t Leave It Open — If the lid is open, butane is flowing, so be sure to close it when done or not using it. If you don’t, you’re wasting butane and wasting money.

THE COMPETITION

  • Vector Icon ($85) — The closest competitor to the Icon II may well be its predecessor, the original Icon, which is still on the market and has the same MSRP. The flame arrangement is different as it is in a straight line and angled up to a point, the panel is smaller and not as flashy, but I might consider this first when looking at a lighter that runs on butane and has a USB-powered ignition.
  • Visol Hybrid USB Triple Torch Lighter ($40) — A similar idea to the Icon II, though without the flash of the light up touch panel or a fuel window. It’s a decent lighter that comes with a punch cutter, but you have no idea how much fuel or battery is left, which is a recipe for finding yourself with a dead lighter. It’s a flawed competitor, but maybe one that makes sense at half the price of the Icon II.
  • Rocky Patel Laser Lighter ($59.99) — This single flame lighter has the same idea of a touch-sensitive panel, though the mechanics are a bit different. It’s also a single flame, which I prefer and would be better suited for smaller cigars. If you don’t mind the branding on it, this is worth checking out.
  • Jetline Touch ($90) —  While this lighter was discontinued about two years ago, it is still available at some retailers and uses similar technology as the others on this list to trigger the electronic ignition. I haven’t had the opportunity to use it, but it was one that had me intrigued, and I have heard chatter that an updated model is in the works.

THE WARRANTY PROCESS

Not long after the lighter was shipped to me from halfwheel’s office, I wanted to test it out and see how it worked before I put it into regular usage for the review. As I tried to dial in the flame height, a piece of the plastic flame adjuster broke off and the adjustment mechanism stopped working, seemingly that the external piece had become detached from the actual mechanism that adjusted the flame height.

That led me to test out Vector-KGM’s No Proof Warranty process. I sent it to Vector on March 7, paying for shipping and in theory the $12 service fee. However, I haven’t heard a thing from the company nor have I seen the lighter come back. The company says that it has an industry-leading turnaround time of 1-2 weeks, but I haven’t yet had that experience. I will update this review if and when the repaired lighter appears.

SHOULD YOU BUY IT?

Yes.

If you really want a triple flame torch with a battery-powered ignition, this is certainly at or near the top of the segment. It’s remarkably easy to use and addresses the two biggest drawbacks of the rechargeable lighter segment—keeping the fuel tank and battery full—about as well as I could ask. You’ll still need to do the work, but at least you have an easy way to see where both are at before heading out for the night with it.

Now, put this in the bigger segment of all triple-flame torches and the decision becomes a bit harder, as you have to justify the added cost for the convenience and functionality of the ignition. For me, it isn’t a great value proposition at the moment, much like I wouldn’t inherently pay more for a vehicle with push-button ignition to avoid using the key, nor would I pay a premium to tap my phone as opposed to pulling out my credit card when paying for something. But if you want the Icon II’s biggest selling point, it certainly delivers.

The lighter for this review was purchased by halfwheel.

Overall Score

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.