Hemp Wick vs Butane Lighter: Good & Bad Sides

Last Updated on September 28, 2021

In this comparison, we won’t be taking into account the usage of cannabis; instead, we will be focusing on what we inhale with it. More accurately – the differences between a butane lighter and a hemp Wick.

The more common household item is easily spotted. Everybody has a butane lighter at home, in the glove departments of their cars or even in their bedrooms.

When the electricity goes out, for you to light the candles while you wait for the power to come back on, you will need something to light the candles with – hence having a butane lighter is as common as having a spare lightbulb.

Butane lighter brings efficiency to the table, one that you don’t get with the hemp wick, not to mention availability and cost-effectiveness.

On the other hand, having only a hemp wick won’t help you during a power shortage. But then again, that is not the point of the hemp wick. To use it properly, you need a butane lighter or matchsticks to light it up.

One may ask then: “Why would I use hemp wick if it doesn’t exclude the usage of matchsticks and butane lighters?” Well, put, it is healthier and preserves the quality of cannabis that you use.

The cannabis doesn’t get burnt and spent before it ever reaches you when we say preserve the quality.

Hemp Wick vs Butane Lighter Comparison 2021

Let’s cut to the chase. Butane lighter does the job, and it completes it well. But hemp wick is healthier and goes in tune with cannabis usage and the whole subculture. So it is not a question of which one is better; there are no clear winners here, objectively. 

Before you opt for one or the other, you need to decide what you are looking for. If you are looking for ease of use and availability, go with butane lighters. If you don’t want to strain your lungs, go with the hemp wick.

We have split the article into small digestible bites to make it easier for you:

• What is a Hemp Wick?
• How to Use a Hemp Wick?
• Pros and Cons of Hemp Wicks
• What Is a Butane Lighter?
• Pros & Cons of Butane Lighters

What is a Hemp Wick?

 A safe and natural alternative used by marijuana smokers instead of matches and lighters. Ordinary hemp twine won’t burn on its own because it is too dry. Because of that, dryness manufacturers had to come up with an idea.

That resulted in adding beeswax to help the hemp burn at a slow and steady pace, which made lighting and smoking marijuana as easy as it would be with a butane lighter.

Fewer Carbon Emissions

When it comes to the negative footprint on the environment in the hemp wick vs butane, lighter comparison hemp wick takes a clear win here.

Experts say that keeping the hemp wick in use can lower the carbon dioxide you expunge into the atmosphere. So anyone trying to go green and prevent the melting of the ice caps should consider using hemp wicks instead of butane lighters.

A More Flavourful Smoke

This is not entirely true; more accurately, it is an estimated guess based on user experience. We are not saying that we guarantee that you will feel a more flavourful smoke if you use a hemp wick. But that is how the general public feels. And in science, empirical pieces of evidence is the one everyone lurks for.

How to Use a Hemp Wick

It takes a little practice to use a hemp wick properly. It is a good idea to perform a ‘test run’ of sorts. You can also wrap it around your butane lighter, so you have the extra option. Here is how to proceed:

• Take a part of the Wick and carefully wrap it around the lighter; because of the beeswax, the Wick will stick to the lighter once you are done
• Slowly start twisting it around the lighter until you reach the top
• Beeswax keeps the Wick immovable, so you are free to connect it to the flame once you ignite you’re lighter
• Ignite the lighter, and you will get the end of the Wick’s strand in flame
• Let the initial part of the Wick that got butane on it evaporate; it takes a second or two
• Light the product
• Blow the flame out when you’re done

Pros and Cons of Hemp Wicks

Pros

1. Long-lasting and biodegradable
2. Much easier to light hard-to-reach bowls without getting your fingers burnt
3. A hemp wick consists of all-natural ingredients, so you don’t inhale any harmful ingredients
4. This form of combustion could result in a smoother and more flavorful hit – cannabis smokers claim that they feel no harsh feeling in the back of their throat as they do with lighters.

Cons

1. Hard to get – it can be troublesome to buy the hemp wick as it is not as popular as people think, nor is it as widespread in the shops as people are led to believe.
2. It isn’t as portable as a butane lighter – when going on the trip; it can be a real nuisance to carry it, even if you decide to cut out a small wick strand that you will bring on the road, you can quickly lose it, forcing you to buy a new one.
3. Requires a two-step process for ignition
4. Significantly more expensive than a traditional lighter

What Is a Butane Lighter?

We won’t be talking about what a butane lighter is, as well; everybody has seen one in their lives before even reaching the age of 10, and that is probably wrong; it happened even sooner. However, we will explain what it consists of, how it works, and what are pros and cons of it.

It is a lighter that uses a clear, odourless, and extremely flammable gas. The butane goes through a refinement process that involves removing crude oil remnants, separating from water, and dehydrating the wet gas. The result is the refined gas used in lighters.

The gas is stored in a small chamber that allows a narrow gas stream to for. The combination of flint and steel rubbing together causes the ignition. The gas creates the flame we use to light joints, blunts, bongs, and so on.

They are very accessible, widely distributed and very easy to use. This is why you need to keep it away from children, for obvious reasons.

Pros & Cons of Butane Lighters

Pros

1. Extremely cheap and accessible – you can attain it at literally every store
2. Portable – you can easily carry it in your pocket on any occasion
3. Disposable and refillable – depending on whether or not you have a Zippor lighter or not you can refill it or just buy a new one when you, let’s be honest, lose it

Cons

1. Bad for the environment – butane lighters are made from non-biodegradable plastic, and the gas stored inside doesn’t make the case any better.
2. A suggestion that this type of lighter adds harmful gases to cannabis buds
3. They burn at a temperature of up to 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit, which can make the parts of cannabis burn out before they ever reach you

Conclusion

Like we said in the beginning, we don’t guarantee you that the hemp wick ads a particular flavour and aroma when used, nor will we assure you that the hemp wick is healthier to use. However, all the signs are pointing to it.

On the other hand, the butane lighter’s ease of use, accessibility, and cheapness can’t be overlooked either.

It just comes down to what you like more; whether it is hemp wick or butane lighter, they both have their pros and cons that you should look at.

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