Visol Stinger | halfwheel

Stop by any cigar shop in search of a new lighter, and you will likely be asked what kind of flame you like: soft flame or torch flame? It’s a question asked for good reason, as seemingly forever, it was a binary choice. While there have been lighters that do both for a while, in recent years, multi-flame lighters have entered the mainstream and now there are several companies that allow you to have both flame options in the same lighter.

One of the most recent to arrive on the market comes from Visol, a brand known both for its affordability and its incredibly broad portfolio of lighters. It’s called the Stinger, and it’s a multi-flame lighter that includes a single torch and a single soft flame in the same lighter. The soft flame is activated by using the flint roller; once that is done, users can press down the switch located on the front of the lighter to activate the torch flame. A blue light under the front switch glows when the lid is opened; it is powered by a non-replaceable battery.

The Stinger was one of six new accessories that Visol unveiled at TPE 2025, alongside the quad-flame Joplin, the Dublin and Hex 2 cutters, and two new cigar cases that are part of the company’s Marvel line.

WHAT IS IT?

The Visol Stinger is a budget-conscious lighter that offers both a soft flame and a jet torch in a slim, pocket-friendly size. It measures 3 x 1.5 by 0.5 inches and weighs 4.5 ounces (0.28 pounds). It has a stainless steel body that is offered in two colors: gunmetal and black crackle. Beyond that, it offers a good-sized fuel window and a flame adjuster, and it is covered by a one-year warranty.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

$30.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

First, flip up the lid, which opens up the flow of butane. Then, spin the flint roller to ignite the butane and get a soft flame. If a torch flame is preferred, depress the button on the front of the lighter to move the flow of butane over to the torch jet, holding your finger on the button for as long as you want to use the torch. Once the button is released, the flame goes back to a soft flame. When finished, simply close the lid to stop the flow of butane.

Like most other multi-flame lighters, there is no practical way to use the torch flame without first starting with the soft flame. You can hold down the button and hope the ignition sends a spark over to the torch, but it’s not reliable.

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL?

It offers both a soft flame and a single jet torch in one unit, but at a wallet-friendly price.

The Good

• You Mostly Get the Best of Both Worlds — If you really like having the option of both a soft flame and a torch flame, you can have both. This feature isn’t exclusive to this lighter, but once again, it shows it can be done, and done at a very affordable price. The “mostly” comes because unlike a traditional torch lighter, this lighter will struggle to start in windy environments.
• Both Flame Styles Are Good — There’s no compromising between the two options; if anything, the torch flame feels a bit smaller than what has become the norm, as many companies have made their single flame torches larger, but it’s by no means undermatched.
• You Can Go Back and Forth Between Flame Styles Easily — It is quite literally as easy as pushing a button to engage the torch lighter, and when you let it go, you go back to the soft flame. If you want some more torch, just push the button again.
• The Fuel Tank Window — The large, circular window makes it very easy to check the butane level and make sure the Stinger is topped up.
• It Has a Very Nice Feel in the Hand — At a little over a quarter of a pound, the Stinger has good heft in the hand, a trait that some associate with better quality. While I think that can get overplayed at times, this is not a lightweight lighter.
• Heat Doesn’t Seem to be an Issue — I can’t remember a single time when the lighter got so hot as to be uncomfortable. Whatever heat the Stinger generates, it gets dissipated well.
• You Might Be Able to Get This Through TSA — First: this is not advice, and I will not be held responsible for what happens should you try this. But since torch lighters are banned on flights while soft flames are allowed, you may be able to get this through.

The Bad

• It’s a Soft Flame Lighter First and Foremost — While this offers a torch flame, it’s still a soft flame first and foremost. That means that to get to the torch, you have to be able to get the soft flame going, which can be a challenge in windy conditions.
• The Battery Isn’t Replaceable — One thing I’ve never thought a lighter needed was a battery, but the Stinger has one, and it’s not replaceable. So once it goes bad, you lose the ability to illuminate the fuel tank.
• The Fuel Tank is Illuminated — If I had to fault one thing about the Visol Stinger for being gimmicky, it’s the light on the fuel tank. I don’t like it, I don’t need it, and while it wouldn’t stop me from buying or using the Stinger, it’s not necessary in my book.
• The Tank Is Not Huge — I never thought the Stinger’s fuel tank was undersized, but if you’re the one bringing the lighter for a group of friends, you’ll want a backup can of butane or a larger lighter.

THE COMPETITION

When it comes to these multi-flame lighters, the field has been divided into two approaches: the one of the Visol Stinger, where you start with a soft flame and then switch it to a torch, and an approach where two ignition mechanisms are used, one for the soft flame and one for the torch. The former has more options, but the latter is more appealing to me, which makes me lean towards the Vector Duke and Vector Guardian (pictured above), two similar lighters with identical $45 price points that offer the dual ignition options. The advantage for me is that you don’t have to risk struggling with a soft flame to get to the torch, or even just have to take the extra step.

I’ve used these two lighters a few times in the Vector booth at the PCA Convention & Trade Show, and I’ve been impressed by how they function. I really love the fact that you don’t have to start with a soft flame with either of these models, which tips the scales in their favor. However, because it’s two seperate systems, you can’t switch back and forth between the two flames like you can with the Stinger; you have to release one ignition and use the other, which isn’t a big deal, but is a difference. For a multi-flame lighter, this would be my number one choice due to the ignition mechanisms.

Additional Competitors

• S.T. Dupont Le Grand Dupont Perfect Ping ($1,695+) — If you want to go all-out on a lighter that offers both a soft flame and a jet torch, this is the one to go with. The functionality is a bit different; the Le Grand Dupont has a larger and vertically-oriented flint roller that sparks the soft flame, with the torch activated by pushing up on that roller. It works well and comes with the heft and craftsmanship for which S.T. Dupont is well known, but it carries a significant price tag for the privilege. The price difference makes the two hard to compare, as I have a hard time justifying the cost of the Le Grand Dupont. But if it’s not an issue, you likely won’t be disappointed by it.
• Visol Hubbard ($50) — If you like the S.T. Dupont’s look but the Visol’s price, this is worth a look. The functionality is essentially the same, with the larger, vertical roller bar and the functionality of pushing that bar up to get to the torch. I haven’t had a chance to use this one, but if the above statement applies, I’d have to think it’s worth consideration, as I’ve had good experiences with Visol’s offerings.
• Vector Elite ($39.95) — I haven’t used this lighter, but it is remarkably similar to the Stinger. The form is a bit different, but both offer a flint roller ignition that gets the soft flame going and then a button on the face of the lighter to switch over to a jet torch. The Elite’s fuel window is smaller, but both are friendly to the pocket, both size-wise and money-wise. This one’s a true toss-up for me as to which I prefer.
• XIKAR Hedron ($164.99) — This lighter is an exclusive release to Cigars International, and while it doesn’t offer two distinct flames, it does offer a combination of the two flames. I was so intrigued by this one that I went out and bought one, and I have been very impressed by it, making it one of my go-tos both for home use and when out with friends. It puts a torch flame inside a soft flame, a combination that I’m not sure needed to be made, but it does light a cigar quite well. It also feels great in the hand and has a solid ignition, making it an all-around winner in my book. Given the price and different functionality, it’s hard to compare this to the Stinger, but if I had to pick just one, I’d take the Hedron.

SHOULD YOU BUY IT?

Yes. If you’re looking for what the Visol Stinger has to offer—a soft flame and a torch flame in one lighter—I don’t have many reasons why you shouldn’t buy it. The ignition is solid, the functionality is reliable and easily meets expectations, it has a good design, and it doesn’t cost a lot of money. While I’m not crazy about the illuminated fuel tank, it’s not a deterrent. And while I prefer how the Vector Duke and Guardian handle their two flame options, this works just fine as long as it’s not too breezy to get the soft flame going.

The lighter used for this review was purchased by halfwheel. Visol provided me with a sample of the Stinger at the 2025 Total Product Expo (TPE), but it was not used for this review.

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 the G-League’s Valley Suns. I was previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League, and Goodyear Ballpark, spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I’m a voiceover artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.