Xikar Verano

Today, we review the Xikar Verano lighter. The Verano made its debut at the 2018 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, a few months following Quality Importers Trading Company’s acquisition of Xikar. This would be Xikar’s foray into the world of flat-flame lighters. According to Quality Importers, the Verano has the precision of a single-flame lighter, the power of a double-flame lighter, and the breadth of a triple-flame lighter.  The Verano is designed to be wind-resistant and perform at high altitudes, up to 7,000 feet above sea level.

Quality offers four finishes for the Xikar Verano. These are the current base offerings.

  • Vintage Bronze
  • Black
  • G2
  • Silver

Xikar Verano – Accessory Review

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Dimensions: 1.5 x 2.75 x 0.50 inches
  • Weight: 3.60 ounces
  • Finish: Silver
  • Price: $109.99/SRP, which includes Xikar’s Limited Lifetime Warranty.

APPEARANCE

The Verano is a pocket lighter. The lighter itself is made entirely of metal and features a sleek, contemporary design and silver finish. The lighter features a textured ignition switch on its front. There is a textured plate on the front of the lighter as well.

Xikar Verano

The back of the lighter features a red fuel indicator.

The bottom of the lighter features a wheel that allows you to adjust the height of the flame. The center of the wheel features a valve that will enable you to refill the lighter with butane.

The top of the lighter features a thin, open aperture where the jet flame ignites.

OPERATION

Igniting the flame of the Verano is done by holding the lighter in your hand and using your thumb to slide the ignition switch at the front of the lighter down. There are two different ways to use the thumb to light up the Verano. The first method is to place your thumb on the ignition switch and use the weight of your thumb to slide it down. The second way is to put your thumb on top of the ignition switch and slide it down from the top. I found the second way the easier way to go.

Xikar Verano

When the ignition switch is slid down, the front of the lighter will click, and the flame will emerge from the aperture at the top of the lighter. The wheel can be used to adjust the flame after it is ignited. Moving the wheel in the direction of the arrow will increase the size of the flame.

Letting go of the switch returns it to its original position, and the flame is extinguished.

EVALUATION

Igniting

First, the contoured feel makes the Verano easy to hold in the hand. The curved sides have a nice ergonomic feel. Additionally, it is an easy lighter to hold in your hand. Furthermore, it was not complicated to ignite the lighter using one hand. For this assessment, I used the lighter for about 60 days straight, and I recall virtually no misfires. I only think you need two hands with the Verano when you use the flame adjustment wheel. I also found this to be one of the easier lighters to adjust the flame.

One thing I don’t like is an open aperture. While a closed aperture sometimes makes cleaning a little more challenging, I find that an open aperture makes the lighter more prone to collecting dirt.

Wind Resistance

Quality Importers has stated that the Verano is wind-resistant. I haven’t actually tested it out on a windy day. However, this lighter was tested in front of a room air conditioner at maximum fan speed, and the flame held up pretty well. In fact, it held up better than most lighters that claim to be wind-resistant. We ran a test in the video below.

Refilling

Refilling the Verano is quite simple. The fuel valve is located at the bottom of the lighter. I refilled the lighter with multiple successive pressures of three seconds. I recommend Xikar’s High-Performance Butane, which minimizes misfires and produces a more robust flame.

Most fuel indicators on lighters are not reliable. In the case of the Verano, the red colored gauge worked very well. It makes it very easy to identify how much fuel is in the lighter. Reading in bright light can be a bit challenging.

Durability

The silver finish on the Verano is beautiful, but it requires proper care. This surface is prone to finger prints and scratching. This lighter must be kept in a case. You also want to care for this lighter and avoid dropping or banging it around.

Altitude

Since I do not live in a high-altitude area, this attribute of the Verano was not assessed.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Verano is one of my favorite lighters from Xikar. I love how it looks and feels in my hand, and it’s easy to use. Most importantly, it is very reliable. I found that this lighter truly lives up to its claims: it delivers the precision of a single flame, the power of a double flame, and the breadth of a triple flame. It works great with various vitolas, ranging from lancero to 60 ring gauge. The only drawback I’ve noticed is the open aperture, which makes me concerned that dirt could get into the lighter over time.

At the time I obtained this lighter, it was $89.99. Since then, I’ve noticed that the Xikar site lists it at $109.00. This is definitely a premium lighter, and if you’re going to buy a high-quality lighter in the $100 range, the Verano is the one to get.

Photo/Video Credits: Cigar Coop

Source: Purchased