Self-lighting cigarette

Smokers, breathe easy (if you still can) — technology has finally solved the pressing problem of not being able to light up on a windy day. Israeli company Gashbam Enterprises has invented a self-lighting cigarette — which also solves the problem of forgetting your lighter or using the last match. The sulphur and phosphorous-anointed tip turns the cigarette into a device operated just like a match, so you can strike it against a rough surface on the side of the pack to get it lit. To prevent breakage, the cigs are reinforced with bamboo and tobacoo leaf slivers. There ya go, smokers — cancer risk remains, but at least no more will you be at risk of singeing your eyebrows while trying to light up in a wind tunnel.

[dfd @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Wasn't this on an episode of the classic Twilight Zone?..

I recall some dude from the future trying to strike his cigarettes on the pack like a match.

[bnt @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

This will never be approved in its current form: for one thing, they would need to make the lighting system the same as with safety matches, so they can't light up in the pack or in your pocket...

[Sheniferous @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I'd be all over this if I was still a smoker. Quit in November 2004. Go me. But I never liked lighting a ciggy with a match anyway... the initial taste from the flare-up is craptacular.

[Dean Esmay @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I recall a Robert Heinlein book, "The Door Into Summer," wherein he described cigarettes you could light by just waving them in the air. This is almost close to that.

[kronk @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I remember my mum telling me about a similar product from about 30-40 yrs ago.
Her lasting impression of them is an overwhelming taste of sulphur as you take that first sweet draw.
Mmmmmm I wish I still smoked.....

[Gerald Mitton @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Bad idea. The sexiest part of smoking is in the way you light up...

[John Nowak @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

"Outer Limits," I think. The episode was called "Soldier," written by Harlan Ellison.

[amanda @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

boy those cigeret companys really want out on a limb for this one

[RickP in AZ @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Funny, the scifi writer Robert A. Heinlein had these in many of his stories. Characters were always "striking" their cigs. Currently as a smoker I think is it is a super groovy idea even if it means that I won't need my engraved Zippo lighter... But as I'm planning on quitting so that I can feed my tech-addiction I could care less about self-lighting cigarettes.

[Jeff Chan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Geez man, at least credit the site you got this from. This was on another technology blog yesterday - http://www.gearlive.com/index.php/news/article/self_lighting_cigarette_03221058/

Oh, and I cant wait for when these things come to the states! Bring 'em over!

[Rocck Lobster @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Hmmm....what about the security risk at the airport? FSA doesn't stop anybody from bringing cigarettes onto the flights; they only recently started to limit lighters and ban matches. If these cigarettes act like a match, terrorists like Richard Reid could light as many shoe bombs as they like!

[gasman @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Can you imagine the circus when a pack of these goes up in someone's pocket from friction or standing to close to a heat source? Talk about "real world" entertainment. Someones going to go into a skinny stomping mode.

[Arpad @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Robert Heinlein rules, though I don't care much for smoking. Although, now that I'm living in Germany, I'm taking advantage of the ample supply of Cuban cigars ;)

[Bigland @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Nah, all we need is an improved Zippo that doesn't dry up as quickly. Doesn't it suck when you're eagerly waiting for the great taste of cigarette but your Zippo refuse to lit?

Oh well, maybe that's why I quit smoking.

[OddManOut @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I don't smoke, but I have a...well...'unhealthy' apreciation for the odor of cigarette smoke, I actually like it (go figure...). I wonder, won't the bamboo slivers (not to mention the sulphur) negatively affect the 'taste' of the cigarette ?

"This will never be approved in its current form: for one thing, they would need to make the lighting system the same as with safety matches, so they can't light up in the pack or in your pocket..."

Why not ? I'm not simply flaming or contradicting you, I'm genuinely curious. Do you mean they will not be approved in a particular country ? I am not aware of there being any restrictions on carrying 'strike-anywhere' matches in ones pocket (here in the united states anyway, I acknowledge that laws vary greatly in differing countries) and those can go up realatively easily. Please enlighten me as to your reasoning...

Besides, having these things ignite in your pocket seems like a fairly trivial concern considering the cigarettes are going to kill you eventually anyway...

[thomas appleyard @ Jan 6th 2006 2:39PM]

back in the days when i was a smoker i bought some of these cigarettes in the 1980,s

the problem with them was they did,nt always light up.