I use a Peterson pipe lighter and it works very well, including reasonably well outdoors if you can get out of the wind. It holds a lot of fuel. Considering the importance of a good lighter to pipe smoking, I consider it a good idea to try a variety of lighters, including the Peterson if you have it in your budget. We use the lighter all the time, so it's not frivolous to buy a quality model if you like it.
Durability and repairs are always an issue with things that are not built to be disposable. I am sure that they are repairable, but I don't know who services them. I would like to know that. If repair costs and turnaround time is reasonable then I wouldn't mind having it repaired every few years.
The silver one that looks like it's chrome plated is really nice. It's what I use. Feels good in the hand.
I bought mine from SmokingPipes and they recommended the Kiribi flints, so that's what I use.
I have had one quirk using the refill butane containers by Colibri: With one bottle of Colibri fuel I had no trouble filling the lighter by simply turning it upside down and putting the refill bottle's nozzle into the filler nozzle on the lighter. Then I bought another Colibri refill bottle and I cannot refill the lighter without first removing the bottom metal plate on the lighter. I will be shopping for an easier to use butane filler bottle soon.
Alternatively I use the BIC EZ Reach lighters, which I think are much better than standard BIC lighters for pipes, and they're widely available at places like Walmart and other national retailers.
To clean the lighter, get a Q-Tip and dip it in rubbing alcohol. Wipe the soot covered parts of the lighter and the soot comes right off. It's a nice way to keep the lighter looking good.
Also, I like to use the highly filtered butane. It really does leave less soot on the lighter, and presumably less in your tobacco too. If it's highly purified, the container will say so, but some brands of highly purified butane have bottles that don't fit the Peterson.
I don't remember how long I've had mine, but it's been long enough to have the sense that mine, at least, is built durably. But then I only smoke a few bowls a week. If I were daily multi-bowl smoker I'd always want a backup lighter for the Peterson (or any other lighter).
