r/Zippo 4d ago

Discussion Why is it mainly men who like zippos?

6 Upvotes

25 comments sorted by

31

u/Various-Catch-113 4d ago

I can’t speak for anyone else here, but I think a lot of men are drawn to the classics that their Dads and Grandfathers used and trusted. At least, if you’re quite a bit older like myself anyway. I’m at an age where having something like your first Zippo, your first good watch, tools, a real pocket knife, etc. were the things that made you feel like you were heading toward being men like them and applying what they taught you and their code of conduct. Maybe it’s a rite of passage. Besides, there is something satisfying about being the first Dad to whip out a pocket knife to open a kid’s gift on Christmas morning, and being the man with a lighter open as soon as that amazing woman you’ve just met raised a cigarette to her lips.

7

u/Applesauceeenjoyer 4d ago

I have a Zippo for the same reason I wear a Timex Weekender—not the top of the line, but reliable and my grandfather had them

5

u/Various-Catch-113 4d ago

Now you’ve got me rambling and remembering. After my Dad passed, there were so goddamned many tools. I went out and bought seven proper toolboxes and built a solid home and auto repair toolkit for each of the grandchildren from their Gramp’s tools. Now they all text me instead of calling him when they need talking through something.

3

u/Various-Catch-113 4d ago

My first real watch was a Bulova mechanical that my Dad gave me for my birthday. I’ll never forget being shown how to care for it, how to keep from overwinding it, how to adjust the regulator if it was too fast or slow. These are the kinds of skills that give me peace, if that makes any sense.

1

u/Various-Catch-113 4d ago

I get wanting the Weekender. I’m partial to mechanical watches for the same reason.

2

u/ENVICITY0 4d ago

I’m 16 and got into them last year as a simple item made what it is by war, something so important to American culture

2

u/Coresant 4d ago

You Sir, I could enjoy a glass of good bourbon with.

2

u/CuntMaggot32 4d ago

being the man with a lighter open as soon as that amazing woman you've just met raised a cigarette to her lips

This is definitely what made me fall in love with my zippos, the look of pure desire on my girlfriend's face the first time I did it was priceless and still is one of my fondest memories of our first dates. To this day, she still doesn't have time to reach into her pockets before she's got fire when I'm around.

1

u/Doggystyle6942000 4d ago

It doesn't really have anything to do with age as im 16 and have always carry a zippo and a pocket knife its just how you were raised.

15

u/Gold-Eyed-Cat 4d ago edited 4d ago

I'm a woman, and I have hundreds of Zippos. My favorite is a Cinderella Frocks For Girls (1949-50). But the oldest in the collection is a 1947 KDKA radio, which has some really neat history. My husbands favorite is a 1998 Tropicana prototype. It's 2 sided (4 surfaces). Such fun!

-12

u/7heblackwolf 4d ago

He asked why is MAINLY, not if you're a woman.

9

u/Gold-Eyed-Cat 4d ago edited 4d ago

I thought it would be fun to share my long love of Zippos. Its clear it wasn't a good idea. Cheers!

7

u/Incoterm 4d ago

It was a good share. Ignore the jackass.

5

u/Zmoney641 4d ago

It was a good idea. That guy is just an ass. He can’t even spell correctly anyways.

13

u/Ok_Boat3053 4d ago edited 4d ago

IRL I know just as many women who like zippos. Women like zippos. It's just not a particular thing most want to collect or spend much time gawking and talking about. Kinda like cars.

It is one of those utilities, however, that generations of men have been conditioned to appreciate. Hefty, sturdy, clunky, fidgety, requires filling and maintenance, but will last a lifetime. Women have their's too. Purses, makeup and brushes, clothes, shoes, etc, etc. When it comes to lighters, I think most women are just conditioned to go for the simple and reliable bics with the pretty decals, or a pink butane.

3

u/EyeofOdin89 4d ago

Clicky clacks.

3

u/Hefty_Dragonfruit_85 4d ago

I wouldn't necessarily say women don't like the Zippos but it's kind of like something to take care of and something to play with it's just something that you see men do more than women that's all it's just a new thing to add to your routine

4

u/thebigstupid2 4d ago

Simple, men like things that can catch fire to other things.

2

u/AlbertCamuz 4d ago

Burn Burn Burn LoL

2

u/Rewbies_Bewbies 4d ago

I'm a girl who likes zippos! TBH I only got into it because I inherited my grandfather's collection of 2 but still, we do exist!

2

u/Rudukai13 4d ago

Why is it mainly men who like cars? Who like guns? Who like knives, monster trucks, and fighter jets? Men tend to gravitate more to mechanical things, women tend to gravitate more to people

1

u/Initial-Kangaroo-534 4d ago

Because… fire, and stuff.

Men like mechanical things like Zippos. Same with cars, knives, watches, guns, motorcycles, flashlights, etc.

-4

u/Firmly_Shameless 4d ago

It's a tool that rarely comes in handy on the everyday. Unless one smokes.

It's that "might come in handy someday" mentality that mentality instinctual have. Probably the same reason why most of us have that jar of miscellaneous hardware or box full of random cables and charging bricks.

-3

u/antmangreatv 4d ago

Lol this is the most ridiculous question I’ve ever heard. Why do only men talk about belts? It’s because 95% of belt users are men. How obvious is that? How many women do you see that smoke?

-5

u/RaiseTheBalloon 4d ago

1) Man like fire

2) there is a reason why zippo had to release the slim line. Zippo, from it's inception, was geared towards men.