Home & Kitchen · Head-to-head
Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter vs Looftlighter Pro
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Charcoal Starters: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The chimney is the only method here that needs nothing plugged in or refilled, publishes its capacity properly, and has no electrical or gas component to fail. The Looftlighter is the one to buy if speed is the point and there is a socket within reach.
Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter
Buy it1.6 gallons of aluminized steel that needs nothing but a match and ten minutes.
- A large 1.6 gallon capacity holding approximately 5.7 pounds of standard charcoal briquettes, which is the only capacity figure published among the four.
- Durable aluminized steel construction, a sturdy side handle shaped for a secure grip, and a heat shield that reduces heat transfer to that handle.
- A flip-up helper handle so you can use two hands to pour lit coals, which is the moment this job is most likely to go wrong.
- It needs a separate ignition source, whether newspaper, a lighter cube or a torch.
- Weber recommends wearing gloves when the chimney is hot, and it stays hot for a long time after the coals are poured.
- No time-to-light figure is published, and the whole thing has to go somewhere fireproof afterwards.
Looftlighter Pro
Buy itSuperheated air at 1400 degrees, no flame, no gas, no fluid, and a socket.
- Starts a fire with superheated air alone, reaching 1400 degrees Fahrenheit, with no gas, no flame and no need for lighter fluid.
- Lights all fuels including charcoal, briquettes and logs, so the same tool handles a grill, a fire pit and an indoor fireplace.
- The Pro lists 30 percent increased airflow and an auto ignition program, so it manages the sequence rather than relying on you holding a trigger.
- It needs mains power, which rules out grilling anywhere without a socket or an extension lead.
- No wattage and no time-to-light figure are published.
- No cable length is given, which is the practical constraint on where you can use it.
Side by side
The 9 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter Our pick | Looftlighter Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Almost everyone, and anyone who grills away from a power socket. | Patio and garden grilling near a socket, where lighting in a couple of minutes is worth the outlay. |
| Price tier | $ · budget | $$$ · premium |
| Method | Chimney, convection | Superheated air |
| Needs power | No | Yes, mains |
| Needs fuel or consumables | Newspaper or a lighter cube | No |
| Output figure | 1.6 gallon, about 5.7 lb briquettes | 1400 °F air |
| Open flame | Yes, from the starter below | No |
| Works on logs | No | Yes, stated |
| Material or build | Aluminized steel, heat shield | Not published |
| Safety features | Heat shield, helper handle, gloves advised | No flame or gas |
| Time to light published | No | No |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter if
almost everyone, and anyone who grills away from a power socket.
Know before buying: it needs a separate ignition source, whether newspaper, a lighter cube or a torch.
Pick the Looftlighter Pro if
patio and garden grilling near a socket, where lighting in a couple of minutes is worth the outlay.
Know before buying: it needs mains power, which rules out grilling anywhere without a socket or an extension lead.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter - 1.6 gallons of aluminized steel that needs nothing but a match and ten minutes. Choose the Looftlighter Pro instead if patio and garden grilling near a socket, where lighting in a couple of minutes is worth the outlay.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Charcoal Starters: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).