I just bought eight of these today (8/25/18) to replace my two previous sets of regular bamboo torches which seems to last about two years in the elements 24/7/365. Overall I think these metal ones should last much longer...though I will store these during the off-season to help extend their life.
My previous bamboo ones did degrade over the wet winters here in the PNW, and a few of the bamboo caps would expand and crack, rendering them useless. Also, one of my canisters recently developed a leak as I noticed the bamboo pole was considerable darker than the others, and with a stain on my deck where it stood against the railing. The canister was empty and it was then obvious that there had been a leak.
These metal torches have metal caps and attaching chains so should never fail. Also note that Tiki must have updated the design as you can unscrew the pole from the main torch assemble - see pictures for the individual sections. All in all I expect to be pleased with these long-term...
Hi Mak99- Thank you for sharing your thoughtful review! We hope you're able to enjoy your new torches each and every night! - TIKI Brand