Can anyone recommend a good fire starter for camping use?

too solid

too solid

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Apr 17, 2011
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I've seen the aurora fire starter and a gerber bear grilles. Can anyone recommend something you've had good experience with? I don't know anything about them and don't want to over pay for something that isn't up to standard.
 
It just depends on what you want, and maybe what kind of tender you might have or take or find. You can spend from $7 on a Swedish firesteel mini, up and beyond $25 for the Aurora, both work.
I have the Aurora, with the carbide/cobalt blade, and it works just fine. I guess I wanted to always have the blade so I didn't even need my knife(as a striker).
I also own the ESEE fire kit, it's got a watertight storage compartment to hold some tender, and a button compass, it works great as well.
Bark River and plenty of other knife makers can make you one with a custom handle, or one that matches a particular knife.

Others may chime in regarding the Blastmatch, nano strikers, or others. Camping Survival, Knife Center, and others have many to choose from, even plain "blank" ferro rods that you can attach a handle to.
 
I use a firesteel with wood handle from Goinggear.com, They were out of the handled ones but they sell the blanks also.
Works every time.
 
I use a Light My Fire firesteel for years now, the scout model, and it works fine. I don't have experience with other models and brands.
 
Apparently by "fire starter" you mean source of ignition.
Sticking to items for the pocket:

Butane lighters are good if you can keep them above 32 F.

Matches have worked for over 100 years. Not for the fashionable. Just to start fires.
 
Yup^^^ ferro rods and stuff are cool and worth having around but if it really came down to likely scenarios and usage, get a pack of bics and some matches for like $5 :)

Rely on those and know how to build a sustained fire, then work on picking up ferro rod skills and stick fire skills. I like the ESEE fire kit in particular because you can keep a bit of tinder in it :)
 
A bic is a no brainer. So are waterproof matches, as bics don't work well when wet if they work at all. That and they rust easily and suck once that happens. Last. a ferro rod is great and not at all gimmicky if you have a good one. The bigger the better. The bigger and hotter ones allow you to use natural tinder with more ease. Cotton soaked in petro jelly is nice to have, as is steel wool, but your not practicing bushcraft when your using them. It's no different than bringing along an empty water bottle filled with gasoline to poor on your tinder to get your fire started. So bring a good ferro rod and use natural tinder. It's way more fun that way!
 
Thanks guys! I want to get one for myself and a buddy. Mostly to keep in are fishing bags, and if needed for emegency.
 
Here's how I look at it.
There's bushcraft, like Driveby Trucker said, use natural tinder and a larger ferro rod for those activities.
In a "real" emergency, maybe you're boat sank, your wet, and you need a fire right now. That's when something like the ESEE fire kit and a knife would be just enough to get a fire going. You'll have some PJCB's inside, a knife to make your other fire prep, and strike the ferro rod.
It's up to you, and the skills you want to have. If you're not bushcrafting, and have this ferro rod for emergencies, then maybe you need to think about tinder as well. Maybe you're a master woodsman, and just need the ferro rod, either way take skills or the tools to make a fire.
 
peanut lighters, strike anywhere matches in a match safe, UCO stormproof matches, Blastmatch, Sparkie, ESEE, Light my Fire, Misch Metal blanks from goinggear, etc.
off topic- 1,010th post :cool:
 
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It's a good idea to bring a couple ways of starting a fire because of how important a fire can be. As for brands, it's been my experience that it doesn't make a lot of difference. Personally, I try to avoid celebrity-endorsed products, but that's your call. Here are various methods that I have brought along.

As ignition sources:
-Waterproof matches
-Firesteel (My buddy likes his Aurora; I use a cheap one)
-Empty Bic lighter to make flint shavings and create a spark
-Steel wool with 9V battery

As fuel:
-Quick tabs
-Magnesium rod for shavings
-Cotton balls coated in petroleum jelly
-Pine pitch/dried moss/dried cattail, etc.
 
I like the esee fire kit.... Carry tinder inside...... Cotton balls.

Can't beat the matches and bics though.

Recently been messing with the
Potassium permanganate and glycerine deal.... Mix equal parts of each and you got fire.....just fun to test this stuff... Added 1 container of each to my go bag.
 
peanut lighters are hard to beat in an emergency...uses zippo fuel, but doesn't evaporate in 3 hours like a zippo :D
 
Blastmatch.I try and make sure as much of my gear is useable one handed as possible.I broke my arm hiking 10 years ago and since then,I've taken the lesson and applied it.While nothing is perfect,I really like the blastmatch design because you can use it one handedand it does throw a hot shower of sparks.Takes a little practice,but think of it as a new skill.I use other ferro rods and firesteels and methods but the blastmatch is always in the pack just in case.
 
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1. Bic Lighter
2. waterproof matches or strike anywhere wooden matches dipped in wax/paraffin
3. "Sparkie" http://goinggear.com/sparkie-one-handed-fire-starter-orange-1.html
or Blastmatch.

For tinder;
Truck camping: a small bit of motor oil poured on the wood has the stickyness to ensure it stays lit and doesnt explode like gas
In my backpack: in a ziploc bag or pelican case / waterproof container: a large handful of dryer lint and gauze/cotton balls soaked with vaseline (stored separately)
 
thanks crewdawg.gonna have to check out the sparkie.looks like another great piece of gear and i like the smaller size for mini kit use.heres a vid (not mine) of the blastmatch.love mine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQdp5EDnKLE&feature=player_embedded
I'm also a big fan of dryer lint and vaseline cotton balls.I have also found hand sanitizer soaked cotton balls to work well.I keep a waterproof match safe stuffed full of hand sanitizer soaked cotton balls in my kit.great fire starters,and can also be used to clean your hands and small wounds when needed(a little more versatile than the vaseline) Here's a tip,go to cracker barrel and get a few of their small glass syrup bottles with your pancakes,great containers for a little used oil.If you want something even smaller,I use the single serving size glass texas pete bottles to carry a shot of lighter fluid(for the zippo) and one or two of rubbing alcohol in the med kit.
My wife(or who ever is doing laundry)empties the dryer lint filter into a plastic coffee can I keep sitting on the laundry shelf for ready access.I have never carried a bic or matches into the woods with me(just my preference) Always a fresh filled zippo,flint and steel or equivalent and tinder(usually several sorts) Even if the zippo gets wet or runs dry it will spark and I usually double up on flints in the zippo just to make sure I have an extra.
 
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