Firestarter ?

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

My wife got a fire started with one the first time she tried it. That must mean that we got an anomoly steel that actually worked. Sure am glad that we got one of the rare ones that actually work! I'd register but you guys said all that needs to be said.

 

[Nordic Viking]

If you can't light a fire with a firesteel and newspaper then you're probably not meant to be outside.

If the so-called "Swedish Department of Defense" - whatever the hell that means, trains people with the firesteel, I'm guessing they teach them how to make tinder and kindling too.

 

[storl]

Haha, I'm surprised he didn't say that he tried to light an oak log and was surprised when it did not light. They key to use a firesteel is to maximize surface area and minimized particle size, so he really needed to crush up a small portion of the Esbit and fluff up the Maya Dust. He probably would have had much better luck then.

As others have said, why didn't he just follow the technique of the people in the youtube videos? I know I receive comments on mine that say that the techniques work well, so why isn't he questioning why those techniques did not work for him under similar conditions?

 

[Oregon Knife Guy]

I totally agree with the writer. It reminds me of a truck I once tried to start, I put the key in and nothing. Then my grandpa told me to turn the key, wow!!! It started with ease!

 

[RoyalM]

Did it mention if he severed his thumb with the striker or any other such thing.

I've only been using firesteels for about a year, thanks to Dan Koster, and from the first time got it to light a fire. Started using a couple of sheets of tp then down to 1 and finally i'm on to natural tinder. I have switched to keeping the blade static and pulling the firesteel but that's a personal preference.

I wonder if the writer is having a go at all firesteels or just this kind?

 

[Fiddleback]

Haha. What a looney. Great link Mete. Always carry char cloth.

 

[DutchV]

He's a reporter - gotta expect that he has no actual talent or knowledge. Apparently his researching skills are substandard as well.

 

[Rick Marchand]

Stephen Regenold's (the author) Response...........

I emailed him and he responded right away. Seemed like a nice guy. He said he knew he'd catch some flack on that one. He also added that the article was supposed to be directed at the marketing, not the product. LMF claims that the firesteel can light just about any form of tinder in any condition. Stephen admitted to being a beginner at fire lighting... and that most of his reviews are from a beginner's perspective. He was interested in learning the right way.... so I put him onto some of the wilderness forums.

Rick

 

[absolutindian]

Nice work, Rick! I'm sure with a little advice and practice, he'll get the hang of nursing sparks and embers into flame. Thinking back on it, I probably could have adopted a more helpful tone, rather than reproachful. I think I'm so fed up with the mass media's BS that I automatically go on the offensive!

 

[Don Rearic]

Idiots like him should not be published under the guise of an experienced outdoorsman.

When the one Tech Writer for C-Net (IIRC) died out in the snow, the news referred to him as an experienced outdoorsman over and over and over again. Ralston has been referred to as an experienced outdoorsman. I'm amazed the NFL Player (or two of them, don't remember) that flipped his boat because he was an inexperienced boater was not referred to as an experienced outdoorsman or experienced boater. (His anchor was stuck so he did what anyone else would do that has the money to purchase a boat but doesn't have the brains to use it, he hit the throttle!)

 

[hlee]

Even those flunkies on "Surviror" can light a fire with a doan's mag block fire starter (generally considered inferior to the LMF). He may have been expecting instant flame, instead of having to do a bit of coaxing.