UST Sparkie Demonstration Video

storl

storl

Joined
Apr 17, 2007
Messages
1,607
Some of you gents requested that I make a video of the UST Sparkie one handed fire starter when I got them in stock, so here you go:

[youtube]RqdT_Mlbto8[/youtube]

My thoughts on the Sparkie:

I have been very impressed with the little guy so far and it is definitely the easiest and most well thought out firesteel based tool that I have ever used. The initial reports had it rated for something like 100 strikes, but it has a 1/4" firesteel in there that should be good for at least several hundred strikes. The version I stock is the brand new version with the rotating firesteel that lets you rotate the rod to a spot that has not been scraped yet if you want/need to do that for any reason.

Surprisingly, even my wife wanted one. She normally rolls her eyes at any light producing, fire starting, or sharp cutting implements, so having her want one was a bit of a shock to me. She gets all enthusiastic at gun shows when customers ask what it is and launches into a demonstration of fire on one of our tables that will surely get me in trouble with the show owners one day. :D

They are still plastic like the Blastmatch and Strikeforce, but the small size, light weight, and ease of use with the Sparkie are steps in the right direction for UST.
 
Suprisingly, I want one too! I thought it was kind of gimicky, but damn that looks very easy to use. I'll be ordering 1 from you soon.

Thanks for the video.
 
tonym said:
Suprisingly, I want one too! I thought it was kind of gimicky, but damn that looks very easy to use. I'll be ordering 1 from you soon.
Click to expand...

I thought the same thing until they sent me a sample a little while back. I was blown away with how easy it was to use.
 
Fine. Just fine. First you get me hooked on your new fire steel's, then you introduce these things. Now I want one of these, too: does it never end?
 
Thanks for the review Marshall! How robust is it? My wife and kids really liked the Blastmatch because it was easier for them to use than a regular ferro-rod with scraper/knife. My only issue is that they tend to break...or the retaining plastic tabs loosen to where they won't hold the rod in. I'm planning to pick a couple up and see how well my wife/kids like them...

ROCK6
 
I am an old fire steel packing fool from way back when. As others said previously, it looked like a gimmick to me at first. Although, I must admit that's pretty slick now that I've seen the video!. Honestly, without seeing this video-demo, I myself would have not have thought about purchasing this product.. So thanks for that. You'll be my first call for this :cool: little device.
 
Thanks for sharing the video, now I know how it works... Might have to try one out.

Heber
 
ROCK6 said:
How robust is it?
Click to expand...

Seems pretty solid to me. I used one about 50 times a day for two days last weekend showing it to customers, and it held up just fine. Sometimes the molten globs will hit the plastic on the bottom and melt little divots in there, but that is purely a cosmetic issue.
 
I will be ordering one soon. I just bookmarked this page. Got a BBQ to go to and beer to drink right now. Is it easy enough to simply shoot you a PT with my addy and a paypal? Or do you prefer doing the business on your website?
 
TwinBlade said:
I will be ordering one soon. I just bookmarked this page. Got a BBQ to go to and beer to drink right now. Is it easy enough to simply shoot you a PT with my addy and a paypal? Or do you prefer doing the business on your website?
Click to expand...

I prefer doing orders through the site just for inventory and bookkeeping purposes, but I am pretty accommodating.
 
The video is a great demonstration of it. I still find that it is too mechanical and what draws me to a simple firesteel actually repels me from this thing. Little springs plastic housing all seem to be work arounds to make it one handed for operation. What happens when it gets fully immersed. It would seem that all that plastic housing is going to retain more moisture and make it less effective.

Not trying to be a bummer on the item Storl. I think Goinggear has a bunch of awesome products and really appreciate you putting the video togther. From what you showed, it works very well. But you are also using it in optimal conditions. I'd like to see it used after getting wet.
 
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