Who keeps wet fire in their kits ?

I keep a cube of wet fire in my fire kit for emergencies. Nothing else works like chemical tinder when it's gotten wet.

Chris
 
They work well, but I don't keep them since they can dry out. They also pack a little large with the air pocket in there too.
 
I bought a package of the stuff years ago and it works great. But other than playing with it, I haven't had a need to use it in a real situation. That said, I divided the cubes up into my various day packs. I like overkill when it comes to fire so I have 3-4 ways to make it in each pack.
 
I prefer to carry tinder with me too. I opt for petroleum soaked cotton balls sealed inside a drinking straw. I made a batch 5-10 years ago. Hadn't used them in about that long. Pulled one out of my pack to try it just to make sure there was still a reason to carry it. :D Lit up like it was the day after. Water tight, no chemical contamination, light and easy to pack. Once I learned that trick off this site I haven't gone back.
 
This time of year, Cat tails fuzz and the fuzz from some awful alien invader grass are plentiful. If anything, the cat tail fuzz burns too fast.

Birch bark is very rare. Scouts needed to "spot" it are left with plantings in house landscaping, where Black Birch (AKA "river birch") is used for its resistance to the borer. Our long warm spell until Fall, 2013 was wonderful for the borers.

There have been user reports of Wetfire tinder that would not light when exposed to open flames for extended periods. Others claim it lasts for several years if kept in a plastic bag.

Codger's birch bark, like cotton balls, lasts for centuries if kept dry, as you would keep tinder given a choice.
 
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