by Dave MacLeay
Ultimate Survival Technologies is introducing a compact version of the company’s BlastMatch flint-and-steel fire starter. Weighing less than an ounce, the Sparkie is compact enough to carry as an emergency fire starter. The Sparkie’s flint-and-steel machanism can be operated one-handed and will produce a shower of sparks under nearly any conditions, including wind and rain.
A squeeze on the rubberized sides of the Sparkie ejects its spring-loaded flint. To create fire, you just push the end of the flint against a solid object (the ground, a log, etc.) near your tinder, all the while squeezing the side to engage the striker bar. The result: a shower of sparks three times hotter than the average match.
