Fire Starters

Recent Fire Starter Reviews

UCO Stormproof Matches

The UCO Stormproof Matches are great for all types of weather. No matter the conditions, you can count on getting a fire started with these matches. These matches are amazing. They are definitely stormproof. I’ve taken these matches with me in all seasons in all sorts of weather conditions. They haven’t failed me once. I live in Washington where it’s wet and cold seven months out of the year. I’ve started a fire with these in the rain and snow as well as in the humid summer air. These matches… Full review

Lightning Nuggets Lightnin' Bug

A very simple fire starter that provides a good robust flame and holds up well in storage. I have had these Lightnin Bug fire starters setting in a box of miscellaneous gear for almost a year and hadn't brought them along on a trip yet and wondered if they were still any good, so I decided to take a few out of the package to see if they would still light up. The Lightnin Bug fire starters are about one inch in diameter with a flat side and are made up of resinous pine pitch wood blended with a small… Full review

Schrade Ferro Rod Fire Striker

This is a small lightweight ferro rod and striker on a lanyard. I would recommend this item for an emergency situation, ie bug out bag, get home bag, or backup in hiking/camping gear. So I picked this item up from Amazon mainly due to the price. However, I was very pleased with the product. It appears to be well made and does throw a good amount of sparks. It is only 1/4" diameter, so if you are needing something bigger, this isn't for you. But for an emergency fire starter or a backup fire starter,… Full review

Exotac titanLIGHT

This dependable lighter/fire starter quite simply gets the job done! The Exotac TitanLIGHT is ideal for one who frequently lights fires in the backcountry (the controlled fire!). High visibility orange keeps the fire starter from being lost When it comes to lighters/fire starters, the Exotac TitanLIGHT is one of the premier products available for getting that campfire going. Exotac is a small, family-owned business based out of Buford, Georgia. All of their products are proudly manufactured in the… Full review

Coghlan's Flint Striker

Looks good, but as supplied does not perform. I bought this Ferro fire steel online from a very reliable survival training centre with their recommendation from students' field use where they said that it was good for over 4,000 strikes. I was therefor most surprised to find it didn't produce a spark at all with the pressed steel striker supplied. With the Light My Fire striker it was a very different story—massive spark every time. I filed and ground the Coghlan's striker to give a good 90-degree… Full review

UCO Stormproof Matches

Dependable flame, every time. At one point in my life I was a professional pyrotechnician and owned my own business. We shot professional shows and designed electronic firing systems. After having to ignite fireworks in practically every weather condition imaginable (and after having just about every failure you can think of!) the one thing that always worked for us was Orion road flares. These matches are just like emergency road flares. They strike when wet. They burn reliably and predictably… Full review

Light My Fire Tinder-on-a-Rope

Nothing fancy, but reliably useful. Tinder on a Rope is precisely what the name suggests and is nice to have as a backup for fire starting. I received these matches as a gift from Trailspace for being a Reviewer of the Month.  Conditions: I’ve used the Tinder on a Rope several times this past year, in a variety of conditions ranging from cold, damp spring to hot, humid summer, with success each time. The worst (i.e. wettest) conditions I used it in was after a seemingly out-of-nowhere summer… Full review

Optimus Burny

It works, just don't plan on changing your elevation. I've always been a fan of having at least two different sources of fire-starters, especially when camping. I have a ferrocerium rod, and then this lighter. Or did at least. When in no major elevation changes, the Optimus Burny performs great, giving off a torch-like flame that quickly ignites anything you apply it to.  But elevation is this product's greatest weakness.  Once you reach an elevation higher than the one you've filled your Optimus… Full review

Optimus Sparky

This is the worst lighter. Don't waste your money. I purchased one for Philmont trek in New Mexico and it didn't work at ALL!! I was able to go to the store and they exchanged it and got a new one. Figure OK, this happens and I was again totally disappointed and the second one was just as worthless as the first one. I didn't return it for a third time because I want to keep it to remind me NOT to buy these products!! Total waste of money. Get a lighter for $2 will do the job. You won't need the… Full review