Fire Starters

Recent Fire Starter Reviews

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

FireSteel GobSpark Armageddon

This is the only firesteel I recommend now. It's never let me down and throws very hot sparks. This rod is great for survival training, bushcrafting, and as an emergency combustion source in your pack. I teach survival programs here on the West Coast of Canada. It's cold and wet a large part of the year. I have tried over a dozen different brands of ferro rods over the years and nothing beats my Gobspark Armageddon.  It's very well made. In the first model I used, I broke the handle off and the… Full review

Soto Pocket Torch XT

Awesome telescope feature on a jet type lighter. They do burn down gases in between the trigger and burner. It is a fact of life. I have enjoyed the distance between my fingers and the other fuel's ignition immensely! Like my propane BBQ. Had two and used them up over a year each!. I have enjoyed the distance between my fingers and the other fuel's ignition immensely! Like my propane BBQ or the rustic pine shavings to start my fire pit. "in my front yard" "Tennessee style!" About to step out of… Full review

Primus PowerLighter

The outdoor lighter optimized for lighting the stoves and campfires. Supports refilling from standard gas canisters via optional quite expensive adapter. Very convenient for outdoor use. During more than 10 years in backpacking and camping I tried numerous ways for lighting the stoves and campfires. None of them were perfect though: the matches are expendable and prone to getting wet, consumer lighters are exhausted quickly and may drain gas into your gear. I’d used the fire stone for couple of… Full review

Gerber Bear Grylls Fire Starter

I love this firestarter. It really does the job each and every time! Overall I think this is a great product and I am quite happy with my purchase!! Full review