When starting a fire, you need to have an outdoorsman’s skill set or a good fire starting kit. Starting a fire is not always an easy affair, especially when you’re in wet or windy conditions. It also gets worse if you don’t have the right fire materials or tools. Fortunately, you can easily get cool problem-solving gadgets from the survival market.
Here, we introduce you to some of the very best fire starter tools and kits you should add to your Survival Tools list.
Benefits of Having a Fire Starter
Fires can be a necessity and source of comfort, especially when you’re out in the wild or cold. They keep you warm and also provide a means to prepare your meals or keep off wild animals from your camping site.
Part of being prepared for an emergency is having the right tools and survival kits at hand. Among the things you need are fire starters, which are a must in any outdoor setting.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Fire Starter Kit
Selecting the best survival stove or best tent stove in 2021 for camping or an emergency can be a daunting task. But the best choice may become apparent if the primary considerations were identified when shopping.
Fuel Source
Firestarters that rely on fuel sources are incredibly convenient as they minimize the effort you need to start a fire.
Common fuel types include magnesium, wood shavings or sawdust, butane, electricity, and fatwood. It helps to remember that each type of fuel has its pros and cons. Some types of fuel source firestarters pair more than one type of fuel for more reliable results.
Ignition System
Firestarters also come in the form of an ignition system. These rely on various means to generate heat, fire, sparks, or any other high-intensity heat source like an electrical current. Ignition sources, including Ferro rods, generate scathing-hot sparks. Others, like butane lighters, create actual flames, which you can transfer to your gathered fuel to make a fire.
Portability and Security
When looking for a firestarter, wisdom dictates that you consider the tool’s portability and security. The best kit should be light and small, although most sacrifice ergonomics to a certain degree to achieve this effect. Security is also a crucial consideration, especially for starters that use multiple parts such as Ferro rods and magnesium kits. Go for a kit where the rod and striker are securely attached together. Paracord is a good option for this.
Ease of Use
Before buying a firestarter, check how easy it is to use it in lighting a fire. While in your backyard, the time it takes to ignite a fire should not be a problem. However, when you’re out in the backcountry, how fast you can light a fire determines how quickly you warm yourself up, prepare a meal, and protect yourself.
Best Fire Starting Tools and Kits Review
Our list of cool fire-making survival kits ranges from high-tech to simplistic.
- Ultimate Survival Technologies – Wetfire Tinder
A Fire Starter that works evern in Aet Condition
Using a lighter or matchstick to light a fire is probably the easiest way to go about it. However, both methods could be rendered useless in some environmental conditions. A little rain or wind is enough to ruin your fire-starting plans. This is where the UST WetfFire Tinder kit comes in to save the situation. For less than a buck per piece, you get to arm yourself with a reliable flame starter that you can use in any weather conditions.
Features
The WetFire Tinder kit is designed to help you survive in the most difficult weather conditions. Just as the name suggests, the tinder can float on water and burns longer when moist or wet. This allows you to start a fire in snowy or icy locations.You only need to scrape a small amount of the cube over dry tinder to start a fire. Use a spark striker, lighter, or match to get it lit.
WetFire Tinder is a smokeless kit that can burn for up to five minutes, and burns at over 1300 degrees F. Extinguishing it is also easy in circumstances where you need to put out the fire quickly. It is non-toxic and leaves no petroleum-based residue in the environment. With the fire you start with a UST WetFire Tinder kit, you can keep yourself warm, keep pests away, have a hot meal, and purify your drinking water.
UST WetFire Tinder kit is lightweight, easy to carry, and safe to use. Don’t go for cheaper knockoffs of this product or you may get a substandard item with less than a 1 yr shelf life.
Pros
- The kit has small individually packaged tinders for easy portability
- Easy to use
- Provides a long burn time
- Lightweight
- Works well in wet and dry conditions
Cons
- The kit is costly compared to others on the market
Verdict
The Ultimate Survival Technologies WetFire Tinder kit is an excellent choice for an emergency kit. It’s an odorless and smokeless fire starter that works even in wet conditions. The unopened cubes can last as long as five years, ensuring you always have a fire starter during an emergency. Although the kit is costly compared to others in its class, the benefits it offers far outweigh the cost disadvantage.
2. Ultimate Survival Technologies – Spark Force Firestarter
A Fire Starter that is High Performance and Easy to Carry
The Spark Force is the latest addition to the wide range of Ultimate Survival Technologies. It comes as a mini version of the Strike Force and is an absolute bargain. It is the ideal accompaniment you must have for all your outdoor activities.
Features
The Spark Force Firestarter is designed to ignite a wide range of tinder, including the WetFire Tinder and the Live Fire Tinder. It can generate sparks in any weather condition, and especially when it is wet or icy.
The striker comes in a detachable cap attached to a cord for the protection of the flints. It also helps prevent unintended or accidental sparks. In its solid form, the striker is fireproof.
The case is made from high-quality ABS material that enhances durability and keeps you protected from fire accidents.
The kit has a compact size that makes it fit anywhere you store it. It only measures 3 inches long, and the rod is a little smaller than others. The downside to this is that the size of the rod makes it a little challenging to scrape with.
Pros
- The kit is flint based and provides for high performance
- It is compatible with and ignites a wide range of tinder
- Designed to generate sparks even in harsh weather conditions
- The heat generated is three times hotter than of ordinary matches
- Lightweight and easy to carry around
- Good economical pricing
Cons
- The rod is shorter than those of other kits, making it a little harder to strike with
Verdict
The UST Spark Force Firestarter is the ultimate high-performing flint-based fire starter with all the features of a fire-starting emergency kit. Its small and compact size makes it easy to carry around. You will like it for the high heat levels it generates on a single strike. Its design takes into account your safety and also enhances ease of use
3. UCO Stormproof Match Kit with Waterproof Case
A Fire Starter that is Waterproof and Easy to Use
For a fire starting kit that gives you value for your money, go for the UCO Stormproof Match Kit with Waterproof Case. The pack features 25 stormproof matches, extra strikers, and a waterproof case. The make of the matches allows them to withstand windy or wet conditions to let you start a fire successfully.
The 25 matches are firm, and their treated end will stay lit for 15 seconds. Immersing the matchsticks in water or even in dirt will not easily extinguish them like regular matches.
Features
The wood sticks of the UCO Stormproof Match Kit are strong and made to last long. They don’t snap in your fingers, and they have an extended length beyond the treated end of the match. This means that your safety is catered to when using the matchsticks. You are also assured that you can still light a fire if caught up in the rain or drenched by snow.
The case that holds the matchsticks is also built to last and provides a layer of protection against weather elements. It’s waterproof and floats to keep its contents dry and protected.
The kit features an external and integrated striker that makes lighting easy, and comes with 2 additional striker replacements. Each match can burn up to 15 seconds, making it an excellent choice for barbeques, campfires, stoves, and more. Their extended length keeps you from burning your fingertips.
Pros
- The kit contains 25 stormproof matches
- The waterproof container floats on water and has a capacity of 40 matches
- It comes with three strikers, which come in handy to reignite a wet match
- The wood of the matches is strong and won’t snap in your fingers
- The extended length of the matches keeps you from burning your fingertips
- The matches have up to a 15 second burn time
Cons
- The strikers that come with the kit are not waterproof and should remain inside the case.
- In icy cold water conditions, the o-ring on the container can shrink, allowing some water to creep in.
Verdict
For a fire-starting kit that comes at an affordable price, look no further than the UCO Stormproof match kit. It comes with safety features to prevent you from fire accidents, yet designed to burn long enough to allow you to start a fire with ease. Its wind and waterproof features assure you that you can make a fire in wet or windy weather conditions.
4. Fire-Fast Trekker
A Fire Starter that is Durable and High Performance
The Fire-Fast Firestarter kit features a Ferro rod and a military-grade magnesium rod design. It also comes with high-quality components like the beautiful hardwood handle that make it hard not to love the kit. The striker is specifically made for the Ferro rod it is attached to, and it doesn’t look like a cut-down version of a hacksaw blade.
Features
The blue steel that makes the Ferro rod is strong and hardened enough to ensure it doesn’t warp or bend while in use. The edges are also well sharpened to make it easy to scrape. The paracord that attaches to the actual firestarter is 550 lb. paracord.
The Fire-Fast firestarter line is made from about 95% pure magnesium, which makes it easy to scrape and light. You might have had a hard time scraping the magnesium from a firestarter before. This happens because the magnesium used in many firestarters can contain higher levels of additional metals that make scrapping hard, affecting how well the shards spark. With the high percentage of magnesium in the Fire-Fast kit, you’ll have a more fulfilling fire-starting experience.
The handle is made of Padauk wood, and although this may seem off, there’s a good reason for it. This resinous hardwood doesn’t readily absorb water, making it very suitable for a fire starter. You will have an additional source of good tinder even in very wet conditions, not to mention that the handle will stand up to moist conditions when you’re out in the bush.
The Fire-Fast fire starter is available in different models. The initial model was the Trekker, but the brand has added the smaller Kamper and Firefly versions to the list. The smaller versions are more comfortable, and you can wear them around your neck or tuck them away in your bags or pockets.
Pros
- The Fire-Fast firestarter uses a combination of fuel and ignition systems in its design
- The sourced components are high quality, assembly is done in the USA, and the design is highly ergonomic
- Available in three various models to meet your size preference
- It contains a high percentage of magnesium to make scraping easier
- The handle is made from hardwood that allows enhanced durability and water protection. In an emergency, handle scrapings can be used for tinder.
- The Fire-Fast line of firestarters are very durable and long-lasting.
Cons
- This firestarter kit is initially a bit more expensive
- Bulky, weighing 4.5 ounces
- Has no replacement parts should the Ferro rod or magnesium wear out.
Verdict
The Fire-Fast firestarter kit, unlike most others on the market, has a 3.5-inch hardwood handle. This adds to the convenience of the three-inch rod to generate a higher number of sparks than the handless designs can generate. The hardened steel striker works well as a magnesium scraper, and the 550-pound helps you keep the striker close at hand. While it is somewhat bulky, this tool is excellent for camping, hunting, and other outdoor situations.
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5. The Atomic Bear Fire Starter Survival Tool
A Fire Starter with long-lasting flame
If you want to start a fire like a wizard, the Atomic Bear Fire Starter is what you need. Its wax-infused hemp wick ignites with a single spark and boasts of a cumulative burn time of over 60 minutes. Once you ignite the tinder wick, you can easily move with it to safely ignite your grill, campfire, or lantern. It saves you time and from the embarrassment of spending over ten minutes trying to light a fire while everyone is watching.
Features
The Atomic Bear Fire Starter provides a strong flame unlike some firestarters that need your constant attention to stay alive. The black anodized aluminum sleeve safely carries a hot flame to your tinder. The tube of the firestarter serves as an extinguisher. Simply pull back the wick and the fire goes off.
The design of the firestarter has your safety in mind. The tube helps to keep the fire at a distance, giving you full control of the flame. All you need to do is spray the end of the wick, spark it, and let the fire burn. You can extend the length of the wick and burn time as long as you need without reigniting it.
It’s also a compact and lightweight firestarter that you can carry with you wherever you go. It easily fits in the pocket or any survival kit.
Pros
- The wick in the firestarter contains paraffin infused hemp to make it catch fire quickly, saving you a lot of time when lighting a fire
- The wick burns slowly to give you ample time to light the tinder
- The firestarter is compact and lightweight for easy portability
- Extinguishing the flame after lighting a fire is easy as all you have to do is pull the wick back through the tube
Cons
- The wick may come off the tube if you pull it too hard, inconveniencing you the next time you need to use the firestarter
Verdict
The Atomic Bear Firestarter is a simple-to-use tool that you want to have with you wherever you go. All you need to do is to fray the hemp wick and you’re ready to ignite it with one Ferro rod strike. Once you have the campfire burning, push back the wick through the tube to extinguish the flame.
Final Thoughts
Starting a fire can be an uphill task. However, with Atomic Bear Fire Starter, you can minimize the challenge and frustration of starting a fire. If you want to have a fire starter kit that doesn’t eat deep into your pocket, consider the UCO Stormproof Match Kit with a Waterproof case. Another excellent and long-lasting option for emergency and outdoor use is the Fire-Fast Trekker kit. Whichever your choice, you’re assured that you can quickly make a fire when you need one. Remember to keep safe.
