This is a fire starter that I would recommend everyone to have in their camping and disaster preparedness kits. I have found it an efficient and effective replacement for matches in my regular camping trips. Here are main points I can address based on my experience:
Pros:
* Reliable: Ever run out of matches or have them rendered ineffective due to moisture while in the back country? I have, and it's no fun. This tool is an effective fire starter even after thousands of uses and if it gets wet, it still works. So long as you run down the length of the tool with a sharp enough edge, sufficient quantity of sparks are generated. (The striker works extremely well, though a knife blade would likewise; I've used the file on my nail clippers to generate sparks as well - the key thing is that the striker you use must have some edge to it. Car keys will not work, in my experience, nor will nails or any other metal object if the edge is slightly rounded)
* High Quality: Though simple, this tool is well-made. The steel comes coated with a protective paint and it has a small but usable thumb grip that provides adequate grip even on a cold, wet day. the striker is attached with a small loop of high quality lanyard. This particular one is actually made is Sweden.
* Price: To me, this represents good value over its lifetime. I tend to use this rather than matches when I am camping to keep my fire-starting skills honed. This saves some cost on matches and the reliability factor makes it a worthwhile investment considering that it will likely be capable of starting a fire long after I'm gone.
Cons:
* Reliability: I put this here to underscore the fact that this tool will do its job only if you do yours by providing proper tinder and a proper environment. One shouldn't consider this the equivalent of starting a fire with a road flare and a gallon of gasoline; This tool enhances proper fire-making skills, it doesn't replace them. My preferred method is a small stock of petroleum jelly-soaked cotton balls. The firesteel also works extremely well starting white gas stoves. Starting a fire with mere tinder is slightly more challenging because the sparks while extremely hot are also very transient. The better the tinder or accelerant, the easier the fire is to start. In any case, this still isn't as easy to use as a stock of fresh strike-anywhere matches - I have both as I like redundancy in this area...
* Quality Control: I haven't experienced this myself, but I have heard others say that theirs have been in varying lengths when comparing side-by-side. While that wouldn't necessarily affect either effectiveness or longevity, it looks bad from a quality control standpoint. In my opinion, these are still the best on the market in quality and effectiveness; just be aware that there may be some slight variation.
Other Thoughts:
Whether to go with magnesium block-style firestarters or this model is for me a matter of personal preference. The magnesium units work great if you are used to them, and they provide a really hot burning start to a fire. I've seen people nick or cut themselves with their knife in the process of creating shavings, however, and I think that's a bad idea in the back country if you can avoid it. For that reason, I prefer this firesteel. So, for me this is an essential item for my kit and at a fair price. Five stars.
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 5.7 x 3 x 0.5 inches |
|---|---|
| Package Weight | 1.92 ounces |
| Brand Name | Light my Fire |
| Sport Type | Camping & Hiking |
