What's your best fire starting device for starting a fire immediately in a bad situation? Cold, wet, bad circumstances. Lighter, matches, ferro rod, etc?

A highway flare.

+1

If you're at home a propane torch does a great job. It's too heavy and bulky for when you're on the run, though.

Ferro rod and a plastic bag full of dryer lint and torn toilet paper.

UCO Storm Matches are almost scary in the way they burn and stay lit, even in dunked in water or snow after lighting. They come loose or in a waterproof canister. If I needed a fire fast, I'd use one of them with some hot-burning tinder.

BTW, I just saw a nifty firestarter kit from Zippo on Amazon that uses the same flint wheel as their lighters, along with some tinder chunks that can fit on a stick so you can poke them into your fire pile. Looks like it will work one-handed too.

Road flare.

Small road flare.
Not superlight, not traditional.
I have almost no need for a fire.
If I'm screwing around with that mess,
I will need it, now.

Flares light, no matter what.
And they burn very hot, for a good while.

If you can't make it happen with a 15 minute flare,
you needed 5 gallon gas or diesel.

Great learning experience:

Start a small campfire in a rain soaked environment...

Especially during late seson elk on the Oregon or Washington coast.....

Paraffin wax and saw dust in a small paper cup. Easy and light enough to carry, last a good amount of time and lights in all conditions.

Edit: use those small cups for ketchup from places like Arby's. There are some slightly bigger too but I can't remember where I got those last time I made some.

1 Flare
2 trioxane
3 cotton balls with Vaseline.
Learn to know what and how to get to burnable wood in a wet environment. Practice your fire making skills in $hit conditions.

Yes, I carry a few options because in the NW rubbing sticks together isn't a good prospect. Once the weather turns I usually have a lighter in my pocket, another sealed one in my pack, my sheath has ferro rod on it, I keep a Dones Bar, vasaline soaked cotton balls, and storm matches.

Fatwood...fire friendly friend.

In the bush, I carry a small bag of magnesium ribbon and UCO matches. The magnesium is available on Amazon.

my fall/winter fire kit is substantially larger (and heavier) than I carry when things are warmer- full size Bic, larger ferro rod, Livefire tin (these are really nice- easy to ignite, even w/ just a spark and burn close to 20 minutes if needed), couple of Trioxane cubes and the "if I absolutely can't get a fire going" Orion mini flare- they just about double my fire kit in weight at 3.6 oz, but even working only with wet materials, I can get a fire going



Orio mini flare

Thanks -- I haven't heard of the Livefire tin before.

I've found it on Amazon and I think I'll find out if it can be shipped to Sweden (I'm sure the Orion mini-flares can't be shipped by air, but the Livefire might!)

John

I have many types of fire starters, but when I absolutely, positively have to start a fire in emergency and the worst conditions, I use a small road flare.

Orion Mini-flares



They gotta have road flares in Sweden.

KC

Yep we do -- I've got three full-sized flares in my car.

However, I've not found any flares small enough that I'd consider them for backpacking -- still looking though!

John

I've got a climbing buddy that breaks out a Duraflame firestarter log at the most opportune times during wet or stormy weather.

Just spent the WE on the Big Susitna nothing but wet wood mostly wet Cottonwood. Took along a bag of instalight briquets used them to dry the wet wood and produce heat. Found some coal to keep the fire going. The Big Susitna changes levels on a daily basis in the summer all the wood is wet and not much Spruce. Rootballs had a little dry wood near the top.

A good trick to know is take a empty beer or pop can and fill it half way with gas. Lay it on its side with lid opening facing up then stack your wet wood TP fashion.

Light it, will burn for about 20 minutes drying your wet wood, can acts like a stove. Usually wood will dry enough to produce some heat.

May save your life in a remote coastal location, wet wood no heat can usually find a beer can and a washed up kicker can of fuel. Also great for starting a burn pile, and a lot safer than trying fuel of a fire!

I carry a bic lighter(several), and wetfire tinder. And a ferro rod. And a JetBoil.

A small flare would be handy. Used to carry a big one, but they are too much for backpacking.

Tell a Redhead to "Calm Down"..

That's funny right there Sage.

Dryer lint in wax, cotton balls with vaseline and a lightening strike starter by a guy named Darrell Holland.

Every Fishing lodge I have been to in Canada, the Fishing Guides use a Propane torch when it’s raining and wet for shore lunch.
If I was backpacking I would just use my canister backpacking micro stove, as it’s much smaller and lighter.

Jpb don’t you have a lot of white birch trees there? The bark burns like gasoline.

Cut to the length you want and seal in wax.


Bicycle inner tube burns easy, hot, and long.

Simple Boy Scout stuff here....

best suggestions... Dryer lint in zip lock, with wax soaked if you can think ahead.

Cotton balls in Vasoline or soaked in wax, zip lock bag...

for the no mess around stuff camping in wet winter time Oregon, we have always used the road flare method..
but I introduced the troop, to Red Dye Diesel in a Windex Spray bottle or something of that sort..
for myself I purchased a Zepco Commercial Spray bottle for like $3.00 many moons ago....half to 3/4 of roll of toilet paper soaked in diesel and then let it dry... brought along in an old metal coffee can or #10 can from fruit, vegetables etc...with it ventilated a bit..
say like with a 22 etc...

dry kindling is never a bag idea either....a lighter is fine, but you can also spark a 9 Volt battery...

look up a Scout Merit Badge book which you can read on line for the Wilderness Survival Merit Badge...

its easy enough to print out the parts you may need for reference.. or you can get one new for about $5.00, with a lot of good tips like that in there...

Red Cross offers a course in this stuff for like $450.00, which essentially uses that Merit Badge Book and Wilderness First Aid..

They can be referenced at USScouts.com

“half to 3/4 of roll of toilet paper soaked in diesel and then let it dry... brought along in an old metal coffee can or #10 can from fruit, vegetables etc...with it ventilated a bit.."

Look up hobo stove. Same thing. Just a giant wick.

Trioxane tabs and storm proof matches

Highway flare is the best- saved my bacon a few times. What I carry mostly now is 2 or 3 Bic lighters and a ziplock back full of airplane innertube cut into triangles with sharp point on at least one end so they are easy to light. A 3" piece will burn 5 minutes.

My secret weapon is Purel hand sanitizer. I use a wood stove and that stuff is like napalm. I also use the fire sticks but the purel lights everything up. and it is also useful for sanitary purposes.

Patrick

Purel+P

dear god YES!!!! I hear some of the crap mentioned in this thread. its clear many people haven't used these. They weigh nothing, the milsurp ones I use come in a wrapper that looks about like a condom wrapper. but are lighter and a bit smaller. They used to sell them in 3 pack boxes for .99 each. but now I think they want 3 bucks a piece for a box. still a great deal. I keep them in my truck. since I don't want to dink around its my go to.

I always have a bic or Clipper lighter in my pocket. I carry a ferro rod and some cotton balls with a dab of vaseline inside; in my pack.

I carry the cotton balls in a small 2oz wide mouth Nagene container (no mess)

I wish I had known this trick when I was guiding near there. I almost used up all the boats gas tank starting fires in the rain a couple of times. It would also have saved a lot of singed arm hair too. This trick has worked even on a wet beach with wet fuel.

Love Trioxane, havne't replenished.

The outfitter I hunted with in WY this fall had a gallon ziplock about 1/2 full of sawdust mixed w/diesel. They buy the big bags of pine-shavings used for chicken bedding, dump that in a large barrel then mix in the diesel. It lights, burns for a long time, is cheap, doesn't weigh much, and is easy to have a large supply of.

Bought a tin of "Pyro-Putty" and it works pretty well, I don't think it's as hot as Trioxane. We had a few dead-dried pine branches w/orange needles on them that once put over the pyro-putty, started a fire darned quick.

I carry a windproof lighter and will use that to start Trioxane or the Pyro-putty.

In a pinch, I do carry one of these for actually getting a fire started as well just in case my lighter doesn't work for some reason:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L5YLS3T/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Fusees.

https://chiefsupply.com/collections...backfire-torch-10-minute-no-spike-or4100

+1 for trioxane. I pick them up from army surplus dealers at gun shows. I believe they were used for a little ration stove. They burn hot and for a good amount of time. Long enough to get some less than ideal tinder going.

Yes. +1

I've used several of the above for fires and all work. The Bic won't light below certain temps though. Anyone know what temp the liquid turns to burnable gas? Keep some matches or other ignition sources close to you. Some in or on each vehicle may save your bacon some day. A time or two they have been handy to me, even though not strictly an emergency. That Boy Scout manual could be a lifesaver. I'm going to give each of my kids' families one for Christmas. I like to give space blankets and such for gifts. This great grandpa is a softie and has a concern for all things family. Be Well, RZ.

Fatwood..its free

If you can't find trioxane, stop by Wallys and get a box of these things. They're fairly cheap and they light and burn great. One will last 15 min or so and they burn hot. They have them with their heaters.

Bic lighters: I much prefer a Zippo. They'll light no matter how cold it is and you can set it down to use both hands to get things going. You don't have to keep a thumb on the lever. If your fingers are really cold, you can light it on your leg or coat sleeve. You don't need to take off a glove. You can get them for under $15 and you only have to buy 1. They're guaranteed for life.

I carry a small sack of fir pitch wood, and a baggie of Vaseline soaked cotton balls.You can get pretty damp wood burning with that. I always carry matches and a lighter. Side note: Nothing burns like red pine needles, and I hardly ever build a fire without em. They go up like gasoline, even if a little damp.

ORION Firestarter / Flares....

it’s like a road flare, gives smoke so people can see you when it’s an emergency - AND they start fires...all good.


https://www.orionsignals.com/product-groups/fire-starters/product/97.html

Straight butane vaporizes at about 35*F.

Spotshooter, I also carry the Orion mini flares. I’ve said it before but after falling through ice while skiing I learned all the cute ways to start a fire don’t work when you need it. There’s a difference between bushcrafting for fun and watching your skin freeze while you try to light a fire.

^ very true!

I learned my "lesson" ducking hunting on the Bighorn River in December, dumped our canoe w/ an air temperature of around 5 degrees- got the canoe to shore an attempted to start a fire, it was a no go (Bic lighter wouldn't spark, we didn't carry any good tinder, matches would go out as the water was dripping off our clothing, lost fine motor skills much quicker than I had previously thought you would)- we paddled our asses off for ~ 5 river miles and luckily made it back to the truck. I was cold for almost three days straight!

Orion mini flare + bombproof tinder = successful fire under bad conditions

Start with the assumption that you’re alone, it’s dark, snowing or raining, and you just broke a leg. Read London’s To Start a Fire to hammer the point home.

I’ve tended to carry a fresh military trioxane bar, but a duraflame log or flare would be nice too.

In the book, it was something like -70. The all time record cold here in Idaho was a 'mere' -60. While most hypothermia deaths happen well above 0 and a lot of those even above freezing, the extreme cold in the book isn't something most hunters will ever experience.

all my treking gear has a little kit with one of those little starter bars, waterproof matches and a bic. thats really all you need. the bic will work if its not too cold and in a pinch you can put it in your underwears to warm up. the waterproof matches are the backup. the best lighter is a zippo but you have to remember to fill those.

A Bic can't start to compare with a Zippo. I put a piece of old bicycle inner tube around mine to reduce evaporation of the fluid. I top it off before each trip for safety. You could also get a small bottle of extra fluid to carry in a pack for a backup. Put a couple oz. in some kind of small bottle that you have around the house.

Try using a Bic when your hands are about frozen. You can't keep your thumb on the lever. You can light a Zippo against your pant leg, sleeve, or anything else while you have your gloves on.

I carry a candle and at least 2 ways to light the candle. Once burning it is a better way to get other tinder going.

I might give Zippo another chance with the innertube. I've had them in the past and they work great for a few days until the fluid evaporates. Instead of the small bic disposable lighter the ones with a longer tip are easier to use and worth the extra size.

I love a zippo, and have one in my pocket frequently. But they suck in a "set it and forget it" type kit.

Bics have downsides too of course, but I've lit a lot of fires with them.

The big advantage of the Zippo is that you can light it with heavy gloves on and you don't have to keep a thumb on a lever to keep it going.
The inner tube doesn't prevent evaporation but it does slow it down quite a bit. Mine will last a week or more with the tube around it. A strip of tape will almost totally prevent evaporation but then you have to carry a roll of tape with you. Trying to get tape off with frozen fingers is a pain, too.

Zippo, and ferro/magnesium bars

normally, the lighter and UCO candle lantern suffice to ignite feathersticks. If you know to embedd your cutting instrument in a tree or log and them use both hands on the split 1/4 of the small log, you can have a lot of feathers in a very short time, made out of the dry center/corner of the log.. I carry a US-made Doan's bar. Shave off a little pile of the magesium part, mix those shavings with wood scrapings, and then ignite the magesium. It burns hot and long enough to ignite the scrapings (even if they are damp) and then the scrapings burn long enough to ignite a featherstick.