Best Survival Fire Starter

Alongside a supply of fresh drinking water, a reliable fire starter will be one of your most valuable resources when venturing into the great outdoors. A lighter or matches may do the trick in mild conditions, but the weather can be unpredictable. What would happen if your matches got wet or your lighter ran out of butane? Magnesium or a ferrocerium fire starter will be your best bet at keeping warm at night, cooking food, and signaling for help. There are numerous ways to light a fire. Using a firelighter is arguably the easiest and most efficient method. In survival situations, time is precious. This guide will walk you through five of the top-rated fire starters in 2019, including a buyer’s guide on how to choose your own. By the end, you should have enough knowledge to select the best survival fire starter for your needs.

Type of Fire Starter and Practicality

Survival fire starters come in all shapes and sizes, and deciding on the best type for you will depend on its intended purpose. Flint and Steel fire starters, a primitive type of starter, work well in all weather conditions. They’re a trusted type of fire starter amongst survivalists, and you’ll likely see these kinds of fire starters a lot when you’re choosing one for survival. While flint fire starters perform even in wet conditions, more common fire starters, such as matches, will be useless once they come into contact with water. Instead, lighters are a safe bet, as they’re easy to use, portable, and can work no matter what the weather.

Weight

You’ll need to take weight into consideration when choosing a survival fire starter. Although a heavy fire starter might seem to be more effective and powerful, it won’t be a comfortable choice to carry around in an emergency. To help shed some weight off your fire starter, you should think about the significance of certain features. For example, a striker may not be essential for you if you need your backpack to be as lightweight as possible. A more compact fire starter that requires more improvisation may be more convenient for long-term survival situations.

Durability

While most fire starters are already waterproof, you should be aware that they aren’t all built the same. Fire starters made from tinder components, such as char cloth or cedar bark, will not be waterproof, which could cause issues if you find yourself in a wet environment. If possible, aim to choose a fire starter that is already waterproof because of its material. Look for materials such as wax cloth or Ferro rods. However, if you do opt for a non-waterproof fire starter, then investing in a watertight container for protection is a sensible choice. You’ll also need to think about how long-lasting your fire starter will be. Lighters typically run out fairly quickly, while Ferro rods are designed to last over long periods. Consider the quality of your fire starter, as higher quality materials generally mean the product will perform well for longer. Although there are plenty of great budget-friendly options available, sometimes it can be smarter to invest in a high-quality product that may cost you slightly more but won’t need a replacement.

Convenience

It would be pointless to choose a high-tech fire starter, take it out with you, and have no clue how to use it when the time comes. That’s why it’s sensible to opt for a fire starter that is easy to use, especially if you are new to learning fire starting techniques. While some fire starting methods require a lot of practice and knowledge to master, you can start simple and build up your skill with time. One way to make your fire starting experience a simpler one, would be to practice before you venture out into the wilderness for real. If you can, practice in your backyard or a local woodland area (providing there are no restrictions and it is safe to do so), and this will make it seem far less daunting when you have to start a fire to survive.

Recap

Despite a wide range of fire starters to choose from, my pick for the best survival fire starter would be The Friendly Swede Magnesium Alloy Emergency Easy Grip Fire Starter. It is suitable for any survival situation, as it performs to a high standard no matter what the weather conditions or the terrain is like. It remains high-quality while being compact and lightweight, and is also a great choice for beginners. We hope our review has helped you to choose the best survival fire starter for you. It’s not easy to decide what is the best survival fire starter, but with the help of our reviews and buyer’s guide, we hope the choice isn’t so daunting. Thanks for reading! If you have any feedback, please let us know in the comment section below. Alternatively, if you have any suggestions for future topics, please get in touch with us – we’d love to hear from you! Good Luck and Happy Survival Prepping!