Knowing how to start a fire is one of the important survival skills every person should know. Fire is good for a number of things. Use it to cook food and boil water, provide light and warmth, keep wild animals and critters away, and signal for help. These are just the main use of fire in survival situations. Since we’re talking about emergency situations, it’s best if you can start your fire as fast as you can. This is where fire starters come in.
As great a skill it is to start a fire with sticks or rocks, it’s better to have fire starters on hand if time is of the essence. Don’t settle for low-quality fire starters. Below are ten of the top fire starters in the market right now.
Top Fire Starters: Lighters
You probably know by now that lighters are one of the most common and top fire starters there is. However, not all lighters are meant for roughing it out or for emergency situations. While you can always pack ordinary lighters in your bug out bags or emergency kits, it would be better if you have the more durable kinds that work despite harsh conditions. You need lighters that also count as some of the top fire starters in the industry.
Tesla Lighter
Named after the brilliant scientist, the Tesla Lighter is one of the top fire starters around. It is supposedly based on one of Nikola Tesla’s designs, particularly the one revolving around free energy. The Tesla lighter provides “energy on demand” as it can start a fire without fuel. Amazingly, it also doesn’t produce flame or smoke.
The Tesla lighter uses its Twin Engine feature to produce plasma arcs that are responsible for creating fire. This lightweight survival tool is also 100% windproof and will create a spark even when wet. Perhaps even more interesting about this high-tech lighter is that it is rechargeable.
Top Fire Starters: Ferrocerium Rod Fire Starter
A ferrocerium rod or ferro rod is different from a magnesium fire starter, as explained here. A Ferro rod is made of metals including iron, magnesium, cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, and praseodymium. To use a ferro rod, you have to scrape off the black protective coating first before striking the silver part inside.
Ferro rods light faster than other fire starters and work well when used with char cloth, cotton balls with petroleum jelly, and waxed cotton pads. One of its drawbacks is that it only produces hot sparks, which could be a waste if used in a small pile of tinder.
Gerber Bear Grylls Fire Starter
Bear Grylls is a popular survivalist and TV celebrity with his own line of survival gear. His fire starter, produced with Gerber, also happens to be one of the most popular fire starters on the market.
The Gerber Bear Grylls Fire Starter is a set that includes a ferro rod and magnesium stick. That simply means you’ll have a better chance of starting a fire and surviving whatever dire situation you are in.
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One of the top fire starters, the Bear Grylls Fire Starter comes with an emergency whistle that’s integrated into the lanyard, which keeps both tools from being separated. When you twist the end part of the ferro rod’s handle, you’ll find a little storage compartment for more survival items. The storage space is waterproof so you can even store extra matches in there.
Swiss Safe 5-in-1 Fire Starter
Swiss Safe combines both ferro rod and magnesium stick to make one of the top fire starters around. Each set includes a steel scraper, integrated compass, a 150 DB whistle, and a 450lb 8-core paracord.
The lightweight survival tool weighs only two ounces and measures five inches. Best of all, it is capable of more than 16,000 strikes.
Exotac NanoStrikerXL Ferrocerium Fire Starter
When it comes to everyday carry or EDC, the Exotac NanoStrikerXL Ferrocerium Fire Starter is one of the top fire starters you can get for yourself. You can carry it on your key ring, hang it on your neck, or simply stuff it in your pocket.
The NanoStrikerXL comes with a 1/4-inch ferro rod that’s replaceable and still works even when wet. You can use it for up to 3,000 strikes. Not bad for an EDC.
Top Fire Starters: Magnesium Fire Stick
Magnesium fire starters are often used with ferro rods that they’re mistaken to be one and the same. While using them together is the best way to produce fire, they can be used separately.
To use a magnesium fire starter, you must use a scraper to get some of the magnesium shavings onto a pile of tinder. The other side is made of ferrocerium metal, which needs to be struck to create sparks. These sparks create fire when they touch the magnesium shavings. To know more about how to use a magnesium fire starter, check this out.
Survival Spark Magnesium Fire Starter
Like most high-quality fire starters, the Survival Spark Magnesium Fire Starter is more than meets the eye. Aside from providing a spark when you need it most, this fire starter also features a number of survival tools such as an integrated compass, a 150 DB emergency whistle, and a lanyard.
The all-weather resistant Survival Spark Magnesium Fire Starter lights up 15,000 times and can withstand wind and cold. In other words, you can depend on it to start a fire whatever your predicament is. The scraper is designed to be long enough to have a better grip so you can create a spark a lot easier. It comes with both a serrated and a flat edge.
Survival Frog Magnesium Fire Starter
The magnesium fire starter from Survival Frog is pretty similar to other top fire starters available right now. For one, you can rely on it to produce fire whenever you need it most. It works even when wet or windy. And like the Survival Spark fire starter, it lasts 15,000 strikes.
This fire starter features two more survival tools, namely a 150-decibel emergency whistle and a compass. It measures only 4.75 x 0.5 inches and weighs only 12.7 ounces making it pretty portable.
SE Outdoor Tanto Knife with Firestarter
Most survivalists prefer a tool that provides a number of functions that are vital to their survival of course. This is why multi-tools have become synonymous with prepping and survivalism. The SE Outdoor Tanto Knife with Firestarter is one much multi-tool.
This survival tool functions mostly as a knife thanks to its full tang stainless steel blade. The three-inch blade has a serrated edge while the handle is wrapped in paracord. It also comes with a magnesium fire starter, which when struck by the blade will help create fire. It comes with a nylon sheath so it’s easier to carry everything.
Check out the Gentleman Pirate Club and see other lists of top survival items so you’d get a better idea of what you should include in your gear. For now, you can choose from this list of top fire starters. If you recommend one that isn’t on this short list, please share it with us in the comment section.
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