Fire Starter: Matches or Lighter

[audiophile]

Long ago I carried something like this. Called Metal Match back then. It was perfect for starting white gas stoves. No magnesium block needed, its just the sparker. We even used it high in the Whites in the dead of winter. I'm not sure we even carried matches . I think I'll get another.

That's the exact one I have. I haven't used it to light anything yet but I keep it on the outside of my pack to jingle around and scare the bears away, .

[traildust]

both. matches weigh what? .25 oz!

[rpettit]

I just carry 2 butane lighters, the see through type with adjustable flame. Never had one fail. I usually hike with a freind who also carries a lighter or 2 also.

[StubbleJumper]

I carry two mini-Bics in the summer and they work reliably for any purpose that I've needed. In the winter, they tend to be a little more difficult to work with when they're cold, so I carry wooden matches in a waterproof container. The matches are a bit more of a PITA, but they seem to work better in the cold....

[Deadeye]

I carry 2 mini-bics: one in my kitchen bag, one in the first aid kit, along with a few strike anywhere matches.

But since my canister stove has a piezo lighter on it, I haven't used a match or flicked my bic in years.

So, if you're about to pay $35 for a firestarter, allow me to offer you some stock in AIG... I'll give it to you for 10% of what I paid!

[Ekul]

come on thats girls scout juice! =P

one bic lighter
one "light my fire" bc its just coo to start a fire with a spark and works wet cold blah blah

Magic boyscout water.




Carry on.

[Egads]

Just like this thread; it doesn't matter. Use whatever lights your fire

[oldfivetango]

As a self confessed pyromaniac I must admit that I have tried just about
everything.FWIW-here's my 2 cents.
1.Fire piston is a nice "parlor trick"
2.Flint and steel works great but dont forget your charcloth
3.Matches work when dry and it is not windy.Better have a candle.
actually,a candle is GREAT no matter what you use.
4.Bow drills are alot of fun but quite bulky to carry and I would freeze to
death most likely before I could make another one in a life and death situation
but it is a great skill to have mastered.
5.The ULTIMATE magnesium device is the BLASTMATCH
6.All ya really need is a candle and two Bic type lighters and carry them
in a pants pocket or inside your socks if you dont have a pocket.
Have a candle available at all times.

That said,can't say I have ever been comfortably warm around a campfire.
So I raise the question-better to build fire when cold or to make hot soup and
drink it and then jump in bag in tent/hammock with bottles of hot water for
hands and feet?I assume the clothes are dry etc and that you have a stove and
fuel.
Oldfivetango

[OldStormcrow]

All you need are a couple of bics and to save all your old candle lantern stubs. Wax will even get wet wood to burn if you do it right. I did have occasion to use an old plastic Cracker Jacks toy magnifying glass to start a fire once when I found myself stuck somewhere with no fire. I still try to always carry some sort of magnifier in my wallet after that. Too bad they don't put real prizes in Cracker Jacks any more.....magnifiers, compasses, whistles, etc. Also, even a bic that is completely out of fuel will light white gas or a propane stove just with the sparks. Just sprinkle a little of the girl scout water on your kindling, strike some sparks on it and smell the knuckle hairs buring off!

[Kanati]

Bic lighter. that's all i've ever used for 20+ years. no need for matches

Ya'll remember way back when, the first butane lighters were prone to spontaneous explosion and lots of people had a big hole blown in there leg while carrying one in their pants pocket. That's when I went back to matches.

[Don H]

I carry a few of the trick birthday candles for fire starters with my waterproof matches.

[Tin Man]

esbit tabs are nice

[2Questions]

I've had decent success in cold weather with this bic type lighter. The extension on it makes it easier with gloves on to like my alky stove.

[2Questions]

Here's a link if interested inthe Solo lighter.
http://www.basegear.com/candlelighter.html