What's your favorite way to start a fire (obviously, no matches or lighters allowed!)?



My personal favorite is using a 9 volt battery, and really thin wire. Heats right up, and I used to use it as an improvised lighter when I was a kid (I'm a smoker, and there's nothing worse than having cigarettes and no lighter).

The magnifying glass method is my personal favorite. I guess I cooked too many ants with a magnifying glass as a kid!

Wow...you guys really go for the harder options...lol...I just started out and made my firsy survival kit (or bug out bag, if you will) and I prefer the swedish firesteel...Rather inexpensive...around $10...works every time regardless of weather (you'd be out of luck with the magnifying glass on a cloudy or overcast day)...it never loses power (like a dead battery) and is very light in my pack...if you're not familiar with it, check out the firesteel thread in this forum here: http://www.emergencypreparationforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=4

I will definitely grab one of those next paycheck, they seem pretty cool. That being said, it's nice to start a fire different ways when camping. I think that your method might be my favorite though, that stuff really seems to burn HOT!

I would use a Swedish fire steel as it is easier and cheaper when compared with all other alternatives and it doesn't require a tool for getting the fire started.

A small battery and thin wire is my favorite, small, portable, and the battery can come from virtually any gadget.

By being the slightest spark that causes the ignition of a pent up inferno.

You guys are jokeing right? I mean you really don't expect me to take you seriously!??

A magnifying glass and a 9 volt battery. Can you say no sun or dead battery??

For realities sake either a Blast Match or a First Strike fire steel............FIRE........

First time every time!

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Retired Navy SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape) Instructor
certified pistol, rifle, shotgun, home defense Instructor
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Survival & Disaster Preparedness Instructor

Couldn't agree more. Blastmatch allows for one handed firestarting. That's key if your other arm is injured.

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If it's in your pack, but you don't know how to use it...it's useless. So, always test your skills as a form of preparation...Don't wait until your life depends on it. That's a lesson you don't want to learn the hard way.

I carry 4 different means of starting fires in my BOB or on my person. I have 2 Zippo lighters I carry and have an unopened can of fuel and 2 packs of flints in my BOB. I also carry 6 Bic lighters. I have a Blast match firestarter and a magnesium and flint stick. The lighters are more for convenience, and the rest I have used and know how to work quite well.

I have a gallon bag of dryer lint packed, and as it gets used up I can replace it with dry kindling as I find it when in the wild. If you use your head, fire starting can become a non-issue.

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Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.

NRA Certified Instructor for Basic Handgun and Personal protection in the Home.
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