Your favorite backcountry fire starters

[hirshey]

Try it, or you can continue packing around a bag full of extra crap.

Bic lighters are both cheap and (usually) reliable. It is nice to have an alternate source just in case it decides to give up the ghost; especially if you are more than a day's hike from a trailhead. I have heard arguements that at high elevations/low temps sometimes they aren't very reliable.. I have only had one lighter not fire up for me (yes, I had used it often before that trip and it still had fuel etc etc), but I was glad for my cheap-o matches when that was the case. Matches or flint aren't going to be the straw that breaks my back. 

[saylean]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,16079.msg181878.html#msg181878

Theres the thread by iceman I was previously referring to.

[300rum]

Strike anywhere matches for me.  The new ones though don't seem as good as the old ones?  Maybe it's just me?  I also carry a candle, the first thing that I light is the candle and then try to use the match to start the kindling.  Along with the candle I have some pitch in the ziplock, pitch works good.  If you can find a piece of wood that is saturated with pitch that is even better, it has the yellow look to it and is really heavy, that is the stuff I like to carry.  You can shave a few pieces off with your knife to give yourself more time to dry out any kindling you are trying to get going.   

I also carry a few ezbit fuel tabs but I would only use them last ditch.  OK, I'll come clean!  I carry a flare too but I would only use that last, last ditch if I need something fast.  It is a pain as it is heavy but it will eventually start anything on fire! 

At least a few times a year I try to knock off the rust, if only just to prove to myself I can do it when things are nasty. 

[3Under]

Propane torch and an old tire.

[huntinguy]

Strike anywhere matches for me.  The new ones though don't seem as good as the old ones?  Maybe it's just me? 

Word I have heard is the old ones are different. I have heard the formula was changed because... well... terrorist could make a bomb out of them. I can't remember the chemical but it is now illegal to posses.

[RB]

Strike anywhere matches for me.  The new ones though don't seem as good as the old ones?  Maybe it's just me? 

Word I have heard is the old ones are different. I have heard the formula was changed because... well... terrorist could make a bomb out of them. I can't remember the chemical but it is now illegal to posses.

Red Phosphorus was changed due to tweekers making meth they dissolved it off of the matches and used it in their brew

[RB]

I did a little experiment a couple of years ago with:
1.  cottonballs and vaseline
2.  commercial firestarter sawdust ball things
3.  papertowel and sticks (the old fashioned way.  Apparently, people wanted to cheat death back then.)
4.  another type of commercial firestarter - sticks

Firestarting devices included matches, a lighter and a magnesium stick and flint striker.  I tried all three on the different tinder listed above.

I got fires lit but I really struggled with paper towels and sticks.  I'm probably not going to carry an entire roll of paper towels in case I need a fire.  Far and away, the cotton balls and vaseline worked best.  Plus, if someone doesn't know what they're for and raids your pack it looks a little freaky.   

The magnesium stick and flint striker worked ok but, if you stick it in your pack, make sure you practice with it first.  Until I learned to pull BACK with the flint part and leave the metal striker static I just blew magnesium shavings all over the place without any danger of starting an actual fire.

I purposely chose spring because everything was really damp and hard to start (simulating nearly worst case) and, when I did get something started, I wouldn't start an inferno on accident.

What's up with the cotton balls and vaseline? How are these made? Just smear them with vaseline or is there a process to make them? thanks

[ICEMAN]

Just work some vaseline into a few cotton balls. Work it in with your hands. Then store the cotton balls into a small container to keep them from greasing up your gear. When needed for fire, pluck and tug at the cotton ball to spread it out like a mini bird nest. Burns awesome.

[RB]

Just work some vaseline into a few cotton balls. Work it in with your hands. Then store the cotton balls into a small container to keep them from greasing up your gear. When needed for fire, pluck and tug at the cotton ball to spread it out like a mini bird nest. Burns awesome.

Cool thanks 

[bullchaser]

Just work some vaseline into a few cotton balls. Work it in with your hands. Then store the cotton balls into a small container to keep them from greasing up your gear. When needed for fire, pluck and tug at the cotton ball to spread it out like a mini bird nest. Burns awesome.

This works awesome you can get a small plastic container at rei that weighs next to nothing and hold about three balls I have one in every pack and a few in the truck.

[losdaddy7]

Better yet, go buy some Spry breath mints at PCC grocery.  They come in these sweet little plastic pop top bottles.  Perfect to reuse for 3 or 4 cotton balls....   (savor the mints first  )

[KFhunter]

replace vaseline with bag balm, then you got antiseptic ointment if needed
 
 

[ghosthunter]

I always have a baggy with dural log chunks in it. And wind proof matches, bic ligther and flint.

[jechicdr]

Another vote for Bic's.  Usually keep one in my coat pocket, one in my binocular case, one in my day pack, and one in camp.  Almost invariably I put one of those items down somewhere to lighten the load, planning on picking it up on the way back to camp.  Also keep a magnesium and small pen knife in the day pack (day pack-large fanny pack has my field dressing supplies, game bags, trail markers, headlight, snacks and water supply).  Back at camp, I use my Jetboil to start my campfires.

[Sawbuck]

Diesel