It’s arguable that the biggest innovation in human evolution is the use of fire. In prehistoric times, fire allowed us to cook our food (which freed up our digestive system, making our brains develop faster than they were before), stay warm, and keep predators at bay. To this day, fire still provides us with these things, and much more. Dancing flames are both mesmerizing and comforting to the watcher. In most areas of the Northern Hemisphere, you can succumb to hypothermia year-round. Having the proper tools and know-how to create a fire is priceless if you find yourself in an emergency situation while out and about.
In this article, I will go over two basic fire starting tools you should ALWAYS have with you when you are in nature, as well as a short crash course on how to use them properly.
#1 Bic Lighters
You may be shocked to see that my #1 go-to for a fire-starting method isn’t smacking a rock against a piece of carbon steel, or trying to get a bow drill to create an ember. While these are both useful skills that you should master eventually, it should not be your primary method for fire starting.
Why Bic? They are the most reliable and most common lighter you can find. Plus, they aren’t totally ruined if they get wet. In my experience, they dry out the fastest and also produce the most consistent flame.
Yes, Zippo lighters are cool. They’re fun to play with and are a little piece of Americana. However, they have no application for a serious outdoorsman. Trust me, I have tried to love Zippos. They just aren’t practical. They’re heavy, require liquid fuel (which dries out quickly even without using the lighter), and replacement flints. Leave your zippo at home and pick up a Bic.
Bic Lighters; The Good
Bic lighters are simple to operate, reliable, and last a really long time. They are also an instant source of fire. Meaning that you don’t need to create an open flame from an ember or spark. You just flick the switch, and BOOM. You have fire.
As mentioned before, if you do manage to get one totally soaked, you can dry it out and it will still be usable. They are also lightweight and cheap. I recommend picking up two or three and layering them within your gear. One in your pocket, vehicle, bag, etc.
Bic Lighters; The Bad
There are two major disadvantages to using a Bic lighter. They will not work in extreme conditions such as sub-freezing temperatures (allegedly), or when totally soaked.
The other downside to using a Bic is that it will run out of fuel eventually, leaving you without a fire source.
I recommend only running a lighter for 5 seconds at a time. This will help you keep this resource for as long as possible. If you have a proper tinder bundle and have your kindling processed correctly, it shouldn’t take you any longer than 5 seconds of open flame to get your fire started.
#2 Ferro Rod
As big of a fan as I am of Bic Lighters and their ease of use (especially for the beginner fire maker), ferrocerium (ferro) rods have their place in your pack.
Just to clarify, a ferro rod and a flint and steel are two totally different things. A ferro rod throws a shower of sparks when scraped against any sharp object. This shower can be aimed at a dry tinder bundle to create an open flame. A flint and steel generally have to be used in conjunction with charred material.
Ferro Rods; The Good
A quality ferro rod is an invaluable piece of kit. It will always work, regardless of weather conditions, be it torrential downpours, or below-freezing. As long as you have a good tinder bundle, and know how to use the Ferro rod you have, you will make fire.
Another advantage to a ferro rod is that they don’t have any moving parts and can never run out of fuel. They last a really long time (depending on the one you get), I recommend getting one with a 12,000 strike count. The one I bring with me on camping trips etc, I’ve had for a few years and it’s got plenty of life left in it.
All in all, ferro rods are durable, simple, and last pretty much forever. What more can you ask for?
Ferro Rods; The Bad
No piece of equipment is perfect, and ferro rods are no exception. The biggest disadvantage to a ferro rod is there is a learning curve. A lot of beginners think that you “strike” a ferro rod rather than “scrape” it. If you strike your ferro rod, you can, and most certainly will break it. Even the military grade 12,000 strike ones can break if put through enough abuse. To avoid this, you “scrape” the striker against the rod, creating your shower of sparks.
Once you get your technique down, you can have a fire going with no problem with one scrape as long as you have your tinder prepared.
I recommend purchasing two ferro rods. One to practice with, and one that you keep pristine in your bag/ pocket with you when outdoors. Always remember to have your most important gear on your person, in the event that you get separated from your pack!
Oh, one more thing on ferro rods; Stay away from the ones that have a silver magnesium bar attached to them. They are cheaply made gimmicks that do you no good. I like the ones made by Light My Fire, but any thick ferro rod will do.
Extra Tip(s)
Carry a tinder source with you! If you live in a wet environment, this is especially important. My go-to tinder that I always have in my bag is a little pile of cotton balls (about 5-10) sealed in a ziplock bag. If you wipe them with Vaseline, this helps them ignite and hold a flame even longer. This is a lightweight and space-saving tinder that can help you get a fire going in an emergency.
Wrap your lighter in duct tape and put it in a ziplock bag. It saves space so you don’t have to pack a whole roll of tape in your bag. Duct tape also acts as a flame extender, add a small ball into your tinder bundle. It’ll buy you a little bit of time as you get your fire going. The baggie obviously helps to keep it dry if you get wet.
Carry multiple lighters. preferably one in your bag, and one on your person. I also advise that you keep your ferro rod on your person.
Conclusion
For under $25 bucks you can have a solid fire kit that will keep you warm if you find yourself in an emergency situation. Higher quality ferro rods need to be bought online in most cases. Try to get the thickest one you can find. Long ones are great but can be inconvenient to pack.
Bic lighters are common and can be picked up at any gas station/convenience store. Carry multiple with you. They’re light and cheap. There’s no reason not to.
I hope you’ve learned something from this article. Go get your fire-starting implements and stay tuned for Part 3 of Building a Survival Kit.