The Ten Essentials:
#5: Fire Starter
A bit of tinder-like material and a sparker or weather-proof matches is the key to warmth in the backcountry.
Fire is one of the most critical resources for outdoor survival, offering warmth, light, a means to cook food, and even a way to signal for help in emergencies. Reliable fire-starting gear is a must for every outdoor adventurer, ensuring you’re prepared for unexpected weather, injury, or an extended stay in the backcountry.
In this guide, we’ll explore the importance of fire-starting gear, recommend the best tools to include, and share tips for using them effectively on the trail.
Why Fire Starting Gear Matters
- Provide Warmth: Essential for preventing hypothermia in cold or wet conditions.
- Cook Food and Boil Water: Make meals, purify drinking water, and boost morale in challenging situations.
- Signal for Help: Visible flames or smoke can alert rescuers to your location.
- Offer Comfort: A fire can boost morale and provide a sense of security in stressful situations.
Essential Fire-Starting Tools
A good fire-starting kit includes multiple ignition sources and reliable tinder. Here are the essentials to pack:
1. Waterproof Matches or Lighter
Waterproof matches and stormproof lighters are designed to ignite in challenging conditions, including rain, snow, and wind. Stormproof matches can burn for up to 20–30 seconds, even after being submerged in water.
Why It’s Essential:
Lightweight and easy to use, these tools are effective in emergencies and ensure a quick ignition in less-than-ideal weather.
2. Fire Starters
Fire starters like fuel cubes, tinder pods, or compressed sawdust blocks are designed to catch fire easily and burn long enough to ignite larger pieces of wood. They are especially useful when the wood is wet or when time is critical.
Why It’s Essential:
Fire starters reduce the effort and resources needed to start a fire, particularly in damp or windy conditions.
3. Ferro Rod or Magnesium Striker
Ferro rods produce high-temperature sparks when scraped with a metal striker, while magnesium strikers include a block of magnesium that can be shaved to create flammable tinder. Both are weatherproof and durable, lasting for thousands of strikes.
Why It’s Essential:
These tools are reliable in any weather and can ignite tinder even when wet, making them indispensable for long-term use or emergencies.
4. Hiker's Hand-held Chain Saw
This compact and portable tool features a sharp, flexible chainsaw blade with handles on both ends. Designed to be wrapped around a log, it cuts through wood efficiently when the handles are pulled back and forth in a sawing motion. Most models are lightweight, weighing only a few ounces, and fold into a small pouch for easy packing.
Why It’s Essential:
Allows you to process larger pieces of wood for longer-lasting fires, especially in areas where kindling is limited or damp conditions require substantial fuel.
How to Use Fire-Starting Gear Effectively
Knowing how to use your fire-starting tools is just as important as carrying them. Starting a fire is easy with unlimited fuel and matches – but what about using damp wood with only 10 matches available? Practice is your friend!
Here are a few tips to get started:
Before You Go
- Test Your Gear: Familiarize yourself with how your fire-starting tools work.
- Pack Extras: Always carry at least two ignition methods and extra tinder.
- Understand Local Restrictions: Check for fire bans or regulations, especially during dry seasons.
While On The Trail
- Choose Your Location Wisely: Select a safe, wind-sheltered area away from overhanging branches or dry vegetation.
- Build a Proper Base: Use a fire ring or build your fire on a non-flammable surface like dirt or rocks.
- Start Small: Begin with tinder and small kindling before adding larger logs.
In An Emergency
- Stay Calm: Focus on building a fire safely to conserve energy and resources.
- Use Fuel Wisely: Fire starters and fuel cubes can save time and effort in critical situations.
- Signal for Help: Use flames or smoke to attract attention from rescuers.
Best Practices and Tips
Check out these essential fire-starting best practices to ensure you’re ready to build a fire effectively and safely in the backcountry.
1. Carry Multiple Fire-Starting Tools
Always pack at least two or three fire-starting methods, such as waterproof matches, a lighter, and a ferro rod. Redundancy ensures you can start a fire even if one tool fails due to wet conditions, loss, or malfunction.
2. Pack Pre-Made Tinder
Even if you plan to gather natural tinder, always carry pre-made options like fire-starting cubes or treated cotton balls as a backup. These are waterproof, lightweight, and provide a reliable way to ignite your fire when natural materials are unavailable or damp.
3. Keep Fire-Starting Gear Accessible
Store your fire-starting tools in a waterproof container in an easy-to-reach spot in your pack. The best location is an exterior pocket, so you don’t have to dig through your gear when time is critical.
4. Practice in Controlled Conditions
Before heading into the backcountry, practice using your fire-starting tools at home or in a safe environment. Get comfortable with using a ferro rod, handling stormproof matches, and building a fire structure. The more confident you are, the faster you’ll be able to react in an emergency.
5. Follow Leave No Trace Principles
Always build fires responsibly. Use designated fire rings when available, and keep fires small and manageable. Ensure your fire is completely extinguished before leaving, and scatter cool ashes to minimize your environmental impact.
Recommended First Aid Supplies
While it’s usually cheaper to assemble your own first aid kit, buying one ensures it has everything you need for your next adventure. Here are some first aid kits and supplies I personally recommend based on my own experiences in the backcountry.
Top First Aid Kits
These four first aid and medical kits provide a range of options for almost any kind of outdoor adventure or recreation trip.
1. SOL Fire Lite Fire-Starting Kit in Dry Bag
This complete fire-starting kit includes a ferro rod, waterproof tinder, and a dry bag for easy storage and transport.
- Features: Waterproof tinder burns up to 5 minutes, even in rain.
- Why It’s Great: Lightweight, compact, and reliable for any adventure.
2. SOL Fire Lite Fuel Cubes – Box
These odorless fuel cubes ignite easily and burn hot for up to 8 minutes, making them ideal for wet conditions.
- Features: Lightweight, waterproof, and long-lasting.
- Why It’s Great: An excellent backup for quick fire-starting in tough conditions.
3. SOL Mag Striker with Tinder Cord
This magnesium striker produces a reliable shower of sparks and includes a durable tinder cord for easy ignition.
- Features: 100+ uses per striker, compact and lightweight.
- Why It’s Great: A dependable tool for all weather conditions.
4. UCO Titan Stormproof Match Kit
These stormproof matches are windproof, waterproof, and burn up to 25 seconds, even in extreme conditions.
- Features: Includes a waterproof case with a striking pad.
- Why It’s Great: Nearly indestructible and ideal for emergencies.
5. UCO Stormproof Sweetfire Fire Starter Points – Package of 8
Made from renewable biofuel, these fire-starting points are easy to light and burn long enough to ignite even damp wood.
- Features: Lightweight and eco-friendly.
- Why It’s Great: Simple and effective, perfect for ultralight backpacking.
Explore More
Return to The Ten Essentials Guide home or continue exploring the essentials:
FAQ: Fire Starting Gear
Q: Why do I need to carry fire-starting gear if I’m only planning a day hike?
A: Even on a short hike, unexpected delays or emergencies can happen. If you’re stranded overnight, fire can provide warmth, light, and a way to signal for help. Carrying compact fire-starting tools like waterproof matches or a striker ensures you’re prepared for the unexpected.
Q: How many fire-starting methods should I carry?
A: It’s recommended to carry at least two reliable fire-starting tools, such as waterproof matches and a ferro rod or lighter. Redundancy ensures you have a backup in case one method fails due to wet conditions, loss, or malfunction.
Q: What are the best materials to use for tinder in wet conditions?
A: Synthetic tinder, such as fuel cubes, cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly, or waterproof fire-starting points, is ideal for wet conditions. Natural tinder like birch bark or dry grass works well if dry, but it’s always smart to pack pre-made tinder for emergencies.
Q: Can I rely on natural materials to start a fire?
A: While natural materials like dry leaves, twigs, and bark can be effective tinder, they’re not always available or dry enough to ignite. Carrying synthetic tinder ensures you have a reliable option, especially in wet or windy conditions.
Q: How do I build a fire in strong wind or rain?
A: Follow these steps:
- Choose a Sheltered Spot: Look for natural windbreaks or create one with rocks or gear.
- Use Waterproof Tinder and Matches: These will ignite even in challenging weather.
- Build a Teepee Structure: Place tinder in the center and surround it with small kindling to protect the flame.
- Feed the Fire Gradually: Add larger logs once the fire is established.
Windproof lighters and stormproof matches are particularly helpful in these conditions.
Q: What’s the difference between a ferro rod and a magnesium striker?
A: Both are excellent tools, but a magnesium striker offers an added tinder option for challenging conditions.
- Ferro Rod: Produces hot sparks when scraped with a metal striker. It’s durable, reliable, and works well in most weather conditions.
- Magnesium Striker: Includes a block of magnesium that can be shaved into fine pieces to use as tinder, in addition to producing sparks. Magnesium burns extremely hot, making it effective in wet or windy environments.
Q: Are there any fire-starting tools that work in all weather conditions?
A: Yes, tools like stormproof matches, ferro rods, and fire-starting kits with waterproof tinder are designed to perform in wind, rain, and snow. Combining these tools with synthetic tinder ensures reliable fire-starting capabilities regardless of the environment.
Q: What fire-starting gear is best for ultralight backpacking?
A: For ultralight trips, prioritize compact and lightweight options like:
- A ferro rod or magnesium striker (durable and reusable).
- Pre-made tinder, such as fire-starting cubes or tinder cord.
- A small, waterproof lighter as a backup.
These tools take up minimal space while ensuring reliable fire-starting capability.
Q: How can I safely extinguish a fire?
- Douse the flames with water, ensuring all embers are soaked.
- Stir the ashes to expose any hidden embers, then douse them again.
- Feel the ashes with the back of your hand to ensure they are cool.
- Scatter the ashes to distribute heat and prevent re-ignition.
Q: What should I do if fire-starting is prohibited due to a fire ban?
- A portable backpacking stove for cooking and boiling water.
- Insulating layers to keep warm without relying on fire.
- A whistle, mirror, or emergency signal device to attract attention if needed.
