10 Best Fire Starters (Review) In 2021

Features To Look For In Fire Starters

Type – Fire starters come in many different shapes, sizes and forms. Even the humble cigarette lighter is technically a fire starter. However, when we are looking at the types of fire starters we take camping with us, we can generally break them down into three types. Magnesium, ferrocerium and matches. Of course, there are also other different types. Some come with accelerants, such as lighter fluid. Then too, you can go really low tech and simply use a magnifying glass to direct the sun’s rays into your tinder to get a fire started. The ones in this list tend to use a striking method to get sparks started. When these sparks hit the tinder and the shavings of magnesium or ferrocerium, the fire starts.

Weight – When you are packing for an entire weekend away, you want to keep the weight of your gear to a minimum. Small, compact and light is more practical and desirable. The best fire starters are those that can fit into a tiny compartment in your backpack or, better yet, in the pocket of your hiking jacket or the back pocket of your pants. Most fire starters weigh very little so in terms of packing, you’ll barely notice them.

Ease Of Use – When you are camping or hiking you want all of your equipment to be as simple to use as possible. The climate in the mountains can get cold quite quickly and without warning. When you’re in the middle of this weather shift, you want to get a fire started fast. An easy to use fire starter can make all the difference. Most of the fire starters in our selection are quite simple to use. You simply scrape off some of the magnesium or ferrocerium, add some tinder and strike some sparks towards this little pile. Once you get this basic fire started, you can add larger sticks or logs to get a nice fire going.

Strikes – When you’re out in the woods, you need a reliable fire starter. It’s not something you’re going to rush out and buy every single time you head out so you want one that has lots of strikes. The minimum amount of strikes you should look for should be upwards of 3,000 strikes. However, many will also perform up to 20,000 or more strikes.

Ergonomic Grip – If you’ve ever been caught out in the cold, you know how difficult it can be to move your fingers. If a particular piece of equipment is bulky and awkward, you may find even the simplest tasks almost impossible. A fire starter that fits comfortably in your hands will make the job of starting the fire a lot easier, particularly on chilly fingers.

Weather Resistance – When you’re faced with a chilly wind and freezing rain, you need a fire starter that will work quickly and efficiently in any weather. A good fire striker will send out a shower of sparks no matter how windy it may be so you can get your fire going. They should also be waterproof so you don’t need to worry about your fire starting kit getting a little wet.

Type Of Fire Starters

Ferrocerium Rods – These rods are made from a synthetic pyrophoric alloy that produces hot sparks. These sparks can reach temperatures of up to 3,000 °C when struck so you can get your fire starting in a flash. Ferrocerium rods are generally considered fail safe when used as fire starters so you can be sure you have a very reliable tool to start those all-important camp fires.

 Magnesium Blocks – Magnesium is a highly flammable substance and this makes it ideal for starting fires. That is why many fire starters are made with a magnesium block. You start by scraping or shaving some magnesium into a pile of tinder, such as sawdust and then you strike the rod to produce sparks. When these sparks make contact with your tinder and magnesium shavings, you get the start of your fire. Simple and very effective.

 Waterproof Matches – If striking style fire starters aren’t your thing, you can also go for simple matches. However, ordinary matches aren’t really practical for hiking and camping. The box and the matches can get wet making them impossible to light so the better option is to choose waterproof matches. These are designed to light and stay lit even in wet conditions. Some are even capable of maintaining a flame when the tip of the match is submersed in water. They usually also come in waterproof containers making them super-efficient in all types of weather conditions.

Fire Starter FAQ

Q: How do I use a magnesium fire starter?

A: Starting a fire with a magnesium fire starter is quite simple. Using the striker or scraper that comes with your fire starter, you shave off some slivers from the magnesium rod into a small pile. You then add some tinder to this pile. The tinder can be sawdust, paper, dry grass or leaves. Basically anything that can quickly catch on fire can be used as tinder. Once you have a small pile of tinder and magnesium slivers, you apply the striker in quick, sharp strokes to produce sparks. Once these sparks make contact with the pile, you should see the first signs of your fire starting.

Q: Why not to use a regular lighter rather than a fire starter?

A: A regular lighter is cheap and it’s a great way to start a fire. However, there are a number of reasons a regular lighter is not practical to take camping with you. A regular lighter is not very reliable. When brand new, they may work fine, but the lighter fluid can deplete quite quickly. The mechanism that produces the flame can corrode making the lighter useless and if you’re lighter gets wet, you can pretty much throw it away. A fire starter can produce sparks in wind and rain and they are usually water-resistant and windproof making them more reliable in leaps and bounds over a regular lighter.

Q: Do I need to carry tinder with me?

A: As a general rule, you don’t need to carry tinder with you whenever you go hiking or camping. The forest is usually full of flammable materials like dried leaves, grass and dry pieces of bark. However, traditional forest tinder tends to be damp in the early morning or evenings when you really need to get your fire going. Damp tinder is extremely difficult to start a fire with so to be on the safe side, it’s always a good idea to bring a little bit of tinder with you. Things like twine fibers or even cotton balls can be great to get fires started but you can also rely on plain old sawdust or wood shavings. Some fire starters have a chamber in the handle for keeping small amounts of tinder which is convenient. However, tinder isn’t heavy and you generally don’t need a lot to get a fire started so you can always bring extra with you just to be sure.

Q: Will a fire starter work when it is wet?

 A: Starting a fire in wet conditions is always going to be your greatest challenge when you’re camping. The good news is, most magnesium or ferrocerium fire starters work perfectly well even when they are wet. To be sure it will work, it’s best to avoid getting your fire starter wet, however, you would expect the best fire starters to work even if they do get wet. Choosing a fire starter that comes in a waterproof container is always a good insurance policy for you that will ensure you can get your fire started.

Q: What is the safest fire starter?

A: Ferrocerium and magnesium fire starters are amongst the safest fire starters you can use. Until you hit the striker against the rods, a flame is not possible. Matches can be hazardous and if you’re not careful, you can burn your fingers. Regular lighters can leak and explode burning anything they come into contact with. Stick to the ones you need to strike and you shouldn’t have any problems. However, if you are lighting a fire on a hot summer’s day, keep an eye on where the sparks are flying because one stray spark can ignite an entire forest.

A good camp fire is essential when you’re out in the wild, particularly at night. It is a necessity for keeping warn, and for a camp side cooking. Just remember that any time you light a fire, you need to exercise a little bit of caution. Use any rocks you can find to create a fire pit to keep your fire contained and keep an eye on those sparks. Don’t forget to completely extinguish your camp fire before you move on.