The Best Firestarters of 2024 | GearJunkie Tested

We’ve researched and tested over two dozen options to help you choose the best firestarters for your needs. Packing the right firestarter is one of the best ways to outsmart any of the difficulties the outside world tries to throw at you, whether you’re camping, hunting, backcountry skiing, or stranded on the side of the road.

Author and Senior Editor Chris Carter has thrown together his fair share of fires during camping trips and survival situations alike all over the world. He put over a dozen of the best firestarters on the market to the test last year and mined the collective knowledge of GearJunkie’s team of bushcraft enthusiasts to create the selection you see below. He spewed sparks over countless tinder bundles in all sorts of conditions and climates while testing these, and left no stone unturned in researching the best of the best.

For our latest update, Andrew Potter tested two new potential additions to the list and deemed them worthy. Over a few cold nights outside of June Lake, Calif., he tested these additions, pushing their limits with wind and water to ensure they’d function in harsh conditions.

Whether you want the overall performance of our top pick, the Wolf & Grizzly, or a simpler, budget option of the Light My Fire MayaStick-on-a-Rope, we have you covered.

As a note of caution: Know your local fire restrictions and think carefully about whether you actually need a fire. Never leave your fire unattended, and be prepared to completely saturate it until the ground beneath it is wet and cold. Unattended campfires are the cause of some of the largest, most costly natural disasters in the U.S., consuming millions of acres of forest and destroying entire communities. A fire can save your life in cold, wet conditions, but we must be responsible outdoors people.

Check out our handy comparison chart at the bottom of the list for a quick comparison, or follow our buyer’s guide and price and value section to find the best firestarter for your kit.

Editor’s Note: We updated this guide on October 20, 2024, by adding a price and value section and the reliable and easy to use UCO Titan Stormproof Match Kit, and the SOL Mag Striker with Tinder Cord.

Wolf & Grizzly ($27) made a compact and lightweight ferrocerium rod and striker to cut down on weight and get a straightforward, easy-to-use design. This little firestarter packs a real punch with 20,000 strikes, even though you’ll probably only need two to get a fire started.

One of the main issues with compact firestarters is the small surface area that makes it challenging to strike on. Wolf & Grizzly has found the fine line between too small and too big with a 4.9-inch length and a width of just 0.8 inches.

The striker is made of steel that’s used for knives, so it sharpens in the same manner. Sharpen the striker when your sparks stop flying, and watch them come back to life.

In an emergency, the striker is connected to a paracord that can be taken apart to use the inner jute as tinder. The simplicity of this firestarter makes it the best firestarter on the market. It doesn’t boast a lot of features but performs well when put to the test.

The Light My Fire MayaStick-on-a-Rope ($4) is a great budget option to pair with any method of ignition. They are highly combustible materials that shave off and light quickly in any weather.

When surrounded by wet wood and tinder, this is what you need to get a fire going. The MayaStick is one of the cheapest ways to ensure that fire is easily accessible.

This firestarter is made from pine tree stumps containing a high percentage (80%) of resin. The resin content causes it to burn hotter and longer than sticks made from paraffin or paper. Resin also lights easily in the rain, where other sticks can be rendered useless once wet.

With the MayaStick-on-a-Rope, simply shave a bit off and light it. There’s not much to it otherwise. It’s simple, carried easily on the attached rope, and highly effective.

The UST BlastMatch ($20) is unmatched in ease of use. The one-handed design allows you to keep one hand free to steady your tinder and bring it closer to the sparks. The UST BlastMatch is a firestriker that essentially does the work for you.

This is an excellent tool for anyone who doesn’t have much experience using firestrikers. It utilizes a 360-degree flint rotation to distribute the wear and tear on the ferro rod evenly. It packs away neatly to avoid accidental sparks.

The ferro rod stores away inside a compact, waterproof housing that keeps the interior dry in the worst storms. While it still works when wet, it’s much more effective if it stays dry. Compared to other flint and steel methods, the BlastMatch puts more work on the tool rather than the user.

The striker is going to last for about 4,000 strikes. It’s not the longest lifespan on our list, but it’s going to get you a fire for years to come if you’re using it right.

The whole thing measures 4.1 by 1.4 inches, just small enough to easily carry around in a hip belt pocket for ready use. Whip it out, press a single button, and watch the sparks come to life.

The UCO Stormproof Sweetfire Fire Starter Points ($6) are composed of bagasse, a sugarcane waste byproduct, and infused with vegetable oil to maintain a consistent burn throughout their 7-8-minute burn span. When tested without other materials, the starter points burned for nearly 12 minutes, nearly double their expected burn time.

These starter points are strikeable against the box, and come equipped with a replacement striker if you wear out the striker on the box. Being a renewable resource, the all-natural ingredients are biodegradable, which is an ideal option for the sustainably minded.

During testing, wind became the most challenging factor. Anything beyond a brisk breeze immediately extinguished the starter point, and relighting the points led to varied success. While these are touted as windproof and stormproof, we felt the windproof claim to be lacking.

Additionally, one starter point refused to burn, despite multiple relighting attempts. With only one dud out of a package of eight, the odds are in your favor for a sustainable (and cheap!) firestarter.

These starter points are ideal for folks who are tight on space, need a reliable firestarter even in damp conditions, and want to use a renewable resource on a single-use product. These UCO Stormproof Sweetfire Fire Starter Points are easily packable, light without a match or lighter, and can ignite even after being soaked from a midday storm on the trail or an accidental dip in the river.

Morakniv knives captured our hearts years ago when we recognized the immense value of its quality steel and low price. Then, we discovered the Companion Spark ($30). The name has always been true to us, as one of our testers carries this knife on every outing into the backcountry and uses the magnesium firestarter almost every night.

Even without the firestarter that twist locks into the handle, this knife is made to help get a fire going. The Companion has a square grind on the blade’s spine that makes it ideal for use with any ferro rod.

Don’t look past the firestarter that this comes with. The magnesium alloy creates high-temp (3,000 degrees C) sparks and will last for about 3,000 strikes.

The Sandvik 12C27 steel blade holds an edge well and requires a low amount of maintenance in the field. When starting a fire is your main task, don’t concern yourself with sharpening and oiling a knife over and over again.

If you’re tired of repeated failed striking attempts when starting a fire with fire steel, it’s time to bust out the blowtorch. The Bernzomatic Trigger-Start Torch ($56) makes getting a fire started the easiest thing in the world. It’s not the best choice for those looking to go out on a week-long backpacking trip, but for dedicated car campers, it’s a great choice.

When you’re left with wet wood and nothing dry in sight, sometimes the situation demands that you just have a strong flame to dry and light the wood. The Bernzomatic can light even larger logs.

There is no need to spend time collecting kindling, pencil-sized sticks, and real fuel. This simple firestarter can light the logs directly.

The trigger start means you don’t need to carry an extra spark igniter. The propane lights easily, and the trigger is reliable — propane burns at about 3,400 degrees F, which will be hot enough to get anything lit.

The UCO Titan Stormproof Match Kit ($12) contains 12 fuel-infused matches and three strikers, and the ignition is as simple as… well, lighting a match. Even when wet, the matches light with relative ease and hold a flame long enough to start a fire, even if you have to fumble around to prepare your tinder and kindling.

While UCO claims the matches can be soaked, we found that they need some drying time to light (this probably varies by climate). If you attempt to light them and fail, the friction-igniting tip can be rendered useless, resulting in a wasted match. That said, at 2.9 ounces, you’ll find the Stormproof Kit in the packs of mountain guides of all varieties for its ease of use and emergency applications.

We tested the kit on a backpacking trip outside of June Lake, Calif., and were pleasantly surprised with how easy it was to light a fire. The fuel in the matchsticks creates a robust yet small flame that withstands gusts of up to 15 mph.

The only catch with the Stormproof Kit is its longevity. Each match has a one-time use, and if you enjoy campfires on your outdoor outings and make the UCO kit your go-to, you’ll have to buy another kit after twelve uses. It’s not a problem if you keep the kit on hand for emergencies, but it would be if you make it your primary firestarter in the wild.

For some reason we couldn’t quite identify, the screw top lid was a tad difficult to keep tight. Users have noted that a different U-ring solves the problem, but with waterproof matches, it isn’t too much of a worry. It doesn’t get loose enough to fall off completely, which would be the only real caveat.

All things considered, the Titan Stormproof Match Kit is remarkably easy to use. At its price and weight, it should be in every adventurer’s emergency kit. Its ease of use makes it easy for kids to apply, and it’s a simple alternative to the more complex options on this list.

A handy quiver-of-one survival tool, Gerber’s Fire Starter ($20) packs a punch in a super compact design. Held together with an easily adjustable lanyard, a small ferro rod slides into the handle of a metal striker, with room for an IPX4 water-resistant capsule to store tinder.

Loosen the lanyard, pop the watertight cylinder apart, and you’re ready to go. This became one of our favorite firestarters for super compact emergency kits where weight and efficiency were key. A bit of included cotton tinder and a 100-decibel whistle round out its effectiveness, allowing you to cover a few survival bases in a small package.

This tool came on our radar when we heard that Bear Grylls himself, the survivalist poster child, helped with its design, and depends on it as his own firestarter in the backcountry. His signature signed model is also available.

With such a low profile, we did find the short ferro rod to be a noticeable con. It takes a bit more work to get that spray of hot sparks you’re looking for, but we can’t complain too much considering how light and compact it is.

The adjustable lanyard helps hold everything together, but since it is interwoven between the rod and striker, your range of motion while striking is often limited.

These gripes aside, we feel that the Gerber Fire Starter offers a lot of great survival tools in a tiny, packable tube. This thing will disappear into your kit, and you’ll forget it’s there until you need it.

The SOL Mag Striker with Tinder Cord ($14) offers a fresh take on the traditional magnesium strike-style firestarter. The large handle is easy to grip, and the included bottle opener makes it a handy tool that you’ll be more likely to use when you have it around camp. It’s the only traditional “mag bar” on this list, and it was as fun to use as it was effective.

At 2.9 ounces, SOL’s Mag Striker was a bit heavier than we expected for the size, although we think it’s well worth it to have the flint and magnesium rods embedded in the handle. It really is much easier to use than other similar mag-strike firestarters with smaller handles.

While very simple, mag bar firestarters aren’t as easy to use as, say, matches like in the UCO Titan Stormproof Match Kit. However, the extended lifespan (over 100 fires, in this case) is worth the extra effort. After gathering some tinder, we didn’t need a heap of magnesium to inspire a burn. The included striker worked well enough, but we could see it dulling after extended usage. The backside of our knife worked much better, and would be our recommendation as long as you have one on hand.

The primary benefit of mag bars is the fact that you don’t need a bunch of tinder to induce a burn. The magnesium shavings can light on their own, allowing you to more easily start a fire in environments where the available tinder has recently been soaked.

It didn’t rain on us during testing, so we decided to dampen some tinder to see if a robust pile of lit magnesium shavings would dry it out. It was our first time using magnesium shavings as the source of the flame, and we were surprised at how well it worked.

If you’re a bit of a gear nerd, or simply want a more entertaining way to start a fire, the Mag Striker should be in your gear closet (or permanently housed in your backcountry pack). It’s a cool way to impress your friends, and more importantly, can be an extremely valuable emergency tool in wet environments.

Is it a strobe light, a taser … a mini lightsaber? Whip out Dark Energy’s Plasma Lighter ($30) to start the fire at your next group camping trip, and you’ll be the coolest cat around.

This thing wins big points for its futuristic feel and simple versatility. Pop open a waterproof safety cap on the butt end of the flashlight to reveal a small dual-arc plasma emitter. Opening the cap flips the flashlight button to an igniter switch, and deep purple arcs of electricity buzz to life when pressed. A safety button and latch ensure the emitter is not exposed until you want it to be.

We were shocked at how hot the arcs get, and a dry bundle of tinder will start dancing with flames in seconds when held in contact with the emitters.

This is also one of the more weatherproof portable firestarters we tested. With a waterproof casing and essentially windproof dual plasma arc, we were able to light fires in gnarly conditions when regular lighters, matches, or the short-lived sparks of ferro rods were quickly snuffed out.

The 120-lumen flashlight on the other end of this compact, 3.75-inch starter adds to its usability. And, it weighs a scant 2.3 ounces. This would be a great multipurpose lighter to throw in your EDC kit.

While we like that this can be recharged, we do wish that it held that charge for a bit longer than it does. The level of heat output and brightness of the light drains the battery quite fast, so you’ll want a backup lighter if you plan on using this as your primary. But that should go without saying.

The Plasma Lighter is the tool for boosting the “wow” factor of your emergency kit or providing a unique waterproof backup for starting fires in inclement weather.

Retro, dependable, versatile — three words that come to mind while using the aesthetic and simple Zünden Fire Starter ($16). A beautiful hardwood handle, 550 paracord lanyard, and a multitool scraper complement this elegant tool, which quickly became one of our favorite ferro rods for rugged adventures.

The Zünden is available in three different sizes: trad (5/16” and 12,000 strikes), pro (3/8″ and 15,000 strikes), or fatty (½” and 20,000 strikes). The ferro rod spews some of the hottest, fattest sparks of the ferry rods we tried with minimal effort. Sparks shower at 5,500 degrees F, catching even less-than-ideal tinder bundles aflame.

We were interested to see if the relatively short 2.5-inch rod would inhibit striking ability, as we tend to gravitate to ferro rods that measure at least 4 inches to get a stronger strike. While using the Zünden, however, we had little trouble chucking concentrated, hot sparks on our tinder.

The thicker rods afford more surface area for the scraper but are also a tad heavier. We’d prefer it to be a bit longer, but its compact design is part of the allure of this model.

The wood handle molds well to your hand, making this one of the more comfortable starters to use on stubborn tinder bundles that take strike after strike to ignite. The Überleben Zünden is an affordable, classy, multifunctional tool that would be great for an EDC kit, or simply a reliable addition to your fire-making arsenal.

Zippo has been doing fire for a long time, so it’s no surprise that the brand also makes one of the best firestarter kits out there. The Zippo Firestarter Kit ($22) is the whole package and has everything you need, up to laying down kindling. It even includes collapsible stainless steel fire bellows to urge the fire forward once it’s going.

The ferrocerium rod is used alongside the striker, which has a triangular shape for the best grip. This allows you to direct the sparks right into the included shredded pine tinder bundles, which burn for 8 minutes apiece.

Everything about this kit makes it user-friendly. You don’t need to buy separate fire sticks, strikers, or ferro rods. It’s all here with the nice addition of the bellows.

As our world slowly moves away from gas, electric lighters are becoming more popular. Very similar to the Dark Energy Plasma Lighter above, the SOL Fire Light electric lighter ($28) is a quick and easy solution when bad weather hits, or at a high altitude. While standard lighters struggle to light in extreme cold or wind, the SOL Fire Light works simply with the click of a button.

The weatherproof housing keeps the lighter in good condition no matter what. You can carry it in any pocket with its compact size of 4.5 x 0.5 inches.

The battery inside will last for about 45 uses, timed out at 7 seconds per use. If you do the math, that’s just over five minutes over a continuous electric arc. In reality, you shouldn’t need much more than the blink of an eye to touch the arc to tinder and get a fire started.

The SOL Fire Light is a complete firestarter kit when you need it in an emergency. The paracord lanyard can be broken down, and the inside jute can be used as emergency tinder. When things get tough, there’s a built-in 100-lumen flashlight that will last for up to 3 hours on a full charge.

The Exotac Firerod ($33) is another sleek little ferro rod that quickly found its way on many of our backcountry adventures. Designed to fit seamlessly in ferro loops on the sheaths of bushcraft knives, it is packable and thoughtfully crafted.

The 6061 anodized aluminum handle is just big enough to afford a solid grip on the starter and has a tiny waterproof compartment to house dry tinder. It comes with a couple of waterproof “quickLIGHT” treated cotton tabs to get you started but is spacious enough for your own tinder, such as char cloth.

The 5/16 inch ferro rod is plenty thick, and 3.1 inches long, giving you an adequate striking surface. You can also purchase replacement rods, at either 2.4 inches or 3.1 inches in length, when the original one wears down. The rods easily screw into and out of the handle. This is a definite plus to the Firerod, as the ability to change rods prolongs its lifespan.

This is a great option for someone who needs to fill an empty ferro loop on the sheath of their favorite knife, or those looking for a simple, packable addition to their firestarter kit. After nearly 4 months of using this, it has found a home on one of our most-used bushcraft knives, and never leaves its side. It has started plenty of fires for us, and remains one of our top picks for whipping up a quick flame.

MSR’s gear for the backcountry — stoves, windscreens, water reservoirs, and the like have become a reliable stable in our gear piles over the years. You really can’t go wrong with MSR, and it’s because, for us, its products all seem to be built super well. Take this little Strike Igniter ($18), for example. It can produce a 5,500-degree F spark, perfect for lighting a stove or campfire in a pinch.

The length of the rod (3.8 inches) — and attached cord — is good for getting down close to a stove unit or fire. The cord keeps the rod and striker attached so you can’t lose the components. Our tester has used theirs around 500-600 times, both car camping and backpacking. We’ve used it in all four seasons, and it hasn’t failed us yet.

Ferro rods/strikers are far more reliable than lighters, as they are less affected by cold or moisture and don’t run out as fast. They are also a much better choice than matches, which can also fail if damaged by moisture or rain, even if they are waterproof.

MSR says the Strike Igniter lasts for 3,000 to 12,000 strikes — far more than average lighters, too. And like many MSR stove accessories, it also has a built-in bottle opener for once you’ve got the fire started. The MSR striker weighs 1.4 ounces and has become a no-brainer anytime we’re packing for a backcountry trip.

By popular demand — and after thumbing through the thousands of glowing reviews on Amazon — we finally took the Prepared4X Survival Torch ($22-25) for a spin and came away impressed. Pulling the 6.7 ounce package from the box we initially had some hesitation as to what its best application would be, but soon understood its discrete allure. Though it has a higher scale reading than others, this truly is an independent all-in-one package that’s not only a cinch to use, but downright fun to ignite.

Also, we’re perhaps being too critical on the weight front. While the larger version is a bit chunky, a small iteration is also available and clocks in at a respectable 3.6 ounces. This is still a bit of a con in contrast to something like the sleek one-ounce Exotac Firerod, which also includes weather-resistant tinder, but the convenience of a long-burning hemp rope, and an included striker make it easier to justify the weight. We wouldn’t hesitate to bring this into the backcountry — or even on lightweight backpacking trips.

Let’s talk about the rope. Perhaps the best, most obvious feature is the included (but removable) 36-inch wax-infused hemp rope, which can be wrapped around the ferro rod and stored in a small burlap sack. It is routed through a sturdy but lightweight aluminum cylinder attached to the bottom of the ferro rod and serves as an easy-to-light tinder.

Simply fray the end of the rope with the serrated end of the striker and spray sparks down directly onto the frayed end. Even a small spark immediately takes and swiftly matures into a steady flame.

We had read that the rope serves as a long wick and will stay lit for 3+ hours, but we were shocked at how long it resists smoldering and how consistent the flame is. The cylinder under the rod allows you to regulate the size of the flame by slightly pulling the rope back into the cylinder and slowly feeding it out as the flame burns on. Pull the rope all the way back into the housing to extinguish the flame.

This thing could be held under moist tinder bundles and would eventually set that — or even larger kindling — alight. Replacement ropes can be purchased if needed.

Aside from the weight, a couple of other negatives did surface. Namely, the wax rope is quite difficult to ignite if it gets wet (and the case it comes with isn’t water-resistant), and we predict the ferro rod will be difficult to strike once it wears down past the aluminum housing.

The housing holds the rod on top of the cylinder the rope feeds through, but runs about halfway up the side of the rod. As time goes on, we see this impeding our strikes, making it harder and harder to get a nice spray of sparks, and reducing the rod’s lifespan.

These quibbles aside, we’ve been really enjoying this streamlined fire-starting package. It is one of the easiest-to-use ferro rod and tinder combos we’ve tested, and the hemp rope keeps a sizeable flame going for hours, taming even the most stubborn tinder bundles.

From experienced survivalists to weekend warriors stoked on bushcraft, the GearJunkie team is made up of outdoor enthusiasts who know the importance of getting a fire started in any condition. We’ve spent endless hours gathering tinder bundles, snapping sticks, and getting light-headed as we blow flames into life. Whether it’s a campfire to cook dinner over or an emergency heat source, fire-making skills are key for anyone going camping or backpacking in the backcountry.

Author and Senior Editor Chris Carter understands the importance of not only having the means to make a fire in any situation but also having the skills to whip one up in unfavorable conditions. When matches and lighters fail, firestarters rise to the challenge — but only if you know how to use them. Carter has started hundreds of fires with traditional firestarters in all sorts of environments, at casual campfires with friends, and in downright survival situations.

Carter grew up in the bush of Kenya, East Africa, where he learned a whole slew of primitive survival skills, including how to light a fire with a hand or bow drill, fire plow, and traditional flint and steel. In many scenarios, fires are not just for a cozy camp atmosphere but are essential tools for staying warm, cooking a kill, or keeping wild animals at a distance.

While matches are an easy solution, Carter wouldn’t be caught dead in the wilderness without a secondary, more reliable way of securing a flame. For this guide, he accrued a number of his favorite firestarters he’s used over the years and tested new selections from top brands on the market. He partnered with his other bushcraft friends and threw spark after spark over countless tinder bundles to bring you the streamlined selection of 15 starters you see today.

Andrew Potter implemented Chris’ rigorous testing techniques for the newest additions to our guide. While it was his first foray into testing firestarters, we were excited to see how a novice could induce flames with some techy firestarters like the SOL Mag Striker.

We know the competition for the firestarter podium is constantly evolving, which is why we’ve slotted this guide into a regular update schedule. We are perpetually talking with experts, bugging brands at gear shows, and scouring the internet to make sure we cover the most relevant and deserving selection possible. Be fully prepared for all your adventures by checking out our guides to other essentials, including the best compasses and best handwarmers.

While matches or lighters may be some of the faster ways of starting fires, they aren’t always the most reliable. It’s important to have, and know how to use, a solid firestarter for when the unexpected happens. You accidentally fall into a river and soak all your gear. You break all your matches or your lighter runs out of fluid.

Being able to start a fire in any situation is one of the best steps you can take to improve your chances of survival. We found the top tried-and-true firestarters and tested them for this guide, offering a selection for every type of adventure.

Different activities require different firestarters. For example, carrying the heavy Bernzomatic Torch on a long-haul backpacking trip could make for a good laugh, but you’ll regret it pretty quickly.

If you’re going car camping, something bigger and heavier like that will be a much better fit. Backpacking demands lightweight gear that’s easy to bring along, so you’d be much better off with a simple ferro rod and flint firestarter.

Every ounce counts when backpacking, and every inch of your backpack is valuable space. The little things like firestarters are where the ounces can quickly add up. An extra inch of material means less space for food and more weight to carry.

Finding the right balance between size and weight is key to getting the right tool. Too small, and it’s impossible to handle; too big, and you’re lugging extra weight you don’t need.

At the end of a long day of hiking, the last thing you want is to fight with your firestarter to get warm. The easier the firestarter is to use, the better. One of the easiest to use on this list is the UCO Titan Stormproof Match Kit.

There are certain ways to make life easier in the backcountry, especially when you’re just starting to learn how to use a firestarter. If you’re new to the skill, pack extra firestarter sticks. They don’t weigh much or take up much space, and they’ll be more than worth it in the long haul. Or, choose one that’s geared at beginners, like the UST BlastMatch, a firestriker that essentially does the work for you.

The three primary types of firestarters — flint and steel, ferrocerium rods, and magnesium bars — can be used in a variety of different scenarios, and each has its place in a firestarting kit. This guide covers other unique firestarters that use electrical sparks, a blowtorch, and even a hot beam of light, but these are the more common starters you’ll see in survival kits.

Flint & steel is one of the oldest tried-and-true methods of starting a fire. The flint can be a variety of different hard rocks, such as quartzite or chert. The steel striker component is constructed with a high carbon content and is usually heat-treated. When the steel strikes the rock, it breaks off tiny particles of the metal, which oxidize and ignite when exposed to oxygen.

One of the negatives of flint and steel is how dull the sparks are, and charred cloth or naturally charred materials are usually required to effectively hold the spark and turn it into a flame. The value of flint and steel lies in their ability to be easily reproduced with readily available materials.

The sparks created by a ferro rod are extremely hot compared to those of flint and steel, which makes it easier to light a dry tinder bundle. Some of the starters in this guide, such as the Wolf and Grizzly, and the Zippo Fire Starter Kit, use a ferro rod as part of their set.

To make this process easier, it’s a good idea to carry some highly flammable tinder in your survival kit, such as cotton balls coated with wax, Vaseline, or dryer lint, but there are plenty of natural resources that can be used in a pinch.

The Exotac Firerod is slim enough to slide into the ferro loops often featured on bushcraft knives, but the rod’s handle still leaves room for a waterproof tinder capsule to store flammable tinder in case of an emergency.

If your ferro rod doesn’t come with its own striker, you need to ensure that you have a sturdy knife or spare striker on hand if you plan on bringing it along. Ferro loops on the sheathes of bushcraft knives are helpful additions to ensure the whole family stays together.

Ferro rods are constructed with different metals, which make it easier or more difficult to scrape depending on the composition. Softer rods don’t have as long of a lifespan but generally provide more sparks with each strike. Most ferro rods are made with about 50% cerium, with various ratios of lanthanum and iron making up the rest of the mixture.

A ferro rod doesn’t create a flame when struck, so it’s important that the tinder bundle you use is as dry and flammable as possible. Many ferrocerium rods will have a black protective coating on them when they come out of the box, which will need to be scraped off before use.

Often referred to as “mag bars,” this is a bar or block that usually has a ferro rod attached to the top of it. Instead of having to gather a tinder bundle that will catch a spark, or bringing cotton balls, you can use magnesium shavings from the bar as much of your tinder bundle, which will ignite with a spark from the ferro rod.

Some mag bars come with their own striker, but you can use the back side of your bushcraft knife to shave off magnesium, and strike the ferro rod. Avoid using the sharp end of your knife for this, as it could dull or damage it significantly.

The SOL Mag Striker is the only traditional “mag bar” on our list, but it was an integral addition, as it’s one of the best ways to start a fire in damp conditions.

Fire is such a basic, fundamental element to human existence, but can be surprisingly hard to make — particularly if the weather is against you. It’s important to practice using any firestarter that you plan on having in your emergency kit beforehand, as matches and lighters can fail on adventures.

Whether using flint & steel, a ferro rod, or a mag bar, you will need a bone-dry bundle of tinder to catch your spark and transfer a flame to larger kindling. Fatwood shavings, birch bark, cattails, dry fluff from plants, or dried animal dung often work well as tinder bundles.

Many firestarters, such as Exotac’s Firerod and Prepared4X’s Survival Torch, come with dry, often water-resistant tinder that makes this important step much easier. You can also premake tinder bundles to store in your kit by soaking cotton balls in wax, or gathering dryer lint from home in a waterproof container.

Consolidate plenty of medium-sized dry kindling (preferably from conifers) and have it on hand to build up your fire once you establish a flame in your tinder bundle. Make something of a “bird’s nest” with your pile of tinder, using fluffed-up dry materials. Place fatwood shavings or a feather stick (a stick that has been shaved to produce clusters of thin curls protruding from the wood — see illustration above) on top of the bird’s nest.

Once you have a tinder bundle you like, hold the scraper at a 45-degree angle to your rod, with the end of your rod almost touching your tinder. Pull the rod — not the scraper — back sharply. This allows you to get sparks closer to the tinder. Thus, it makes it easier to control where the sparks are spraying.

When a spark takes in your tinder bundle, it should produce a strong but short-lived flame. Resist the temptation to immediately blow on a spark or small flame, as you could easily extinguish it before it has a chance to catch any bigger fuel.

Build a teepee of small match-sized twigs and pencil-sized kindling over the growing flame, which encourages the flame to go upward. Gradually add bigger and bigger sticks and logs until you’ve established a solid base of embers and heat.

Blowing slightly on your fire near the beginning can help, but only after the flame has caught and the tinder is smoldering. Be sure not to blow out a new small flame in an effort to give it more oxygen. If there is adequate airflow, the flame will do its job and move onto bigger dry fuel.

The problem with matches and lighters is their reliability. Once they get wet, too cold, or too high in altitude, they don’t work well, unless they are made to weather abuse like the UCO Titan Stormproof Match Kit.

Getting a reliable firestarter in all conditions and environments helps ensure you won’t be left shivering on the ground with an empty stomach after a long day of trekking. We would feel comfortable relying on all of the firestarters on this list in the backcountry. Though some are better suited for a backup lightweight “survival kit” than others.

Just as with every piece of gear, price matters. Determining a budget before even browsing your options is important to help you get the best firestarter for your needs. Firestarters on this list range in price from $4 to almost $250. We cover a broad range of firestarter types in this guide. Our “Best Budget” option doesn’t offer the same level of versatility as some of the traditional ferro rods we cover.

Think about the type of trips you plan on using your starter on. Use this to help formulate a budget, and narrow in on the best firestarter for your needs. But don’t buy something just because of a high price tag. It doesn’t always mean it’s the better piece of gear. Price can be a reflection of quality, but it can also lead to unnecessary and over-the-top products.

A few firestarters on this list fall below the $15 mark. Our best budget option, the Light My Fire MayaStick-on-a-Rope ($4), and our best natural option, the UCO Stormproof Sweetfire Fire Starter Points ($6), are easy to use in most conditions and proved fairly reliable in our testing.

The UCO Stormproof Kits on our list (Stormproof Matches and Sweetfire Points) will only make as many fires as the matches and points included in the kits. Their ease of use, however, increases their value for certain uses. The SOL Mag Striker comes with a bottle opener, and at $13.50, it’s hard to beat the value of a fun kit that’s been tested to produce over 100 fires.

The majority of options on this list fall within the range of $20-33. For many of these, their value becomes more apparent when you consider how many uses you’ll get out of your kit. For magnesium bars and ferro rod-style firestarters, consider how many strikes you’ll get out of the material.

The UST BlastMatch gives you 4,000 strikes. while our best overall pick, the Wolf & Grizzly ($27), gives you 20,000. And if that’s not your primary concern, consider whether the kit has multiple uses. The Morokaniv Companion Spark is literally a knife, so the added value there is apparent.

Apart from the Flash Torch ($249) and Bernzomatic Torch ($99), none of the firestarters on this list will take a chunk out of your wallet. These firestarters are high-tech and use fuel, also, which makes it a bit trickier to gauge their long-term value.

The best firestarter is the one that best fits your needs and your budget. The firestarter that you feel comfortable using when you need it to work, and doesn’t cost a fortune, is the best firestarter. The best firestarter is one that helps you skip having to learn how to start a fire with sticks and friction alone.

Some people prefer using a Bic lighter, while others love a ferro rod and striker’s reliability. In the end, it’s all about opinion and experience. Test out multiple types to find what fits you best.

Firestarters all work in different ways. A flint and steel method, or a striker and fire rod made from different materials, will work with simple science.

The hardness of the two materials and the contact between the two results in sparks. Your striker needs to be harder than what you are striking it on.

While the firestriker scrapes away a bit of the fire rod, the ripping apart of the material and the friction of the two objects both play a part in shooting small, insanely hot pieces of metal in the direction you want them to go. They stay hot enough in the air (hopefully) to reach your tinder and transfer heat into the dry tinder, resulting in a fire.

Bear Grylls is seen as the Olympian of outdoor survival by many. Still, it’s important to remember that he only uses tools that work well for him.

Bear Grylls teamed up with Gerber to make his idea of the best possible firestarter for survival. They came up with the Gerber Bear Grylls Survival Series Fire Starter, which is essentially the Gerber Fire Starter that we reviewed above, plus his initials. While this is what he came up with, we can imagine Bear used a wide array of different firestarters to figure out what works best for him.

Magnesium firestarters have a magnesium block attached to a small ferro rod strip that together can make sparks. Scrape the magnesium off with a knife or the provided striker, and then build up a small pile of the shavings.

This is what you want to strike into. Once the spark catches, the magnesium will burn hot, fast, and bright.

Magnesium doesn’t work alone as tinder to start a fire. You still need to find dry tinder to place the shavings inside. Magnesium burns around 4,000 degrees F, which helps get a fire started more quickly, but it can take a lot of work to get enough shavings from the magnesium block.

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