fire source.

[Smith]

Whats the best source for immediate flame. Lighter, windproof lighter, magnesium, tinder in a can etc. for quick and mobile always ready fire.

[Guest SUNTZU]

Personally, I like BIC lighters. Zippos run out of fuel daily, it seems like. The BIC lighter seems to last without breaking like the cheap ones. Carry trioxane with you. If your going to have a lighter stashed in a pack, either put it inside something that won't let the gas lever be pushed down or put something underneath the lever so you don't find yourself without fluid.

I also have a swedish fire steel that I use with vaseline soaked cottonballs. It works okay. The mag bars are alright, but I've found it is better to shave or file the bar into an empty Skoal can and tape it shut for later use. Shaving the mag bars is a pain in the ass and the shavings go everywhere. Trioxane will start a fire even if the wood is damp.

[poak]

+1 on keeping a Bic handy. I mean, there less than $2, readily available, and virtually indestructible. Back when I was smoking, I usually lost the damn thing before it ever ran out of fluid...

[Guest Jcochran88]

+1 for "immediate flame" you can't beat the bic.

[Guest canynracer]

Bic, and other cigarette lighters...get em at the dollar store in bulk...i have a couple in my truck in ziplocs, one in my pocket, and they are all over the house, also have one in the disaster kit.

you can use them to open a bottle of beer too

[ZenDog]

If the Bics are all gone, there is this cool little doodad called a Swedish Firesteel - the thing actually works. It helps a lot if you have some easy to start tinder.

[Guest Astra900]

Nice thing about bic lighters; they're cheap; Buy a dozen and stick 'em everywhere.

[Smith]

Nice thing about bic lighters; they're cheap; Buy a dozen and stick 'em everywhere.

what about a cheap ($5) windproof/waterproof refillable lighter? Are they worth it or just something that will get lost quicker than a bic?

[Guest Astra900]

Yep, you'll lose it:) or lose the refill.

It's just easier to go disposable.

[Guest canynracer]

what about a cheap ($5) windproof/waterproof refillable lighter? Are they worth it or just something that will get lost quicker than a bic?

they run out of fluid quicker...as a smoker, that can light my cigarette while riding my motorcycle ...you need not worry bout the wind proof things...

[Guest Fenris]

As far as a fire source, I like the Bic. For tinder, I keep my eyes out for small bird nests in the fall. Put that upside down at the bottom of a small teepee of sticks and you'll be blazing in no time. I've started fires in a slight to steady rain using an old bird nest as tinder.

[strickj]

Ya know what tickles me?

Everyone of the survival shows will have the survivalist starting a fire with a knife,and flint,or a car battery,and steel wool,or a disposable camera,and a pudding cup.

These are all great things to know,but wouldn't it have just been easier to pack up a Bic,then the 20 lb car battery in the emergency kit!

+10 on the lighters from the dollar store! I swear Ive got a million of those things laying around.

[Guest c.a.s.]

Wetfire Tinder has good reviews, for everything I've heard.

http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Survival-Technologies-WetFire-Tinder/dp/B0000AXXAW/ref=pd_sbs_sg_4

As for a way to start a fire, there are a BUNCH for options, go with what's best for you.

The Blastmatch is a good thing to look around for, though.

http://www.basegear.com/blastmatch.html

[Guest bkelm18]

Ya know what tickles me?

Everyone of the survival shows will have the survivalist starting a fire with a knife,and flint,or a car battery,and steel wool,or a disposable camera,and a pudding cup.

These are all great things to know,but wouldn't it have just been easier to pack up a Bic,then the 20 lb car battery in the emergency kit!

+10 on the lighters from the dollar store! I swear Ive got a million of those things laying around.

Well yeah, duh, but they usually are just trying to show what to do if you didn't have the foresight of packing a Bic. It's for the liberals who are afraid of fire and think lighters should be banned. They need a way to start one too.

[enfield]

they run out of fluid quicker...as a smoker, that can light my cigarette while riding my motorcycle ...you need not worry bout the wind proof things...

I've done that once (smoke a cig on a motorcycle) -- burned my lips on the 2nd drag.

Back to the topic, I agree - BIC lighters are the most reliable & convenient fire source I've found.

[Guest canynracer]

Well yeah, duh, but they usually are just trying to show what to do if you didn't have the foresight of packing a Bic. It's for the liberals who are afraid of fire and think lighters should be banned. They need a way to start one too.

nope...sorry, they banned the use of fire...its for the children.

Edited December 24, 2008 by canynracer

[Guest db99wj]

nope...sorry, they banned the use of fire...its for the children.

they only use these:

Red X in box has disappeared.

I had said that I was hardcore and I harnessed lightning to build my fires, but Red X box's, wow, that is hardcore!

Edited December 23, 2008 by db99wj

[Guest Astra900]

Are you supposed to rub the question mark on the red box and make fire that way, er what?

[creeky]

I carry two fresh Bic lighters when I backpack.

[Guest EasilyObsessed]

I keep a box of stormproof matches in several places, but I normally just keep a bic lighter with my camping gear, daypack, mountain bike, car, etc. I have used these matches several times when it was SUPER windy outdoor and I just couldnt get a bic to light. I even managed to get these matches to light once when they were wet. YMMV.

These are the ones I use.

[dralarms]

.

you can use them to open a bottle of beer too

Seems no one else is gonna ask so I have to. How in the world do you open a beer bottle with a bic lighter?

[creeky]

Seems no one else is gonna ask so I have to. How in the world do you open a beer bottle with a bic lighter?

Yup! Use your finger as a wedge... used to do it in my younger days.

Won't work with a "cricket" lighter. (At least not back then, plastic was to thin... they'd crack.)

*Uh... no longer drink guys. 16 Years stone cold sober.

[Guest canynracer]

Seems no one else is gonna ask so I have to. How in the world do you open a beer bottle with a bic lighter?

Not a bic...these thinner lighters tend to crack...but same concept.

[ame]

[/ame]

[J Smith]

If the Bics are all gone, there is this cool little doodad called a Swedish Firesteel - the thing actually works. It helps a lot if you have some easy to start tinder.

I have a couple big ones and have made lanyards for knives with some smaller ones.These things are great,bic will not work wet.These will even get a fire started with damp tender.

[Guest SUNTZU]

I keep this in my toolbox in the truck. Great for car camping.