Two is one and one is none. You should keep to that maxim anytime you are in the field because if you are carrying something that you need, only have one of it, and lose it, you’ll be up a creek.
Therefore, based on the title of this post, the suggestion is not that you should replace your lighter or matches with a ferrocerium fire starter; only that you should also carry one.
These fire starters also happen to be better than lighters and matches. Here’s why.
- They’re windproof
Both lighters and matches can be easily extinguished by a strong gust of wind. Even windproof lighters like Zippos generally don’t fare well in storms.
That is not true of ferrocerium fire starters. They are flameless; they just throw sparks, and the harder the wind blows on those sparks, the more vigorously they will burn.
- They can start thousands of fires
A match is effectively good for one light, unless you can split it, and that is hard to do. A lighter will give you a few hundred lights, perhaps a little more than that if you have something like a Bic. It depends on how long you keep the flame lit.
But no matter how you look at it, a ferrocerium fire starter will light thousands if not tens of thousands of fires for you. Each strike only shaves a little off the fire starter.
- You can carry one on your belt or sheath
Matches and lighters aren’t hard to carry, but ferro rods are easy and convenient, not to mention easy to handle, and can be carried on a belt or a sheath.
- They don’t leak or need fuel
When your lighter runs out of fuel, you’re out of luck. Also, lighters can leak, which is more of an inconvenience than anything else. Regardless, the same issue does not afflict ferrocerium fire starters.
- It doesn’t matter if they get wet
Drop your matches in the drink and you need to dry them off before you can use them, if you’re lucky and the matchheads haven’t dissolved. Some lighters are unreliable when waterlogged, too.
Ferrocerium can get wet, and all you need to do is wipe it dry before you use it.
- You can use them with many different types of tinder
If you’ve ever used a true flint and steel, you know how hard it is to strike a fire with that. Ferrocerium is not like that. Flint throws sparks that are evanescent and weak; ferro sparks are bright, hot, and burn for longer. The sparks from ferrocerium can easily exceed a thousand degrees, and can be used with lint, dry plant fibers, shredded paper, and even wood shavings, reliably.
- There is a learning curve, but they are genuinely gratifying to learn to use
It is true that it is a little bit harder to start a fire with a ferro fire starter than it is with a lighter. But, even so, it is not hard to learn to use a ferro rod, and once you do, it’s one of the most enjoyable and gratifying firecraft experiences. The only thing that comes close is a true friction fire with a drill or a plow.
Explore Ferro Fire Starters (and Sheaths Compatible with Them) at The Knife Connection
Want to get a new sheath with a fire steel loop, or are you just looking to get a few spare fire starters? Get them online at The Knife Connection; they carry these and other essentials to support your work and recreation in the field.
For More Information About Bark River Knives and Stroup Knives Please Visit: The Knife Connection.
