I tried out 4 firestarters/firesteels without using any accellerants or special thinder.
The Blastmatch
from Ultimate Survival Tools (
click here)
I have the orange version, I prefer bright colors as its easier to find your equipment in case you drop it or loose it.
The manufacturer claims onehanded use. Well, that is sort of true : opening it requires both hands or one hand and your teeth. After that, YES, one hand is enough.
The plastic clip is very fragile, after a few tries its already showing a breakline ready to snap, maybe the non transparent plastic version is stronger.
It sparks well, but you really should wear some protective gloves as your thumb will get scorched real easy.
+strong sparks, burn 2-3 seconds
+can adjust the firesteel
+one handed use
-after two handed opening
-you'll burn your thumb
-plastic clip is fragile
It would be a great improvement IF made from stronger plastic or preferably metal and have some sort of thumb protection. I wrapped a leave around my thumb.
The Sparkie
from Ultimate Survival Tools. (
click here)
Went very well, first attempt at making fire was with some strips from a breadbag laying near the road, it had rained during the night, the bag was moist. I had a flame after the second spark. Good stuff.
Second attempt was with some hay I found on the path, the hay was moist. Made a little "bird's nest" and had a go. After about a dozen sparks I had a flame. The sparks are strong and well directed.
But the plastic bits in contact with the sparks melted! The footing holding the firesteel actually fired up and melted, I plunged it into the earth to stop the fire. And now it no longer closes properly.
+Very strong spark
+the embers burn upto 3seconds
+effectively ONE HANDED opening and use
-the firesteel wears quickly
-cant adjust the firesteel
-the little "foot" holding the firesteel melted during the making of the second fire
-the part near the "blade" gradually "dissapears/melts" with every spark
If the bits coming in contact with the spark would be made of metal it would be an improvement. The quick wear of the firesteel is worrying tho, I doubt you can start 100 fires with this one.
I got this for
€17.95 at Wolfster.de
Army surplus firesteel/magnesium bar
The sparks are not very impressive and it takes some practice to get and direct the sparks. I used the plain edge of a hacksaw balde to get it sparking.
If you use a knife, try it with the back of the knife first as not to dull the cutting edge of your primary survival tool : the knife.
-2 handed use
-you need a blade of some sort to make the sparks
-create a draft with the blade
+nothing to melt or break
+the burning magnesium burns amazingly bright and HOT !
Light My Fire Swedish firesteel (
click here)
Obviously no one handed use. Same remarks as with the previous item. The firesteel is fatter, you get more sparks.
The accompanying scraper is more painfull then usefull. Use the back of a knifeblade or back of a hacksawblade (=very hard metal = lots of sparks)
At
http://toolshop.de the
large version costs +- €16.95, while the
smaller version goes for €8-9.00
Conclusion for me:The one handed firestarters are easy to use, its easy to get sparks and the sparks are well directed. But them being PLASTIC makes them to fragile.
The classic firesteel where you need a blade to spark take more practice and the sparks are more difficult to direct. It also takes more effort to get a spark going and if you are using a knife you risk injury if you get careless or annoyed if its taking too long.
Which would I take on an outdoors weekend? A butane storm torch and fuelblocks :-) or the Sparkie for fun.
What would I choose to have on me when the shit hits the fan? The magnesium/firesteel combo : nothing to break or melt.
Those one handed, plastic firestarters are just too fragile. Now if they were made in metal ...
Related links:
http://www.ultimatesurvival.comhttp://www.light-my-fire.comhttp://wolfster.dehttp://toolshop.de
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