Throughout history, human is the only species on earth to manipulate fire. We can start, transfer, and control fire to our advantage. This helps us battle hypothermia which is the main cause of death in survival circumstances. If you like to go outdoors to hike, camp, or practice bushcraft, fire starters are indispensable for survival. Therefore, you need the best fire starters for camping to always be prepared!
How To Choose The Best Fire Starters for Camping
There are a lot of types of fire starters and it’s easy to get lost in the seas of look-alikes. With fire starters, the more expensive a product doesn’t mean it’s the best for you. It’s better to find the fire starters according to your skill, activity, and environment. Let’s break it down below.
Types
As we mentioned before, there are several types of fire starter for camping with varying difficulties and procedures. Before getting one for yourself, we recommend you to assess your firemaking skill so you can get the one fits you the most. Manual fire starters such as flints or Ferro rod take a bit of skill to light up your tinder while matches and lighters don’t.
The downside of matches and lighters is they aren’t suitable in wet/windy environments unless you’re willing to pay extra for those with weather protection. In a wet or windy environment, manual fire starters are a lot more dependable. Practice firemaking using manual tools will carry you a long way!
Portability
Mobility is one of the things you want to keep when camping or doing other outdoor activities. The best fire starters for camping shouldn’t slow you down and enhance your experience instead. If you go backpacking or hiking, taking Ferro rod or matches won’t add up too much space and weight to your carry. However, since camping allows you to be relaxed about space and weight, a sturdier firebrick is a surefire to a long-lasting campfire.
Dependability
Budget plays a large – but not all – part for dependability. More expensive, well-made firestarters are more dependable on providing you the ember you need to start a fire. Does that make the cheaper ones more dependable? Then your skill can certainly give a lot of leverage on this. Specialized fire starters require a certain skill to master. Take a Ferro rod, for example, it’s more affordable than stormproof matches, but if you pair it with a good feathering skill, the Ferro rod is all you need to light up a fire.
What are firestarters?
Firestarters are tools to start a fire. It can take form in a striking rod (or a flint), a match/lighter, or a flammable brick.
How long does a firestarter last?
A regular flint or magnesium fire starter can produce decent sparks for at least 3,000 strikes. However, this depends on the size of the flint.
Can you use cardboard as kindling?
Yes! Cardboard makes an excellent kindling because it catches fire easily. You can cut or rip cardboard up into a thinner sheet and crush it into a loose ball with your hand.
How do you keep a campfire going?
First, you need to make sure that the fire isn’t right on the ground/soil. Arrange some rocks as the base of your fire before making a fire. Rocks are great heat retainers so they can extend the fire for an hour or two. It helps the fire create coal which burns more slowly. If you have time, you can make an auto-feed campfire made from a simple construction, but you’ll need some camping axes or folding saws to do that.
Pull Start Fire Firestarter
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Start your campfire without hassle if you have Pull Start Fire Firestarter in your camping supply. Sometimes we just want to have an easy day where we can hang around by the fire and cook our dinner without worrying about making good kindling. If that’s what in your mind, then this is one of the best fire starters for camping.
This ingenious product is great to have around at least once. It works by pulling a thread that will trigger a chain reaction to ignite the kindle brick entirely. Once lit up, the brick can stay roaring for 30 minutes. It’s an overpowering fire seed that’s reliable in all weather – even in the rain! Once the fire settles, it will burn all kinds of logs, wet or dry. A hot brick for those who appreciate the time!
What We Love
Making fire with only a pull of a string? It’s so easy!
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Burns for 30 minutes
- Waterproof and windproof
Cons:
- Pricey and hefty
Vargo Ultimate Fire Starter
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We love Vargo Ultimate Fire Starter for its portability and efficient design. This product comprises 2 fire tools that we think are a match made in heaven. One is a mini Ferro rod that’s enough for at least a thousand strikes, and a blowpipe to feed your fire with oxygen better. The design makes this product one of the best fire starters for camping you’d want to keep for an emergency.
The Ferro rod is approximately 2.5 inches in length and can create 5,000 °F sparks to ignite your tinder. The blowpipe is extendable into an 18-inch long titanium pipe. At the top of the pipe, there’s also a striker in case you didn’t bring your EDC pocket knife. When not in use, you can lock in the Ferro rod onto the pipe and use the clip to attach it to your keychain! It’s an amazing little product!
What We Love
A simple set that makes firemaking fast and easy.
Pros:
- Highly portable
- Weighs almost nothing
- Hooks onto your keyring
- Titanium collapsible blowpipe
Cons:
- The Ferro rod could be bigger.
UST StrikeForce Fire Starter
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UST StrikeForce Fire Starter is the emergency fire starter for camping we often use. It’s a must-have item in your gear especially if you’re going to camp near a body of water. From how it looks, we dig the vibrant color of the shell due to its high visibility. It’s hard to lose it on the ground and easier to use at night. The case also provides the ferrocerium rod and striker decent protection against the weather. We’d love to see the case upgraded into a waterproof casing that floats in water!
If you notice, the casing provides some space so you can store dry tinder to make your firemaking easier. You can stuff up some paper or cotton ball into the casing. The Ferro rod is short but thick. It’s enough to serve you for at least 4,000 strikes. The striker is built into the unit so it’s a complete fire starter for a camping set.
What We Love
A great emergency fire starter.
Pros:
- Bright-colores
- Including lanyard
- The casing also holds an amount of tinder
- Floats on water
Cons:
- It has a short ferrocerium rod
MSR Strike Igniter Red
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MSR Strike Igniter Red might be small but it’s mighty! This Ferro rod and striker combo have never left our camping system due to its ultralight nature and dependability. It’s simply one of the best fire starters for backpacking where you need to pack an igniter while keeping your carry light. The company definitely cut every weight to achieve this, and while they’re at it, they integrated a new but useful tool: a bottle opener!
The Ferro rod is quite dense. It can last for 3,000 – 12,000 strikes in its life. It’s also a nice long rod to provide you with a long striking lane. The striker is ever more weight-efficient than the rod but enough to give you a solid striking. This striker has a notch on one side so you can use it to open a bottle. This unit comes with a lanyard so you can attach it straight to your carrier or create a neck loop.
What We Love
A neat little ferro rod fitting for your EDC (Everyday Carry)
Pros:
- Brightly colored
- Long striking length
- Including lanyard
- Built-in bottle opener
Cons:
- Needs some time to adjust to its limited grip surface
Holtzman’s Gorilla Survival Fire Starter
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Holtzman’s Gorilla Survival Fire Starter is such a looker, don’t you think? It’s one of the best fire starters for camping to gift to an avid camper! But forget gifts, you’d want this for yourself! It’s quite affordable for a gift set and we think it’s a total bargain as you’ll get more than you pay for. It’s surprisingly well-made and has great quality!
The package consists of a lanyard, a striker, 2 Ferro rods (yes, two!), and a genuine leather sheath for the longer rod. The handles of the rod and striker feel firm to hold, even for the thickest hands. The striker is made of robust steel that can make some serious sparks. You can use this package in 2 ways: wear the sheathed longer rod on your belt, paired with the striker looped around your neck; or wear the striker and the shorter rod around your neck to pack lighter.
What We Love
Finally, a perfect gift for an outdoorsman that works beautifully!
Pros:
- Look beautiful
- Portable including a belt sheath and a lanyard
- 2-tool set
- Adequate grip surface
Cons:
- The sheath is a nice addition but the robustness adds a little weight to your carry. Best to be carried like a necklace
Exotac polySTRIKER XL
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Exotac polySTRIKER XL is the brainchild of the company that produces some of the best fire starters for camping in the industry. This lightweight firemaking tool is most suitable for those who spend a lot of time outdoor. Avid campers and backpackers will appreciate its lightweight property and ease of use. It’s so well-designed that almost every bit of this fire rod is usable.
The handle houses the rod and the striker when not in use. The whole construction is made of recycled ABS plastic that’s known for its durability and weather resistance. It provides plenty amount of surface for you to hold, even when you’re wearing gloves. This fire rod has a notched striker to create more sparks so you can have your fire in fewer strikes. The rod can last for 10,000 strikes and you can refill it when you need to change it with the new one.
What We Love
A great fire starter for frequent camper.
Pros:
- Firm and comfy grip
- Long striking length
- ABS plastic handles
- Including flammable lanyard
Cons:
- It needs a bigger striker
Gerber Bear Grylls Fire Starter
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There are a lot of gimmicky products out there and very few of them actually live up to the users’ expectations and Gerber Bear Grylls Fire Starter is among the bunch. In fact, it’s arguably the best fire starter for camping you can have at the moment. This compact fire starter comes in a waterproof protective shell to keep your rod dry at all times.
The rod is fairly thick and can last for thousands of strikes. It’s paired with a 90-degree abrasive striker made of steel. The shell encases the rod and the striker effectively while still makes some room for some emergency tinder. Should you’re stuck in an emergency, help yourself out using the built-in whistle to attract rescuers.
What We Love
A portable, watertight casing to keep the rod and content dry? What’s not to love?
Pros:
- Watertight casing (can store some tinder too!)
- Lightweight
- Built-in emergency whistle
- Firm grip
Cons:
- The lanyard makes you holding it awkwardly
UCO Stormproof Sweetfire
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When we’re looking for the best fire starter for camping, UCO Stormproof Sweetfire caught our attention by the name. We came to learn that these matches are made of Bagasse, one of the most popular biofuel alternatives. It’s a by-product of sugar production that’s highly flammable. Don’t you just feel good when your tools come from upcycled material? Give back a little to the environment!
The material is packed tightly into a candy corn shape with a sulfur layer on top so you can easily ignite it. You can strike the tip on any coarse surface or use the striker on the box. Once ignited, a piece of sweetfire can last for 7 minutes – more than enough to start a fire. The good thing about this product is that it’s windproof and stormproof. It’d be perfect if it also comes in a tin box like its brother, Behemoth.
What We Love
Strikeable firebricks in mini size!
Pros:
- Eco-friendly: made of sugarcane waste
- Lightweight and portable
- Stormproof and windproof
- 7 minutes burn time
- Odorless fire
Cons:
- You’ll need to re-case it to give some protection from the weather
Lightning Strike Fire Starter
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Lightning Strike Fire Starter is one of the best fire starters for camping beginners. One of the difficulties in using a strike-able Ferro rod is to have the spark flies haphazardly especially on a windy day. To counter it, this product was born. This fire starter has a shell that works as a barrel for the sparks, resulting in properly directed sparks. Starting fire has never been this easy!
Unlike other products that have the Ferro rod exposed, this rod sits inside the barrel of the shell. The striker fits perfectly into the opening right above the rod. This opening acts as a lane for the striker so your strike will be perfectly aligned to the rod. We love how bright the sparks are and they are pretty hot as they ignite the tinder instantly. For the best use of this fire starter, pack up a bunch of tinder into the capped chamber in case of emergency!
What We Love
The firestarter kit for a surefire ignition.
Pros:
- Replaceable Ferro rod
- Tinder-storing compartment (watertight)
- Aluminum body
- Directional spark
Cons:
- It adds significant weight to your carry
Zippo Emergency Fire Kit
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You won’t find any backpacker who doesn’t love Zippo Emergency Fire Kit. This lightweight and easy-to-use fire starter is included in almost all of the preppers’ survival kits. This kit is one of the best fire starters for backpacking or camping for its durability, dependability, and watertight attribute. And since it’s buoyant, it’s indispensable for water adventures such as kayaking and fishing.
The kit consists of a spark lighter, a storage chamber that contains the paraffin wax-coated cotton tinder, and a loop to attach the kit wherever you see fit. The paraffin wax cotton can light up for at least 5 minutes once ignited. A little warning for new users: do not ignite the cotton while holding it as it catches fire very easily. So, wash your hand before striking the cotton.
What We Love
The failproof firemaking system in a small bottle.
Pros:
- Watertight – in floats on water
- Flint and cotton tabs set
- Brightly colored
- Paraffin cotton burns for 5 minutes
Cons:
- Remember to wash your hand after handling the cotton and before igniting
Wolf Grizzly Fire Set
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Wolf Grizzly Fire Set is a simple but effective fire starter. We often see this pair looped around campers’ necks on a backpacking trip and now we know why. It’s ultralight and it looks awesome whether as your wear or as a tool on your carrier. Its popularity lays its path to be the best fire starters for camping and we can’t complain about that.
We love how the striker is designed. Instead of going flat, the striker is curved nicely to fit the curvature of the Ferro rod, giving it a degree of protection so your Ferro rod isn’t scratched accidentally. The rod is capable of creating extremely hot sparks to ignite your tinder easily. You’ll get at least 20,000 strikes with this Ferro rod. If it ever gets wet, just wipe it with a cloth before using it.
What We Love
A fine-looking but functional ferro rod-striker set.
Pros:
- High-quality Ferro rod
- Long striking length
- Including a length of jute-embedded paracord
- Very portable
Cons:
- No dedicated grips
Light My Fire Ferro Rod Fire Starter
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Coming from a Swedish company, Light my Fire Ferro Rod Fire Starter blew our mind with its functionality and practicality. It’s also one of the best fire starters for backpacking because it weighs almost nothing while still packs a lot of punch – or sparks. The great thing about this fire starter is it uses upcycled materials to build its durable grips!
The Ferro rod might be small but it can last about 3,000 strikes. The striker is made of Swedish FireSteel which can practically stay abrasive forever. You might not notice this but the striker has a secret tool embedded in it: It’s also an emergency whistle! This is why it makes sense if you’d want to carry this little companion everywhere you go. There are 4 color variations available, but we like the orang the most as it stands out in nature.
What We Love
An avid bushcraft camper’s best friend!
Pros:
- Super lightweight
- Ergonomic grips
- Reliable sparks
- Hidden emergency whistle
- Eco-conscious: grips are made of bio-based plastics
Cons:
- The form factor makes it less suitable for inexperienced users.
UCO Titan Stormproof Match Kit
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As the famous saying goes, the only thing certain in life is uncertainty. Therefore, what we can do is to prepare to our best, and by preparing our best, we mean getting UCO Titan Stormproof Match Kit in your gear. Fire is the second most important component for our survival outdoor. Knock on wood but things can go south, leaving you stuck in a storm with almost no means to light up your tinder. This match kit is the answer to your prayer.
These are not your regular matches that get soggy in water. In fact, they ignite in any weather and even burn underwater! It’s easily the best fire starters for camping in our book. The matches are significantly bigger in size to achieve 30 seconds burn duration which is plenty to start your tinder. The kit has 12 matches stashed into a waterproof canister with a striking pad at the bottom. You’ll receive an extra pad in case the other one gets wet. To wrap this up, we can’t stress it enough that you need at least one of these bad boys in your survival kit. You’ll thank us later.
What We Love
The plan B when everything else fails.
Pros:
- Waterproof casing
- Titan-size
- Stormproof and windproof
- Burns underwater
Cons:
- It’s hard to put out!
