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Firestarters are a must-have for your outdoor survival kit. After all, fire can be your closest anchor to life in the outdoors, especially in wet and cold conditions.
Start a fire in the rain. Start a fire in the snow. Start a fire after your gear gets dunked in the river. And start the fire with a firestarter that is capable of working through the most difficult scenarios.
There are various firestarters to choose from, and part of getting the best one is getting the right one. We’ve pored over the research and testing that’s been done to create a buying guide that will steer you to the best firestarter for you.
Outdoor survival is just as much about outsmarting the elements as it is using them to your advantage. 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.
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 your fire 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 firestarter comparison chart at the bottom of the list for a quick comparison, or follow our buyer’s guide to figure out the best firestarter for your pack. Then, get your burning questions answered in our FAQ.
Wolf & Grizzly ($23) 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.
These firestarter sticks ($4) are 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 Light My Fire Tinder-on-a-Rope 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 Tinder-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 a lot of experience using firestrikers. It even 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.
Bagasse is a sugarcane byproduct that has amazing utility. Bagasse is used in a wide array of new green tech and is developed with a nonpolluting process. Everything about this byproduct is good for the paper industry, as well as fire-making.
UCO Sweetfire’s ($4) combustion comes strictly from bagasse, making it an impressively sustainable product. It’s then fused with vegetable wax to make this firestarter burn for 6 to 7 minutes. Other products require factory production and mining for materials, so a bagasse firestarter is one way to invest in more sustainable outdoor gear.
Sweetfire briquettes work well with ferrocerium firestarters. To get the best use out of this firestarter, shave bits of the brick into a powder. The powder will catch the sparks quickly, and then larger chunks will burn for a long time once they catch.
Morakniv knives captured our hearts years ago when we recognized the immense value of the 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.
Concentrated beams of light are an ant’s worst enemy when in the hands of a child. When you put the same light to use in a survival scenario, it works just as well to get a fire started. We hope that you choose to utilize this for the greater good of starting your campfire, rather than creating mass destruction among colonies of innocent ants.
The FlashTorch ($249) is a firestarting flashlight that gets so hot it will burn anything it touches. The FlashTorch puts out 4,100 lumens. To give you an idea of what that means, most headlamps that you may use function around 200-350 lumens.
The FlashTorch’s housing is anodized aluminum that will withstand any brutal work you put it through. There are three different settings — high, medium, and low — on the FlashTorch. Use it to light the trail with a wide floodlight or concentrate the beam to start a fire for cooking dinner.
Our in-depth review of the FlashTorch Mini Firestarter has an immense amount of information. If this light sparks your interest, check it out to learn more.
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 ($97) 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 get stuff dry and lit. Even larger logs can be lit with the Bernzomatic.
No need to spend time collecting kindling, then pencil-sized sticks, and then real fuel. Light the logs directly with this simple firestarter.
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.
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.
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 clocks in at 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.
For a boost in the “wow” factor of your emergency kit, or a unique waterproof backup for starting fires in inclement weather, the Plasma Lighter is the tool for the job.
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 pro 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. This 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. With this, you can direct the sparks right into the included shredded pine tinder bundles that 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 would be 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.
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°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 leaps and bounds 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/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.
From experienced survivalists to weekend warriors stoked on bushcraft, the GearJunkie team is made up of outdoor enthusiasts that know the importance of getting a fire started in any condition. We’ve spent hundreds of 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.
We put a load of the top firestarters to the test for this guide, hoping to narrow in on the best ones available for a variety of different situations. We have significant hands-on experience with everything on the list and focused on the ease of use, reliability, and lifespan of each starter to ensure that each product will serve you well in the wild.
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 in a survival situation. We found the top tried and true firestarters out there and put them to the test 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 middle ground with 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.
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.
The three primary types of firestarters — flint & 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, or even a hot beam of light, but these are the more traditional starters you’ll see in simple 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 & 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 & 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.
It’s a good idea to carry some highly flammable tinder in your survival kit, such as cotton balls coated with Vaseline, to make this process easier, but there are plenty of natural resources that can be used in a pinch.
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 which 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.
This is usually a pretty time-consuming way to start a fire as it takes a large pile of magnesium shavings to make a flame that lasts long enough to light your tinder or kindling, and the shavings can blow away easily in any amount of wind. You will want to use additional dry tinder with the shavings, as the shaving bundle itself may not be enough to catch the larger fuel on fire.
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.
Gather plenty of medium-sized dry kindling (preferably from conifers) and have it on hand to build up your fire once you establish a flame. 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) 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.
When a spark takes in your tinder bundle it should produce a strong but short-lived flame. Build a teepee of small twigs and pencil-size 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 the tinder bundle 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.
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.
Getting a firestarter that’s reliable in all conditions and environments helps ensure that 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 particular use.
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.
It’s also worth noting that this guide covers a broad range of firestarter types. 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, and use this to help formulate a budget, and narrow in on the best firestarter for your needs.
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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Based in beautiful Chattanooga, Tennessee, Chris Carter is a Senior Editor for GearJunkie, while squeezing in side gigs as an adventure filmmaker and content creator in the outdoor industry. Drawing from his childhood in Africa, experience as a rock climbing and backpacking guide, ultra-marathon running, and years of extensive thru-hiking, he’s passionate about journalism that gets people into the wild. He has thru-hiked the Triple Crown of long trails in America: the Pacific Crest Trail (2018), the Continental Divide Trail (2021), and the Appalachian Trail (2021), and has explored, rock-climbed, and backpacked all over the world. He hopes to spread his love of adventure and travel through his writing, art, and videography.
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