SURVIVAL AND EMERGENCY FIRE STARTERS

We are always on the hunt for a new fire making product, especially when it comes to Survival and Emergency Fire Starters. Recently a buddy of mine recommended this new to me brand of fire starters from Bigfoot Bushcraft. I’ve used the vaseline soaked cotton ball, wet-fires, live fire, tinder quicks and on and on. I wanted to put these out for folks because I think the two brands mentioned here are excellent fire starters. The generic fire tinder does not cut the mustard, but if you coat in vaseline it may elongate the burn time. This was based on testing them, price point and burn time.

The two tests I performed are demonstrated in a video below and what I would like to add in the written form is that I did notice a few things that are apparent in the video, but I’d like to point out.
SURVIVAL AND EMERGENCY FIRE STARTERS TESTING

I am very happy with both the Wazoo and Bigfoot Bushcraft tinders and will gladly use both brands. In my opinion, both will make great Survival and Emergency Fire Starters.

**DISCLAIMER** – the video has time lapses so you don’t have to watch 11 minutes of burn times.

NOTES ON THE TEST

1. On both tests, the Wazoo Fire Plug was more difficult to light compared to the other two, not a huge deal because once lit, it burned hot!

2. The Wazoo Fire Plug burned the longest during both tests., this may be a bit skewed due to lighting a little slower.

3. The Bigfoot Bushcraft Fire Plug burned very hot and quickly lit.

4. The generic tinder was absolutely not worth a purchase. I def recommend adding vaseline to it if you have any of those types laying around.

I plan to use up all the generic tinders I have for practice and demonstrations, because they are definitely not what I would like to keep in my emergency stash of absolute fire starters.

The two tests conducted were a burn with no fluffing of the tinder, and then a burn where the tinder was cut and fluffed. I used a lighter to ignite on both tests, and may do this again to verify consistency with the tinders (eliminating the generic tinder) and trying other ignition methods and the results are:

FIRE STARTER COMPARISON STATS

Test	Brand	Time
1	Bigfoot Bushcraft	6:29**
1	Wazoo Survival Gear	6:30**
1	Generic	1:26
	**Burned hot even after coal went out
2	Bigfoot Bushcraft	4:50
2	Wazoo	5:05
2	Generic	1:18

Results of testing for time burned

Please click the link below to go to the Bigfoot Bushcraft brand website, and use code OWABIGFOOT for 15% off of your order.

Click photo to go to Bigfoot Bushcraft or the link:

www.bigfootbushcraft.com

For the Wazoo Survival Gear brand, click the link below for their website, and Wazoo usually offers a 10% off of first orders.

Click photo to go Wazoo Survival Gear or the link:

www.wazoogear.com

These two brands are definitely some of the best fire starter tinders on the market. These will help you in a camping, survival or emergency situation, regardless of wet weather or wind to make a fire.

#BigFootBushcraft #havelockchamber #Survival #Preparedness #Emergency #FireStarter #Best #OnTheMarket #OldWorldAlliance #WetWeather #Bushcraft #InTheWoods #Wilderness #WildernessSurvival #Camping

Bushcraft Fire Making: Flint and Steel

Flint and Steel components and extras

As I was looking through some gear and making sure it is all organized, I noticed I have several various types of steel strikers for Flint and Steel fire making.  Then I realized, I almost never put Flint and Steel in any of my fire kits that I take on outings or trips.  This led me down the rabbit hole of why does the Bushcraft community hold Flint and Steel so highly as a good fire starting source?    

Is it the romance or nostalgia of using a “primitive” or “percussion” fire making method?  Is there value of training and skill in being able to manipulate Flint and Steen with natural materials?  Is this the most functional way to start a fire?  Does that mean Flint and Steel are no good?  

Classic “C” Pattern Striker

NO it does not.  I truly believe that Flint and Steel is a valuable skill for not only fire starting, but you need to have a good understanding of ignition sources, natural materials, charred materials, creating charred materials and so on and so on.  Personally, I think there are way better options to carry with me on any outings, which I will get to later.  

 

Striker Awl and Flint Knapped arrow head to strike the steel made by Jamie Burleigh

What I mean by this is, if you study Flint and Steel and learn the science behind it you will discover words like pyrophoric, oxidation, and ignition point to name a few.  To put things in layman’s terms as I like, you’re basically scratching the Steel with a hard Rock (flint, chert, quartz etc), and the steel scratched off combusts into a spark.  Then the spark needs to come into contact with a very dry tinder source (powder like tinder fungus, dry grass, well processed natural materials), or something already charred (cloth, natural materials).   Personally, I tend to use charred materials from the previous fire, it can be done with Flint and Steel, Magnification Lens, and a Ferrocerium Rod.  I also prepare charred punkwood or char cloth if I’m going to practice Flint and Steel or some other methods.  

“U” Shaped striker with flint

Flint and Steel when practiced as a skill can teach many lessons to aid in various other fire starting methods.  Understanding the how and why of the sparks, and how they are a certain temperature compared to other spark producing ignition sources can really teach us how well the materials need to be prepared in order to achieve a good long lasting fire.  

 

The Reel Striker with bow drill divot and Flint to strike with, designed by Jamie Burleigh and sold at CampCraft Outdoors

For more practical and realistic reasons, the better options to carry are a lighter, ferro rod, magnification lens or matches.  These items eliminate the step of making tinder or as Mors Kochanski called it “Synthetic Tinder” (Kochanski, 1991).  Additionally, I carry a flare in my pack and vehicles for true emergency situations (I am a believer that a flare is the best immediate fire making tool on the market).  I do enjoy practicing Flint and Steel and how it prepares me for more fire making challenges.  What are your thoughts on Flint and Steel and its application?  Do you think there are better methods, why or why not?  We would love to hear your feedback and ideas.  

 

Chert and Iron Pyrite

Works Cited

Kochanski, M. L. (1991). Northern Bushcraft. Edmonton, Alberta CAN: Lone Pine Publishing.