stroud’s Tip
Some people think it’s a good idea to water
proof their matches by dipping them in wax. Leave that to
the gear geeks. Instead, buy solid strikeanywhere matches
and invest in a good waterproof container. make sure you give yourself options. I love knowing that I have several
options with me and that I’m prepared for almost any situation.
My preference is a butane lighter, the kind that shoots a flame like a pro
pane torch. These work upside down and in the wind, two great advantages.
A lighter will eventually run out of fuel, but only after a few hundred fires.
Furthermore, in a survival emergency, the first fire is the most important.
Always carry a highquality lighter, because depending on where you
are, it may well be a challenge to keep your fire going. You don’t want to
add the stress of firestarting to your list of worries.
In addition to a lighter, I like to carry a magnesium flint striker (which
in a pinch can be used as a signaling device), a fire piston (if weight is not an
issue), and some solid strikeanywhere matches with a striker ( just to be sure)
in a waterproof container such as a film canister. Note that plastic containers
can be unsafe to keep matches in because, though a remote possibility, static
electricity can ignite the matches. A metal container is best.
Just make sure—as with everything in your survival kit—that you
know how to use these fire starters. Take the time to practice making a
fire with them before disaster strikes. I recommend that you carry at least
one of these fire starters on you, as part of your personal survival kit (for
example, in a pocket), and a couple more in your complete survival kit. See
“Fire,” Chapter 6, for more on this topic.
Firestarting tinder: There are a few different types of commercially avail
able tinder, including pellets, pastes, and shavings. I like having three or
four waxandcotton fuel wads. A small piece of this added to the tinder
you collect in the bush will flame up from a simple spark and keep going
like a candle flame until your fire is roaring. You should also add bits of
tinder, such as birch bark or dried grass, to your survival kit as you come
across them during your travels.
Survival Kits (^) | 23