Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

I use 000 steel wool. it gets the job done! a single spark to a little bundle of it and boom its plenty hot to start the fire. I just use my blastmatch firestarter (basically a flint type deal) and I have yet to have a failed light on one spark.

http://www.practicalsurvivor.com/firesteelwool

 

These work great for quick and easy fire starter...just melt some gulf wax and dip cotton balls in it, could probably use dryer lint as well but haven't tried that yet. These get a blaze going quick.

 

only problem ive found with our dryer lint is that it contains a ton of our dogs hair and that smells like shit and doenst really burn all that well. I can see the cotton balls working though

 

I just use those paper advertising flyers that you get in the mail. I roll them up into a tube about an inch in diameter, tie them off with strings, and cut them to length (usually 1.5-2 inches). I save the leftover wax from the GF's scented candles until I have enough to do a batch, then melt it down. Dip the paper tubes into the wax and leave it in there long enough to get saturated, then set it on a sheet of aluminum foil to cool. They're completely waterproof, take up very little space, don't require any special storage container, and they burn long and hot enough to even light wet wood.

Edit-
The possible downside is that you NEED an actual flame to light them, so if you don't carry a lighter or matches they won't work. You can't get one of these going with a sparker.

 

Tons of stuff to use on the trail for fires.
*duct tape - we keep it wrapped around our trekking poles for emergencies
*Frito's - usually carry some at all times for the salt, also burn for a long time
*cotton ball w/Vaseline
*cut sections of a straw, melt one end, fill with Vaseline, melt the other end - make for great candles too
*white gas if you have a white gas stove

 

Good stuff

 

Honestly who doesn't carry a lighter with them when camping or fishing or hunting?

 

Precisely. Which is why I don't worry about having a flame source for my fire starters; I always carry a lighter even though I don't smoke.

 

Me & my buddies always have gars with us & a triple flame propane lighter well get most fires going if it doesn't you need a blowtorch

 

I don't. ive never had a problem with getting a fire started, even when its raining. just takes a little thought and youd be golden without one. plus ive had too many lighters get wet and the flints not get a good enough spark. that's the main reason I started just carrying a flint. I can ALWAYS get a good spark with them. but to each their own and neither is right or wrong.

 

Car camping. I've got nothing to prove. My brother has a squeeze bottle of charcoal lighter fluid. Add bic lighter. Done.

Packing. Bic lighter and collected tinder. Emergency candle and wax fuzz firestarter packed away

 

Car camping: Just bring the blowtorch!!

 

I'm going to have to disagree with the use of Duct Tape & Plastic Straws to use for a fire starter/candles.
You shouldn't be burning anything that is plastic or rubber.
That's a big NO NO in my book and hopefully for the majority of people who are environmentally conscious.

 

I use lint, and keep a small bottle of cheap hand sanitizer. My lint also has dog hair in it, so it does smell like shit for 2 seconds when I light it, but after that, all I smell is the good smoke of tinder starting to char and burn.

Dog hair doesn't burn as well as cotton lint does, but I can fit so much lint in a bag that weighs next to nothing when it's jam packed full that it's not much of an issue. Sanitizer burns clean and slow, last surprisingly long. It's a good combo and is practically zero cost.

 

I've always just gathered whatever tinder I can find. Sometimes it's dry and easy, other times it's super damp and lame. Ha

I've been meaning to try the cotton balls and Vaseline though.

 

I tried them once.. they work well, but (and I may sound like a total baby) they're messy.

 

Really? If you're truely "environmentally conscious" you would have chosen all 5 as no no's!

Out of those 5 you're going to pick only 2? Nothing wrong with tossing food into a fire for animals to dig through later? What about burning Vaseline; which is basically burning oil, and is not eco-friendly? Lastly white gas, you might as well just use gas. It's going to contaminate the ground, and potentially get into a water shed.

Tinder is the only eco-friendly option.

Fires are a waste of time in my opinion. After hiking 20-30 miles a day that last thing I want to do is gather wood to make a fire. If someone around me wants to make one I'll enjoy it, but I'm not going to start one on my own.

 

Indeed.

Natural tinder is the best option. When it isn't feasible, you can pack in your own natural materials either sourced elsewhere or stored/produced at home.

 

Not looking for an argument senor....

I just didn't understand why someone would recommend burning plastic. There are plenty of other resources that won't have such a negative impact on the environment.

 

yea I definitely wont burn plastic, but food I will as long as the fire is hot enough and it will fully burn it.