Which campfire starter is best?

Whether you’re going on a weekend camping trip or a monthlong adventure in the middle of nowhere, a reliable, durable and easy-to-use campfire starter could be critical to your survival.

It’s also a huge bonus when your fire starter can do more than one thing, so you don’t have to bring as many items. The Gerber Bear Grylls Fire Starter is a top pick because it is compact, waterproof and comes with a survival guide.

What to know before you buy a campfire starter

What is a campfire starter?

To start a fire, you need oxygen, fuel and heat. A campfire starter creates the spark to ignite a flame. You can get a fire starter with the fuel source built into the heat source or get each separately.

Two quick, easy and accurate fire-starting methods with built-in accelerants are matches and a lighter. You can also get a flint and steel or a ferrocerium rod and striker, which take a little more work to get a fire going but are more durable, naturally waterproof and can light more fires than the other two methods combined. Some struggle with them because they require added accelerants, but those are ample, lightweight and easy to pack.

Types of campfire starters

Most professional survivalists suggest carrying at least one backup campfire starter in case the first fails or gets lost. If you want to be extra safe, take two backups. There are four types of fire starters for you to consider:

Matches: These small sticks are coated in combustible material that ignites when hit against a strike pad. They come in standard and waterproof varieties.
Lighter: These can be electric- or butane-based. They create a flame with the press of a wheel or button.
Fire piston: This is also known as a slam rod fire starter and comes with a rod, tube and tinder. Tinder is placed at the bottom of the tube and ignites when the rod is slammed into the tube.
Flint and steel: A ferrocerium rod and striker are in the same category and work the same way. When you strike the flint or striker against the steel or rod, a fire-igniting spark erupts and lands in an accelerant, which creates a flame.

Campfire accelerants

Fire accelerants, also known as flame extenders, are crucial as they take the flame or spark and turn it into a stable, roaring fire. They are required when your heat and fuel sources are separate. However, since they simplify the campfire-building process, many also use them with matches and lighters. There are nine types to consider:

Birch bark
Duct tape rolled up
Magnesium shavings
Wax and sawdust in cubes or cups
Cotton balls dipped in hand sanitizer
Cotton balls dunked in petroleum jelly
Cotton disks coated in wax and an accelerant
Wax- or Chapstick-doused rope or twine
Proprietary blends, such as Pyro Putty, Fireflame and Fatwood

 

What to look for in a quality campfire starter

Reliable

Because you’re not apt to have many backups, your campfire starter must be reliable. The best way to ensure its dependability is to get one that can withstand the elements and is labeled windproof, dustproof and waterproof.

Small and lightweight

While a lighter and fatwood can create a robust fire, they are not ideal if your campsite requires a hike and you need to carry them on your back with your other essentials. The best campfire starters are small, lightweight and won’t create bulk in your pack. Keep your heat source small and your fuel source even smaller.

Multipurpose

Consider the other tools you need while camping, such as a safety whistle, flashlight and survival guide, then try to get them in one purchase. While add-ons mustn’t come at the cost of a quality fire starter, space is precious when camping, and it’s helpful when each item can do multiple things.

How much you can expect to spend on a campfire starter

Depending on the brand, materials and included items, they range from $10-$50, with an average price around $10-$20.

Campfire starter FAQ

Is getting a flint and steel rod with a large strike capacity good?

A. Strike quality is more important than strike quantity. Fire steels that can withstand a lot of strikes are typically made from harder materials that don’t chip away easily, which generates less spark. You want one from softer materials that can create a larger spark, increasing your chances of success on the first strike.

What’s a good way to ensure you’ve bought the right fire starter?

A. Test it at home. It’s vital to test all camping essentials in a controlled environment before depending on them to work in the wild.

What’s the best campfire starter to buy?

Top campfire starter

 

Gerber Bear Grylls Fire Starter

What you need to know: This waterproof all-in-one kit has an attached safety whistle and other bonus tools.

What you’ll love: It comes with a ferrocerium rod, metal striker and an airtight container to secure your items. It also includes a survival guide, and the container has an attached lanyard you can use to place the kit around your neck for quick access.

What you should consider: Some reviewers said the kit is slightly bigger than they hoped it would be.

 

Top campfire starter for the money

Uco Stormproof Match Kit with Waterproof Case

What you need to know: These matches stay lit no matter what you throw at them.

What you’ll love: This set comes with 25 matches that can burn up to 15 seconds, three strikers and a waterproof case. The matches are windproof, waterproof and dirtproof. The flame stays lit, even when fully submerged in water.

What you should consider: Some people reported that the bottom stems on the matches are a bit fragile.

 

Worth checking out

Suprus Waterproof Lighter Three Modes

What you need to know: This windproof lighter is ideal for short trips and longer ones if you have access to a power source.

What you’ll love: This waterproof lighter comes with a wrist lanyard, a safety whistle and a built-in flashlight with three modes. It also has a USB charging cable and charges in about 1.5 hours. It’s butane-free and can work in any weather.

What you should consider: There were mixed reports regarding its battery life, which is contingent upon how often you use it.  

 

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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A Sioux Falls School District employee is out of a job after making a Facebook post regarding Trump’s survival of an assassination attempt over the weekend.

In a since-removed post, a cartoon-rendering of the employee smells flowers beneath the words “Shoot ~ if only he would’ve had his scope sighted in correctly.” A yellow emoji with a slanted mouth appears next to the comment.

According to the poster’s profile, she was employed with the Sioux Falls School District as a behavior facilitator and interventionist.

The post quickly garnered attention across Facebook, with some users encouraging the post to be reported to the Sioux Falls School District.

According to district spokesman Tory Stolen, the woman who posted the comment is “no longer employed,” citing the district’s code of conduct policy.

“The District’s Code of Conduct Policy (GBEB) clearly outlines the high standards to which we hold all staff members, given the public trust in our responsibility to educate the children of our community and serve as positive role models,” a statement shared by Stolen reads. “The staff member’s statement does not align with the School District’s values and was not condoned in any way.”

Following the backlash, the woman posted an apology, saying the post wasn’t meant to offend and that it had only been public for a short time.

“My apologies for my post last night in regard to Donald Trump. Apparently many people were offended by what I said. It wasn’t mean[t] to be offensive so I am sorry if you were hurt by my words,” the woman wrote. “The post was taken down moments after it was originally posted because it wasn’t posted in good taste.

“It isn’t a great example of who I am and what I truly believe as a person,” the woman continued. “Thank you to those who know me and know who I am as a professional educator. I appreciate your support!”

The woman’s Facebook page has since been deleted.

Following the woman’s termination, the district reaffirmed its mission via its statement.

“We remain committed to fostering a safe, respectful learning environment for all students and staff and upholding the values of our community,” the district said.

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The Minnesota state trooper charged in a fatal Rochester crash earlier this year was traveling at approximately 70 mph at the point of impact of the crash, a search warrant filed on Friday reveals.

Minnesota State Trooper Shane Elroy Roper, 32, of Hayfield, Minn., will make his first appearance in court Aug. 29 on nine criminal charges related to a crash that killed 18-year-old Olivia Flores, who was days away from graduating high school.

The crash happened on May 18 at the intersection of Memorial Parkway and 12th Street Southwest.

Preliminary information from the scene indicates Roper was traveling eastbound on Highway 14, entering from Highway 52. According to the search warrant, Roper’s ride-along passenger told police that a vehicle was identified as a speed and seat belt violator.

“Trooper Roper was attempting to catch up to the vehicle to initiate a traffic stop,” the search warrant said.

Squad cameras and the passenger confirmed that the traffic light was green for the right-away for Roper.

Before the crash, Roper was traveling 83 mph in a 40-mph zone in his squad car, according to a criminal complaint. Witnesses told police that the oncoming vehicle was “flying” and said they did not see or hear emergency lights or a siren, the complaint said.

The front seat passenger in the car Flores was in said the driver had a green light to make the left turn into the Apache Mall parking lot. The search warrant said the speed of the Ford Focus, whether the blinker was activated or if braking was applied is unknown.

Due to his speed, Roper was unable to brake or maneuver his squad car to avoid the collision, the investigation found.

Previous court documents said Roper’s vehicle was traveling “at least” 55 mph when his squad car struck the Ford Focus. The search warrant said that based on GPS data reflected in the squad camera, Roper was traveling at approximately 70 mph, 30 mph over the posted speed limit.

The impact sent both cars east through the intersection to collide with a Toyota Rav4. Five others were injured.

The search warrant was obtained by the Rochester Police Department on May 28 and withheld until the investigation resulted in the filing of a complaint against the subjects of the investigation.

On July 9, the Olmsted County Attorney’s Office brought forth nine charges against the state trooper, including felony counts of second-degree manslaughter, one count of criminal vehicular homicide and three counts of criminal vehicular operation. He also faces four misdemeanors.

Police retrieved the Event Data Recorders from the state patrol squad car and the Ford Focus.

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