[jonesy814]

Probably not but a few years back I read an article by a guy who was caught up in the Kosovo War and was surrounded and trapped in his village for months. He said that the most valuable trade good wasn't gold or silver, food or water, not guns or ammo but a butane lighter. Apart from all the other fire starting stuff around here I have at least a dozen of those, the throw away and the refillable types.

I'm still nor bugging out.

I also read that article

 

[K22]

Great tips here. I keep a flint and steel in my jacket pocket and also waterproof matches.

 

[ETF]

JMHO , but that Kosovo situation described is for a static barter situation - definitely not pertaining to a mobile bug out bag survival related incident !-

As my post said, I'm not bugging out. Having said that, I still do have a BOB, you never know what's going to happen, and there are butane lighters in it. I live down south and butane lighters work very well. If I lived in the frozen north, perhaps not so much.

 

[LimaCharlie]

 

[ETF]

That'll work. I have the semi-auto civilian propane/butane version with about 10 cylinders and piezo ignition made by Benzomatic. My wife even has a couple of small concealed carry versions for the kitchen.

 

[MWAG]

Speaking of Benzomatic, I saw this at Lowes today. Three bucks, makes quite a spark.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/BernzOmatic-Striker/50126443

 

[Oldbrass]

I'll bug in by the wood stove, bug out in my travel trailer

 

[ETF]

I'll bug in by the wood stove, bug out in my travel trailer

Probably wise choices. Stay out of the woods. They are going to be full of people rubbing two sticks together and failing miserably at anything resembling fire starting.

 

[BDM1]

Bellows1, i did not realize you could use chapstick for starting fires or cuts/scrapes, i'll have to try it. Thanks, learn something new every day!

 

[Bearskinner]

Being from Alaska, we have always had lots of fish boxes around.they are made of cardboard, with a heavy wax coating. When one gets crushed, I cut it into 1/4” strips a few inches long, and keep it in a ziplock in my pack. They always start, burn hot, and can’t soak up moisture due to the wax.

 

[Mamaowl03]

If you don't know by now, cotton balls soaked in vaseline are the best fire starter. Lightweight, dirt cheap, easy to make, and work every time.

Once you soak the cotton balls, wrap them in square scraps of wax paper and twist the ends together. Helps cut down on the mess and you can light the twisted wax paper, less chance of burnt fingers and usually catches right away. Even if it gets wet.

 

[SidecarFlip]

disposable lighters do not work very well in really cold weather - wood matches work in cold but are useless in high winds - magnesium fire starter + Vaseline soaked cotton ball or paraffin soaked saw dust will work under all conditions - all current military survival kits that i know of have the magnesium starters - been years since i have seen one with a waterproof match case -

Sure do if you pre-warm them in a warm mitten. Gotta get the propane inside warm enough to vaporize.

 

[schutzen-jager]

try warming them in your mitten when they are cold + wet in a winter survival scenario + hypothermia is a real factor -

 

[CitySlicker]

Electric plasma lighters are very affordable nowadays, and work remarkably well. I got a few for $10 each waterproof w/ built in led flashlight. Pair them with solar power banks and you have unlimited instant fire.

For example to anyone who hasn't tried them yet, you know how a butane torch often takes seconds to light a birthday candle? I've found the electric lighters light the wick instantly in most cases.

Now there's no flame, so don't buy one for a cigar, but anything small enough to fit between the arcs catches fire instantly.

I've got ferro rods and old fashioned kitchen matches as well. Redundancy. I love the cotton ball idea.

 

[SidecarFlip]

Bellows1, i did not realize you could use chapstick for starting fires or cuts/scrapes, i'll have to try it. Thanks, learn something new every day!

I didn't either...lol I wonder if earwax makes good firestarter?

 

[AugustusMcCrae]

I carry wind and waterproof matches as well as flint and steel.
An old pill bottle holds the vasoline cotton balls but I might be switching to something else.


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