Survivalist Gear 101: Fire

Survivalist Gear - Fire - BattleBoySurplus.com

If you're going camping or you're in a survival situation, starting a fire is one of the most important things you'll run into. If you don't want to be stuck in a pinch, here are a few good ways of getting a fire started.

Fire starting methods range from simple lighters to fire pistons, to bars of magnesium, and choosing the right option may save your life in the wild. Fire is not something to be taken lightly in a survivalist situation. 

Magnesium Fire Starter
Magnesium Fire Starters work by shaving off a small pile of Magnesium and striking the bar on the side to throw sparks into the pile you've shaved off. These produce a white hot flame that you can use in order to get your fire going. Part of the advantage to this method is that it is water proof.

Zippo's 
Zippo lighters are things that everyone knows and is familiar with. Beyond lighting a cigarette in a cool way, these also work well in emergency situations. However, you'll be limited to the amount of fuel the lighter can hold unless you bring some replacements, and the flint may wear out as well. Zippos are not typically water proof. There are a lot of parts that go into Zippo's to make them a convenient way of lighting a cigarette, but don't really help you in a survival situation. It may not be the simplest or the best, but its worth a mention

Flint and Steel
Flint and Steel is a tried and true method of starting a fire. Although you wont get that white hot flame that is produced with the magnesium bar, the flint and steel method, along with the proper tinder, will start a fire is easy. Flint and Steel is a great back-up fire starter, or a way to replace those soggy matches or submerged lighters. If you're buying a Flint and Steel, be sure that the lanyard holding the steel is long enough to actually use. A lot of cheaper brands will give you a very small lanyard to start your fires with.

Fire Pistons
Fire Pistons are fantastic ways of getting a fire going. All you have to do is load a bit of tinder at the bottom of piston and push the plunger down with enough force in order to start a fire. These have been used for years. They're waterproof, which will perform better than matches or a lighter, and with a little practice, they will work every time. Its good to bring some char-cloth, a pre-chard piece of cloth as fuel for a fire piston.

Conclusion
In the end, choosing the right fire starting method is a make or break situation in the wild. Find a reliable method to use. Personally, I've had the best luck with flint and steel and magnesium methods. Always bring some matches and a lighter as backup to make sure that you don't end up stranded without fire. Also, don't purchase cheap Chinese made versions. This isn't something you'd want to go lightly on. Buy quality brands. You'll only need to purchase these once or twice in a lifetime, so make sure you go with the right choice.

If you're looking for more survivalist gear, check out Survivalist Gear - Battle Boy Surplus for more information.