Camping Equipment

Conquering the Wilderness

From shelter and warmth to food, toiletries, games and campfire needs, this is the best camping gear that I use and hope will enhance even the most experienced hiker's outdoor adventure.

Fire Starters

Why does it take one match to start a forest fire but a whole book of matches to light a campfire?

There's a multitude of fire starters on the market such as flint-and-steel strikers, ferro rods, magnesium blocks, weather-proof matches, and rechargeable lighters. Today we are going to talk about one in particular. The ferro rod or full name Ferrocerium rods. They are a favorite fire starter among many outdoor and survival enthusiasts. Ferrocerium is a man-made metallic material that produces sparks in excess of 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit when it's scraped with a rough surface or a sharp edge. It can be wet and still rain down molten spark showers up to 5500 degrees F. Just spark it on some kindling, shavings or even Doritos and you've got yourself a fire. And yes, I said Doritos. Believe it or not Doritos are loaded with fat and make good "tinder".

Pick The Best Tinder: One of your best choices for getting a flame started is plant fuzz, and works as well as cotton balls or drier lint. These natural materials are the perfect fuel to allow the sparks to “stick” and begin burning.

My go to to is the Uberleban ferro rod. The Uberleben Zunden comes in three sizes including a 5/16th, 3/8th" and the fatty 1/2".

Each rod is made with a Premium 100% hardwood handle which is handmade, and provides a natural textured grip.
Includes fire rod, 6-function multi-tool scraper, and mil-spec 550 paracord lanyard.

HELPFUL HINT:

Don't push the scraper against the rod toward your tinder, pull the rod across the scraper toward yourself. You’ll still provide a hot shower of sparks, but avoid knocking your tinder all over the place with your follow-through.

If you happen to be outdoors in weather that's 10 degrees F. you might find your lighter won't work in the freezing cold. That's because butane gels up in the teens. Or you could just move to your ferrocerium rod, which are unaffected by temperature extremes, and even work when wet.

How do you use your ferro rods? Tell us your method by leaving a comment.