9 Best Firestarters in 2018

The Darmon Ferrocerium Rod with Striker puts to rest the notion that all fire starters are created equal. The high quality magnesium rod partners with the stainless steel scraper to make starting a fire easy as 1-2-3.

Using the device couldn’t be simpler: just point the rod at your kindling and scrape it with the scraper. 5,500 degree sparks cascade onto the waiting material and within seconds you have fire. The rod itself is designed to provide 12,000 strikes and the package includes rod, striker and powerful emergency whistle. Maybe the best of all currently available fire starters.

Like the Darmon Fire Starter this Überleben Kräftig 1/2″ ferro rod tosses out a shower of sparks at 5,500 degrees Fahrenheit. Campers, hunters and mountaineers in search of dependable fire starters for your survival kit look no further.

Unlike some other fire starters that are 6” or more in length the Überleben Kräftig 1/2″ ferro rod is a convenient 5”. Regardless of altitude or environmental conditions that shower of 5,500 degree sparks will make short work of your kindling. The rod will accept up to 20,000 strikes so this puppy will be providing valuable service for years to come.

Here’s another ultra-simple piece of survival technology that works like a charm and costs next to nothing. Just a ferro rod that casts 3,000 degree sparks at any altitude regardless of conditions. If you need to get a fire going to ward off hypothermia pull this out of your pack and you’re good to go.

If you’ve tried other fire starters in the past and been disappointed with the results try this ferro rod from Bayite and see what a real firestarter is like. At 6” in length there’s plenty of room to hold it and strike it and the 4mm lanyard hole ensures it won’t lose it while you’re trying to get your fire going. Has a life of 12,000 strikes so you can see what a great value the Bayite ferro rod is.

The SE FS374 is one of the more unassuming fire starters out there, but don’t let the luggage tag profile fool you. This is simple, effective survival gear that costs all of 5 bucks but could save your bacon if things go south on your next hunting or camping trip.

The process here is a bit different than some other fire starters but that doesn’t mean it’s rocket science. Just shave some magnesium from the bar into a small pile then use the flint stick to deliver some sparks onto the shavings and… fire! Unlike some fire starters you can easily carry this compact kit in any pocket so you always have it available.

The Gerber/Bear Grylls team-up has produced some excellent survival gear and this firestarter is a good example. The kit is completely self-contained and packs down into a tiny carrying case that’s less than 5” in length.

There’s a ferro rod and striker as well as a powerful whistle on the lanyard cord. Joining the two ends before you pack it away ensures nothing gets wet and when you need it again just tug on both sides and you’re ready to go. Gerber has included a Priorities of Survival guide that, while pretty basic, is nonetheless good to have around in case things get gnarly.

The lighting protocol for this Survival Spark Magnesium fire starter is similar to other fire starters in that it involves shaving a bit of magnesium from the rod onto your kindling or other tinder and then dragging the striker along the rod thereby sending sparks onto the shavings.

The Survival Sparks has a little more up its sleeve than other fire starters in that, if you look closely to the handle of the rod, you’ll see a fully functioning high quality compass to aid you in your survival efforts. Not only that but there’s an emergency whistle capable of generating 150 decibels of life saving sound. Lastly, the Survival Sparks’ magnesium rod is good for 15,000 strikes.

The SE KHK6320 Fire Starter has been accused of trying too hard but we don’t see that as a problem. With its 3” modified tanto point blade and full tang construction augmenting the 1.5” ferro rod and striker it’s a complete survival kit in one package.

Unlike other fire starters the SE KHK6320 is as much a quality survival knife as it is fire starting kit. The stainless steel blade is ideal for spearing or piercing, for cutting small branches for your fire or cutting bandages if you’re injured. If you’re a fan of all-in-one fire starters this is the one for you.

BlizeTec presents a 6 in 1 fire starter kit that provides several essential pieces of survival gear in a package no bigger than a keychain. There’s the ferro rod that’s good for up to 12,000 strikes, the luminous handle that provides a modicum of light for your night survival efforts, an emergency whistle that will wake the dead and a type of multi-tool that’s part can opener part measuring tape.

The luminous green handle not only provides a night light it also serves as an emergency beacon. The ferro rod itself is completely weatherproof and will continue to light your fire when other fire starters have quit. The measurements carved out of the side of the multi-tool will help you plot distances and the whistle is one of the loudest you’ll ever hear.

Überleben is back for one more bow on our list of best fire starters with this Lumen Glow-in-the-dark effort. This is a relatively thick 5/16” ferro rod that generates sparks at 5,500 degrees Fahrenheit. It features a shock cord lanyard that allows the kit to be secured in multiple ways along with a multi-tool scraper with numerous functions including bottle opener, can opener and measuring stick.

The Glō-tec luminous handle might seem a curiosity on fire starters but it’s actually brighter than you think and can provide much needed illumination if you’re lost in the back country and your flashlight batteries have died. The robust ferro rod will be good for 12,000 strikes while the shock cord lanyard will ensure the device doesn’t get away from you.