Pro's Will Carry this With Them on Every Trip, Newb's Won't
When stepping foot into the outdoors, very few things are more comforting and crucial than the ability to make fire. Fire provides warmth, light, a means to cook food, a means for sterilizing water and importantly, hope.
With that being said, starting a fire in less-than-ideal conditions like after a heavy rain, during a harsh winter storm or during a sudden downpour, can be a daunting and difficult task.
That's where the vitally important fire kit comes into play.
Never heard of a fire kit before?
No worries, in this episode I am going to go over every single aspect concerning them and will be assisting you with building your own.
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VERY good advice. I've been a member of the Canadian Amphibious Search Team for over 20 years. Most of the time we engage in recovery of remains in lakes and rivers using scuba or surface supplied air, but we also engage in searching for lost hikers with the SAR units in the woods as well. The one biggest reason we end up in a recovery instead of a rescue, is the people out for fun and adventure are simply not prepared. A simple life jacket, or a simple fire starting kit, is all it would have taken to save their lives. I've bagged too many bodies, and met with far too many grieving family, to sugar coat it. It's the stupid mentality that "it's just a day trip, what could go wrong", that is the first domino to fall, in what far too often ends up with our team hauling yet another set of bodies out of the wilderness. Keep up the great work, and Cheers from Winnipeg.
Sobering advice and sorry you have such a morbid profession.
Thank you for helping families find there loved ones
Thank you for your great work from a former police officer. Greeting from Thunder Bay.
Becareful out there guy. Thank you for what you do.
As a first responder here in Alaska. I feel your pain and totally agree with you.
Luke, I'd like to suggest a further refinement to your system, that being an entire redundant kit. If that little pack gets lost or destroyed, you're screwed. You could get a container half that size and put some of your fire kit loadout in it, then keep it in another safe place, perhaps on your person. You probably won't need it, but you're covered.
I am a wilderness survival instructor and each of my students must be able to start a fire in wet conditions. It's amazing the confidence one gains knowing they can start a fire in wet conditions. Great job with your fire kit. I have had to change my kit when we moved to the Pacific North West. It's very wet up here.
What’s your kit contain?
I'd be curious as well as I live in the pnw as well
That’s a good kit. The only thing I would add are a couple folded up sheets of heavy duty aluminum foil. One is used to create a base under your fire to keep it off the wet or snowy ground. The second is used to creat a reflective wind screen. 👍
One other thing (although you usually carry one on your person anyway) is a small folding pocket knife. If you want to cut the jute, shave the fatwood, cut small branches and twigs (particularly wet saplings), you may want one and not have ready access to another knife. My car kit also has a pair of pruning shears, a wire saw, and a folding blade saw. I keep several of these kits handy at all times (each specific to the situation): one in my camping/hiking kit, one in my bugout bag, one at my residence (for urban firestarting), and also one in my car, because there's no greater "adventure" than navigating the roadways in bad weather.
I have multiple kits, in each car, hunting pack, hiking pack and travel suit case. Always in a freezer ziplock bag with multiple ziplocks inside like yours with 95% of the same items inside. The outer bags are replaced as the wear. The hunting pack kit is also inside a small orange dry bag.
Freezer bags - Good tip!
Ziploc over ziploc is definitely a great way to go. Try the Ikea ziplocs.... incredible quality and double-sealed! My phone survived nearly 30 minutes of a kayak just flipping upside down on me and my 100 percent not water proof pack was attached on top. Towel soaked, phone not even condensation near it.
Yep! Ziplocks also work that "container" category in a pinch.
I love it when you give advice to people who are new to the outdoors. We veterans are so used to these things, it's second nature and we forget others don't have that experience.
Vaseline cottonballs are honestly the best firestarter I've ever found, and I've tried a bunch. They're a bit messy, but if you have a good storage solution, you also have some extra vaseline for injuries or skin protection. This and fatwood are my go-to fire starters/tinder. I also carry some jute for playing with more primitive fire starting or if everything around me is really wet
Tin foil is awesome
@@diggerblair7460 Steel wool works too.
Indeed. I always carry a bit of Vaseline for this reasons. Never hat problems starting a fire outdoors in over 40 years. Used Vaseline for that only a few times though.
I would agree. Super cheap and goes up like a roman candle. The more expensive waxed soaked cotton wedges, such as the bigfoot, mini inferno, etc. fire starters also are awesome, and you can make them yourself on the cheap as well.
@@Xeno-M. Right. Or just take a little cheap Esbit cube with you. My granddad and dad already used it. Keep it simple - and simple is cheap. Overcomplicating doesn't help.
This was incredibly informative, Luke. Not so much a brand gear review, but stuff we need to know. I would love to see you do similar videos on your various other kits - cook, sleep, hydration, etc, Thanks so much!!!!
I’ve have been lost in the wilderness, and the number one thing I did was make a fire. It’s amazing what that does to the human mind. Fire has a calming effect and gives you the best chance to survive during all kinds of conditions. It cannot be understated enough how important it is to be able to make a fire. I see so many people like thru-hikers bring the bare minimum because they’re counting their grams. But they don’t consider what if SHTF happens? it’s better to carry a few more ounces than your friends carrying you to your grave.
Absolutely. Not only does a fire keep you warm, cooks food, and provides light, but it it has a soothing sound as it is burning/cracking that few other things can do for the soul.
Fire comes after shelter, fire won't protect you from wind, rain and the sun.
I keep mine in a little metal can so it's waterproof. It doesn't end up as nicely organized but it's comforting to know it's dry in there no matter what.
Funny! I actually bought a pre-made kit back in the early 2000's from a channel called wilderness innovation. Don't know if they are still around but it came with everything you had with the exception of fat wood...mine had magnesium shavings but literally identical to yours. I paid like 40 bucks or so and it's saved my butt twice! Yes every outdoorsman needs a kit for sure. Oh and as a side note I'm never gonna stop asking about the modern bushcraft series lol....it would be awesome.
Yes, the company still exists, but their focus are well made tarp ponchos.
The Doan Fire Kit ? (2009)
Early 2000s is Pre 2005. Anything after 2005 is considered late 2000s.
My main suggestion as an addition would be to get a waterproof bag like Magpul’s DAKA. And also get bag and every item within it in orange or similar color (if available). I’d also get a waterproof match case like the one Exotac makes (in orange). And I’d add a small fresnel lens. It is seriously small/light and can be used as a magnifying glass for reading in a pinch (or removing a splinter, etc.). Lastly, I agree mostly about pre-made kits but that Weyland one you showed is actually a fantastic kit. I got one for Christmas a couple years back and was honestly surprised at the selection and quality. I recommend it.
I have been carrying a fire kit, in some form, since the mid 1970's. my dad and grandpa taught me the skills of bushcrafting, well before that was even a word. this has served me very well in civilian, and military situations over my life. I have, for years been saying that it is not possible to have an actual "survival" kit in an Altoids tin but they work well for components. With the items I have on my person any time I leave my house, a small tin does have enough room for a minimalist fire kit. my 72 hour kit on the back of my power chair has a fire kit similar in size, and contents as the one you show here. and always, even in the smallest kits, I have more than one method if ignition, and at least 2 forms of tinder.
Great video with sage advice. My fire kit(s) are treated like gold. I have several fire kits in my van, in a go bag and in my EDC bag that I carry everywhere I go. My main fire kit is in an old small roll-up tool pouch from Roaring Fire. Contents contain 6X1/2" ferro rod with attached striker, long BBQ lighter, two smaller Bic lighters, matches in a waterproof plastic tube with two strikers stripped from match box, plastic tube stuffed with vaseline impregnated cotton balls and a plastic tube with a 1/2" thick by 6" piece of fatwood and a plastic tube of broken up trioxane tablets. The pouch is protected in a gallon size ziploc bag that easily slides down into one side of my pack, always on the right side as you look at the rear of the pack. My cooking kit contains two to four trioxane tablets with a Bic long nose lighter. My first aid kit contains a Bic lighter. I usually carry a lighter with my EDC pocket knife, a 29 year old Kershaw or a CRKT Executive. I often wear a fishing vest and it has my MC2 compass, waterproof matches in a waterproof container along with two strike panels, pacing beads and an Izula fixed blade mounted upside down on my left shoulder easily shifted to avoid the pack strap. I ordered an electronic lighter to place in a pen sized pocket. As you can tell, I strongly believe in redundancy. A bad experience of losing my pack in a kayak incident convinced me to be redundant when it entails the possibility of losing my life to hypothermia.
Flint and steel is something if you practice. Other channels want to show their skills but only take more time to show their skills. Reality is that when you need it you want to start a fire now not taking time to get fire. Working with boy scouts for over 20 years it's better to get a fire started now than later. Your kit has everything you need for fire starting. Thanks for sharing your knowledge
Thank you for years of volunteering with the Boy Scouts. If time permits, our Troop tries to have the Scouts practice different fire lays and different ways of starting a fire.
Yes, I did that also in scouts 55 years ago, everytime I sit around a fire I'm glad that our leader taught me how...
Retired Girl Scout Adult Education Volunteer here - I used to teach the leaders how to take their girls camping. One of the things I taught was how to lay and start fires in bad conditions as well as without matches or lighters in a pinch.
Thank you for this video. Lots of great ideas and insights, as always. My fire kit includes the following: 5 Esbit tablets 1 Cup of fatwood shavings (Fine tinder) 5 pcs. Fatwood (1/2" X 1/2" X 6") 5 pcs. Waxed cardboard (1" X 6") 1/2 Cup magnesium shavings 5 Waxed, cotton pads 1 Beeswax candle (1" X 6", homemade) 2 pcs. well-dried Oak limb (2" X 8"), split in half 1 Fire bellows 1 Ferro-cerium rod and striker 25 Waterproof, strike-anywhere matches 1 Zippo lighter 2 Bic lighters 1 Small lighter fluid. 1 Fresnel lens 1 30-minute road flare All these items are in various plastic bags. Some, e.g., the matches, are contained in dedicated, plastic, screw-top containers. All are in double zip-loc bags. All items are in my day-pack, except when I go backpacking, then I transfer them to a compartment on the outside of my backpack. In my car, I have a 5-gallon plastic bucket with essentially the same kit, plus a few additional pieces of well-dried Oak limb and a heavy-duty, 5' X 7' reflective tarp. Oh, and a half-dozen tent-pegs. The 30-minute road flare is just in case I truly need a fire in extreme conditions, e.g., I am borderline hypothermic, losing fine motor skills/manual dexterity, shivering. In such circumstances, manipulation of small objects, such as a Bic lighter, may be well-nigh impossible, but the road flare can be lit with rather coarse motions. The lighter fluid serves double-duty as fuel for both the Zippo and my Jon-E-Warmer. In a pinch, I could use it as an accelerant. I need to get a better overall container. Maybe lightweight, waxed canvas, or DWR polyester, or Cuben. Then all the stuff could be on the outside of my pack. Unless I truly need one, I am averse to lighting a fire. I practice lighting fires when I am car-camping, where it is safer and easier to control.
Hey Luke, good vid on firesterter kit. I've found that opening up the pocket bellows and spraying it with some W-D makes it easier to open/close over time, that way the condensation from your breath won't effect the operation. Just a little hack I thought I would pass on.
A well thought-out kit. I have several similar kits, including one in my EDC pouch. A BIC lighter, fire steel, cotton pads soaked in wax, tampons, pine shavings. Just like the mini fire kit on the Swiss Army knife.
I have 2 kits similar to yours. One stays in my truck, the other in my bag. I have a Leatherman Skeletool in each kit, the serrated blade makes shaving the fat sticks easy. I also have tin foil to make a wind blocker and tea light candles.
My pouch is a little bit larger, but basically the same. It's not just a fire kit, but a survival kit which always goes into my bag in the outdoors. Tin of char cloth, ferro rod (uberleben), pocket bellows, Bic lighter (with gorilla tape and luka tape wrapped around it), matches (with gorilla tape on each on to extend burn time), 2x SOL gel fire starters, a solid fuel fire starter, squatch rope fire starter, baggy of dryer lint with vaseline worked in, 2 tea lite candles, 2 lantern wicks (great to catch a spark and hold an ember), a length of hemp rope, a couple small twigs of fat wood (I keep larger pieces in my pack), small magnifying glass, whistle, compass, small multitool, small folding pocket knife, speedy sharp knife sharpener, 12' length of "survival" paracord (has different strands inside for different purposes), and a carabiner to hang it wherever I want or to use for other necessities. It sounds like a lot, but it does fit nicely in the pouch that I have. I mean, if you have the pouch, you have to fill it up, right? With everything here, I know I can get a fire going in any condition and I have a couple tools to aid in self rescue. I always use this kit for any fire I start and try to use different methods to start it (rarely ever using matches or the lighter because those don't really require the skills that throwing sparks offers. It's also really fun to use as a teaching aid when I'm on an outing with people who say "why not just have a lighter?"
Thanks for taking the time to review your "fire safety kit" THis is just what I needed. I also have waterproof matches.. I do need a pouch to place my supplies in and will work on that next. I like how you drive it HOME, how very important this is to take with you every time you are out.. thanks Luke
This is great advice. As a youngster I was in the Scouts and the first badges I wanted to earn was fire starting and toten chip. I spend a lot of time outdoors hiking, camping, snowboarding and these skills stayed with me. In my kit I have a butane lighter, plasma lighter, waterproof matches, and ferro rod. For fuel, I carry cotton balls, twine, birch bark, and assorted retail fuels I devide and and keep in a plastic bag inside my kit bag. I've used everything in the kit and am confident when the need arises.
Good evening...I live in Georgia...I enjoy watching your videos...I never got to go camping with my family or friends...I can't drive,so I'm so thankful for you and your wife Susie...I can get enjoyment by watching your videos...and I do get an occasional laugh from time to time...thank you for sharing your videos
I'm working on doing a no-build camping set up in my minivan and love these reviews to see what i may need to include in it. TY!!
Been using this same pouch for my fire kit for a few years. Mine's packed a little different but very compact and useful.
the ultralight snob in me almost started whimpering when I heard 10oz, but then I remembered how the ultralight community often throws a bit of caution to the wind & sacrifices a great deal of comfort in the name of weight saving… long story short, you’re right 😊
Agreed. There are compromises with everything carried on a backpacking trip, and I find that a balance, as with many things in life, is key. Also use case for the items is important. If you are through hiking, and you can resupply form town to town, ultralight makes sense. If something breaks because it is so light, as light often translates to more fragile, then it is no big deal to live with a repair until the next town. A SHTF emergency, on the other hand, is different. You may need gear that strikes a better balance of strength/weight if you are unable to resupply in a reasonable timeframe due to rioters, gangs, or looters.
I really enjoy your videos never stop making them
Thank you Luke, this was a very useful and informative video. I'm an Ole Lady and it was a little difficult for me to follow the fast pace talk in the video...almost like a radio commercial. But please know I do not mean this in a mean way... Because I am one of your biggest fans. Love the videos and always look forward to them. You are so real. Thank you.
I love this. I want all our PiPas to listen to it. So informative.
My kit is very similar to yours. A fire makes me feel safer. Thanks Luke.
So good advice! Have a firekit in all of my outdoor bags, even one in my car. Thank you for the work you put in, strenght and honor!
Three is the number. I always carry on my person source of ignition, fuel, knife and a light. In a pouch that size one could actually carry one of the folding solid fuel stoves. If you had to trim one down still useable. Thin and light. One thing I would add to your kit is a Victorinox Camper knife. It has a saw blade that works. I've carried one for over 50 years now. It has performed many times for me. A source of fuel, if you have a vehicle you have fuel. Either from the fuel tank, brake fluid or the motor oil dipstick. wipe it on a cloth. A Zippo lighter with extra flints stored in bottom under the cotton. Enough spark to light dry cloth even without fuel. Same for bikes and atv's. Waterproof matches, Tree Stars, made in Sweden on AMZ. A piece of tape or Post It, the glue burns. Good tips. When the confluence of factors come together you have to break the chain anyway you can to survive. They can save your life.
Luke these are the videos you excel at! Love the gear reviews but skills videos are your calling. You are a natural teacher.
I don't get a chance to go out, often I carry a simple "10" kit of survival items. Things like a compass, mylar blanket, small, lightweight tarp, reflector. It has a lighter, matches and a ferro rod. Really need to update the fire making supplies with the tinder type items you have in your kit. Thanks.
Love this. I’m going to put something together for my sons in their 30’s. We’re all outdoor people and I’ve seem their determination and struggles with getting a fire going in adverse conditions. That said, they are past the ego phase and I bet would welcome something like this. Thanks!
Slick little bag. Better organization that what I've got. Perfect timing on the video drop as I sit here cozy warm inside because its too cold to work again today. Negative 50 wind chill this morning. Drives home the importance of every aspect of your preparedness!
Great advice! I do have a fire kit, similar size to yours. Mine consists of: matches, lighter, stove igniter, bellows, magnesium/ferro rod combo (Fire-Fast Trekkers), Fatwood, shavings, cotton balls w/vaseline, and a second ferro rod with a braided paracord to attach the rod striker. I never thought about the cubes or the extra match strikers, thanks for the tips! I love watching the David West channel, he practices making fire in many different ways and learned a ton of ways to make fire.
I'm really glad you mentioned the cotton ball in Vaseline, this is a favorite of mine since it'll burn hot and long in heavy rain or sitting on water. I carry for cotton balls in my medicine bottle for the win!
This made me go and double check my own fire kit. I have pretty much everything you have except the fat wood. Time to get my hands on some. Once again thank you for the awesome and very informative video. Keep it frosty Luke.
if you do not want to hunt down fat wood in the wild you can usually cheaply get some in big chain stores in the BBQ or wood fire sections. Lowes, Home depot, Walmart and so on. a box that should last decades costs less than 20 bucks.
@@jerryadams6799 Awesome, thanks for the info
Great video Luke. Only difference for me is I prefer a little torch style lighter where I can shoot the flame into tight places and really concentrate the heat if necessary. Buy that's minor. Love your channel.
Hey Luke, thanks for the info! I made my own fire starters. Make up removal pads, bbq gas starter mixed with wax. Dip the pads let them dry and pack them. They work great. Thanks again for the info. 😊❤😊
Great vid on what to put into a proper kit, Luke. I realized that I don’t have a bellows in my own kits that I will have to get. I also agree with others that more than one kit should be carried, just in case one gets lost, wet, etc. All of the other items I have in my kit, minus the magnesium pills and a Bic lighter, of which I have subbed a magnesium block and a Clipper lighter, (of which is refillable and has a replaceable flint wheel unlike the Bic). I would also caution those who mentioned carrying duck tape as a fire starter. Not because it does/does not work, as it DOES work. But typical duck tape is usually made of PVC, or Vinyl, of which is EXTREMELY Toxic when burned as it gives off Dioxin gas, which is CARCINOGENIC to humans. Personally I would not use duck tape for this purpose. For use as a repair medium, maybe. But not to Burn. Also I would caution on cheap credit card magnifying lenses as they are made with the same material, and will release the gas as you use them in the sun. The hard polycarbonate lenses are safer.
Great video! Some additional items to consider might be one or more candles, a knife, and a saw. Could be as small as a magic relighting birthday candle and a Swiss Army knife, or larger items if you can carry more. Some ranger bands and flammable duct tape can also be handy. Separate from a dedicated fire kit, I always have a lighter, some waxed jute braids, a ferro rod, and a multitool as parts of my EDC. Fire is super important, so it’s good to have multiple ways to make it in different layers of your kit.
Thanks for another great informative video. I reduced what I carry to save weight, but after seeing your kit, I will replace what I removed and work hard to make it fit my particular outdoor adventures.
Good stuff. I carry a lighter in my pocket as an EDC. In my day pack I carry a survival kit with ferro rod , lighter, waterproof matches, tea candle and heat tabs. This kit gets dropped into my ditty bag / plastic ammo can ( canoe trips) for longer trips. In addition at the bottom of my in two zip lock bags I carry birch bark about two handfuls.
I like Luke's kit with lots of options. I have 2 kits. Dayhike and Multi-day. The Dayhiker one is a pack of Esbit cubes and 2 Bic lighters. If it's cold or wet or multiple days then the bigger kit comes, and includes the Esbits and lighters, but adds fatwood and a ferro rod. This kit is on my belt, along with a compact first aid.
GOOD ADVICE and DEMONSTRATION. Thanks for sharing. From East Tennessee
Love you kit Luc. I tend to keep two smaller kits instead of 1. In 2 different location/bags if I am alone but if my wife or one of my kids tag along I share one of the kits with them. Keep up the excellent work and really love your videos.
Well said Luke. Setting egos aside. Thank you for the skills and knowledge.
Hey Luke! Great video for both beginners and serious woodsmen as well. I carry at least 3 separate kits with me with an almost identical set of gear. Have you ever tried using the lint from your dryer at home. It costs you nothing to collect, makes your dryer safer (no fires), it's extremely light and wow, will it ever start fast in ANY weather. Make sure you pull your hand away quickly as it starts. As for a container, just stuff it inside the cardboard roller that comes in the toilet tissue. It'll burn extra hot for a long period and I've never had it fail. I used to use cotton balls & vaseline in wet weather but I prefer the lint method now. Thanks for a wonderful and to-the-point video. I've been involved in many backwoods rescues and I second the thoughts of the others. People, don't set out into the woods without being prepared! Thanks for taking a stand Luke!
Helikon-Tex Sere pouch is ideal for making a fire-starting kit. Get a second one for water purification. Both can be worn on the belt so that if one were to lose one's primary bag, they'd still have their most important emergency components.
That looks like a good pouch.
Hi Luke, thanks for this informative video. Now I know what sort of things to put in a fire starter kit.
I highly appreciate Luke thank you very much for sharing this simple but practical
This was informative! I’m going to reconsider my fire kit after this video. The items you shared in your kit are essential.
Great Video. Outdoor gear reviews are the BEST unbiased ways to serve the community. I keep my fire kit in a Plano dry loc stowaway. Since it’s clear and waterproof I can see what I’m looking for prior to opening. Fits a small plasma lighter to stretch the life of my consumable tinder and fire starters. I also take fine sandpaper and adhere a large strip to the box for matches. I wrap my lighters in flammable duct tape or ranger bands for tinder that’s space saving.
Nice complete kit!!! One of the only additions that I always carry is either a chunk of road flare ot one of those orion campfire flare for those instances that you need a fire yesterday.
My goodness Luke, you are becoming my number 1 yt channel! The info you share are priceless.. Many Thanks.
My fire kit is almost the same as yours apart from two three things. I don't have any Fat Wood and my magnesium is in a small canister and my box of matches have all been coated in wax to make them waterproof just in case. Great video 👍 and I agree a good fire kit can save your life.
I save all my dryer lint. It acts as a powerful kindling for fire start and has almost zero weight. I also use some of the other things you mentioned, and will be getting more great video. Thank you.
I carry a kit for play and a kit for emergencies. Flint and steel, ferror rod, char cloth, various tenders in the play kit, lighters, storm matches, various fire starters in the emergency kits.
A pretty decent 4 minute video squeezed into 15 minutes. Well done.
Good advice as far as the safety aspect of this video. The Bushcrafters I watch also carry Bic lighters. If something happens stack all the odds in your favor that you can. Good kit, good video
I’ve had that same pouch for years. I love it
I also have them. Well made/thought out.
My dedicated fire starting kit is about the same size, maybe a little wider, but I like how yours looks slim. My kit: ferro rod with striker lighter stormproof matches Procamptek Ultimate fire tinder Procamtek fire plugs Vaseline & cottom balls & tweezers to get them out of the container Fatwood Pocket Bellows Procamptek fire tape (although I don't really like this product) small tin of Dragon Gel And occasionally I have some of the tumbleweeds or fire-bombs you can buy near the charcoal in stores. Most of the time, I just use the Ultimate tinder to get a fire started, with a fire plug or 2 to get/keep it going. It's really simple/easy.
Sweet kit! I'm making one now. I carry a lighter, matches, the bellow you mentioned, and a carabiner that also has firestarter "spark wheel" thing. It's a good start, but I now see that I'm lacking a lot of items to actually help get a fire going in poor conditions, so time to up my survival game!
The pocket bellow is awesome thanks Luke.
Nice fire kit. And its small enough to carry in a cargo pocket. Most of my fire kits are about that size and contain the same type or similar contents, and are always on my belt or cargo pocket when I go into the bush. Additionally, I carry multiple fire starting items on my person as EDC as well. And all of my cooksets have a dedicated fire kit within them. Great video Luke.
I really appreciate the information, it made me rethink my load out and what you really need and what is just clutter in your gear. Thank you.
great video. being a newbie to the hiking and camping. would have been nice to see a little more info when it comes to which starter is best for each circumstance. but over all love your content.
My friend and I practice old outdoor skills when we get the chance. Charcloth, natural tinders, flint and steel etc are all great and can work (with a ton of practice), but we both carry fire kits too. My personal favourite is the petroleum jelly/cotton ball fire starter for when things aren't going my way with the old school methods and materials. They're cheap, easy to make and you can carry a ton of them pretty easily.
A small magnesium pencil sharpener for 1.50€ is a great addition. The abilitiy to create super thin wood shavings and also have a decent amount of magnesium can be handy indeed.
Awesome kit. The one thing I am lacking is the bellows...which I am ordering today.
Excellent, well thought out, Practice makes perfect.
Good advise for those who camping or spending time in remote areas, fishing, hunting, hiking you never know when you will NEED afire.
Every old portable radio comes with a pocket bellows (called an antenna). To save weight, I use a short length of 1/4" stainless tubing that I pushed inside of 16" of plastic tubing as a bellows. It's flexible, so you can aim it inside of a packable wood - burning stove. I carry a homemade cat food can alcohol stove in case I can't find dry wood for the stove. Sometime I use the stove alcohol to start a fire when necessary for warmth or drying clothes. Diesel or lantern oil work well, too, but work best with a wick. Plumber's felt makes an awesome wick because it doesn't burn up. Complacency is the first step towards disaster.
I carry more with me hiking because I know I will run into someone who doesn't carry enough when it matters. I love my fire kit and have been practicing with it. I carry a small baggie of cut to size wood chunks for my Uberleben twig stove, some sticks, and very dry micro-sized tinder. It weights almost nothing yet in wet Oregon, it could make a big difference. I also have a small Bic lighter, a charcoal chunk, several Esbit tabs wrapped tightly (very tightly, they stink!), waxed tinder twists, birthday candles, Uco long matches and a beeswax candle. In my pants pocket I carry a large size Bic lighter and a ferro rod. When you need it, even for a day hike gone wrong, you need it! In summer, since we're not supposed to be using fires, I only carry a ferro rod and a Bic and a few bigfoot bushcraft tabs. Great video!
fatwood has never let me down, even just the cheapo box from duraflame at the big box store has gotten me tons of fires started when i didnt want to practice anything more strenuous
I watch the channel whenever I can. Keep up the great work. I started with the Standford Outdoor Supply Fire Mini BOSS kit, aka the pocket fire starter kit, added a small folding knife, a lighter, small bundle of waterproof matches and the striker surface thingy, a small keychain flashlight, a mini compass filled with kerosene. The kits magnesium and striker thingy was meh so I bought sa good Swedish fire steel striker and rod. The striker has a whistle built into the handle. Sourced a water resistant case from Ace Hardware, wrapped that with gorilla duct tape and jute twine both of which can be used as firestarters. I carry this in my EDC bag so its with me at all times.
Funny I actually have this exact same pouch but in red just for better visibility. It's my compact fire/med kit but one thing I realize that I'm missing is fuel (fatwood/fire starter/ etc). I'll have to add that in. Nice video.
This is a great video. I really appreciate it. I have several redundant ways to start a fire. I have a designated fire starting pouch that is flame retardant as well. It goes with me in any pack I take to the woods
Great presentation. I would like to suggest a product for review; Zip makes several fire starters but the one that looks like a small block of styrofoam wrapped in plastic has worked well in wet conditions, it’s very light and inexpensive.
Got a Fire Kit pouch from the Bath Bushcraft Store in the UK, it's bright orange and says fire kit on it so easy for anyone to find in my bag. Lighter, matches (same as in the vid, the little bags from ration packs of storm matches and strikers), fire steel, bellows (made from Elder, very common to find in the UK) and a load of Hammaro tinder card which is a wax impregnated paper tinder that's cheap, flat and works very well. Birch trees are also almost everywhere in the UK so when one is available I'll use the bark as tinder. Usually also have some fire dragon alcohol gel or some meths/bio-ethanol depending on what stove I'm carrying or what I'm doing which is very easy to get going. My Swiss Army Knife (Huntsman for longer trips, Walker for day trips) is on a lanyard attached to my belt, planning to get some of the tinder and fire steels you can add to them as an emergency backup as well, although they are VERY pricey over here for what they are.
Luke, great video and great advice. Thanks for all you do.
Thanks, this was a great video. It inspired me to take notes, run down the cost of a kit and start my own.
I have several spare zip-locs in mine so I can gather material like the bark of the birch-tree for drying. It is a mindset thing for me to be searching material for usage instead of using the material i have brought and having some extra zip-locs plus space in my kit for it (I have a slightly larger pouch so I can accomodate harvested material) keeps me "hunting".
Great video. Grew up in the woods of Oregon, can fairly say I’ve had to make a fire under the worst conditions imaginable. Big fan of Vanquest pouches for purposes like this. Not the very best quality, but a lot of value for a reasonable cost. The interior organization of these is fantastic, and they make a large variety of different sizes to fit wherever you plan to put them. One critique. You’ve got enough different accelerants for dozens of fires. I only carry heat tabs and they’ve never failed me. They’ll heat a cup of coffee on their own, or dry out wood until it can catch. Also a fan of strike anywhere matches. My practice is always to start a fire using the most difficult means you have with you, and only work back to easier methods if you’re struggling. That means flint and steel first, lighter last.
Very educational presentation! I always carry my fire kit, in fact, I have one kit bag that I always carry in whatever pack I'm using, be it day hiking, backpacking, car camping, cross country travel, etc. It looks like a shaving kit, but a little larger and has the fire kit, water kit, first aid kit, repair kit, cordage (#36 bank line), and a roll of 1" gorilla tape. I probably carry more weight than most but I just don't feel comfortable not being prepared. It's also good training! At 67 I'm not getting younger and stronger! My goal is to be out there hiking beyond my 80th birthday. Don't forget to take a pack on cross country travel with all the stuff you'd take for backpacking (including food and water), especially in winter! Accidents happen, cars break down, and you can get stuck even if you're not involved in an accident. I carry a queen size wool blanket in a dry bag in my truck year-round, and one sleeping bag per person when travelling. My wife thought I was nuts until we got stuck in a 22 mile long traffic jam (parking lot) traveling back to Las Vegas a few days before New Years back in 2019. We had been in CA visiting family for Christmas. We found out later there was a dead body in the road and the highway patrol had to do their investigation before any traffic could move. Life is unpredictable!
Me too!
In 2 very dangerous instances having emergency kits lowered our anxiety considerably. The Northridge earthquake was one of those incidents. Now some may think that this has no relevance to this video, BUT because of the earthquake we had no light, no water, no communication, no gas, no emergency help…and the earth was in constant motion. Having our emergency kit, even though it was put together for the outdoors, made a huge difference. We were able to mitigate the extreme fear and anxiety so that we could calmly assess the situation. We were also in the Yosemite fires. Throwing our kit into the car, “just in case” did the same as above. We had light, warmth and food, once again mitigating the fear and anxiety we felt. Even though my examples didn’t take place in the back country, survival prep is just as important for whatever may come our way. We were afforded the luxury of bigger items, but many of the items mentioned here were included too. God Bless You!
Definitely. It is amazing how we just don’t realize we need these things until our modern living gets thrown back to the stone age with some emergency or natural disaster. Being prepared in that situation makes all the difference and improves an already stressful situation.
@@Xeno-M. I couldn’t agree more!
I was fortunate to have taken couple of Desert Survival Courses while attending EAC, ( Eastern Arizona College ). Couple things easy to carry , starts fire w a spark are Very fine steel wool, different chips, potato chips, corn chips , cotton ball wrapped in tin foil soaked w either lighter fluid or Vaseline, covered in melted wax, then wrap tin foil. Guaranteed to light.. I love the magnifying glass idea you mentioned. Can take glass out of broken camera to use as it or flashlight glass can be used as magnifying glass which will torch any of your items Luke or the couple i mentioned. Peace Brother. Havena Safe Day. God Bless you and your family. Big Jim New Hampshire USA aka Boston Strong
really nice of your to share all the info you do. Awesome
Dryer lint works good starter. Also, if need be in an emergency, you can use pieces from your sock that lights easily
I’ve had a set of pocket bellows for about 10 years now and by far and away one of the best things in a fire starting kit. I was trying to get a BBQ going and an ember spat out and hit me in the eye when I was trying to breath some life into it. I thought sod this. I’m buying one.
in my pack i also carry fine steel wool and a 9volt battery for starting fires.i also have a mini light that clips to the battery for a dual purpose
I think I would spread some around my gear and clothing in case I lose that one bag.
Great stuff. I use cotton balls coated with Vaseline as well.
I have a similar fire starter kit - but it's much smaller. It fits in a soap box - filled with a lighter (wrapped in electrical tape to make it waterproof), a magnesium block with scraper, a matchbook with tips dipped in wax, cotton pads soaked in gas and wax covered, lint for tinder, and wrapped in duct tape to keep the whole thing waterproof. Kindling I collect and keep in a pocket, and the whole thing works like a charm.
I like to vacuum seal one lighter and one box of matches for my back up
Very similar to my own kit. The only extra ignition source I have is a fresnel lens stashed in the front pocket, it weighs nothing and is a useful magnifying tool as well as a fire starter.
Aluminum foil for wet ground. I mix cotton ball and Vaseline with magnesium shavings for an extra kick. Altoiids tin for making charcloth or charcoal for the next fire.
So True! Got out once with a bush buddy and a lighter only on a coastal hike, and hadn't realized the costal dew soaked everything! After a strenuous hike I spent over an hour and a half getting chilled trying to get dry tinder and get a fire started in the dark. Now I always roll with a ziplock of vaseline cottonballs, no matter the hike so I don't have a repeat.
Great video Luke. My fire kit is pretty much like yours, different carry case, but, almost identical stuff!! The solid fuel tabs I use are the charcoal lighter blocks that come in a big flat package from Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot or Menards. But, everything else is just about identical!