[270man]

This is a follow-up to my first post on standard kitchen matches.

I carry a zip lock bag of fire starting materials in my hunting pack. Items included are: standard kitchen matches, book of paper matches, one or two BIC lighters, a magnesium stick (including steel to generate sparks for lighting the metal) AND some miscellaneous fire starters (both homemade and store bought). The material I now have is some stuff I picked up years ago and I have no idea what it is. However, it does burn for a while and will get small sticks to burn. I've experimented with paraffin-soaked dryer lint in cardboard egg carton sections as well as rolled-up newspaper strips soaked in paraffin. All these work but nothing seems to stand out as the "best". Highway flares are great for starting fires at base camp, and might also be okay for carrying in a day pack.

I'm curious about what everyone else carries for fire starting. Recently, I saw an article that recommended a Cabelas windproof/waterproof survival lighter. These are very small and light, have piezoelectric ignition and burn pressurized lighter fuel. Mine doesn't work reliably and can't be trusted so it will soon be returned.

Anyone else have recommendations on matches, lighters, starting materials, etc.?

Happy New Year,

270man