Why your Survival Fire Starting Might Be Sub Optimal! 

"Always carry multiple stuff" is solid advice 😂

best self sufficient video channel. Yes, I watch all the prepper and canning channels, but I feel that Dan makes me believe that I can Learn and Do It. btw, I am a woman & 72, so there is NO EXCUSE for not learning.

Cold, wet, tired & hungry...The best teachers on the planet. Fire making skills cannot be over-stated.

I struggle terribly with building fires in wet conditions. Then this year with everything soaked and in the rain....I got it!!! So rewarding, thank you coal cracker!! Now, can I repeat it. 😬

Success with fire always starts with preparation. I used to carry several ways to start a fire. Now I carry a fero rod, good striker, cotton balls with vaseline (in a plastic bag) and some fatwood. I also have a plastic garbage bag for overhead cover or wind block. I know I can get a fire started every time with these items. Preparing for the flame is the key. Make sure to have a bunch of "smalls" (pencil lead size twigs/sticks) on hand. A plastic garbage bag will do nicely in keeping them dry.. Find a spot out of the wind and rain and light a cotton ball. Add some small pieces of fatwood, then your "smalls", then thumb size wood. The trick is to have all the prep work done before you even think about lighting your fire. Even in bad conditions, enough "smalls" will allow for a large enough ember base to support a fire. All of the items I carry into the woods for fire can be carried in my pocket. In case I am injured, I also carry a BIC lighter.

At around half a century of enjoying the great outdoors, I thought I was pretty decent at making fire. Then one evening up on a mountain (when it was raining pretty hard, wind was gusting and temps were low) I couldn't get it to last even with waxed fuzzy jute and a ferro rod. I wore that bar half way down. Luckily I was close to civilization. It made me think a lot more about how dealing with a string of adverse conditions can make it FAR more tricky to accomplish what is usually a trivial task. I now carry more items, and I have watched many tutorials about things like quick shelters for the effort, dry inner standing wood, proper processing, etc. and am looking forward to more opportunities to practice in similar conditions in my back yard so it is a sure thing when far from convenience...

I carry: 1. 3 Bic Lighters (1 for each kit level) 2. Ferro Rod 3. 7x Magnifying Lens 4. 25 Storm Proof Matches in Match Safe 5. 25 Plain Jane No Frills wooden matches that are like 250 for $0.97 at Walmart. Most cost effective. 6. 12 Petroleum Jelly Cotton balls in sealable baggie 7. Pre charred material in tin with flint and ground smooth file piece 8. Lastly 12 pieces of fat woods that can easily be split down to match size. All this weighs less than a pound.

"Inside our kit or with us" is the best advice ever.

I carry a bit of everything with the hope I never have to use it in a survival situation, but it’s there!

Great point Dan that's something I learned in the boy scouts. Combining those methods along with having more of them readily accessible before you make your fire should give you a higher probability of success.

Thanks Dan. Real situations are different than choreographed situations.

Dam straight Dan when it comes to the crunch, street rules apply,,,, go hard or get cold 🥶 🔥⚜🍺

Definitely, having multiple ways of starting fire is the best way to go.

I live in Pa. was camping at Allegheny National Forest this past weekend and there were some serious downpours ! I had fat wood , cattail fluff , and had no problem getting a fire going and a rainy weekend with a nice fire and a properly set up tarp system made it quite enjoyable for me and my dogs while keeping an eye out for the murdering rapist who escaped Warren County Prison !

Outstanding and thought-provoking video, Dan! Knowing the qualities, "Pros & Cons", and limitations of each piece of gear (fire-building essentials in this case) really aids in creatively formulating what combination of tools are needed for each challenging situation. Not only does it help in a timely, successful outcome in an emergency... it also aids in saving precious, consumable resources. Thank you for this valuable content. Blessings!

carry SEVERAL fire methods in my kit, and i like doing the hardest one when its not imperative to have a fire this instant. that way when i NEED a fire, if my go-to method isnt working, at least i have some practice on back-up methods.

I always have multiple ways of starting fire. Flint and steel, burning lens, matches, ferro rod, lighter, charcloth, cotton balls with Vaseline, candles, fat wood, etc.. Depending on the temperature and conditions determines which method I will use.

Fatwood is hands down my favorite fire starter. I ALWAYS have a decent amount of it it my fire kit. If there are plentiful amounts of dry easy to light materials around me, I may choose to save it for that proverbial rainy day, but I have it if I need it regardless.

I always prepare the fire when I set up camp or before I do something that could get me wet, like going out on the ice, so all I have to do is light it. I also carry a couple road flares with me for emergency fires.

Thanks Dan!

I keep a 12 guage shotgun shell in my emergency kit, along with matches and a lighter. Disassemble the shotgun shell and you have some short burning tinder.

Thank you for making this

Good tip Dan

Great advice Dan thanks

Thanks for the insight

Great advice! And always practice practice practice practice, etc

Awesome video, very sound advice!!!!

Good Video, thank you

I always like these short videos. Informative and entertaining. Cheers, mate.

Two thumbs up for this one. I practice as often as I can to get an open flame using something other than a match or lighter.

Good tip. You get used to doing something a certain way and that becomes your go-to. Thanks Dan

Sweet AF!! Nicely done!!🇺🇸🇺🇸🪓🔪👍👍

Good Video.

thanks

I've watched you for some time. Unfortunately I may be gone soon. Keep up your work. You've helped me and affected my life in very positive ways

For me there's a set rules all should fallow to start fires. Rule #1: always have multiple ways to start a fire. Rule #2: learn you best or try to master those ways to start a fire. Rule #3: natural ways to start a fire should always be your #1 method to start a fire before easier alternatives. Rule #4: don't rely and put all your faith on store/online bought fire starters. Rule #5: only use the easier/quick alternatives (lighter, matches, wet fire, cotton and vaseline etc etc) as a last resort or if you're in a desperate situation. Rule #6: don't fall for those fire starter gimmicks that those rando people with so called "bushcraft" RU-vid channels. They're just products placement advertisment so they can make a buck. I'm not saying they're back but they're items that are overpriced for people that goes camping once or twice every couple 2-3 year. All those items can easily be made in bulk at home. A real bushcraft you tube channel would show you how to make them instead of trying to shove an item in your face to buy.

Nice one

Ace stuff dude

We are blessed these days with an abundance of fire lighting options. Back in the 1970's/80's we had Clipper/Zippo lighters, a box of matches, and last year's thistledown. If you were lucky, you had a tub of storm proof lifeboat matches. Modern one's are rubbish but these one's were so bright you could've led Hobbits through caves.

One method of starting a fire not mentioned much is a plasma lighter. I have used them many times to light paper for my fire pit. They are awesome for candles if you get the long neck ones. They are windproof and rechargeable and not expensive.😮

I now prefer the ferro rod to most other things. I wasn't very good with it at all when I started but because of that I practiced so much it's become a preference lol.

excellent advice Dan, myopic mindsets are dangerous and should be avoided. I usually default to percussion, it is the one I am most comfortable with having practised with flint and steel for many years and become competent.

I might be dating myself, when you are out there throwing bales of hay, your paper matches got sweated . You can take a dry corn leaf, dip it in diesel from the tank of the tractor. The hot exhaust pipe will light the leaf , now you can have a smoke break...

I carry storm proof matches a lighter a fero rod and magnesium bar as well as paper birch a gallon bag of dryer lint as well as fire starter sticks pretty well prepared for making fire.

I carry a piece of chert and an old file in my go bags lol might be harder to use than modern methods, but I can get it to throw sparks even with wet hands and it’s reliable enough to light most tinders I’ve used.

Yes. redundancy is good. I love a magnesium bar & Vaseline soaked cotton balls.

I carry a fire kit of a fanny pack attached to my bag but can be detached. There is fat wood, ferro rod, lighters, matches, infinity match, cotton pads with wax, cotton balls and petroleum jelly rubbed in, pocket bellows, storm poof matches, lantern wick, and more but that's the main things I can think right now.

For me 1st and foremost is a Bic lighter, preferably in a watertight container...then all you mentioned. No such thing as an ideal emergency, only hopeful preparedness. I am a smoker so I have lighters strewn throughout ...every pack, kit, pouch, zippered pocket...all waterproofed...but I also have all those things you have shown or mentioned as well. Fatwood (rich pine) is an absolute and is mostly abundant and always dependable. Thanks for the video ...ALWAYS interesting and informative. 🙂

Making fire is like most other jobs. Success lies in the preparation.

If it's an emergency plain old school barbecue firelighters and a lighter are generally the best way to go. Personally I prefer the individually wrapped, light packaging to ignite ones. Pack three or four of them in a tobacco tin with a lighter and your good to go.

Emergency? Lights and all the chems in the world. For fun? Bird nests, ferro rods, etc. The latter helps with the former when some gear may not be available to you. Emergencies seldom strike when you are prepared. Always prepare for your next fire, have dry tinder and some kindling with you in your pack so you are not trying to gather the basics in an emergency.

Char cloth (and other charred material) cotton/wax fatwood tinder bundle flint/steel firesteel bow drill friction fire Fresnel lens magnifying lense steel wool and battery gunpowder chemical fire matches lighters solar concentrator (domed metal mirror) commercial fire starters cotton/petroleum jelly cotton/petroleum jelly in straws wax candles ......

Love it Lol I called it before you said it I’m happy 👍🏼👍🏼🇨🇦🇨🇦👍🏼👍🏼

I think way outside the box. I use my ox-acetylene torches. The tanks are a bytch to drag alone though.

when i want a fast simple thats not a learning or practice version, theone i keep coming back to fatwood and a procamptek fireplug or pathfinder mini inferno and any flame or spark method gets those running.

What do you think about the flat cotton make-up removal pads (2 - 2/12 inch diameter?), soaked in Vaseline and dipped in hot paraffin? One a really bad day, I can get 2+ fires from one, and 4+ on a good day. (no rain, dry tinder) Anyone else use these?

Don't take chances when getting that fire started is important. Get more tinder abd kindling than you think you need. Use that strip of rubber or strappibg tape or rubbish from lunch. Scrape a good amount off your fero rod. You don't get extra points for being stingy.

Don't forget to throw in the greasy corn chips.😊

A timeless concept: Training must be hard because sweat saves blood.

WHY would anyone want to choose the easiest, most successful method in a survival class of learning to start a fire? I would want to choose the MOST DIFFICULT method so I can be corrected and coached to success on what may be my last chance at making a fire in a survival situation if for whatever reason I failed with the easier methods that SHOULD HAVE worked.

Nothing new here, this is excactly how I do it. Stormmatches + cubes of alcogel + Esbit fueltablets + sticks od dry wood. Ligft the alcocubes with stormmatch, add Esbit (burns for about 5 min) to the fire and then sticks of dry wood and then start adding wood from nature.

Have you tried LiveFire, per chance, Dan? I would really appreciate your opinion on such a firestarter...

Reminds me of The Edge when Alec Baldwin used one of the precious flares to get the fire going when they absolutely needed one in a hurry.

What ferro rod is that?

@Coalcracker Bushcraft Dan, What is the viability of using cigarette butts for tinder with flint & steel or ferro rod?

Always... Always, always...3 is 2. 2 is 1 an 1 is none! No doubt! Use what works! They all work if u have a plan!

What do ur classes cost im looking to go to classes next yr

When you can shoot lasers out of your eyes there’s really no reason to carry any of this. But to each their own.

Are your classes/school modeled or similar to Pathfinder?

Lighter and gasoline works every time 😂

You are going to laugh always have a roll of TP with me and there's always squaw wood in the trees in my area might take a little but small to bigger then big has worked for me

Fresnel lens in my wallet. Ferro rod in my pocket. Bic lighter in my pack.

Don't rape trees till damage... but always have some dry birch bark on hand. Will get a raging fire going even if there have been torrential downpours all day long. Trust me... I've done it

I have fat wood, wet fire, and my lighter,and my Fresno lenz.

Only essential minimalist survival set for cheap? ofc optimal quality for price not just junk.

And don't sleep on "cheating" in wind and rain with something like hand sanitizer. If the only rule is to start a fire, start a fire.

👍🏻

The more you know, the less you carry - Mors Kochanski. The more you carry, the less time you improvise - me 😁 [edit] It's all about the ballance and purpose. As they say - both points have merits. And knowledge weights nothing if you carry it :)

I have wet fire, fat fire, and my lighter in my kit.

Sorry for Outdoor and Bushcraft ist ist ok, but Survival, naa NOPE why? Because, yeah they are great but more likely if, than a person in a real case will have a lighter, best, not the electronic ones, but with the fire rode inside, but both run even wet and dirty if you know how to fix that issue. And yeah an open flame is always better as amber, right there. Also is it more likely that one may find in the wilderness a lighter that still somehow have gas and may can be fixt that it makes a flame

That seems pretty cut and dry...... See what I did there 🤣

None of those items are a guaranteed fire, you still have to know how to build and tend a fire.

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

👍😎👍

Magnifying glass is simple and all you need is a Magnifying glass and the sun 🌞

OK students.... I want you to start a fire for me using only two items. They are , strike anywhere matches, and a can of Zippo lighter fluid.

Ummm.... wow....yada..yada..always carry multiple ways to start a fire and use what works? Gotcha bo!

BIC lighter.... No ?

Don’t forget the hand sanitizer…Covid era Bushcraft…Have fun stay safe Do mask burn???

I didn't learn anything from this video I didn't already know. Bring multiple sources to start a fire in multiple situations..So... Ya.. thanks for the content anyway bro .

I don't want to be hero, in survival mode everything goes, use your imagination Bic lighter is not shameful, zippo, matches,magnesium, gasoline, I don't care, all I want is to survive, that's my goal, and yes I am selfish, me first...

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸👍👍👍

Fire away!! 😅

I enjoy all your videos and no criticism at all. But we don't hav e pine here. So no pine needles or fat wood.. Any suggestions for us who live in missouri?

Like Trump said... "you're fired!"

Your old intro was 10000000 times better than this new one...

Dumb 😮

What are the top 3 multiple stuff?

Survival Alpha Male told our group he knew every way of making fire. I produced a parabolic mirror. He was uneasy. I told him it was for catching moonlight. ‘Oh, I know that one.’ Guy next to whispered ‘ I’ll ask about the best snare for snark tomorrow.’

Hello from British Columbia Canada 🇨🇦🖐👌❤🎠🛶🏊‍♂️🤳🎪🛣🚐🌳🌲☘