The subject of Bug Out Kits, Survival, and general Preparedness keeps coming back and I’ve noticed that all the damn time people are including “Fire Starting Kits”.
These kits are generally a Magnesium chunk, and Flint and Steel affair. So you can make little sparks to catch some magnesium shaving and tender to start a flame. Yeah, that’s all fine and well. But let me put it this way. If I’m in a Survival Situation, and I need a Flame, I want a damn Flame not some Sparks.
I used to always – Always – have a Zippo lighter with me. I wasn’t a smoker or anything, but the Zippo was a part of my EDC kit. It was nothing fancy, just a classic “Windproof” in plain stainless with “INFANTRY” scratched into it. Had it for years and years. It was one of the two things that I got at Ft. Benning… the other was a Timex watch that I still have. I would still have that Zippo if it wasn’t for TSA. Zippo, knife, a flashlight, wallet and watch. Those were always on me.
So if you already have those items on you all the time… all you need to add to your kit is a little can of fluid to refill the Zippo. Maybe some replacement flint if your are all that worried… But that’s your kit. Forget scratching for sparks… Make some FIRE.
The Zippo Handwarmer is very nice too.