Fire Starters

Fire is warmth, cooked food, purified water, signaling, and morale. A dependable way to start one belongs in every bug out bag, camp kit, and home emergency stash. This collection covers ignition tools, portable stoves, and the fire safety gear that goes with them, from spark and solar starters to wood and gas stoves to fire blankets and protective gloves. All orders ship free from the USA and are backed by a 30-day return guarantee.

How to Choose Fire Starters

Pick a Primary Ignition Method for Your Conditions

Different fire starters shine in different conditions, so match the tool to how and where you'll actually use it. Ferro rod and permanent match style strikers work wet, windy, and at altitude, and don't run out of fuel. Magnifying glass and solar igniters carry no fuel at all but only work in direct sunlight, so they're a poor sole option after dark or on an overcast day. A fire piston uses air compression to ignite tinder and is a reliable traditional method, but it takes dry tinder and some practice to use well. A simple lighter is the easiest option for most people, but butane can underperform in cold weather and any lighter can fail if it gets wet or lost.

Carry a Backup, Not Just One Option

The classic preparedness rule is "two is one, one is none." A single point of failure, one lighter, one striker, is a real risk if it's lost, wet, or empty. A common approach is to pair a fuel-free method like a magnesium sheet or fire piston with a fast, familiar backup like a waterproof lighter case, so you're never dependent on just one.

Match Your Stove to the Job

Wood stoves burn fuel you find on site, which means less weight to carry but a dependence on dry wood and airflow to keep them running. Gas stoves with auto ignition light quickly and burn consistently, but you need to pack fuel canisters and plan for resupply on longer trips. Tent stoves with a chimney are built for heating a shelter as well as cooking, and need proper ventilation and clearance from tent walls and fabric, always follow the manufacturer's setup and clearance instructions.

Test Everything Before You Need It

A fire starter you've never used is a gamble in an emergency. Practice with any new striker, piston, or stove at home first, in daylight, before it needs to work in the dark or the rain. It's also common preparedness advice to check and rotate fire starting supplies periodically, for example twice a year, to confirm fuel, tinder, and hardware are still in working order.

Add Fire Safety Gear, Not Just Fire Starting Gear

Anything that makes fire also needs a plan for controlling it. Fire resistant gloves protect your hands when handling hot stoves, coals, or forge work. A fire blanket gives you a fast way to smother a small kitchen or campsite flare-up. If you're working with a forge, wood stove, or open flame regularly, it's worth pairing your fire starting gear with the safety gear built to contain it.

Our Top Picks

• Permanent Match Fire Starter, 10,000 Strikes: a waterproof, keychain-sized striker for preppers who want a fuel-free backup that clips right onto a bag or belt loop.
• Brass Fire Piston Kit: a traditional compression fire starter for anyone who wants a durable, no-fuel method and doesn't mind practicing the technique.
• High Purity 99.99% Magnesium Metal Sheets: a straightforward shave-and-spark option that's a popular backup for bug out bags because it needs no batteries or fuel.
• Collapsible Portable Wood Stove For Backpacking: a compact stove for cooking on found fuel, a good fit for backpackers who want to cut down on the fuel canisters they carry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best fire starter for a bug out bag?

There's no single best option for everyone. Many preppers pack a compact, waterproof method like a permanent match or magnesium fire starter as a primary tool because it doesn't rely on stored fuel, then add a lighter or fire piston as a backup.

How many fire starting methods should I carry?

A common preparedness guideline is to carry at least a primary and a backup method. Relying on a single lighter or striker means you have no fallback if it's lost, wet, or empty.

Are magnesium fire starters better than a lighter?

Each has tradeoffs. A magnesium starter doesn't run out of fuel and works in more conditions, but it takes a bit more effort and tinder to get a flame going. A lighter is faster and easier for most people but can fail in cold weather or if it gets wet, which is why many preppers carry both.

Is it safe to use a wood stove or tent stove inside a shelter?

Any combustion device used inside an enclosed space needs proper ventilation and clearance from walls and fabric to manage heat, sparks, and exhaust safely. Always follow the manufacturer's setup instructions and clearance guidelines for your specific stove before using it in or near a tent.

How often should I check my fire starting gear?

It's common preparedness advice to check and rotate emergency supplies, including fire starters and stove fuel, periodically, for example twice a year, to make sure everything still works when you need it.

Related Reading

• Bug Out Bag Checklist: The Full 72-Hour List, to see where fire starting gear fits in a complete kit.
• What Is a 72-Hour Kit?, for the basics of building a short-term emergency kit.
• Bug Out Gear, to shop packs and kits designed to carry everything in this collection.