Best 21 Fire Starters

Exotac nanoStriker XL

Editors Rating

This nifty little starter of fires is basically the original nanoStriker by Exotac but on steroids. The biggest upgrade to watch out for is the rod which is 33% bigger giving you up to an amazing 3000 fire-starting strikes. Other than that, the striker handle is nearly 50% bigger, which vastly improves the grip of this fire starter.

As with the original, the use of aluminum for the body ensures that this device is as light as possible which ensures that you will barely notice it when not in use as it is designed to easily be worn on a necklace.

The ¼ inch ferrocerium rod is replaceable, which means that even after you’ve used up your 3000 fire-starting strikes, you can simply replace the rod and keep on trucking. A really lovely tool to add to your fire starter kit and it does come in several colors for those who like to accessorize. Fair warning though, the silver finish will probably provide the best longevity, as the paint will probably start to scratch on the other finishes over time.

Bear Grylls Fire Starter

Editors Rating

While some other fire starters may be a touch more ‘bare-bones’, this fire starter by Gerber offers a bit more of a complete package. This product is surprisingly much cheaper than most on the list and provides you with plenty of bang for your buck. You will definitely still be pleasantly surprised to find out that this will most likely be one of the last fire starters you may need, sporting up to 8000 strikes.

While that certainly is quite a number, the novelty of this ultimate survival fire starter lies in the little extras that are built into this package. Firstly, the waterproof construction of the body ensures that any stored tinder safely dry. The second addition along with this fire starter is an emergency whistle, which means there is one more item included which you can check off on your survival list.

Just to sweeten the deal, Gerber have also included an informative pocket survival guide by the ultimate survivor himself, Bear Grylls. What more could you ask for?

Fire-Fast Trekker

Editors Rating

For you guys out there more inclined to the rough stuff, this is definitely a fire starter to take note of on all those survival missions and trips. This fire starter does not include any fancy finishes or little bells and whistles, but what you do get is a military grade rod of solid magnesium.

This fire starter is guaranteed to get your blaze going every single time, as the magnesium is soft and easily scraped off the rod to ignite kindling or flammable material easily. The guys over at Fire-Fast have also finished this rugged tool off with a hard wood handle which provides you with effective grip which scraping and striking.

This may not check a few of the boxes for extras and sleek design but what you will get for the price is solid reliability and durability. What more could a bushcrafter, hunter, camper or survivalist really ask for.

Zippo Emergency Fire Starter

Editors Rating

Perhaps one of the easiest to use fire starters on our list, the Emergency Fire Starter by Zippo is basically the same as using any lighter. The unit consists of a plastic box which houses the ignition mechanism and 4 wax-coated, water resistant flints. When you want to light the fire all you have to do is strike the ignition wheel, similar to that of a regular lighter and that’s all it takes. The fire starter does admittedly come in a plastic fished container, which at the price point may not be for everybody. What you need to keep in mind is that this does come with guaranteed quality as is the case with all Zippo products. Also, the plastic finish does enable the case itself to float while a water resistant O-ring seal keeps the contents dry, which is always welcomed when you out in mother nature and nothing is certain.

Swedish FireSteel 2.0

Editors Rating

This fire starter is definitely on the more hardcore side as it was originally developed for the Swedish Department of Defense. This is a compact and lightweight fire starter with a lifespan which punches way above others in its price range.

The improvements from the previous version include a higher quality stainless steel striker and more ergonomic design for the handle. The original intent behind the design was to develop a fire starter which could overcome high altitudes and low temperatures.

Thus, this compact and hardy fire starter is perfect for those looking at undertaking trips into high terrain or during more extreme cold weather. This is because the fire starter does not require any flints or gas to get a fire going and should be more than adequate on most oudoor adventures.

Exotac fireROD

Editors Rating

The fireROD fire starter by Exotac offers hunters, campers and survivalists a superior practical option for getting fires started. This is a somewhat higher end fire starter for its relative simplicity, as compared to some others on the list.

This is owing to the fact that with this fire starter you are receiving a device crafted from superior magnesium. This also includes a very practical design which is ideal for carrying with a knife. The handle doubles of this fire starter up as a storage compartment for tinder, making this a very solid but simple option for the no nonsense adventurer.

This is a great choice for a survival fire starter as it is easy to use, works in wet weather and makes carrying and storage simple. The real bonus about this item is that the rod is replaceable which means that should you ever run out of ignition material, you can simply get a new rod in and it’s as good as new.

The capsule or handle is crafted with high quality aluminum which also makes this a sturdy and light choice for a fire starter.

X-Plore Gear Firestarter

Editors Rating

This is not simply a fire starter; it is a 3-in-1 survival tool that you are getting. The fire starter is accompanied by an emergency whistle and compass. Similar to most fire starters, this one is designed for thousands of strikes and works perfectly in windy and rainy conditions.

This makes this compact tool a must-have for most survival kit or hunting kits. The fire started itself comes with an easy to carry cord which also helps in not losing it on your trips.

The scraper design does have small serrations on it, which makes scraping the rod or striking it much easier but alternatively does make carrying it in your pocket a bit less comfortable. Really one of the best value buys on the market for what you will be getting. This item is perfect for a survivalist looking for a great deal or someone new to the industry not looking at spending too much off the bat.

SOG Flint

When you talk about gadgetry that just catches the eye, it’s little devices such as this fire starter that comes to mind; compact, stylish and practical. The SOG flint is an all-black aluminum, pencil-shaped fire starter.

While it comes with a small compartment for storing flint and keeping it dry, this fire starter also includes an emergency whistle as well as a carbide-tipped glass breaker- just in case. The easy-to handle size and light weight of this product makes it ideal to be carried as a lanyard or even in a backpack or pouch.

What is quite special about this fire starter which not many products have today in general is a lifetime warrantee. That really says something about the manufacturer stading by the quality of his brand.

We must however advise that because of its relatively small size, the rod of this product is not the biggest one out there, which can make handling this fire starter a bit tricky for those heavy handed guys out there.

überleben Kräftig Fire Starter

Editors Rating

You are going to be hard pressed to find a more simple fire starter anywhere on the market and while some may want something that’s a bit more tricked out, this fire starter is every bit as good as any.

What you get with this fire starter is a simple magnesium rod and a striker, strung together on a simple cord. Now while you may be thinking is that all? Yep and we love it. The thinking is quite simple here, the less extras it has the fewer things you need to worry about breaking.

This fire starter also comes in three sizes, ranging from 3.5 to 8.5 inch, which means you get exactly what you are paying for. No mess no fuss.

What you are getting with this simple device is a fire starter that can strike at temperatures up to 5500 degrees Fahrenheit and up to 20 000 strikes, if not more. What you sacrificing in extras you get back in quality, and you get it back in spades.

Swiss Safe 5-in-1 Fire Starter

Editors Rating

Let’s just start by saying each 5-in1 fire starter by Swiss Safe comes in a two pack, which is great value right from the beginning. Apart from being a great deal for any of you into bushcraft, hunting, camping or any other such activities in the great outdoors, Swiss Safe is known for the exceptional quality of their products.

This survival too comes with a compass, emergency whistle and 8-core Paracord, which on their own are each great items to have along when you head out into the wilderness. Did we forget to mention that the striker also doubles as a mini hacksaw blade?

You just can’t go wrong with this fire starter package which just screams well prepared. The magnesium alloy rod is also of the highest quality and puts out sparks at an amazing 5500 degrees Fahrenheit, which should get a fire going in just about any conditions.

This is not only a great tool to buy, but with over 16000 sparks it will be a lifelong outdoor companion.

SHARPAL 101N 6-in-1

Editors Rating

Just looking at this crafty device is more than enough to pique the interest of even the most experienced outdoorsman. You wouldn’t be wrong to wonder either because there is just so much going on with this survival tool.

This fire starter comes with tungsten carbide blades for quick setting, as well as ceramic clades for fine honing. Then you have the fire starter which is comprised of a small removable magnesium rod.

The one feature which had us blown away at men’s gear was the gut hook with sharpening serrations and diamond grove for sharpening fish hooks. To top it all off, you also get a high-pitched emergency whistle.

Now anybody would think that such an all-inclusive package would cost quite a penny, but this is interestingly one of the value buys on this list and just an all-round impressive gadget. The small package also makes this wonderful as you can just pop it in your pocket and go.

Pro Striker Paracord Landyard

Once again we have one of our simpler fire starter options available. Now, while those of you who on not too familiar with survival and bushcraft, the braid work of the lanyard cable is not just pretty, it’s one of the way in which you can store paracord, which has so many great uses when out camping, hiking or hunting.

As with some of the more simple offerings on this list, the large magnesium rod is the centre piece of this survival gem, which provides a very generous shower of sparks; sufficient to get a fire started in any conditions.

The very high grade of steel used for the striker also increases the ability of the fire starter to provide a shower of hot sparks, which is another testament to this product’s quality and longevity.

A great too for the distinguished survivalist or just something you may want to have along for camping, because you can never be too prepared.

Pulse Plasma Lighter

Editors Rating

Now for those guys out there who like things with a bit more of a modern twist, this could be your kind of fire starter. Here we have an electronic fire starter, which makes use of a high intensity double plasma arc pulse to ignite any material.

This is conveniently shaped like a lighter which means it will easily fit into your pocket. Now many may think that an electric fire starter on an outdoor adventure is just planning to fail, but this fire starter delivers a whopping 300 sparks per charge which is considerable.

In order to make it as easy as possible to maintain, the fire starter comes with a convenient USB recharging cable which only takes one hour to replenish the battery. This is however an electric product which only makes sense that this fire starter is also fire proof.

This really does impress with it’s wonderful design which is practical but at the same time quite easy on the eye; a must-have for a modern gadget junky.

FiAir - Air Blower

Editors Rating

When it comes to ease of use and overall safety, this fire starter outpaces the rest on this list. That’s because it is essentially designed to blow hot air over wood or charcoal in order to ignite them and get the fire started.

So simple even those who are a bit newer to the great outdoors will be able to use it without much difficulty. All this device requires from you is to point and shoot. Now while that may be great if you just sitting around a camp fire, this may exactly be a great survival tool.

This fire starter makes use of separate batteries to function, and is a little bigger than most utility fire starters, which makes it a bit harder to carry around. This will also no be great for getting a fire starter in wet conditions.

Even so, this is an extremely comfortable fire starter and can easily be part of a more relaxed trip to the outdoors.

StrikeForce Fire Starter

Editors Rating

The fire starter by StrikeForce provides you with a great design for the classic magnesium rod fire starter. As with many of the fire starters on this list, you are provided with a good quality magnesium allow rod and a steel striker. What sets this apart from some of the competition is the safety orientation of the design.

While this is no doubt a simple and quality product, the bar and striker are separately housed in two halves of a hard plastic box, which eliminated the risk of unintended sparking which could well happen with some of the more simplistic designs.

This is novel for those of you who are looking for a fire starter to take in your pocket along on a hike. While this fire starter is a touch bigger than some others, this does afford you much better grip when striking, which some guys with bigger hands will appreciate.

2 Pack Magnesium Fire Starter

Editors Rating

This entry in the list is at the very entry point and offers the best value for money with a 2 pack of magnesium fire starters for less than most of the individual fire starters. Now while that certainly is something to take note of, the 2 pack magnesium fire starter also happens to be one of the smallest as well.

Now while many may love a beautifully crafted survival fire starter or an easy-to-use camp fire starter there will always be fans of ‘less is more’. With this product that is exactly what you will have in store.

It is exceedingly simple and takes up almost no space, but that may just be what you need in a tiny survival pack kicking around somewhere at the bottom of your backpack. So how well does it work?

Well it is surprisingly effective as you have an accompanying magnesium bar to shave a few flakes off before striking the bar. These flakes ignite very easily and should give you a good minute or two of fire even in wet weather which should be enough to get your fire going.

Survival Whistle Fire Starter

Editors Rating

With this fire starter, the company has put a lot of effort into producing a really good and loud whistle and combining that with a good quality fire starter while still managing to keep it as lightweight as possible.

This small and lightweight fire starter is a wonderful addition to any fans of camping and hiking as the whistle which is included not only works as an emergency or fire whistle, but because it is so loud it can double up as a deterrent for wild animals.

The magnesium alloy rod provides you with a sufficiently hot spark to get a fire going in most weather conditions and should be fine for most intended uses. While these little guys work perfectly as a device to put in your pocket or carry every day, it should be noted that these may not be the best tool for taking into extreme conditions and high altitudes.

40488 Fire Fast Bellows

Editors Rating

Once again we have another wonderful entry by Zippo, in the form of their Fire Fast Bellows fire starter. This is a battery powered device which generates hot enough wind gusts to ignite a camp fire, barbecue or charcoal.

This device certainly is beautifully crafted as it has soft touches which just set it apart from most of the rest, such as the rubber handle for easy gripping.

Many may be suspicious of taking this device along on a camping trip as it is batter operated, but a single charge of good quality batteries provides you with 180 hot air bursts of 1 minute each. Some fire situations may be a bit trickier, but this should be more than enough to get most fires started.

This may not be your best bet in extreme weather conditions including heavy wind or rain, but for most other tasks it should be more than enough.

Elc Bson420

Editors Rating

Here we have our first butane powered fire starter on the list and while many hard-core survivalists out there may put down some that enjoy their creature comforts, just remember that this will almost certainly get almost any wood or charcoal lit within a minute.

Well on full blast you will generate a flame about 4 inches long, which is bordering somewhere between household lighter and flamethrower. One of the most expensive on this list, this product is all about quality and comfort and quite frankly we don’t mind something a bit less rugged if it provides results.

Perhaps not the best for inclement weather condition, such as heavy rainfall or snow, but most people who buy it love it. If you are in a position to spend a bit more this is definitely worth the investment.

Ninja Outdoorsman Emergency Fire Starter

Editors Rating

This fire starter is one of the best all round fire starter tools on this list, providing a good mix of quality and affordability. The fire starter itself is able to generate sparks of up to 5500 degrees Fahrenheit with over 12000 strikes over the lifetime of this fire starter.

This rates in a category with some of the more high-end fire starters on this list but does not have a price tag which would suggest this. In addition to being a good quality product you also get a compass and whistle built into this product which just stretches the value even further.

Now, while this is an amazing deal, there is no storage for any tinder to get your fire going which is a bit sad but we’ll get over it. On the whole, this is a solid product.

PSKOOK Fire Starter Necklace

Editors Rating

One of the more novel approaches to fire starters on this list the necklace cord houses the magnesium alloy rod and metal striker. What makes this so novel however, is the fact that the necklace cord itself contains tinder inside. This provides you with ample kindling for many fires, which is something that most other fire starters lack.

Most fire starters, while they do have storage compartments for tinder, this is usually limited to half a cotton ball which is fine for a single fire but poses a problem if you are not able to replenish it before or during an outdoor adventure.

The best part is that the necklace is a water-proof paracord which makes the necklace really the focal point of this fire starter.