If you are planning on backpacking in the wilderness and prefer to cook your food on an open fire rather than having the hassle of carrying a backpacking stove around with you then you must have a Swedish Army Firesteel with you at all times.
Click here to see Amazon.com’s range of Swedish Firesteels
They were originally invented by the Swedish Department of Defence for use by their soldiers (hence the name ‘Swedish Army Firesteel’) but they are now available on the open market at very reasonable prices. The Firesteel should be carried instead of matches and a lighter and works by creating a 3,000 degree spark to ignite a fire. They are very easy to use, you simply need to make a pile of flammable material such as dry leaves or paper and then strike the Firesteel down onto it.
Swedish Army Firesteel
The Swedish Army model is highly dependable and can be used to create fires in almost any weather conditions or altitude and as such has been approved by the International Survival Instructors Associations. Each firesteel will last for 12,000 strikes so this is a product that will last plenty of trips.
As well as starting fires, the Swedish Army Firesteel produces such a bright spark that it has been used in survival situations to alert rescuers to the location of a stranded backpacker – yet another reason that a tool such as this is essential on any backpacking expedition.
They can be picked up for under $20, which is a small price to pay for such a reliable and useful tool. It’s important to stress that this isn’t simply a magic wand that will create fire on command. Knowledge of how to build fires including sourcing the right materials are still important, as is aiming the spark in the right direction, but those who are familiar with building fires will find this product a delight and will soon wonder they persisted in using matches and lighters for so long!
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