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Camping Equipment and all Clothing Tents, sleeping bags, stoves etc. Riding clothing, boots, helmets, what to wear when not riding, etc.
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  #1  
Old 25 Apr 2010
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Spontaneous combustion
Camping is a "like it or lump it" pursuit.

It can be warm and dry, or cold, wet and windy.

So in the case of the latter two how do you get your heat source going, be it camp-fire or stove?

Lighter, matches, fire-steel, or a pint of unleaded and a marine flare?

Personally, I pack the matches and a fire-steel, but I'd like to know how others fair.
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Last edited by Warthog; 29 Jun 2010 at 21:24.
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  #2  
Old 25 Apr 2010
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You can still get Swan Vesta match's ... Keep in a self sealer bag ... With another bag in side that one with a few spare ... The just in case game ...
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  #3  
Old 25 Apr 2010
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Cheap, disposable lighters always worked for me.
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Old 25 Apr 2010
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Another vote for cheap disposables. One of them has survived 10yrs in my camping stove bag and still has most of the liquid in it. I don't smoke so it only gets used for lighting the stove, but even when the liquid leaks out the spark bit alone will light petrol.
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Old 25 Apr 2010
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i used to use a disposable but ive changed stove recently. i now light my gas trangia with a firesteel that will work in the rain and wind. i still keep the lighter handy in my pack though
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Old 25 Apr 2010
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I use gas or oil as a fire starter if things are difficult, my camp stove bottle is always a good resource. I also use disposable lighters, but carry a flint with magnesium bar for emergencies. It;s been very handy and well used for the last 5 years or so.
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Old 25 Apr 2010
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eat cold food. you get the double bonus of not having to worry about carrying stove/fuel nonsense.
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Old 25 Apr 2010
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I usually carry two disposables, both left over from the days when I smoked and would never be more than three paces from cigarettes and fire (12 years gone, more or less). I suppose the only reason for carrying two is that one backs up the other. This, too, seemed very important when there was nicotine inhalation at stake.

In serious situations (i.e., survival), I carry something which will start a fire no matter what. On foot, it's a candle stub, firestarting paste, vasoline-soaked cotton, whatever. On a bike, it's the gasoline in my tank.

I eat a lot of cold food, too, but there are times (and company I might want to keep) when Skippy Super Chunk and honey sandwiches just don't quite make it.

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Old 25 Apr 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by markharf View Post
I eat a lot of cold food, too, but there are times (and company I might want to keep) when Skippy Super Chunk and honey sandwiches just don't quite make it.
.
ha ha, very posh cold food.

but, yeah, fair comment. always whip out the camping stove on a date... ;-)
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Old 28 Apr 2010
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Firesteel everytime. Super reliable. If you can't make fire with some petrol and a spark you need to stay at home.

I can do cold food for a while but nothing gets your spirits up like a hot meal and a cup of tea.
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Old 28 Apr 2010
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A slight variation.
Another thing I sometimes carry is a lighter of sorts.

A candle lighter. Basically, a lighter with a long stalk: has been handy for reaching the stove through a gap in the windshield and under a pots!!

Not heavy, nor bulky, but not a pocket accessory: strictly in you luggage!
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Old 28 Apr 2010
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Fire steel
Personally I always carry a disposable lighter but have been seeing a lot of posts regarding FireSteels,How exactly do these things work? Waterproof? Always work etc? Can an idiot such as myself use one?
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Old 29 Apr 2010
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yes
Quote:
Originally Posted by holodragon View Post
Personally I always carry a disposable lighter but have been seeing a lot of posts regarding FireSteels,How exactly do these things work? Waterproof? Always work etc? Can an idiot such as myself use one?
SCRATCH AND BURN....... can catch you out when using petrol........WOOOF... ITS VERY GOOD BEEN USING FIRE STEEL AND MAGNESIUM FOR LAST 20 YEARS AND ITS IN MY SURVIVAL TIN AND IN MY POCKET WHERE EVER i GO..
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Old 29 Apr 2010
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Originally Posted by holodragon View Post
Personally I always carry a disposable lighter but have been seeing a lot of posts regarding FireSteels,How exactly do these things work? Waterproof? Always work etc? Can an idiot such as myself use one?
You've got a bit of metal that is about pencil diameter with a little handle. You strike it with the back of a knife (or some come with a striker) and it drops a shower of sparks; easily lighting a petrol stove or your tinder. You can go all "Ray Mears" and use the shavings from the inside-leg of a tree shrew or something but a spoon full of petrol gets most things going without faffing around.

I don't have much luck with other lighters. All the ones I've tried from 10pence to 30 quid give up on me I'm afraid.
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Old 29 Apr 2010
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Being a metal fabricator, i was taught early on to never carry a disposable lighter in my pants pocket while welding. The valves in the lighters are prone to leaking slowly, filling the surrounding cloth with gas, which when ignited can have a dangerous consequence. Never seen it happen and i'm not sure if it applies to what we're talking about here, but i thought i would throw it out there.
I carry a bar of magnesium with a rod of flint attached to it. If you don't have any gas, shave off a penny size lump of magnesium and throw in a spark, the flame is white hot and will light even wet tinder.
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