Trekmates Fire Starter

The Trekmates Fire Starter uses a special alloy blend mainly magnesium to create sparks at 5000c which are able to ignite dry tinders or gas stoves.

The fire starter comes with a metal fire scraper which you can use to scrape down the rod, enough pressure needs to be applied to create the sparks which can be directed at your tinder. Alternatively use the back of your knife or some other steel blade with a sharp angled edge. The Fire starter is unaffected by moisture of any kind or quantity.

For tinder try using tampons, although dry paper also works if scraped up first, toilet tissue or kitchen paper works best. For natural tinders try cats tails which are found in the margins of streams and ponds; old mans beard which is found hanging from the branches of pine trees; other downy plants; and birch bark which again needs to be scraped up to a need pile of shavings with a knife. Take pieces of bark from dead trees its the inner side that you need to scrape.

Its not as easy as Ray Mears makes it look but  alot of fun and a useful skill to know.