I have mentioned in the past that I have been working on putting together a bug-out-box as opposed to the more traditional bug-out-bag.... Today, I wanted to share with you what I have assembled as my fire starting kit:
What you are looking at here (from left to right) are a Ziploc Freezer bag (simply for storage of all items), cardboard toilet paper rolls, dryer lint, steel wool, saw dust, a 9 volt battery, and cotton balls.
What I have done with this is to put together several different items that I have "field tested" over the years on various backpacking and camping trips and which I feel give me several different choices that are all very good ways to catch small tinder ablaze. Yes, I do also have some backup waterproof matches in the box as well.
The best thing about this kit is that it is very lightweight.... with the only thing of any real weight being the lone 9 volt battery. This makes it great for backpacking/camping as well as for in a bug-out-bag or a day-pack.
If you have never messed around with steel wool and a 9 volt battery, you really owe it to yourself to try it out. Its a wonderful way to start a fire. Basically, all you have to do is fluff-up the steel wool a little bit and then touch it to the battery to complete the circuit. Then it burns through the wool with a very slow and dependable burn, and it does a remarkable job at catching tinder. If you have completely dry tinder to work with, its almost as easy as flipping the switch on a gas fireplace... the stuff just lights right up.
All of the other items are pretty much self explanatory. The toilet paper rolls are great to stuff with the steel wool and dryer lint/cotton balls as well as some leaves, twigs, etc to get everything going. You can get into dipping the cotton balls in flammable gels and liquids and stuff, but I personally just dont like messing with all of that, and dont really feel the need.
What you are looking at here (from left to right) are a Ziploc Freezer bag (simply for storage of all items), cardboard toilet paper rolls, dryer lint, steel wool, saw dust, a 9 volt battery, and cotton balls.
What I have done with this is to put together several different items that I have "field tested" over the years on various backpacking and camping trips and which I feel give me several different choices that are all very good ways to catch small tinder ablaze. Yes, I do also have some backup waterproof matches in the box as well.
The best thing about this kit is that it is very lightweight.... with the only thing of any real weight being the lone 9 volt battery. This makes it great for backpacking/camping as well as for in a bug-out-bag or a day-pack.
If you have never messed around with steel wool and a 9 volt battery, you really owe it to yourself to try it out. Its a wonderful way to start a fire. Basically, all you have to do is fluff-up the steel wool a little bit and then touch it to the battery to complete the circuit. Then it burns through the wool with a very slow and dependable burn, and it does a remarkable job at catching tinder. If you have completely dry tinder to work with, its almost as easy as flipping the switch on a gas fireplace... the stuff just lights right up.
All of the other items are pretty much self explanatory. The toilet paper rolls are great to stuff with the steel wool and dryer lint/cotton balls as well as some leaves, twigs, etc to get everything going. You can get into dipping the cotton balls in flammable gels and liquids and stuff, but I personally just dont like messing with all of that, and dont really feel the need.
Oh, Im gonna have to try that steel wool thing. Thanks!
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