Seasoned campers all have their favorite fire starters and many make their own at home and stock pile them for their next camping trip. For beginners it can be a little intimidating. We will list some of the more popular choices we’ve seen. Hopefully, it will give you a headstart to a cozy campfire and a happy camping experience.
Aside from a box of matches or a lighter and some crumpled up newspaper there are tools you can use to start a fire even in damp or windy weather. Especially since those are the times you most want a warm fire, fast!
Matches can be unreliable because they can get wet so easily. Even the humidity can affect how well they strike. To avoid that, you can buy specialty matches like these Jackie Portable Extra-Large Head WindProof Waterproof Matches and keep them packed for your trip.
This Zippo Emergency Fire Starter is a combination of a flint and waxed tinder sticks in a sealed plastic container. The waxed tinder sticks will burn slow and hot enough to get your campfire started and the case is water resistant so moisture shouldn’t be a problem.
The easiest option of all is this one, QuickFire Instant Fire Starters. They are convenient packets and are waterproof. They can be used to light the grill, campfire, charcoal, wood stoves, etc. You don’t open them, just place them around the wood or charcoal, light a corner and they will burn for 10 minutes which is plenty of time to get a nice, hot fire going.. The reviews are great though people caution that you light these with a lighter or match and not a sparking type of fire starter. They will require a sustained flame in order to ignite.
Another option is good old dryer lint. Lots of our campers make their own fire starters with egg cartons, wax, and dryer lint. Once lit the dryer lint will ignite and the wax will make it burn slowly and hot enough to ignite your tinder. Everyone has their favorite and we hope you find yours so you can get that campfire burning and those hotdogs roasting as soon as possible.
