Starting a campfire is one of the simplest joys of outdoor adventures, whether you’re cooking, staying warm, or creating a cozy atmosphere under the stars. Having the right fire starters for camping can make all the difference, ensuring you can quickly and safely ignite a fire even in challenging conditions. In this guide, we’ll explore the most reliable and user-friendly options, from compact lighters to all-weather matches, helping you find the perfect tools to keep your camping trips stress-free and enjoyable. Let’s spark some excitement for your next outdoor adventure with National Park Shops team!
Contents
- 1 Bets Overall: Pyro Putty ($28.99 on Amazon/ 3-Pack)
- 2 Best for Beginners: UST BlastMatch ($20.90 on Amazon)
- 3 Best for Camping: Superior Trading Co. All-Natural Fire Starter ($21.99 on Amazon)
- 4 Lightning Nuggets Fire-Starting Nuggets ($19.70 on Amazon)
- 5 Best Firestarter Knife: Morakniv Companion Spark ($32.13 on Amazon)
- 6 Gerber Fire Starter ($17.88 on Amazon)
- 7 Dark Energy Plasma Lighter ($29.99 on Amazon)
- 8 Best for Survival: FireFlame Quick Instant Fire Starter
- 9 Best Natural: Eco-Stix Fatwood ($24.99 on Amazon)
- 10 Exotac Firerod ($32.95 on Amazon)
- 11 Best for Emergencies: Pull Start Fire Pull String Fire Starter ($14.99 – $103.98 on Amazon)
- 12 How I choose the best Fire Starters for Camping
- 13 Conclusion
Bets Overall: Pyro Putty ($28.99 on Amazon/ 3-Pack)
- Burn Time: 8 minutes
- Stays lit in high wind
- Waterproof
The Phone Skope Pyro Putty is a versatile fire starter beyond igniting flames. In a pinch, it can even seal leaks in your tent and make it waterproof. Available in various formulas tailored to different seasons, all-natural, and ultralight. I tested the warm-weather Pyro Putty on a sunny 80-degree day to see how it performed.
Each portion of Pyro Putty comes in individually wrapped packets, with just a small amount of putty per pack. For my test, I removed the putty, lit it with a lighter, and started timing. The putty ignited almost instantly, producing a steady flame for five minutes before gradually burning out at around the eight-minute mark. That’s an impressive burn time for just 0.1 ounces of material, and its quick ignition makes it an excellent choice for efficient fire-starting in the wild.
Best for Beginners: UST BlastMatch ($20.90 on Amazon)
- Item Dimensions LxWxH: 4 x 0.5 x 1.5 inches
- Included Components: UST – Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter, Orange
- Item Weight: 0.07 Kilograms
The UST BlastMatch stands out for its unmatched ease of use, thanks to its one-handed design. This feature lets you keep one hand free to steady your tinder or adjust it closer to the sparks, making it an ideal fire starter for beginners. The BlastMatch uses a 360-degree flint rotation system that evenly distributes wear on the ferro rod, ensuring long-lasting performance while simplifying the fire-starting process.
Compact and efficient, the ferro rod is housed in a waterproof casing, keeping it dry and ready to use even in the harshest weather. While it can function when wet, this fire starter performs significantly better when dry. With a lifespan of around 4,000 strikes, it’s not the longest-lasting fire starter, but it’s reliable enough to serve you for years with proper use. To ignite, simply press a button, and watch as sparks fly, proving this tool does most of the work for you.
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Best for Camping: Superior Trading Co. All-Natural Fire Starter ($21.99 on Amazon)
- Product Dimensions: 6 x 6 x 6 inches
- Material: Wood
- Item Weight: 1.5 pounds
- Burn time: 10 to 15 minutes
Superior Trading Co. fire starters are a safe, effective, and eco-friendly solution for lighting fires with ease. Made from wood shavings and food-grade wax, these odorless and nontoxic pods are perfect for a variety of uses, from indoor fireplaces to outdoor camping bonfires. Their environmentally friendly composition adds an extra layer of appeal.
In testing, a single pod was typically all it took to ignite and sustain a log fire. With just one match, the pod caught fire within 4 seconds. Initially, the burn was slow, but within 5 minutes, the flames reached an impressive 8 inches in height, continuing to burn for approximately 15 minutes – more than enough time to get logs fully alight.
While labeled as waterproof, the pods required drying out after being submerged in water before they could light successfully. Once dry, they burned as reliably as ever. We also tested them in various settings, including a fireplace and a charcoal grill. Under the grill’s charcoal basket, one pod was sufficient to ignite the coals effectively.
Lightning Nuggets Fire-Starting Nuggets ($19.70 on Amazon)
- Product Dimensions: 10.25 x 5.25 x 4.75 inches
- Material: Sawdust, Wax
- Item Weight: 3.18 pounds
- Burn time: 15 minutes
Lightning Nuggets offers a hassle-free way to start a wood fire without the need for newspapers or kindling. During testing, we found that a single nugget was enough to ignite a real wood fire. It required three matches to light, but once aflame, it burned hot and bright with a 6-inch flame for just over 10 minutes.
Made from a natural, eco-friendly blend of pitchwood sawdust and paraffin wax, these fire starter nuggets leverage the flammable resins found in pitchwood, a type of pine. While burning, they emit a faint pinewood scent that makes them ideal for use in fireplaces and campfires. However, if you’re hoping for a stronger aroma, the scent is relatively mild. While perfect for indoor and outdoor fires, they are not recommended for grills due to their scented composition.
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Best Firestarter Knife: Morakniv Companion Spark ($32.13 on Amazon)
- Item Dimensions: 9.4 x 4.1 x 2.5 inches
- Material: Staineless Steel
- Handle Material: Rubber
- Item Weight: 128 Grams
Morakniv knives have long been a favorite for their exceptional quality and affordability, and the Companion Spark takes this reputation even further. One of our testers swears by this knife, carrying it on every backcountry adventure and relying on its magnesium fire starter almost nightly.
The knife itself is built for fire-making, featuring a square-ground spine designed for optimal use with any ferro rod. The included firestarter is a standout feature, generating 3,000°C sparks and lasting for approximately 3,000 strikes, thanks to its durable magnesium alloy construction.
Gerber Fire Starter ($17.88 on Amazon)
- Product Dimensions: 8 x 6 x 1 inches
- Special Features: Extremely Durable
- Handle Material: Metal
- Item Weight: 0.634 ounces
The Gerber Fire Starter is a compact and versatile survival tool perfect for minimalist emergency kits. It features a small ferro rod that nests neatly within the handle of a metal striker, connected by an adjustable lanyard. Adding to its utility, the tool includes an IPX4 water-resistant capsule for storing tinder, ensuring you’re ready to ignite a fire even in damp conditions.
This fire starter impressed us with its lightweight, efficient design and thoughtful extras like cotton tinder and a 100-decibel emergency whistle. Designed with input from survival expert Bear Grylls, it’s a trusted companion in the backcountry. A signed model bearing Grylls’ name is also available.
While the short ferro rod requires a bit more effort to produce sparks, the trade-off is its ultra-portable size. The lanyard keeps everything secure but can limit motion when striking.
Dark Energy Plasma Lighter ($29.99 on Amazon)
- Product Dimensions: 7.25 x 3.75 x 1.25 inches
- Special Features: Rechargeable
- Material: Plasma
- Light Source Type: LED
Dark Energy’s Plasma Lighter is the ultimate combination of futuristic design and practical utility, making it a standout tool for any camping trip. Pop open its waterproof safety cap, and you’ll reveal a dual-arc plasma emitter that ignites dry tinder in seconds. The arcs generate intense heat and are windproof, making it a reliable firestarter even in harsh weather conditions where traditional lighters and matches fail.
This compact 3.75-inch gadget doubles as a 120-lumen flashlight, adding versatility to its list of features. At just 2.3 ounces, it’s lightweight and easy to carry in an everyday carry (EDC) kit. The device includes a safety button and latch to prevent accidental activation, and the waterproof casing ensures durability in tough environments.
While the rechargeable battery is a plus, the Plasma Lighter’s high heat output and bright flashlight drain it quickly. It’s best to carry a backup fire starter for extended use. Despite this, its sleek design and dependable performance make it a must-have for outdoor enthusiasts and survivalists alike.
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Best for Survival: FireFlame Quick Instant Fire Starter
- Burn Time: 5 minutes
- Waterproof
The FireFlame fire starter, made from paraffin wax, is a lightweight and completely waterproof option ideal for survival kits and cooking fires. Free of harsh chemicals, it’s safe for food-related use and comes individually wrapped for convenience. In my test, it burned for five minutes with a steady, robust flame, making it reliable for starting fires efficiently.
When submerged in water, the FireFlame emerged unaffected, burning just as hot and for as long as it did when dry. It was also equally easy to light in both wet and dry conditions. While its performance in high winds wasn’t the best, it outshined every other fire starter in waterproofness, proving its worth in challenging environments. For a compact, reliable, and easy-to-use fire starter, the FireFlame is a top pick for any survival kit.
Best Natural: Eco-Stix Fatwood ($24.99 on Amazon)
- Burn Time: 6 minutes
- Natural wood
Fatwood, sourced from the heartwood of dead pine trees, is packed with natural resins that make it exceptionally easy to ignite and keep burning, even when wet. In my burn time test, one piece burned for 6 minutes, providing a reliable flame. While it took a little longer to light when wet, once it caught, it burned consistently.
For best results, I recommend using multiple pieces of Fatwood as both kindling and a fire starter. It lights quickly with a regular lighter, and if you want to simplify fire-starting even further, combine it with one of the other fire starters from this list for a seamless experience. Fatwood is a natural, efficient choice for anyone looking to easily start a fire.
Exotac Firerod ($32.95 on Amazon)
- Material: Ferro rod with aluminum handle
- Quantity: 1
- Burn time: Not applicable
Going back to the basics of fire-making with friction has evolved beyond flint and steel. Today, outdoor enthusiasts rely on ferrocerium alloy for reliable sparks. In our testing, the Exotac FireRod XL stood out from other models, mainly because of the abundant sparks it produced. Its precision-machined aluminum handle with a watertight tinder chamber was a thoughtful feature, and the rod itself can be unscrewed and replaced when needed. While it didn’t come with a striker, we found that the spine of a fixed blade or lock-back folding knife worked perfectly for this purpose.
To get started, we scraped off the black coating on the ferro rod and submerged it in water to test the waterproof tinder chamber. It passed the test without issue. After drying our hands, we opened the chamber, removed one of the included cotton fiber tinder pieces, fluffed it, and placed it in a nest of dry pine needles. A single strike was enough to ignite the tinder, which quickly caught fire. From there, we added kindling and built up the fire.
We also appreciated the waterproof tinder chamber inside the handle, making this a full fire starter kit in one compact tool. However, the high cost of the precision-machined aluminum handle makes the FireRod XL significantly more expensive than similarly sized ferro rods.
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Best for Emergencies: Pull Start Fire Pull String Fire Starter ($14.99 – $103.98 on Amazon)
- Material: Proprietary blend, 89 percent recycled materials
- Quantity: 3
- Burn time: 30 minutes
A little preparation can turn a tough day into a manageable one, and the Pull Start Fire is designed to help you in any weather. It lights up easily without matches or lighters, just unwrap it, remove a tab, anchor it, and pull the string. We’ve tried it, and it’s that simple.
Though it’s the most expensive fire starter we tested, it’s also the easiest to use in challenging conditions like high winds, rain, or when wearing gloves. Each Pull Start Fire is individually sealed and has an indefinite shelf life. We submerged it in water for 60 seconds, and the wrapper stayed intact. When we opened it, the fire started easily.
This fire starter burns intensely at first, like a flare, until the inner materials catch fire. In our test, it burned for 32 minutes. We then placed it under damp, cured firewood, and within 20 minutes, the logs were burning.
How I choose the best Fire Starters for Camping
Whether you’re lighting a cozy fire in your fireplace or starting one on a remote hike, having a reliable fire starter is essential. To find the best ones, I tested them under controlled conditions to assess their performance across several key factors. I focused on these areas:
- Burn time (How long does it stay lit?)
- Wind resistance (Can it withstand high winds?)
- Waterproofness (Will it ignite when wet?)
- Ease of ignition (How quickly can you light it?)
For the burn time test, I lit each fire starter and timed how long it burned. A longer burn means a better chance of catching your fire’s fuel, making it an essential test. It also gave insight into the flame size and overall burn quality, which is noted in the key features section.
To assess wind resistance, I lit the fire starter and aimed a leaf blower from three yards away on idle, simulating gusty winds.
For waterproofness, I submerged each fire starter in water for 7 minutes. For individually wrapped starters, I opened them before dunking them. Afterward, I attempted to ignite each one.
Lastly, I checked how easy each fire starter was to ignite by using a Bic lighter and timing how long it took from ignition to flame. The quicker, the better!
Conclusion
In conclusion, the right fire starters for camping can transform your outdoor experience, making it easier and more enjoyable to light a fire in any weather. With the options we’ve explored, you’ll be well-prepared for your next camping adventure, ensuring that warmth, light, and comfort are always within reach. Stay safe, stay warm, and let your fire starter be the spark to your unforgettable outdoor memories!
