EDC lighters or firemakers

[Tony]

I was jsut thinking to myself how often I've missed the opportunity for a small fire (Usually on the beach) because i've not way or lighting a fire or event getting en ember without it taking too long or too much effort. It got me thinking about what's available to carry in a small kit, on. keychain or in a pocket. Do you guys carry anything for making fire, be it a lighter, match or rod of some sort?

 

[Chris]

Brass Zippo (Armour) with a butane insert for me. Has the added benefit of being fun to fidget with if I have idle hands.

 

[British Red]

Dirt cheap turbo flame butane lighter. Costs about £3 lasts two years. I've tried Windmill, Silva & many other expensive lighters & they were no better.

 

[Broch]

Same as BR - I paid a little more but nothing fancy. But I still miss my brass Zippo purely for the 'feel'.

 

[Woody girl]

I always have at least two lighters on me. One in my bag, and one in a pocket.
They are refillable, so for a pound or two, I've always got something to start a fire with should the need arise.
Also, in the summer, my barma canvas drover sun hat has a small ferro rod toggle, giving me a further option, as I can use that and my Swiss army knife to create a fire.

 

[John Fenna]

I generally have at lease a disposable lighter on me, usually a ferro rod if I have a rucksack with me and often flint and steel as well.....

 

[Chris]

I generally have at lease a disposable lighter on me, usually a ferro rod if I have a rucksack with me and often flint and steel as well.....

Plus of course your Bushcraft Brew, which can ignite an entire county…

 

[John Fenna]

It certainly lit you up

 

[Tantalus]

As a smoker I always had a lighter or matches, quitting meant giving up my zippos until I discovered the butane inserts.

Now it goes everywhere with me again in that little jeans pocket. No idea how much gas is in it now though ...

Would be confident lighting a fire with a ferro rod and they are not big for carrying about as EDC, biggest thing with them is finding dry tinder on a wet day. I guess if I was out for an extended period then the ferro rod would be the simplest most reliable option and spotting tinder would just become second nature and my pockets would be full of the stuff

 

[Jared]

Usually have just a bic in a pocket.
If have a pack, have a ferro, carbide striker and a couple of fireplugs on a carabiner in top pocket. As pictured previously...

 

[Dave Budd]

I light several fires every day and in my pocket I have a cricket disposable lighter. The blowtorch style lighters are great in the wind, but sometimes the more feathery flame of a standard issue butane lighter or zippo style thing is actually more effective.

Also on the electric vs flint ignition. I used to be camp electric and if it's a spare that rolls around in my rucksack for months at a time then I still like it, but the flint ones survive better if stored/carried in the damp (ie my pocket because I live in super wet Devon)

 

[Pattree]

I often light a fire in my grate here at home but I don’t carry any form of lighter on my person unless I’m on a walk or a camp..

If I’m on a day trip with the littlest Hobo then I will probably be carrying the Opinel Explore (#12) with a ferro rod in the handle. This rod is wearing out but I’ve got a spare.


If I’m camped for a few days I’ll take the heavy duty kit:


This pouch sits on a bookshelf by the grate so it’s what I use to light my domestic fire too.

(Sorry Tony - I am aware of your aversion but I’m an Opinel enthusiast.)

 

[forrestdweller]

i don't leave the farm without my shoulder bag, which contains flint and steel, magnifying glass, some tinder and a small container with matches (for emergencies, but i haven't used new-fangled methods since late 2011); on the farm i tend to ignite a piece of coconut husk on the stove if i burn stuff in the yard (indigenous people used to carry fire with them for millenia and it still works for me)

 

[oldtimer]

In my pocket I always have a mini-bic, a matchsafe with half a dozen matches and a small ferro rod. I regard the means to make fire as important as a knife in my EDC. It amazes me how often smokers ask if I have a light and are surprised that I carry a lighter yet don't smoke.

 

[British Red]

Alright, you guys talked me into reviving my Zippo. So far I'm impressed. Fits well, genuine Zippo, good strong flame. Time will tell on reliability

Butane Zippo Insert by English Countrylife, on Flickr

 

[Muddypaws]

If I'm out for a walk I will generally have a cheap piezo lighter in my bag. My brew kit will have a ferro rod, which I find easy to drop a shower of sparks into a Trangia meths burner.
Most other times I will have a Tortoise Gear Firefly mini ferro rod in my SAK, so I suppose that is my true EDC firelighter (never used it for real though!)

IMG_20240307_164528 by Alan Muddypaws, on Flickr

 

[SaraR]

I’ve got a Clipper lighter for ease of use and “just in case” (esp for the jetboil), but if I think I’ll actually need it, I bring a ferro rod or flint and steel. Got a gorgeous little set from Beaver Bushcraft for when the bigger ones are a bit too cumbersome.

 

[lou1661]

Alright, you guys talked me into reviving my Zippo. So far I'm impressed. Fits well, genuine Zippo, good strong flame. Time will tell on reliability

Butane Zippo Insert by English Countrylife, on Flickr

That looks pretty cool, but why is it the look and sound of a Zippo make my lungs crave smoke and nicotine?

 

[British Red]

That looks pretty cool, but why is it the look and sound of a Zippo make my lungs crave smoke and nicotine?

I would have thought you've seen plenty of smoke...

 

[CLEM]

I always EDC a standard Bic disposable lighter, sometimes in the past the mini version in my trouser/jeans pocket.