EG Ultimate Match -

[Chris]

Surely a “survival instructor” would be teaching their students how to make use of what might have- ferro rod, batteries, flint and steel, magnifying glass etc. Not something like this that they’re unlikely to have in a” survival scenario “. Also, seems a bit twee and convenient how everybody has put a title showing just how valid their opinion of this thing is.

Agreed, or someone doing mountain climbing (where trees usually aren’t) or expeditions would likely recommend a lighter and firelighters which you can use a lot more than once.

And that it’s as close to a 50/50 gender split as possible…

 

[TeeDee]

So ref the Matches and the proposed use as last ditch / emergency igniter - do you think it was reasonable to use quite chonky wood? I mean - In a survival situation ( if that was the purpose of the experiment ) is it not more plausible that one would be gathering up handfuls and handfuls of smaller , easier to combust , twigs ?? rather than cutwood? Just an idea. Enjoyed the video - well done.


EDIT - Sorry to hear about your 'soggy wood' - happens to a lot of men our age

 

[Chris]

So ref the Matches and the proposed use as last ditch / emergency igniter - do you think it was reasonable to use quite chonky wood? I mean - In a survival situation ( if that was the purpose of the experiment ) is it not more plausible that one would be gathering up handfuls and handfuls of smaller , easier to combust , twigs ?? rather than cutwood? Just an idea. Enjoyed the video - well done.


EDIT - Sorry to hear about your 'soggy wood' - happens to a lot of men our age

That’s something I did consider.

It’s worth noting that I did get the same wood going using a fairly small amount of the Hammaro tinder paper though, and it wasn’t all chonky, there were a few thinner bits in there. Test 1 used the same level of chonk, maybe even the more chonky bits.

I do also refer back to their claims of it 1) being for survival situations (creating matchstick sized wood often won’t be feasible) and 2) works in ANY weather conditions.

That said, I am going to take it out and try with foraged twigs in the rain rather than (originally) dried kindling.

 

[TeeDee]

I think surface area and the amount a flame can 'lick' around an object are important , with chonky wood the flames just seem to char the outer than burn - probably some special physics equation.

Ref keeping the match in something water proof - comedy jokes aside , how about a more 'robust' french letter?

Although I guess if some one is going to that length , one could include some additional tinder in with it.


Good to experiment -

 

[Chris]

I think surface area and the amount a flame can 'lick' around an object are important , with chonky wood the flames just seem to char the outer than burn - probably some special physics equation.

Ref keeping the match in something water proof - comedy jokes aside , how about a more 'robust' french letter?

Although I guess if some one is going to that length , one could include some additional tinder in with it.


Good to experiment -

Surface area is for sure the key and I think regardless of tool used, proper fire prep is going to be the biggest deciding factor for success. I think though that as I showed I could light it more effectively by other means, it was a fair test in comparison with other firelighting options.

If we think about what they claim - they say you can just carry one of these as it takes up less space than a lighter and other fire starters. They say it replaces other items. Does it really? A small lighter and tinder card or a ferro rod and tinder card takes up no space at all, and you can keep using those if the first attempt fails. You also don’t have anywhere near as many opportunities for a malfunction with more traditional methods.

Perhaps bringing one of these as a bonus option as well as the other equipment might work? But then, why not just bring a flare which also multipurposes as a signalling device? Or why not just bring more traditional firelighters?

I am just struggling to see a scenario where this is a better option than a little tin full of firelighter and a lighter/ferro rod.

 

[Tengu]

Those reviews dont look right to me.

I cant quite put my finger on it.

 

[TeeDee]

If we think about what they claim - they say you can just carry one of these as it takes up less space than a lighter and other fire starters. They say it replaces other items. Does it really? A small lighter and tinder card or a ferro rod and tinder card takes up no space at all, and you can keep using those if the first attempt fails. You also don’t have anywhere near as many opportunities for a malfunction with more traditional methods.

Perhaps bringing one of these as a bonus option as well as the other equipment might work? But then, why not just bring a flare which also multipurposes as a signalling device? Or why not just bring more traditional firelighters?

This is a very fair point - if its just reinventing the wheel to provide a different sort of , larger , heavier , more expensive but unique type of wheel - and its not meeting the mission target of doing what it should, its a marketing of new items being sold - not a genuine innovation

 

[Tengu]

Where to start?

`Chris` Thinks its a good toy to amuse the kids...

 

[Chris]

The more I look at those reviews and think about it not being a review system that seems to be accessible to all buyers, the less I believe them to be real.

 

[Chris]

This is a very fair point - if its just reinventing the wheel to provide a different sort of , larger , heavier , more expensive but unique type of wheel - and its not meeting the mission target of doing what it should, its a marketing of new items being sold - not a genuine innovation

Absolutely this. There is absolutely no way in a thousand years that I'd replace firelighters and a lighter/ferro rod with one or even 10 of these things.

Definitely fun to pull the pin and go "Yay!" as it blasts fire out at all angles in a safe environment, but that's where it ends for me thus far. As I said, I have plenty more with which I'll do some more testing in the name of thoroughness, but so far it seems to be 100% gimmick.

 

[Tengu]

Can they light a fire underwater?

(And what are we doing lighting fires underwater any way?)

 

[Falstaff]

Can they light a fire underwater?

(And what are we doing lighting fires underwater any way?)

Boiling water for a cuppa of course - not much room in me mug if I stick one of those in tho'.

 

[TeeDee]

@Chris -

 

[Chris]

@Chris -

I was going to do something similar, so I am glad he’s done that and I don’t have to! Looks like his wet UM ignited both stages unlike mine.

I still think there are better solutions, but good to see it worked for him.

 

[TeeDee]

What is the length of one these ?