I would consider myself pretty much an expert at using a traditional flint and steel. I'm pretty good at modern ferrocium and also at using a fire piston. I'm not brilliant, but in a pinch I'm convinced I'd get a fire eventually with a bow drill because I've done it before (with great difficulty) and I'm convinced I could do it again if I had to.
After learning all these more primitive methods I've come to a conclusion: the humble disposable lighter is a remarkable invention. It lights first time, every time. It works when it is wet. It weighs next to nothing. It is tough, produces a nice hot flame, and lets you know when it is running out of gas. All this and it can be picked up in any corner shop for less than 80p.
When you consider how much heartache and suffering has been faced, how many cold, wet and miserable deaths have been endured for want of a fire during the course of human history... well, you'd think we'd be more appreciative of just how good we have it.
Of course it is not as much fun, or as enlightening to use - but for sheer efficiency and bang for the buck, I don't think the disposable lighter can be beat.
I'm sure 99.99% of all the people who ever lived would have given almost anything to possess what we now consider a throwaway item......
After learning all these more primitive methods I've come to a conclusion: the humble disposable lighter is a remarkable invention. It lights first time, every time. It works when it is wet. It weighs next to nothing. It is tough, produces a nice hot flame, and lets you know when it is running out of gas. All this and it can be picked up in any corner shop for less than 80p.
When you consider how much heartache and suffering has been faced, how many cold, wet and miserable deaths have been endured for want of a fire during the course of human history... well, you'd think we'd be more appreciative of just how good we have it.
Of course it is not as much fun, or as enlightening to use - but for sheer efficiency and bang for the buck, I don't think the disposable lighter can be beat.
I'm sure 99.99% of all the people who ever lived would have given almost anything to possess what we now consider a throwaway item......