I’ve been EDC’n a Bic lighter for years even though I do not smoke.
Been considering switching over to a ferrocerium rod of one sort or another as it will ignite no matter what the wind conditions are, not dependent on butane, etc. Something like the Exotac fireROD or Swedish FireSteel.
I was wondering what others of you might EDC for fire starting and welcome any comments / suggestions.
Bic and ferro. I find that the ferro actually works better due to wind 90%of the time.
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I can’t speak to the FireROD but I have been carrying the Exotac NanoSTRIKER XL on my keychain for the past couple of years and highly recommend it. I originally bought the regular Nano but found it much too small for my hands so I relegated it to the wife’s keychain and got the XL. I like the fact that the rod is protected, replaceable, and has the built in striker. I use it on a regular basis to light a fire pit with my son in the backyard using various tinders to keep up practice and it nearly always ignites on the first strike. We’ll use it under camp conditions as he gets older.
I also added a Split Pea from CountyComm to the keychain as an additional source of ignition which has been used to great success as well. As long as you keep the O-ring lubed with Silicone Grease and screw it fairly tight it will retain the lighter fluid for months on end.
I generally keep a Zippo Chrome Armor with spare flints stored in the media in the front pocket as well but it requires weekly refilling even if you don’t use it. (I don’t smoke either) it’s just one of those regular EDC items I grab on a daily basis so I have all three sources on my person pretty much all the time. Of course all the go bags have Bic’s and various other ignition sources and tinders.
Great post, thanks for sharing your experience with the other Exotac products. I have yet to read / hear a negative review of any of their products.
After reading Selco’s blog about survival in Bosnia during the war I hoard Zippo flints, wicks, and more economic lighter models lol. Wicks and flints are cheap and they are worth their weight in gold during a crisis.
+1 for Exotac Nano and Nano XL.
One on the keychain as above, one in each vehicle / boat, and my wife and I each have one in our packs.
I might have to get me a couple of those Exotac. Look pretty slick.
You can get small ferrocerium rods off ebay and amazon for super cheap. I have been running one on my keys for years
Slightly off topic but regarding Exotac, their FreeKey rings are superb as well. Super lightweight, cheap, robust, and much easier to use than split rings. No affiliation at all, I just ordered some with the XL and was so pleased I ordered more for every set of keys in the house.
Ferro rods are fun, and using one teaches one a lot about fire building. I think they’re great for survival kits that ride around in trunks of cars or in boats, but here’s an excerpt from a post I made in this subject in another forum:
Why do so many people carry ferro rods?
If I’m going to carry something with me every day it has to either serve multiple functions (Swiss Army Knife, safety pins, paracord) or perform a single, essential function better than anything else (flashlight, firearm).
A ferro rod does exactly one thing, and it doesn’t perform that function particularly well. I’ve started many fires under a variety of conditions. 99% of the time the tool I used was a disposable Bic lighter, and it has always done the job. Once or twice (particularly in windy conditions) I might have wished I could swap it for a Zippo, but not once in my 50+ years of life have I said, “If I only had a ferrocerium rod…”
I can see where such a thing would be nice to put in a survival kit that might sit unused for several years (in a boat or airplane, or in a zombie apocalypse bugout cabin)…but for everyday carry? I don’t get it. I understand the need for a backup to critical items, which is why I keep additional Bic lighters in my vehicles, desk drawer, etc. I don’t see the need for a second, different fire making device.
So what is your multiple function fire starting device that you EDC?
It fits in the other category: performing a single essential function better than anything else.
And, FWIW, I never use “EDC” as a verb.
Good to know about using EDC as a verb. Do you EDC (sorry, there I go using it as a verb again) a fire making tool and if so what?
Pardon me if I wasn’t clear: I carry a disposable Bic lighter.
Right. See, I always carry my keys with me and by adding the fero rod to my keys I always have the ability to make fire without having to carry around a second item. True, the bic is a great option but as I just said, its something else to carry and fairly worthless if it gets wet. I know you can take the flint out and do the wet lighter hack but at that point I would rather have a fero rod.
Sounds like you have a solution that works for you.
As for myself, I make use of fire once a week or so (burning loose threads on clothing, fusing the ends of cut cord, burning yard debris). A fire-maker is much handier than a spark-maker for these purposes.
I won’t carry anything in my pockets that I don’t use regularly, so that ferro rod on my key ring would cause my OCD to flare up.
Completely agree
Frailer, I generally agree with your assessment and it is the reason why two of the three sources I carry are fueled by gas. A ferro rod would never be my first choice for ignition given better options. I carry one for really two reasons 1) it is practically unnoticeable on a key chain and pretty much bomb proof and 2) it serves as a constant reminder to practice with it whenever possible to keep a perishable skill somewhat honed. Honestly, I could add a third reason as being able to demonstrate to and educate my young son a craft which is more than likely disappearing to the next generation.
I have gotten a lot of use out of my fireROD, and have carried it everyday for a couple years. I store dryer lint in the sealed storage compartment.
I would have to guess it goes back to the old Boy Scout motto; “Always be prepared”.
If I can have a rod on my key chain I don’t see a problem with it. I don’t live in a wilderness area, but if I lived say in OR or AK I sure would want one on my person for EDC. The reason I carry a Bic is one just never knows what precarious predicament they my find themselves in. I just know that lighters suck at the worst times.
I was already carrying the Izula in the factory sheath at 1100 so it wasn’t a big deal to add the fireROD holder to the Godspeed sheath when I switched over to that. I first carried a fireROD on my keyring, and I didn’t like it. The nano might carry better on a keyring, or just a ferro rod like themonk showed.
I used to smoke, so I always had a Bic on me as well as the fireROD. I tried carrying a Bic in my pocket after I quit smoking, but the fluid got released in my pocket several times so I stopped carrying it. I tried carrying a Zippo, for the cool factor, but that got old fast. Maintaining a Zippo is a PITA, and it won’t be much use in an extended need scenario. One of these days, I will receive my fireSLEEVE from Exotac, but I doubt that I will go back to carrying a Bic in my pocket everyday. I have tons of Bic lighters and they are great to add to a fire kit. Obviously, I chose to carry a ferro rod on my body over a lighter. I spend most of my time away from civilization, so YM definitely MV.