I have heard a lot of people talk like those UCO storm matches were the greatest thing since sliced bread and I felt the same way too. But when we had 4 or 5 (we could of had more but we gave up on trying to use them)of them fail to light the last time we went out I have had to changed my opinion on them. Two different people trying two different techniques of striking the matches and we both had breakages and failures to light. I could only imagine how much trouble we would have had if it was raining and those were our only source of ignition.
If anyone needs to know how to get a fire started pronto, it is people that live way up North. They know the tried, and true methods to get some heat going and not dicking around with a bunch of bow drills, or flint, and steel from the Stone Age, especially in the Winter months, which is most of the time up North. Thank you for sharing your knowledge of what really works.
I like your fire kit and ideas. Just now received some UCO matches in the plastic container + a box of refills. They seem viable, but the best test will be in the winter with snow,freezing rain and wind. My kit using trouser legs from military bdu is still working ok . Have a great week and weekend , Your video is much appreciated .
I like your fire kit, it's very similar to mine, cheap and effective. One thing I do do is wrap a thin piece of duct tape under the button of my Bic lighters so the button cannot depress and leak fuel unless I peel it back.
I've got many old jack pine trees, on the ground ,with the branches up out of the snow, I can snap a handful of the dry twigs to set on top of crumpled-up newspaper to get a fire going in my wood stove. It's a Friday night on the Northeastern coast of Michigan, weekenders are passing each other, going 64 MPH on M-65 to their weekend cottages. The parking lot at the Long Lake bar is full of cars again. Me & my wife just finished take-out dinners from the Sunrise Cafe in Lupton. Hope all is well with you. Take care.
What l learned from good channels that actually teach like yours is redundancy, that knife may save us someday. "Fire is a great servent but a terrible Master".
Pro Tip: put any 1/2 inch or larger ferro rod in a vice and cut it down the middle with a coping saw. Now you have TWO really awesome spark showering phenoms for firestarting, due to the increased surface area of contact with the striker. And besides that, 2=1; 1=0
You spoke of the little levers getting pressed unknowingly on your bic lighters, hence the need to check them periodically. I've heard of people putting zip ties or twine under the levers for long term storage to prevent that from happening. Just a thought
Nice kit and covers it all. I'm iffy on matches. I prefer a rod or a BIC Absolutely have a bag for found tinder. With plentiful birch and pine up here an actual kit I have never made.
I like the approach and lack of store bought fire starters. My entire fire kit in every bag is very basic and all renewable as I use items. Ferro rod, lighter, matches, flint and steel kit, fatwood, natural tinder that has been dried and stored in small baggies. If a fire cannot be made with fatwood...... all the store bought non sense is not going to save you lol. My main fire kit is a large collection of natural materials all dried, portioned out and stored in small zip lock bags. Basic, cheap and sustainable in the field if need be. Too many depend on store bought chemical stuff instead of learning fire making skills and working with their gear and materials. Be well m8
Give you a hint. I think it was Coalcracker Bushcraft who said never put tinder into a waterproof container, there is STILL moisture down in the center of it and it will sweat and gravitate to the surface. What I keep is a folded, ironed flat paper flour bag. I have two, a 1kg one and a 2.5kg one. Folded and ironed they take up NO space but they also stand upright when you put them down because they have a gusset on the bottom. The big one I re-use for all sorts of things but the little one I just stuff with tinder and light the bag. Then I just replace it when I get home.
Very nice fire kit! I prefer making my own kits as well. Having tried and true fire starters and tinders are a great way to make sure you'll get a fire going. I like to cinch a small zip-tie under the button of the lighter, so they won't get pressed accidentally and lose the fuel. One item I like to add to fire kits is wax paper. It's waterproof, can be ignite with a shower of sparks, and lightweight/compact. Also, it can be used as a base of a fire to keep it off a wet ground. Thanks for sharing your fire kit!
That is an interesting and sizeable kit. For you it seems to work fine, but I would change a few things. Personally I would take the vasoline and cotton balls out and replace it with a semi-liquid fire starter (IE coghlan's fire paste, or an 8 ounce bottle of fire starter gel) and/or Wax infused cotton (IE fat rope, or cotton rounds dipped in wax). I would also add a peanut lighter to it (mostly because I already have one). In my opinion vasoline and cotton is too messy. I know it works.
I think it's best to have a fire kit that you make yourself. Good point on testing it often. I see I've missed some videos.☹ I'll get onto watching them now.
The UCO matches have not failed me yet! I was a bit hesitant on picking them up due to price compared to normal matches. Finally bit the bullet and got them at Walmart. I actually wasted 25 to test them for QC. Each lit without any issue. Tested with a fan aimed at me. Dipped in water before lighting. As long as they don't have time to absorb water they will light. The only thing I didn't like is the striker that is on the match case.
I have been trying to figure out an easy way to light TLUDs without resorting to fluid for a sustained burn. Very difficult getting a fire started without leveraging heat going upward. Barbecue fluid - yup 70% alcohol - Worked but you had to use much more than lighter fluid. cotton ball with a little vaseline - 3rd place. Just get embers. Paper towel - Not too good Newspaper - Not even close
Nice video! No birch bark, though? I'm sold on that stuff. I like to keep an opinel #8 in my kit. Great for making a feather stick or just some shavings. One of my favorite fire starters are the trioxane (sp?) Tablets from the military surplus store. Keep up the good work!
@@ModernRefugee I was "blinded" by Bic marketing and by everybody showing them on youtube, it's like there's only Bic on this planet, never seen Clippers either, until I paid a bit of attention.
What l learned from a few good channels like yours that actually teach is redundancy, that knife cant hurt to have, you could be down to just that, you never know. " Fire is a great servent but a terrible Master".
Looks like a great kit. Interesting comment on the matches,been thinking about trying some.I’ve also noticed that the strike anywhere matches aren’t what they used to be either.
Ok! I am really going to remember to put my glasses on BEFORE I start watching videos. I spent the first minutes of this video trying to figure out why you had a tiny collar on your lighter? 😕😕😳🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Very nice pack by the way whoo boy 🤦♀️
I have heard a lot of people talk like those UCO storm matches were the greatest thing since sliced bread and I felt the same way too. But when we had 4 or 5 (we could of had more but we gave up on trying to use them)of them fail to light the last time we went out I have had to changed my opinion on them. Two different people trying two different techniques of striking the matches and we both had breakages and failures to light. I could only imagine how much trouble we would have had if it was raining and those were our only source of ignition.
Road flare and pint of gas. Brad.
True dat.
@@Diebulfrog79 I think the road flare would probably be enough, but I'm not going to tell you how to live your life. Lol
If anyone needs to know how to get a fire started pronto, it is people that live way up North. They know the tried, and true methods to get some heat going and not dicking around with a bunch of bow drills, or flint, and steel from the Stone Age, especially in the Winter months, which is most of the time up North. Thank you for sharing your knowledge of what really works.
I like your fire kit and ideas. Just now received some UCO matches in the plastic container + a box of refills. They seem viable, but the best test will be in the winter with snow,freezing rain and wind. My kit using trouser legs from military bdu is still working ok . Have a great week and weekend , Your video is much appreciated .
I like your fire kit, it's very similar to mine, cheap and effective. One thing I do do is wrap a thin piece of duct tape under the button of my Bic lighters so the button cannot depress and leak fuel unless I peel it back.
Thank you, I always love your videos because I always learn something.
Thank you!
Really enjoy your youtube videos, always look forward to learning from you!! Thanks! John Bates
Your welcome.
I've got many old jack pine trees, on the ground ,with the branches up out of the snow, I can snap a handful of the dry twigs to set on top of crumpled-up newspaper to get a fire going in my wood stove. It's a Friday night on the Northeastern coast of Michigan, weekenders are passing each other, going 64 MPH on M-65 to their weekend cottages. The parking lot at the Long Lake bar is full of cars again. Me & my wife just finished take-out dinners from the Sunrise Cafe in Lupton. Hope all is well with you. Take care.
All is well here. They must be all heading up to see the blue ice at Mackinaw.
Great video, thank you, Sir.
You are like a smart person, Thank you
I’m just a dude, playing a dude, disguised as another dude.
One thing I like to keep in my fire kits are "trick" birthday candles 😉👍
Great video , Modern Refugee. In two playlist. In My fire kit is road flares and pint of gas in fuel bottle too.
What l learned from good channels that actually teach like yours is redundancy, that knife may save us someday.
"Fire is a great servent but a terrible Master".
😼😺
Pro Tip: put any 1/2 inch or larger ferro rod in a vice and cut it down the middle with a coping saw. Now you have TWO really awesome spark showering phenoms for firestarting, due to the increased surface area of contact with the striker. And besides that, 2=1; 1=0
You spoke of the little levers getting pressed unknowingly on your bic lighters, hence the need to check them periodically. I've heard of people putting zip ties or twine under the levers for long term storage to prevent that from happening. Just a thought
Nice kit and covers it all.
I'm iffy on matches. I prefer a rod or a BIC
Absolutely have a bag for found tinder. With plentiful birch and pine up here an actual kit I have never made.
A great kit! The only thing I would add to your kit is a magnifying glass or a fresnel lens.
I like the approach and lack of store bought fire starters. My entire fire kit in every bag is very basic and all renewable as I use items. Ferro rod, lighter, matches, flint and steel kit, fatwood, natural tinder that has been dried and stored in small baggies. If a fire cannot be made with fatwood...... all the store bought non sense is not going to save you lol.
My main fire kit is a large collection of natural materials all dried, portioned out and stored in small zip lock bags. Basic, cheap and sustainable in the field if need be. Too many depend on store bought chemical stuff instead of learning fire making skills and working with their gear and materials.
Be well m8
Give you a hint. I think it was Coalcracker Bushcraft who said never put tinder into a waterproof container, there is STILL moisture down in the center of it and it will sweat and gravitate to the surface. What I keep is a folded, ironed flat paper flour bag. I have two, a 1kg one and a 2.5kg one. Folded and ironed they take up NO space but they also stand upright when you put them down because they have a gusset on the bottom. The big one I re-use for all sorts of things but the little one I just stuff with tinder and light the bag. Then I just replace it when I get home.
Very nice fire kit! I prefer making my own kits as well. Having tried and true fire starters and tinders are a great way to make sure you'll get a fire going. I like to cinch a small zip-tie under the button of the lighter, so they won't get pressed accidentally and lose the fuel. One item I like to add to fire kits is wax paper. It's waterproof, can be ignite with a shower of sparks, and lightweight/compact. Also, it can be used as a base of a fire to keep it off a wet ground.
Thanks for sharing your fire kit!
Thanks! Great idea on the zip ties.
Can't never go wrong with Vaseline cotton balls
That is an interesting and sizeable kit. For you it seems to work fine, but I would change a few things.
Personally I would take the vasoline and cotton balls out and replace it with a semi-liquid fire starter (IE coghlan's fire paste, or an 8 ounce bottle of fire starter gel) and/or Wax infused cotton (IE fat rope, or cotton rounds dipped in wax).
I would also add a peanut lighter to it (mostly because I already have one).
In my opinion vasoline and cotton is too messy. I know it works.
I enjoy your videos always great information everyone should no. 👍
I think it's best to have a fire kit that you make yourself. Good point on testing it often. I see I've missed some videos.☹ I'll get onto watching them now.
Good kit , thanks for sharing , God bless !
Great kit MR!
As usual, great content. and wise advice
The UCO matches have not failed me yet! I was a bit hesitant on picking them up due to price compared to normal matches. Finally bit the bullet and got them at Walmart. I actually wasted 25 to test them for QC. Each lit without any issue. Tested with a fan aimed at me. Dipped in water before lighting. As long as they don't have time to absorb water they will light. The only thing I didn't like is the striker that is on the match case.
Glad they worked for you, I’m still on the fence from my experiences. Take care.
Very good ideas, I will do this
I have been trying to figure out an easy way to light TLUDs without resorting to fluid for a sustained burn. Very difficult getting a fire started without leveraging heat going upward.
Barbecue fluid - yup
70% alcohol - Worked but you had to use much more than lighter fluid.
cotton ball with a little vaseline - 3rd place. Just get embers.
Paper towel - Not too good
Newspaper - Not even close
Never thought of wearing my neck knife on a diagonal ! A lot safer and the shoulder strap gives you extra para cord 😃
Nice video! No birch bark, though? I'm sold on that stuff. I like to keep an opinel #8 in my kit. Great for making a feather stick or just some shavings. One of my favorite fire starters are the trioxane (sp?) Tablets from the military surplus store. Keep up the good work!
Thanks! I’d keep some birch bark in there, but by me there isn’t any. The closest to birch trees to me are about twenty miles away.
Switch from Bic to Clipper, they are refillable and the striker is removable. Also cheaper.
Never seen them. I will have to look. Thanks.
@@ModernRefugee I was "blinded" by Bic marketing and by everybody showing them on youtube, it's like there's only Bic on this planet, never seen Clippers either, until I paid a bit of attention.
What l learned from a few good channels like yours that actually teach is redundancy, that knife cant hurt to have, you could be down to just that, you never know.
" Fire is a great servent but a terrible Master".
Looks like a great kit.
Interesting comment on the matches,been thinking about trying some.I’ve also noticed that the strike anywhere matches aren’t what they used to be either.
Ok! I am really going to remember to put my glasses on BEFORE I start watching videos. I spent the first minutes of this video trying to figure out why you had a tiny collar on your lighter? 😕😕😳🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Very nice pack by the way whoo boy 🤦♀️
Put a small zip tie under the button on your lighters. You will not consume/waste fuel out of them.
Nice job.
How you ever tried making homemade waterproof matches?
I have not. I have seen various methods however.
Ahhh, you said “Chubb”. 😜
Can of murrys parminade some cotton rounds great fire starter
Redundant comments, l am an idiot, sorry.
All good my friend, take care in this crazy world.
@@ModernRefugee Thanks, you know as well as l do, we cant let the stupidity psyop get in our heads, we know the truth.
Hate those matches
Agree.