There are hundreds of ways to make fire. Some are much easier than others while some techniques are more reliable. As an “average” guy, I try to avoid rubbing two sticks together to make fire. I can do it but only want to as a last ditch effort. I prefer to have a bit of kit on hand to assist in the fire starting process.

When going out and about for a couple days, I carry with me my N.W.F. (Never Without Fire) kit. With this kit, I feel like I can start a fire in any environment, wet, cold and low resources. Below are the contents.

First I’ll start with the case. I use an Outdoor Products watertight smartphone case. It is equipped with a rubber gasket and two locking latches. It is very important to keep your fire starting implements dry.

Second, I have the vast majority filled with dryer lint. This stuff will catch a spark and turn to flame before you can blink your eye. Sure, it smells like burnt hair but if you are in need of a fire, you really won’t care what it smells like.

Next, I have a Light My Fire Swedish Firesteel. This is the tried and true military design. If you can’t start a fire with this, you can’t start a fire. I carry one in my EDC, one in my Hillpeople chest rig, one in my ruck and I have yet another in my Fiance’s car bag. This firesteel is great quality, great price and I can’t see not having one or three. Not only can you use them to start a fire, you can multi-purpose to start your gas, liquid or tablet stove. This model also affords you the ability to signal for rescue, if need be, with the whistle, built into the striker. If you don’t have one, get one.

Instead of the standard striker that comes with the firesteel, I carry a Corona Sharpening Tool. This item isn’t really sold for the purpose of striking a ferro rod but it works. This tool has a steel handle that is attached at the end to a tungsten carbide “sharpener”. When it is pushed across a firesteel, a shower of sparks is the result. for this reason, this is another part of my N.W.F. kit.

For the next item, I decided to think outside of the box. I have four “prank candles”. Everyone knows of the candles that you blow out and they magically light back. This is because the wick contains magnesium between the magnesium and the flammable wax. This is a very good way to start a fire.

I’ve taken three cotton disks and saturated half of them with petroleum jelly. Strike a spark on the dry, fluffy half and the saturated side will catch and give you a good 2 minutes of flame.

If by chance this doesn’t work, I have three alcohol pads included in the N.W.F. Alcohol has a low flash point and will ignite easily. These pads can be used to start the other tender related items if by chance they get damp.

Last but not least, I have a “Baby Bic” included in the N.W.F. To tell the truth, my favorite way of starting a fire is with a lighter. I keep the baby bic in my N.F.W. kit just to keep it dry but, truth be told, if the lighter does get wet, a quick shake will clear the combustion chamber and the lighter should light. If it doesn’t light after that, you can slowly roll the striker wheel for a couple rotations then give it a full strike. A lighter is the easiest way to start a fire and this is the reason I carry three to four in my load out. Even if the lighter is to break and leak out the fluid, you still have the striker that will throw sparks. If the flint is to go out, you still have a lighter full of butane, just a valve click away from catching a spark. Never would I rely solely on these disposable lighters but in most scenarios, they are an excellent choice.

Other than a knife, a way to start fire is the most important thing you can have. It doesn’t matter if you’re keeping warm during a cold night of camping, cooking food, boiling water or signaling for rescue. Don’t get caught without a way to start fire.

Whatever you do, remember to stay alert, feel alive.

Average Beau.