SE Waterproof Magnesium Firestarter Kit - Compact 2-in-1 Fire Starter with Flint, Serrated Striker, and Detachable Chain for Camping, Hiking, Survival, and Emergency Preparedness FS374

I like this SE Waterproof Magnesium Firestarter Kit. I’ve taken it on several weekend camping trips and a few emergency-prep drills, and it’s been reliable every time. It’s compact, feels sturdy, and produces solid sparks even when conditions are damp. The magnesium block gives a good amount of tinder material, and the flint/striker combo lights easily with a little practice. Overall it lasts a long time and I trust it in my pack. What I liked - Consistent sparks that catch tinder quickly after a couple of strikes. - Magnesium shaving compartment provides an easy, fast tinder source. - Waterproof design and screw-on cap keep everything dry when stored. - Serrated striker works well and doubles as a small scraper; the detachable chain makes it easy to clip to a pack or keyring. - Lightweight and compact — doesn’t take up space in my kit. Pros - Very reliable in wet or windy conditions. - Long-lasting: plenty of flint and magnesium for many fires. - Compact and easy to carry on a backpack or belt loop. - Simple to use once you get the technique down. - Good value for a durable emergency/fire-starting tool. Cons - Takes a little practice to get consistent strikes and proper tinder placement. - Flint will wear down over time — eventually needs replacement after heavy use. - Striker edge is small and can be a bit awkward if you prefer a larger scraping surface. Recommendation If you want a dependable, compact firestarter for camping, hiking, or an emergency kit, this is a solid choice. It’s proven reliable for me, lasts a long time, and saves space in the pack. Just practice the striking technique a few times before you depend on it in a stressful situation.

This is a big chunk of magnesium. Lots of opportunity for a lot of fires. I don't know if you would ever use up one of these in your lifetime unless you were a serious, never ending camper. Everyone has their way, so let me tell you my method of starting a fire...build your fire pile first, then take a few sheets of thin toilet paper (you should always carry a roll in a ziploc bag when hiking, emergency kit, etc), make a circle with your thumb and forefinger of your left hand, lay the toilet paper sheets over the hole, push the tp into the hole with your forefinger of your right hand, to form a small bell-shaped piece of toilet paper, squeeze it around your finger to crimp it in that shape, lay this down so that the bell is open towards you, with the teeth of the steel toward the magnesium, scratch a few times down it's length to get a few grains of magnesium dust into the bell, turn the steel over and scratch down the length of the magnesium with the flat side (sharp edge) of the steel to spark the fire starter, aiming the sparks into the inside of the bell. The bell protects any sparks from wind, and almost immediately bursts into flames with just a few sparks, that's why you need to have your pile of fire materials ready to quickly drop this burning toilet paper under it. Modify this routine as needed, but paper towels work well, rough paper can be waded up, rolled, and stressed to loosen the small fibers, and then it works well also. The key is a small finger sized bell shape that supports the flame inside it.

Solid little fire starter that does exactly what it’s supposed to. The SE Waterproof Magnesium Firestarter Kit is compact, lightweight, and easy to carry, making it a great addition to a camping, hiking, or emergency kit. The magnesium shaves ignite quickly with the flint, even in damp conditions, which is a big plus for outdoor use. That said, the striker and flint are a bit small, so it can take a little practice (and patience) to get consistent sparks, especially for beginners. Once you get the hang of it, though, it’s reliable and effective. Overall, it’s a dependable 2-in-1 fire starter that works well and travels easily—just shy of perfect due to the learning curve.

I AM A VET AND THIS ITEM IS A MUST HAVE FOR EMERGENCIES. COMPACT, CARRY ANYWHERE BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY

Quality item as described highly recommend fast shipping

I use the top edge of the "tool 21 – Metal File" of my Victorinox Swiss Champ Victorinox Swiss Army SwissChamp Pocket Knife and a MILLION sparks FLY! One swipe and my tinder are lit. Sometimes, swear to God, I have to mind my fingers because of the many sparks! Yes, I know that this method is quite wearing it down at a *considerably* higher rate and this rod shan't last me 1/10 or less of what it would have if I use the supplied saw-blade or the top edge of a knife but I have a 10-figure bank balance and am buying Überleben Zünden Überleben Zünden Traditional 5/16" | 3/8" or 1/2" Thick Bushcraft Fire Steel with Wood Handle | 12,000-20,000 Strikes | Ferro Rod Fire Starter for Survival | 6 in 1 Multi-Tool to supplement the small one. Cheers! UPDATED TO 5* from 4! The small file is just great; you just need to practice. The file is directional, keep that in mind. * * * I M P O R T A N T * * * Practice pulling the rod towards you rather than ‘striking’ the striker/knife towards your kindling, inserting the whole applecart by the follow through.

I ordered this product to keep in my Jeep, in case of problems when 4-wheeling in the back country. It is a fine product, and works as advertised, but is very basic and has some issues. Pros: Very inexpensive - buy several and stash them in backpacks, vehicles, etc. Lightweight and compact - will fit in a pocket. Fairly easy to use. Cons: -Scraper/striker tool is very small and thin - definitely hard on the hands if attempting to start a fire in less than optimal conditions. Cold hands trying to hold this would be quite a chore. -Chain holding striker to magnesium/flint is very flimsy - should be immediately replaced with something more sturdy. This is NOT going to hold together on your keyring or hanging from your pack/belt/etc. -As one reviewer mentioned the glue job holding the flint onto the magnesium is crazy - in my case there was a huge blob of glue all the way across the flint that I had to chip off before i could get to the flint. Magnesium is very hard - must really scrape at it. I think a good pocket knife would be better for this than the scraper/striker tool. I ended up putting both pieces on a rawhide lace - this gives enough slack to use them without having to separate them. I dropped the striker on the ground while using it in the dark and could not find it until morning, even with a flashlight. Using a lace or cord will allow you to use them together without having to disconnect them from each other. Better yet - ditch the scraper/striker and carry a pocket knife.

When I was setting up a very basic camping kit, one of the things I purchased was this Emergency Fire Starter (magnesium). One of the suggestions that John "Lofty" Wiseman made in his SAS Survival Handbook was to put this, along with a couple other items, in an old tobacco tin and seal it. I did like Wiseman's suggestion and decided to add a couple of other things to this basic survival/camping packet. One of the things that will fit in a tin are Tinder Quik Fire Tabs and some UCO Stormproof Matches . Together they can figuratively (and perhaps literally) be a lifesaver when you need to start a fire in inclement weather. The Magnesium Fire Starter is a compact 3" x 1" with a serrated striker. and can easily fit in the tin with the other items I mentioned. It has a keychain as an optional method for carrying. Directions for use are on the package, but a little practice before setting out on a hike or trip would be advisable as it can be a bit tricky to use the first few times. The tin idea works very well and if you seal with masking tape, the tin can be easily resealed. One other item I added to the mix was the 24-inch Chainmate Survival Saw , an item that completed my basic camping/survival packet. This handy little saw easily fits in a backpack or can be worn on a belt.