Bushwalk Australia

Hey guys, does anyone know where to get a decent fire steel in Hobart? I know lots of places would have the 'light my fire' brand, but my experience with these is that they don't last long... Can anyone point me to a decent local place?

Cheers

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Kathmandu have them. And a few places sell the Bear Grylls model. What size LMF have you used in the past?

Not sure what sizes to be honest, but I have tried a couple of them. They are good for scouts but I found they wore down faster than a couple of other ones I've used (plain ferro rods, of various sizes. Always other people's however, so unsure where they got them) and a couple have broken, one was barely used and in my pocket, certainly not dropped...

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I think firesteels are interesting and somewhat cool (and I have both an el-cheapo one plus a US Aurora Fire Starter by Solo Scientific) but of what practical purpose are they on the trail? Yes, it is cool when Bear Grylls uses one but how are they better than a decent lighter or even waterproof matches - both of which can be or are "lighter" in weight than a steel? And there is also the problem of finding or bringing appropriate tinder for them.

I am not having a go at anyone, just interested in what their advantages may be.

David M wrote:I think firesteels are interesting and somewhat cool (and I have both an el-cheapo one plus a US Aurora Fire Starter by Solo Scientific) but of what practical purpose are they on the trail? Yes, it is cool when Bear Grylls uses one but how are they better than a decent lighter or even waterproof matches - both of which can be or are "lighter" in weight than a steel? And there is also the problem of finding or bringing appropriate tinder for them.

I am not having a go at anyone, just interested in what their advantages may be.

I carry one as a backup to a Bic lighter. Advantages are its waterproof, won't break, won't run out of gas. I also carry a small amount of vaseline loaded cotton wool for tinder.

I carry one as a backup to a Bic lighter. Advantages are its waterproof, won't break, won't run out of gas. I also carry a small amount of vaseline loaded cotton wool for tinder.

me too...
from :
http://goinggear.com/survival/fire
Franco

David M wrote:I think firesteels are interesting and somewhat cool (and I have both an el-cheapo one plus a US Aurora Fire Starter by Solo Scientific) but of what practical purpose are they on the trail? Yes, it is cool when Bear Grylls uses one but how are they better than a decent lighter or even waterproof matches - both of which can be or are "lighter" in weight than a steel? And there is also the problem of finding or bringing appropriate tinder for them.
I am not having a go at anyone, just interested in what their advantages may be.

G'day David M,
You ask as to the practical purpose of a Fire Steel when on a walk as opposed to waterproof matches or a decent lighter and where do you find tinder .
My 2 bobs worth is that the el cheapo fire steels I own( mine have a 3 inch rod ) are solid and reliable nothing to break or go wrong ,waterproof matches in my many years of trying them in the field I have found when it is wet have been a failure,lighters both cheap bic type and expensive "helios" brands can and have been known to fail.
As for tinder I guess we all carry toilet paper which is an excellent "tinder" also if you use an alcohol based hand sanitiser you have an additional accelerant property,so I guess firesteels correctly used have a really practical purpose IMHO and at a cost of less than $4.00 good value check this out. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Survival-Mag ... 3791wt_960
corvus