<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nYou don\u2019t have to run to a fancy outdoor store to find everything you need for a fire – it\u2019s likely hiding in plain sight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cotton Balls and Vaseline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Before you ask, no, Vaseline gel is not flammable on its own. So how exactly does this work then? First, you want to get your cotton ball saturated with the Vaseline, working it into the middle as much as possible. You don\u2019t want to put so much that you have globs of gel all over the outside, but you want to make sure the cotton ball is thoroughly filled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can use a simple fire striker to throw sparks on it or touch it with the flame of a lighter or match, it will immediately light. That\u2019s one of the main benefits to this method – unlike most store-bought starters you don\u2019t need an open flame to get it going. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once the cotton ball is lit, the cotton fibers will try to burn immediately but will be slowed by the surrounding petroleum gel. Instead, a wicking effect will occur where melted petroleum is drawn up into the top fibers, then gets boiled by the heat. The liquid isn\u2019t flammable, but the gas bubbles are and they will give you a slow, stable, sustained burn for as long as the petroleum lasts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This fire starter will have a burn time around 4 minutes. That longevity plus the absolute simplicity of this hack makes it extremely attractive, not to mention how lightweight and accessible the materials are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most people create these at home before their trip and pack them in a Ziploc or tin. You could also get a pocket-sized tub of Vaseline and throw a few cotton balls into your survival kit and make them on the go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Egg Carton and Dryer Lint<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Another easy fire starter to make, this one does require some preparation ahead of time. First, take a cardboard egg carton and fill it with dryer lint or sawdust from untreated wood. Then cover the lint in a layer of melted candle wax and allow it to harden before cutting up the carton into 12 sections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You now have 12 lightweight, portable fire starters. The wax will make sure the flame lasts long enough to light your tinder, but one downside is you do need to have an open flame source like matches or a lighter to get it started. The other downside is that they don\u2019t work so well if they end up getting wet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Otherwise, you can put a couple of these in a zip lock baggie and have the ability to make a campfire wherever you go. They\u2019re easy to make and use, and you can make as many of them as you want at home. As an added bonus, you can dye the cartons with food coloring and they make great Christmas gifts for the camping enthusiast on your list!<\/p>\n\n\n
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ID 2442085 \u00a9 Jill Lang | Dreamstime.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nBirthday Candles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Happy birthday to your fire, because it\u2019s about to be born. You can use a naked birthday candle to help light your tinder, or you can take a birthday candle and wrap it in wax paper, twisting the ends like a tootsie roll. Either way, these will give you a bit more longevity than a match to get your fire going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You do have to use a match or lighter to start the candle, but once they\u2019re lit you usually have at least 30 seconds before they go out – and longer if you use the wax paper. These also travel very well, and you can easily add a few to a survival kit or your pack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alcohol Based Hand Sanitizer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n If dry tinder is in short supply<\/a> and you\u2019re having a hard time getting it to catch, another way to get your fire going is to apply a small glob of hand sanitizer to the tinder. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe ethyl alcohol in hand sanitizer makes it flammable, and the flame from a dime-sized glob will burn for 1-2 minutes. It is more likely to catch with an open flame than sparks, but you may still be able to light it with a fire striker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The nice thing about hand sanitizer is that it\u2019s lightweight and comes in small, portable containers. You can find it just about anywhere and you likely have some at home already, even if you have to transfer it into a smaller container.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hand sanitizer is a handy item to carry on a camping trip anyway since your hands will inevitably get dirty and need to get sterilized before eating and after a visit to the bushes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Engineered For Flames<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhen choosing a fire starter, you want one main thing: for it to work! That\u2019s why many people choose to put their faith in the experts, the ones that developed products for a consistent fire starter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stormproof Sweetfire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The main downside to matches is that they\u2019re all but useless if they get wet, and they\u2019re way too easy to put out. Fortunately, UCO gear has created the perfect solution, the Behemoth Sweetfire matches! These have given the traditional match a complete overhaul. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These 5.5\u201d strikable tinder sticks are made from sugarcane fibers making them an eco friendly renewable product. They also have a burn time upwards of 15 minutes, if that won\u2019t get your fire going nothing will. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because they have a strikable tip there is no need to use matches either. And they\u2019re not just waterproof but storm proof allowing them to ignite in both wind and rain. You can pack them all along for the trip or just bring a few and add some other useful items to the included reusable tin case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
![\"Smoldering](\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Smoldering-Tinder-1024x683.webp\")