Just received my spark lites today and I really don't get it. It seems to me that with space at a premium there is nothing more compact or reliable than a flint. If I am worried about tinder then the magnesium bar with the fint on the side seems to be the best answer. In fact what I did was cut one of the bars in half, they are about 2+/- inches long and I now have a bar that is about one inch long and seems to be the best, most compact, and fool proof fire starter.<br><br>Please tell me what I am missing?<br><br>

Tom, Firemaking is so critical a redundancy in resources is a given. On the one hand a quality metal match is the most foolproof, long lived and durable of methods. On the other, a handfull of quality matches are finite, subject to degradation yet universally known and familiar to almost everyone. The magnesium bars will make a fire with a flint true. Truth is many people carry these without never actually practising with one. I was informed by a former commissioned officer his trusty mag bar could outperform my sparklite AND be used to sharpen knives. A few minutes later I had a fire going. My detractor was busy scraping the white oxidation off with his trusty ( and dull) K-bar. This is an extreme example. People can and do make fires with mag bars. The Sparklite is a very simple and reliable system. Both systems have roots in military use. In fact, "Oak" of Sparklite is a two tour vietnam vet . The system is a small,light unit with pretty foolproof ignition and tinder. The small tinder supply is actually deceiving. I have successfully started fires with as little as 1/4 of a tinder tab. So, for me, the Sparklite is a simple,reliable system for emergencies. For long term adventures I have a metal match- and matches, lighters, fatwood sticks, vaseline soaked cottonballs, magnifying glass to name a few options.

It's a matter of redundancy with me as well. I've been busy scraping magnesium and placing it into a film canister. That way I don't have to mess with doing it in the field. I also carry a spark-lite with extra tender, strike anywhere matches, PitchWitch, trioxane, storm matches, flint, burning glass and a couple of disposable lighters.

I don't own a Sparklite myself but I understand one of the advantages is that you can use it one-handed. If you're injured (broken arm, dislocated collarbone*) as well as lost that is no small consideration.<br><br>(*Don't laugh, James Bond suffered a "dislocated collarbone" in "The World is Not Enough" ;-)

Thank you. Now I "get it". That makes perfect sense. <br><br>While I carry ever fire-making tool known to man in one of my pockets or the other, I was trying to see what would be best for my small PSK if I could only have one. <br><br>But even in my small PSK I have flint, tinder, matches, bic, and now a spark lite.<br><br>As always your advice and wisdom is appreciated.<br>

Ah !! -- You're right. I forgot about that. You can use the spark lite with one hand.<br><br>Thanks

Why not scrape some magnesium shavings into vaseline-soaked cotton balls for tinder? <br>Seems like it might add some oomph to ignition if you're going to carry the cotton balls anyway..

Actually I don't carry the cotton/vaseline tenders with me. You might be right though. Anyone added magnesium to the home made tender to see if it adds anything to combustion?

I like redundancy too. Murphy is always lurking somewhere. I always have a 2"x3" plastic fresnel lens in my wallet. Just the other day, in late afternoon light, I was able to light a wad of paper in a couple minutes.

I scraped some into a paper napkin, which I then rolled up into a cylinder and ignited with a magnifying glass. The paper smoldered away for about a half-hour, then suddenly burst into flame in my hand. I don't know if the magnesium scrapings had anything to do with that or not.<br><br>I doubt it would add anything to cotton balls, vaseline soaked or not. As I understand it, the advantage to the magnesium is that it burns very fiercely and very hot, but very briefly; therefore, the primary purpose is to get it to ignite something that ordinarily wouldn't readily ignite - e.g. a piece of newspaper can't normally be set on fire with only a spark.