A friend has an interesting fire starter recipes that feature a Kingsford BBQ brickette. Sometimes just wrapped in aluminum foil. Sometimes in wax paper. His more elaborate was a version that had been smeared with a bit of Vaseline and dipped in wax. Kingsford seems to be the best brand because it has, evidently, more potassium nitrate that allows it to light quicker, stay lit in light rain, and form a nice coal very quickly.