I use Purell hand sanitizer, 66% ethyl alcohol per the label, and it lights quite readily with a match or lighter (haven't tried a fire steel). I use it to get my Esbit tabs going. I try to be quick, because I would think the alcohol evaporates rapidly.

Isn't esbit hexamine? You can get it going use firesteel alone quite easily.

Haven't tried hand sanitizer, but coghlan's fire paste, which is some combo of ethanol and petroleum product, lights very easily with firesteel.

Hi jzmtl,

I'm from Montréal too. Where did you find the NATO storm matches?

For some ideas on winter survival kits and melting snow, check out the book "Winter Wise" by Monty Alford and his YuCan survival stove. The book is available at La Grande Bibliothèque.

François

Hi Frank, I had to mail order it from u.s., don't think I've ever seen any locally.

MEC has storm matches, I seen them on the shelf here just last week. I don't recall the brand name as I only gave them a passing glance. Next time I am in MEC (probably sometime this week) I will take a closer look.

In the meantime, you may want to call the Montreal store for more info as I did not see the matches on the website either.

I've never seen them at local MEC. I'm going to return something tomorrow and I'll look again.

Went to MEC (Longueuil), no storm match, just red bird strike anywhere. Different store seem to have different stock, at least on the little things.

One thing some people prefer over the Fox 40:



Unfortunately most people have trouble fitting an alpenhorn into their PSK.

I see. I thought it was hazmat. I found this in Canada:

http://www.survivalpro.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=723

but I didn't order them

François

Ditch the spork.

What are you going to be eating out of with it?





I like the MEC FAK packs. I have a couple myself Nice you can buy them cheap and empty.