With all the emphasis on fire in our PSKs, I feel the need to address tinder. While matches, match cases, fire steel, lighters, and everything to napalm have been beaten to death, let's talk about what burns.

Good tinder should be able to be lit fairly easily (I consider one match fairly easy), put off enough heat to ignite the kindling, and burn long enough to make this task as easy as possible. There are tons of pre fabbed tinder trinkets out there. Some of which are very useful and work quite well. Others are simply as waste of time. Lets put those aside for a moment and discuss what we might have on our person (PSK or otherwise) that would make good tinder.

1- Paracord.-- Everybody who's burned the ends togeather knows that once it's going, it burns well. I've found that with about 3" of cord as tinder, it's quite easy to start a fire. It can be lit with a simple kitchen match. We all have this, or probably should have it in our PSKs. If not, put about a foot or so in your pocket fire kits. It will come in handy!

2-Paper-- I know, I know. Everybody knows paper burns. What I don't think everyone realizes is how much paper they have on them. What about a little TP? <img src="images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> What about the blank pages in the book you brought along on your camp out? Receipts in your wallet? Think about it.

3-Cotton-- I know again. Vasaline and cotton balls. It's a great idea, and it works! It doesn't take much vasaline to make it happen either. Also, think about the clothes you have on. I've used the bottom edge of a t-shirt before, just make sure it's not dyed. The dye wil slow the burn down.

Do you guy's have anything else? I'm sure you've all tried something before. What do you have in your pockets now? Let me know, it might help out in a pinch! <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

--Luke