I personally think about worst case scenarios and plan accordingly. If my system works there, then it should work anywhere without any extra thought. My personal worst case scenario is snowboarding off piste, high altitude, windy, raining and snowing. A hand drill or fire bow is not a sane option if I'm planning beforehand. I need something that can be self-contained around my neck. I have a fire starting kit that includes (at a minimum) a neck lanyard, a Peanut Lighter, a ferro rod, a scraper, and a waterproof tinder container.

Originally Posted By: bacpacjac
We talk a lot on here about fire starting methods and materials but I don't think I've ever heard the answer to this question: Are fire starting methods dependant on anything other than personal preference and the availability of materials? I'm thinking particularly about using natural materials. A magnifying glass won't work without sunlight but, for example, would there ever be a time that you'd choose one friction method over another? When would you choose a hand-drill, fire plough or a fire bow, for example, if you had the right materials on hand for either? I imagine that temperature, wind, moisture and altitude might all play a role in any given method, making some more effective in certain situations than others.


I'm not sure what you mean when you say you're thinking about natural materials because, in the following sentence, you talk about using a magnifying glass. That is not a natural material and requires planning before the outing. While we're planning, we might as well plan to bring along easy fire starters (e.g., lighters and ferro rods) and optimal tinder (e.g., cotton balls and petroleum jelly). Even with a more primitive fire bow, I still can't figure out how I would go out into the woods in my birthday suit and construct a fire bow. Even the fire bow requires planning before the outing.
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