I mentioned that above, just not the same words.

Has anyone tried using those re-lighting trick party candles in the rain? Just curious...

Nor has my method of a small can of gas and a trip flare been mentioned. Only did it once, but it worked really really well.

And my platoon was very happy too.

hey bacpacjac:

help please - your link doesn't get us to the vid you mean

thnx!

Aha! Yes you did. Missed that.

I haven't used a big candle-in-a-can, though I have used a tealight with some extra wicking like TP jammed down into the wax. Anything with a long-burning, insistent flame makes the job easier. I generally just carry a candle stub from those long-burning Ikea candles. And in various pockets, there will be a few Coghlans fire sticks (they don't get messy on you).

Around here, a few extra sticks and bark bits have generally been enough to shield the fledgling fire. I haven't had to make fires in the midst of the relentless monsoons seen in coastal areas.

I haven't tested these in the rain, but I am impressed and slighted scared with how these trick candles stay lit. Note they do extinguish with a wet paper towel. So, rain may kill them too, but I think in the wind is where trick candles would shine. They seem to burn quite a bit faster than normal candles. I guess that's because the wick is thicker. They're small and light. I went ahead and packed a few of these in a car kit as backup.

If you have wind playing around your fire, along with rain, task #1 is to devise an effective shelter. Until you do that, you are basicallyjust wasting your time and matches...

This is not in response to your post, hikermor, but this candle is claimed to resist wind, snow, and rain:

http://windproofcandles.wordpress.com/

However, I have not tried them. Usually, they have always been out-of-stock when I tried to purchase. (no affiliation) I wonder what's in them. The description says they're tealight candles, but the size is 8 cm or 15 cm. That should provide more perspective to the pics.

DS and I are going to try this Swedish Fire Torch technique this weekend. It seems like it would offer additional protection from the wind and rain:

http://m.youtube.com/?client=mv-google&rdm=4psit66ko#/watch?v=WfRovJ1KcCg

I purchased a Brunton Storm lighter for this. One of the best things I have ever purchased for the outdoors. The little torch like flame is super hot and can be held at any angle. Perfect for lighting soggy stuff in a hurry or lighting tinder at odd angles without messing up the pile. I hear this type of lighter may have problems at very high altitudes but it has not been a concern of mine.

Don't laugh at the road flare idea either. I always have one in my winter pack. A 10 minute job cut in half and then sealed with hot glue on the cut end. I then seal the whole flare with my vacuum sealer to keep it waterproof and toss in the pack. Lightweight, easy to use and burns like hell for 3-5 minutes. With this I don't need to screw around with cotton balls, Esbit tabs or wetfire cubes. No cutting to the middle of dry wood or making fuzz sticks either, Just snap a bunch of wood by hand and toss the lit flare in the pile. It will flame finger to wrist sized pieces of wet wood with ease. I usually don't even need to remove my gloves.

Trust me, You can probably get a fire going with wet rocks using a flare.

On the other hand, Maybe I am just lazy ....