I made my first bow drill fire 15 years ago and I practice under worst case condition like dunking the set under water or making it with only a pebble size flake and I still carry matches and a snythetic flint. What it does do though is a great plan "C" and make the rest of your fire making skills better since you need almost perfect tinder ,wood ect. I've never seen a good bow driller have much trouble starting a fire under bad field conditions with a match ect. It force you to keep from cheating or over estimating your fire making skills.