UST Para Tinder on Amazon.

Hikermor is right on this, much more tinder for the $$$. I may buy some of this, I don't need zipper pulls.

Getting a flame or spark seems like the easiest part of getting an emergency fire going to me. Good quality tinder, and enough of it, is vital. Even the solid flame from a stormproof match won't get your fire going if your tinder lets you down. I'd rather stack the deck in my favour, and I use pcrod for lacing and zipper pulls anyway.

Considering the size/mass of the little strand; i don't see it putting out enough btu's to light something much bigger. If it's only able to tinder, than it might not be that usefull.

Besides if you need a fire in a hurry, will you have enough finger dexterity to get the strand out?

i always have a little piece of fat wood with me: can be shaved/sliced/split. burns hot/long. doesn't leak or melt. smells nice. safe. natural. free for the taking.

for those who may be unfamiliar: Fatwood Wiki

"Think of a candle wick without the candle."
I don't agree. Mine has a definite petrochemical smell to it, and a somewhat oily feel.I think it is more than wax. That is, the inner strands. I've had no trouble getting them to catch a spark if I sort of mash/pound them into a lacy flat surface.

Hi,
food grade wax can have a petrochemical smell
dont know if its the dye (red 40) or the wax itself
but I've smelled it

I didn't end up buying this - but I will add tinder to my fire kits.