Okay I am headed to Tahoe for Xmas and plan to do a couple day hike while I'm there. I have put together a very small, TSA friendly <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> (since I'm flying there and back) neck lanyard kit but am having trouble deciding which one of two possible fire starters to put on it. I own a small MFS about the size of a AA battery and also own a large army model Swedish Firesteel. The way I see it the advantage of the SF is that it's easy to operate in the cold and with gloves on. Keep in mind that I'm a Texan so I not functioning at my best when I'm up to my a$$ in snow. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> The disadvantage of the SF is that there's no "good" tinder built in to it. Yes I can gently scrape some ferro before sparky it (maybe if I'm not to cold for such delicate work). With the MFS I see the advantage being the built in tinder and the disadvantage being it's size. Once since I'm a Texan I will be a little out of my element and part of that is that I don't function as well with thick gloves as you Canadians probably do. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Before anyone asks, or starts thinking I'm off my rocker. I'm not trekking off in to the snow armed only with one of these devices. Whichever device I put on the Lanyard will serve as a backup to the Essential Gear Windmill Stormproof Butane Lighter which I am purchasing just for this occasion to replace the Mini Bic (and somtimes Permanant match) that I normally EDC. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

BTW ... incase youre curious or have useful opinions/suggestions on my TSA-friendly Lanyard kit... here's what it includes:

2' 55# Black 7 strand paracord on a 5# breakaway lanyard attachment (so I don't hang myself)
Fox 40 Mini Whistle (modified)
Signal Mirror (the exact same mirror that Doug includes in his kit)
Photon II
One of the two fire starters listed above with a TSA-friendly striker.