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Great topic!

I?m of the opinion that the magnesium blocks are a nice trick but useless for survival. I also think matches are of low value. The wind can blow them out and they don?t burn very long. The only thing I believe in is a ferro rod and a fuel saturated cotton based tinder. My favorite is the Coghlan's Emergency Tinder. I also think a butane lighter is very valuable. It is good for sealing the ends of cord and starting fires under ideal conditions. Carry a lighter, ferro rod or SparkLite, and treated cotton balls. Forget the rest!

As an aside: fatwood can be made to work in the place of treated cotton balls. Just scrape the side like the magnesium block until you get a pile the size of a quarter. It will light with a ferro rod and burn with a big flame for about 30 seconds. The shavings are bigger than magnesium and the wind does not blow them around as much. They are also a little sticky so they stay put. For awhile I liked the fatwood better. Now I?ll just take the treated cotton balls. They are quick, easy, and more reliable. They burn for a good 5 minutes with a big flame.

I?d like to add that I am a big fan of the lean-to style of fire lay. You have your back to the wind. Take a stick about as fat as your thumb and long as your hand and stick it into the ground at a 45 degree angle facing you. Then put on your favorite toppings. Put one of your treated cotton balls in the opening and spark. Sit back and enjoy your fire, add more toppings as needed. If the ground is too hard or the wood is too frail then use a log about the size of your arm and place your kindling on that with an opening facing you and do the above.

PS
I have gotten the magnesium to work by putting down a neckerchief to catch the magnesium shavings. Then get a good tinder ball and pour the magnesium shavings into it and hit it with a spark. The spark will catch the magnesium and the magnesium will cause the tinder to catch fire.

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