Reliable in storage , actual use or both? All matches will eventually degrade. I use NATO LIFEBOATS, which are handmade and laquered. The sealed white containers are excellent, even holding a small cotton tinder. The 'Achille's heal' is the exposed striking surface. I personally don't have any problems striking these on the small strips from a standard matchbox. it's a matter of a firm surface and practise- needed with these beasties anyway. My standard fare firesource are plain strike anywhere matches hand selected with both vaseline soaked cottenballs and a small supply of fatwood. The biggest failure in firemaking is transfering the energy from that match to suitable tinder and on to your main fuel. Redundancy is the magic word for fire. It's so critical, the components so small, a few personal favourites are easy to pick.