Did they tell you why? I wonder if they are considered some sort of incendiary device or something.

They just said "Please note the information on the product listing" and indeed it says "Can not be sent to Alaska, Hawaii, APO, FPO or international addresses."

Pretty sure that's because they can't fly those items to their destination... they go UPS ground here in the lower 48. You might be able to get them to ship them to you via UPS Ground if they deliver to your address. Otherwise, ask them for Canadian Distributors.

It's becoming a bit too much trouble to get matches and it goes against one of Cody Lundin's principles that states your kit should be comprised of components that can be easily purchased or made... I can get the REI if I want but I'm wondering if it is really worth it for a... maybe not perishable but a degrading good. Do you know if their storm proof matches can keep like 20 years and more like the NATO matches without too much deterioration? Of course I would only use some to get familiar with them and then keep them for a situation where everything fails. I wouldn't use them to light a candle during a power outage...

Thanks
Frankie

i just bought some strike anywhere matches (big wooden ones), coated them with clear nail polish sealer, and put them in a waterproof match holder. total cost is around $3.00 for about 250 waterproof matches + nail polish + container. i know they won't re-light if submerged in water but i ran mine under water for about 30 seconds, wiped it off on my shirt, and they still light right up. the positive side is you'll have plenty of tries to light a fire cause they're so cheap to make.

oh, and i put a cotton ball inside the waterproof container to stop the matches from rattling . and, of course, i can use it as tinder if i need to light a fire.

I will do this for sure. So is nail polish better than paraffin?

Thanks
Frankie

i've never used parafin but the clear nail polish works great. actually i got the idea from Doug Ritter when he listed his additions to his retail PSK. he mentioned adding some nail polish coated matches, katadyn MP1 tabs, etc. here's the link:
http://www.equipped.org/pp/pic1357.htm

Another thing you could do is encase your matches in paraffin wax. You take your matches out of the box, line the box (or another container) with aluminium foil, lay out an interlaced layer of matches, pour melted paraffin wax over the 1st layer, wait for it to harden, lay out another layer and repeat.
Wrap up the block of wax encased matches in the foil so that they don't mess up your pack / container.
When you need a match, just pull one out from the block. it will be coated with wax and burns for a much longer period (mini candle).

If you're too lazy to melt wax in a double boiler, you could always use a tea-candle and pour the melted wax (as the candle is burning - please be careful not to get burnt) on your matches.....

<img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

An easier way to do that is to get a large candle, something that's about 4" or in diameter, light it and allow the wax around the wick to melt. That will give you a pool of molten wax. Dip you matches into the wax.

I've tried both polish and wax and I have found that polish covered matches seem to last longer. You have to scrape the wax off the wax covered ones before striking and sometimes the wax has softened the match head too much to strike.