I have always been impressed with the Spark-lite tabs ease of ignition. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
I have been somewhat less impressed with its burn time. Compared to Couglan's tinder it sucks. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
I have always been impressed with the Couglan's burn time. For its size it has an excellent burn time. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
I am (yes, you guessed it) less impressed with its ease of ignition. <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />
Being the demanding git that I am, I want the best of both worlds. So I have given the matter some thorght. <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
I have a solution! : <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />
Dip one end of the Spark-Lite tab into molten candle wax. This gets you the best of both worlds. Ease of ignition with a decent burn time. Only down side, and it's a minor one, is that the tabs have to be stored in a plastic baggy or you get wax over everything.
Guess you cannot have everything. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I'll take mini zip-loc bags over film containers any-day! You can see inside and open them with your teeth if you have to. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Baggy's are fine inside a tin or RSP. Carried loose, the film container is better. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I never had any problems with the Coghlan's Emergency Tinder.

JIM, Coghlan's tinder is easy to ignite if you have a constant flame. Match, lighter, that sort of thing.
If your using a Spark-lite it takes that little bit longer to get it going. That is unacceptable if your injured or shivering with the cold (or both!). I am not sure that I could get it going with a Blast-Match.
You could, I suppose, use both. But that will take up additional volume in your tin/kit.

Strange, I never had that problem, using a spark.

Problem is JIM, I have. The one thing that I dislike about the Coughlan's tinder is the way you have to crush it into a coin shape and tear the "coin" in half. Easy enough with two hands, but I shudder at the idea of doing it with broken bones in my hands or even lacerations.
Burn time is great, but I wish it had the no hassle/no prep simplicity of the Spark-Lite tinder. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I thought that you were supposed to spread out the Spark-Lite Tinder too...

Leigh,

You can light Spark-Lite tinder without any prep with the Spark-Lite? I'll have to try that!

For testing purposes, I've test burned both indoors (on a inverted tin can). Both are easy to light with a flame but the Coghlin's material was easier to light with just sparks. I used both the sparklite and a flint/steel. The sparklite material is about half as large as the Coughlan's and therefore doesn't burn as long even when both are fully spread open. No matter what the prepacked size is, I just use enough to start a fire and put the rest away. No use wasting it all. The waxy Coughlan's tinder leaves a bit of residue on my fingers after spreading it out and fluffing it though.

The Coughlan's tinder is easier for me to obtain so it's an open and shut case on which one I choose for my kit. In fact, the Coughlan's tinder is replacing the sparklight tinder in my Ritter designed AM survival kit.

Note: I also added a Photo LED to the kit, dumped the fishing kit, added a reusable zip tie, Gerber bag and couple of Bandaids. The waterproof container bag is supposed to be good for quite a depth of water but in practise it pops open easier than a cheap ziplock bag.