I'll readily admit it could be my lack of technique but even the better mag starters are useless to me. Mg burns very hot but you need to get the shavings fairly fine to light them, and then they burn near-instantaneously. I have never managed to get a fire going with it even in good conditions. And while I know it can be done, the question for me is why I'd ever try it when there are much better options that take about the same space.