The problem with carbide is maintaining it in an altered, dry condition. this was not a problem in Tucson, where I employed carbide regularly, but here in California, it degrades with great ease, either in its original canisters or in tightly sealed spare lamp chambers.

I have gone to electric lighting exclusively. Even there a way exists. I have a sparker which charges through a USB port. I haven't used it yet for real, but it ought to start most types of tinder quite readily.

As I recall, there were some pretty complicated shipping regulations or carbide. All the cavers i know have gone electric over the past few years.