Long ago, I used to coat the matches in candle wax as I learned in the Boy Scouts. They tend to go bad after a short storage period. Then they will not strike. I gave up on any coating and just keep them in a waterproof match safe and carry other means to light a fire if necessary. In fact I carry 3 methods and can also use primitive techniques if I absolutely have to. I can usually find materials, although usually not all in the same spot! Cheers!