As much as I hate to do it, I'll reveal The Secret All Fire Starter Companies Know and that is - TINDER IS THE REAL KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL FIRE. Yeah, my Magfire is a solid performer, but if you take time to practice, you'll soon learn that making a spark isn't the hard part (if you have any fire-making tool at all). It's going from spark to fire - that is the real challenge, especially if it's damp out - not just rainy, damp. That's why I "cheat" and carry dryer lint soaked with WD-40 in a film can. It lights in the rain, burns hot and stays lit. It's really best with lint from a polar fleece blanket - massive heat output lets you dry questionable material to get ignition and get the fire going. All other tinders are inferior to a good old hydrocarbon product. Oh, and I took alcohol OFF the list because In like a VISIBLE flame.