Survival Lighter

In any survival situation the ability to start a fire is imperative. Having a survival lighter which will stay lit during high winds and torrential rain is a must. Fire starters are useful, but during bad weather they can be unreliable.

A good survival lighter is waterproof. Some types will float when accidentally dropped in water. They are also windproof. This may be the most important aspect of a survival lighter. Wind is a powerful thing. It can change directions unexpectedly, whip around windbreaks and be very unpredictable. If you are attempting to light a pit or barrel fire a wisp of strong wind can blow out most conventional lighters and matches.

Accessibility

The ability to locate your lighter in an emergency is also important. Lanyards or belt pouches will allow you to keep your lighter close at hand. Lanyards can be dangerous if you are moving through heavily wooded areas or in a physically dangerous situation. They can become tangled or used against you by another person. Belt pouches allow you to grab your lighter quickly and avoid being caught on debris. Pouches with snap closures keep your lighter secure.

Non-leaking

The type of fuel that your lighter will require should be taken into consideration. Butane is light weight and does not easily leak or spill. Liquid lighter fluid has a tendency to leak even when properly sealed. If you choose a liquid fuel survival lighter keeping the extra fuel inside a sealed Ziploc bag inside a plastic container will help prevent leaks from getting on your gear. There is nothing worse than trying to eat food that tastes like lighter fluid.

Solar-Powered

Solar lighters use reflective surfaces to focus the suns energy into a tight beam. While this type of lighter gets extremely hot and will light water logged material they are only useful when the sun is shinning. Solar lighters are more expensive than liquid fuel lighters but are less costly than butane survival lighters. Having more than one type of lighter in your survival bag increases your survival ability.

Magnesium

Fire starters are a good complement to use with survival lighters. The most effective fire starter is the magnesium. The magnesium bar is shaved using a a knife. The small slivers are ignited by using the striker that is attached to the ingot or with your survival lighter. Magnesium burns around 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit and produces a bright white flame. The high temperature at which magnesium burns will ignite soaking wet tinder. Magnesium is lightweight allowing you to pack more than one on your person or in your survival bag. Nitro Pak has magnesium fire starters available through their online catalog.

Accelerants

There are other types of accelerants available today. Fire starting gels and pastes which are placed on top of damp tinder burn hot and will ignite damp or wet tinder. These usually come in tubes for easy storage. Self burning fire starter sticks like the ones available through Nitro Pak burn up completely and produce enough flame to ignite cooking charcoal easily.

Choose Wisely

Like most survival gear a quality survival lighter is worth the cost. Disposable lighters may be less expensive but when your life depends on starting a fire in the pouring rain having a lighter that is up to the task is well worth the investment.