SE Waterproof Magnesium Firestarter Kit - Compact 2-in-1 Fire Starter with Flint, Serrated Striker, and Detachable Chain for Camping, Hiking, Survival, and Emergency Preparedness FS374

For the price, it's just the peace of mind you get that if you really need a fire, this could be a lifesaver. This type of bar has been around for years and years and it's still worth it just to have in your pack as an emergency backup. I wont go through the operation as most reviews have them, but just wanted to say if you're hiking out for a few days, definitely throw one in your pack. It also comes with the striker and a very small compass, but i guess if you were lost out in the forest, it could save your life so 5 stars for what it is. Update: I'm not going to lower the stars as it's the magnesium starter bar that is lifesaving, but the compass isn't worth anything. It would not point north, nor does it spin freely so i constantly get W at the north position or sometimes E lol. Don't rely on the compass, but a general compass can be used in emegencies if you have a standard watch with hour/minute hands. For northern hemisphere lay the watch flat in your palm facing up. If you have trees or a pole, look a the shadow, point the hours hand at the shadow line it up, this is pointing at the sun. Now find the point between the hours hand and 12 oclock position, this should be pointing to your south, and opposite that should be the north. Of course the sun comes up in the east and sets in the west as well, so if the sun is low on the horizon you know that it's setting toward the west (in general). Anyways, lots of write ups on it on the web if interested.

This is a big chunk of magnesium. Lots of opportunity for a lot of fires. I don't know if you would ever use up one of these in your lifetime unless you were a serious, never ending camper. Everyone has their way, so let me tell you my method of starting a fire...build your fire pile first, then take a few sheets of thin toilet paper (you should always carry a roll in a ziploc bag when hiking, emergency kit, etc), make a circle with your thumb and forefinger of your left hand, lay the toilet paper sheets over the hole, push the tp into the hole with your forefinger of your right hand, to form a small bell-shaped piece of toilet paper, squeeze it around your finger to crimp it in that shape, lay this down so that the bell is open towards you, with the teeth of the steel toward the magnesium, scratch a few times down it's length to get a few grains of magnesium dust into the bell, turn the steel over and scratch down the length of the magnesium with the flat side (sharp edge) of the steel to spark the fire starter, aiming the sparks into the inside of the bell. The bell protects any sparks from wind, and almost immediately bursts into flames with just a few sparks, that's why you need to have your pile of fire materials ready to quickly drop this burning toilet paper under it. Modify this routine as needed, but paper towels work well, rough paper can be waded up, rolled, and stressed to loosen the small fibers, and then it works well also. The key is a small finger sized bell shape that supports the flame inside it.

Solid little fire starter that does exactly what it’s supposed to. The SE Waterproof Magnesium Firestarter Kit is compact, lightweight, and easy to carry, making it a great addition to a camping, hiking, or emergency kit. The magnesium shaves ignite quickly with the flint, even in damp conditions, which is a big plus for outdoor use. That said, the striker and flint are a bit small, so it can take a little practice (and patience) to get consistent sparks, especially for beginners. Once you get the hang of it, though, it’s reliable and effective. Overall, it’s a dependable 2-in-1 fire starter that works well and travels easily—just shy of perfect due to the learning curve.

THIS PRODUCT IS THE FIRE STARTER OF FIRE STARTERS. TWENTY FOUR YEARS AGO IN THE MILITARY I WAS ISSUED THIS TYPE OF FIRE STARTER WHICH I STILL HAVE TODAY. VERY WORN,BUT STILL WORKS. I HAVE STARTED MORE FIRES WITH THIS TYPE PRODUCT THAN ANY OTHER. ITS SIMPLE. WORKS AVERY TIME. WHY DO YOU THINK THE MILITARY ISSUED IT TO SOLDIERS? SNOW,RAIN,JUNGLE,DESERT. IT WORKS AVERYWERE. YOU DONT HAVE TO USE A QUARTER SIZE AMOUNT, JUST A DIME SIZE. IT HAS THE LONGEST STRIKE BAR THAT I HAVE SEEN ON ANY FIRE STARTER. I HAVE USED THAT STRIKE BAR TO LIGHT FIRES,STOVES,LANTERNS.THE FIRE STARTER HAS A COATING TO KEEP IT DRY AND TO KEEP IT FROM OXIDIZING SO THE ALLOYS WILL NOT SEPERATE.THE STRICK BAR HAS THE SAME COATING. SO THE FIRST TIME SHAVING,OR STRIKING YOU REMOVE SOME OF THIS COATING.AND IT WORKS BETTER THE NEXT TIME. I BOUGHT A NEW ONE TO PUT IN MY CAMPING GEAR. THIS NEW ONE WORKS THE SAME. I LIKE THE SMALL SAW THAT COMES WITH THIS ONE,IT WORKS BETTER IF YOU USE THE FLAT SIDE TO SCRAPE AND LIGHT YOUR FIRE. ALWAYS WASH YOUR HANDS AFTER USE, AND DO NOT STORE WITH YOUR FOOD. TRY TO KEEP IT DRY SO IT WONT OXIDIZE AND SEPERATE THAT AFFECTS IT STRICKING ABILITIES. YOU TAKE CARE OF IT AND IT WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.

This thing is easier to use than I thought. I love it. My only regret is not getting one with a custom durable bag or pouch.

I ordered this product to keep in my Jeep, in case of problems when 4-wheeling in the back country. It is a fine product, and works as advertised, but is very basic and has some issues. Pros: Very inexpensive - buy several and stash them in backpacks, vehicles, etc. Lightweight and compact - will fit in a pocket. Fairly easy to use. Cons: -Scraper/striker tool is very small and thin - definitely hard on the hands if attempting to start a fire in less than optimal conditions. Cold hands trying to hold this would be quite a chore. -Chain holding striker to magnesium/flint is very flimsy - should be immediately replaced with something more sturdy. This is NOT going to hold together on your keyring or hanging from your pack/belt/etc. -As one reviewer mentioned the glue job holding the flint onto the magnesium is crazy - in my case there was a huge blob of glue all the way across the flint that I had to chip off before i could get to the flint. Magnesium is very hard - must really scrape at it. I think a good pocket knife would be better for this than the scraper/striker tool. I ended up putting both pieces on a rawhide lace - this gives enough slack to use them without having to separate them. I dropped the striker on the ground while using it in the dark and could not find it until morning, even with a flashlight. Using a lace or cord will allow you to use them together without having to disconnect them from each other. Better yet - ditch the scraper/striker and carry a pocket knife.

I like this SE Waterproof Magnesium Firestarter Kit. I’ve taken it on several weekend camping trips and a few emergency-prep drills, and it’s been reliable every time. It’s compact, feels sturdy, and produces solid sparks even when conditions are damp. The magnesium block gives a good amount of tinder material, and the flint/striker combo lights easily with a little practice. Overall it lasts a long time and I trust it in my pack. What I liked - Consistent sparks that catch tinder quickly after a couple of strikes. - Magnesium shaving compartment provides an easy, fast tinder source. - Waterproof design and screw-on cap keep everything dry when stored. - Serrated striker works well and doubles as a small scraper; the detachable chain makes it easy to clip to a pack or keyring. - Lightweight and compact — doesn’t take up space in my kit. Pros - Very reliable in wet or windy conditions. - Long-lasting: plenty of flint and magnesium for many fires. - Compact and easy to carry on a backpack or belt loop. - Simple to use once you get the technique down. - Good value for a durable emergency/fire-starting tool. Cons - Takes a little practice to get consistent strikes and proper tinder placement. - Flint will wear down over time — eventually needs replacement after heavy use. - Striker edge is small and can be a bit awkward if you prefer a larger scraping surface. Recommendation If you want a dependable, compact firestarter for camping, hiking, or an emergency kit, this is a solid choice. It’s proven reliable for me, lasts a long time, and saves space in the pack. Just practice the striking technique a few times before you depend on it in a stressful situation.

Solid outdoor tool has lasted me years.

Excelente pedernal, y aunque la barra de magnesio duró mucho tiempo pegada, terminó por despegarse con el ajetreo y uso, sólo ese apartado se podría mejorar.

kinda screwed up when i first got it by shaving the striker side. but when i finally figured it out worked great,need about a quarter size of shavings and dry tinder but it sparked and caught with maybe 3 tries tops,i didnt have the best tinder or the proper amount of shavings at first. when i figured it out it worked great.

Je pense que ce produit est un peu lourd pour rien. D'autres alternatives font le même boulot en étant plus petits et plus légers...

It is what it is. It starts fires well, and is well built. You can reach for it and know it will do the job. It is easy to use and good value for money.

A lo largo del tiempo que adquirir este encendedor, no eh tenido ninguna falla que pudiera originar un mal comentario, pues cumple con sus funciones y es muy útil en situaciones de campismo en la montaña.