Right up there with food and shelter, fire is one of the most basic needs for survival. The ability, to warm yourself, cook food, signal rescue and provide light and ( a friend) in the dark all depend on fire and your ability to start one in a extreme situation.

Better than matches which can only be used once and have a tendency to draw moisture, Lighters that can run out of fluid and are dependent on a small quickly used up flint to make therir spark, even a magnifying glass that will only work on sunny days. With a magnesium fire starter, as long and you have dry tinder you can have a fire. I prefer to use small pieces of jute twine ( can be found at your local crft store) when it is unwound and dry it will catch fire with the slighest spark.

Other advantages to the magnesium fire starter is its simple operation, just use the striker (or any metal tool) to try and carve into the magnesium rod on the striker, with a quick striking motion it produces a shower of sparks. Can even be used with gloves on. This striker can sit in a glove box, tool box, coat, boat , atv… for years without being used and be ready to go on the first strike.