The Best Fire Starter Of 2021 – Start Your Fires Like a Pro

#1. Gerber Bear Grylls Fire Starter – The Top Rated Fire Starter

If you have ever watched any survival show on television, you might have heard of Bear Grylls. As a survival expert that tries to withstand nature, he needs the best fire steels to get a fire started in extreme conditions. Fortunately, he has collaborated with Gerber to produce the Gerber Bear Grylls Fire Starter.

This fire steel has been designed to be used in all conditions, and it features a waterproof casing that will keep everything dry. The steel has an ergonomic handle that ensures you have a grip to strike it for a fire comfortably. At only 2.6-ounces, the entire unit is lightweight and includes a lanyard that keeps all the components together.

According to the manufacturer, you can get over 8,000 strikes with this fire steel before it needs to be replaced. An emergency whistle has also been incorporated, and this will make it much easier when you are in trouble. You can use the small compartment for storing some of the fuel you find for starting a fire as well.

Since Gerber has designed it, it is slightly more expensive than some of the others on this list. However, you also have a small compartment with some basic survival instructions that could prove useful in certain situations.

Much like most of the Gerber products, it is backed up by a limited lifetime warranty.

#2. Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel 2.0 Fire Starter – Best Survival Fire Starter

The Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel 2.0 is one of the most effective methods of starting a fire out in the wild. It is small and compact while giving you a spark of up to 2900-degrees Celsius to get the fire going. Since the flash is so incredibly bright, the unit can also be used for emergencies to give light when needed.

The unit only weighs 50-grams, making it one of the lightest options that you can carry with you almost every day.

With a decent lanyard, it can be attached to your neck, and you will never forget to take it along with you. The handle of the steel is ergonomic and fits into your hands comfortably for striking the pin.

Additionally, an emergency whistle has also been attached, and this loud whistle can be heard for a fair distance if you find yourself in a bad situation. Since the fire steel gives you an impressive 12,000 strikes, it could be one that you can use for eternity. You can find it in a variety of different colors if needed.

It is not one of the most expensive options on the market today, and since you can use it on all your trips or while starting a BBQ fire, you will get great value for your money.

One thing is certain that the more it is used, the longer the spark keeps on burning. The feature can be beneficial when you have wet kindling that needs to ignite.

#3. SURVIVAL SPARK Magnesium Survival Fire Starter – Best Budget Fire Starter

Often, we tend to overthink all the things we need when starting a fire. However, the Survival Magnesium Fire Starter has all the basics that you need to get a fire started. It does not have all the extras and other survival features that could often draw away from the flaws of a bad fire starter.

It is only 5.5-inches in total length, and this makes it one of the easiest to store.

However, the additional lanyard will make it more comfortable and allow you to carry the unit around your neck or arm. A mini compass has been added, allowing you to at least find your direction, even if it is not the most accurate compass out there.

While it might not have a cover, you have a magnesium bar that removes the need for you to have some fuel.

The strike is comfortable, with many people stating that it has an ergonomic feel in your hands. According to the manufacturer, it will give you around 15,000 hits with one of these bars to get a fire going.

Since it does not have a ton of add-ons and other features that could drive the price up, it is one of the most affordable options on the market today. If you want something basic that will help you get a fire going, this can be one of your best friends to do so.

#4. bayite Large Ferro Rods Drilled Survival Fire Starter – The Most Durable Fire Starter

If you don’t feel like carrying a large or conventional fire starter, the Ferro Rods is one of the options that can offer your versatility. The bayite Large Ferro Rods is one of the largest and thickest options on the market and works off the bat. Due to the large size, it is durable, giving you up to 12,000 strikes before wearing out.

The unit comes with a lanyard hole that will make it much easier to carry along wherever you go. However, you will need some steel that can be used to start it. A decent knife should do the trick without damaging the blade. The unit can give you a massive and bright 5432-degrees Fahrenheit spark that will light up your fuel.

One benefit of this Ferro Rods is the ability to resist temperatures and the weather.

You don’t need to worry about altitude or even the rain. The unit should be effective from the start. However, you will need to spend time to scrape away the covering film and expose the steel. The steel will be what makes the spark.

At 0.8-ounces and all the benefits that could be needed for survival in the wilderness, this is one of the basic options. It is not overly expensive and will allow you to use it for a couple of years if you love the outdoors.

You don’t need to stress about maintenance, and it will not fail you when you know how to use it.

#5. The Friendly Swede Magnesium Fire Starter – The Best Magnesium Fire Starter

Not all of us can use fire steel to get the tinder going. If you don’t have these skills, the Swede Magnesium Fire Starter can be one of your best friends to help you get a fire started in almost any weather conditions or for any occasion. You should also note that you will receive three of them for use over the long-term.

Since magnesium can be used as tinder, you don’t need to go scouring for something that will take a spark. The magnesium bar will cause and hold the spark for a while, which allows the kindling to catch some fire. Once you have achieved it, you need to blow and nurture the fire to keep it growing before expecting a fire.

Unfortunately, the magnesium bar will eventually wear out, and you will need to replace it.

However, we did mention that you will be receiving three of these, and this could last you a lifetime. Using this method, we also found that you get more sparks, which significantly increases the potential of one of them making contact to start the fire.

The price can be a little expensive, but since you are receiving three of them, you get better value for your money.

With a small steel chain being attached to the unit, you can fit it onto a lanyard, and this can go around your neck. Additionally, a limited lifetime warranty will keep you protected when using the product.

#6. Swiss Safe 5-in-1 Fire Starter – Best Fire Starter For Versatility

No matter what we buy in life, versatility is always one of the essential things that one needs to consider.

The Swiss Safe 5-in-1 Fire Starter is one of these ultimate camping pieces that will make your life outdoors more comfortable. Instead of one, you will receive two magnesium-infused Ferro rods that can be used for fuel and fire.

The unit includes a lanyard that has been made from paracord. According to the manufacturer, this paracord should hold up to 450-pounds when you need some rope. On the back of the fire starter, a small compass has been added. However, it is much more accurate to magnetic North than True North.

You should get around 16,000 strikes with one of these rods, which means that you will never need to buy another one in your life. Much like some of the other survival options, the whistle turns out to be very high pitched. Should you be lost or in danger, the whistle can potentially be the thing that saves your life.

One might think that with all of these features, the unit will be expensive. However, it is one of the more affordable options on the market today.

If you don’t like the standard color, you can find a different color that meets your needs. This fire starter is recommended for the versatility and features it offers.

1. Convenience

If you have ever used one of these fire starters, you will notice that it is not as easy as some of the experts can make it look. When searching for one, you might need to consider the convenience factor and how easy it will be to use it.

We have included a couple of fire starters with magnesium bars that can make it much easier to start a fire.

2. Size

You might not think the size is essential, but when you buy a fire starter, you will be looking for something that can go around your neck without causing pain. It is necessary to give the weight a look, as well as the size.

Additionally, you can consider the durability and find out how many strikes each of these will offer you.

3. Accessories

If possible, you might want to consider having something that can allow you to get out of bad situations as well. Some of them might allow you to create a spark that can be used for an SOS signal.

However, a compass can be significant to help with some directions, while the whistle is one of the favorites for making a lot of noise if someone needs to come looking for you in the backcountry.

How do you use a grill fire starter?

Using a grill fire starter is relatively easy with a few steps.

First, you need to understand that magnesium is highly flammable and can reach a 5,000-degrees Fahrenheit temperature.

Using a fire starter for the grill is no different than using it to start a regular fire. First, you need to gather the fuel of choice. Next, scape the magnesium rod above the tinder pile to create shavings. Once you have collected enough shavings, grasp the flint above the shavings and slide the striker vigorously to create sparks.

If you succeed in the first few strokes, then you should see smoke! After that, you should only encourage the fire.

How do you make a BBQ fire starter?

To make a BBQ fire starter, you will need a tin can with no label. Make a row of equal holes at the bottom side of the can with a 3-inch space between them. Drill the holes on the bottom lid so you can allow for airflow later on.

Drill another three holes around the can to attach L-brackets. Attach them and add the bottom with holes vertically to the can. You can also drill two spots on the side to support the wooden handle for an easy maneuver.

How do you light a charcoal grill with fire starters?

For starters, you should have prepared the fuel of choice, which is in this case likely to be charcoal.

Then, you need to scrape the magnesium rod. As this is a highly flammable material, you should be careful if this is your first time. Gather the shavings and start to grasp the flint above them. Begin by sliding the striker lengthwise to create sparks.