As your packing for that big camping trip, you’re going to want to have a firestarter among your essentials. Even if you’re creating a bug-out bag for emergency situations, you still want to have a firestarter handy.
When you have the best firestarter you can get in your gear, you can rest assured knowing that you’ll at least have a fire to keep you warm and to cook with should you find yourself in a survival situation.

Today, we’re going to talk about our top picks that we feel are worthy of being labeled the best of the best. We will mention some features you should look for when shopping for a firestarter, as well as our final recommendation of which product we feel reigns supreme.
Let’s dive in, shall we?
Product Name | Our Rating |
|---|---|
Best Fire Starter | |
Top 5 Contenders: Which Is the Best Firestarter?
Winner: Gerber Bear Grylls Firestarter
The first thing you’ll notice when your Gerber Bear Grylls Fire Starter arrives in the mail is that it features two halves: one half is a 1.75 inch ferrocerium rod and the other half is a 1.5 inch metal striker. Notable Features of the Gerber Bear Grylls Fire Starter include:
Both halves of the firestarter are attached to a lanyard that also features a survival whistle, thus making it a must-have tool for any bug-out bag. When not in use, you can connect the two halves together and it’ll create a waterproof container to keep your tinder dry.
This is a lightweight tool that weighs only 2.6 ounces and measures a modest 4.8 inches, making it light enough and small enough to wear around your neck, or you can store it in your backpack without worrying about taking up too much space.
Along with this firestarter, you’ll also receive a Bear Grylls’ Survival Guide that’s loaded with useful information should you ever find yourself in a survival situation.

Source: gerbergear.com
OUR RATING
When looking at what customers had to say about the Gerber Bear Grylls Fire Starter, we noticed that that a large majority of reviewers had wonderful things to say. Customers appreciated that the firestarter was large enough to get a good grip on the ends of either half, thus making it easier to use the tool.
Customers liked that it creates large sparks that are hotter than a lighter. Another thing people loved about this unit was that it includes Morse code distress signals, the Survival Guide and an emergency whistle. They also appreciated that the tool does create a water-tight seal to protect the rod and striker from water and humidity.
At the other end of the review spectrum, there are a small amount of people who had a few critical comments. The most common complaint people had was that the compartment for tinder was far too small. One person reported the compartment isn’t large enough to fit anything other than a single cotton ball, which isn’t enough kindling to start a fire.
Runner-Up: The Friendly Swede Magnesium Alloy Firestarter
When you’re looking for the best firestarter tool, you’re going to want something that is going to be able to work in all types of weather conditions and even at high-altitudes. The Friendly Swede Magnesium Alloy Fire Starter is a prime example. Notable Features of the Friendly Swede Magnesium Alloy Fire Starter include:
This unit features a rust-