Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The 8 Best Fire Starters for Outdoor Camping in 2022

Zippo Outdoor Lighter (Mountain)
Zippo Outdoor Lighter
Jump to details
SOL Fire Lite Fuel-Free Rechargeable Lighter
SOL Fire Lite Fuel-Free Lighter
Jump to details
Light my Fire Ferro Rod Fire Starter - Flint and Steel Fire Starter Kit - Magnesium Fire Starter 1/4" Diameter - 3000 Strikes - Fire Starter Survival with Emergency Whistle - Fire Steel Ferro Rod
Light my Fire Ferro Rod Fire Starter
Jump to details
Morakniv Companion Spark Knife and Fire Starter
Morakniv Companion Spark Knife and Fire Starter
Jump to details
Bernzomatic TS8000BZKC Premium Trigger-Start Torch Kit
Bernzomatic Premium Trigger-Start Torch Kit
Jump to details
UST BlastMatch Fire Starter with One-Handed Operation and Lightweight Design for Camping, Hiking, Emergency and Outdoor Survival, Orange
UST BlastMatch Fire Starter
Jump to details
EXOTAC - nanoSTRIKER XL Self-Contained Ferrocerium Firestarter for Emergency Survival Equipment, Camping, Backpacking, and Hiking (Blaze Orange)
Exotac nanoStriker XL Ferrocerium Fire Starter
Jump to details
Wicked Lasers FlashTorch Mini
Wicked Lasers FlashTorch 250W
Jump to details

There are at least a dozen skills that every man should master in his lifetime: Changing a tire, tying a tie, crafting the perfect Old Fashioned -- you get the gist. We count building a fire among them. A roaring campfire is an essential part of every great weekend camping experience. You can cook over it, warm yourself by it, and a fire can be life-saving in a survival situation. It might go against the purist backwoodsman instinct, but there's nothing wrong with using a purpose-built tool to get your fire going. To save you time, we’ve done most of the legwork for you by shopping for the best fire starters for camping and even at home.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Zippo Outdoor Lighter

Some of the best lighters have gotten a whole lot fancier in the last century. But, there’s nothing wrong with keeping it old school. The classic Zippo lighter has hardly changed in decades. The all-metal case is durable, windproof, and field-tested with that same satisfying click that’s become synonymous with the brand. They’re now available in countless colors, patterns, and sizes, but the outdoor-inspired series is our favorite.

Zippo Outdoor Lighter (Mountain)
Zippo Outdoor Lighter
Image used with permission by copyright holder

SOL Fire Lite Fuel-Free Lighter

Less tech in the backcountry is usually a good thing. Electronics have a way of getting wet, ruined, or running out of battery juice when you need them most. Still, we like SOL’s Fire Lite Fuel-Free Lighter as a solid backup fire starter. It’s weatherproof, works at any altitude, and burns blazing hot. You can’t deny the convenience of a traditional lighter mixed with the Fire Lite’s cool spark that resembles a mini stun gun. With a portable solar panel in your camping kit, you could theoretically power this USB-rechargeable campfire starter indefinitely.

SOL Fire Lite Fuel-Free Rechargeable Lighter
SOL Fire Lite Fuel-Free Lighter
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Light my Fire Ferro Rod Fire Starter

If using a lighter or even matches feels like cheating, but friction methods are a little too Bear Grylls for your liking, opt for Light my Fire’s Ferro Rod Fire Starter. It’s lightweight, practical, and easy to use. Unlike lesser fire-starting tools, it also works at any altitude in any weather condition, even when wet. If it’s not ideal as a primary fire-starting tool for you, this is still a no-brainer to toss in your bugout bag or camping kit as a backup.

Light my Fire Ferro Rod Fire Starter - Flint and Steel Fire Starter Kit - Magnesium Fire Starter 1/4" Diameter - 3000 Strikes - Fire Starter Survival with Emergency Whistle - Fire Steel Ferro Rod
Light my Fire Ferro Rod Fire Starter
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Morakniv Companion Spark Knife and Fire Starter

Why carry a camping knife and a fire starter when you can pack one tool that does both? Morakniv’s Companion Spark is a combination fixed-blade outdoor knife and fire starter. The 3.9-inch blade is durable and long enough for most typical backcountry tasks, including carving tinder. When you’re ready to build a fire, twist the built-in magnesium fire-starting rod out of the rubber handle. Together with the knife’s specially ground spine, the rod is capable of producing a 5,400-degree spark. It’s good for approximately 3,000 strikes, so it’ll probably outlive you.

Morakniv Companion Spark Knife and Fire Starter
Morakniv Companion Spark Knife and Fire Starter
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Bernzomatic Premium Trigger-Start Torch Kit

If you lack the patience to mess around with merely trying to start a fire, you need a legit blowtorch. Bernzomatic’s Premium Trigger-Start Torch Kit is by far the heaviest and most fuel-hungry option on this list, so it’s not meant for backcountry trips where weight is an issue. For weekend car camping trips, however, it’s hard to beat. The trigger design makes it easy to light one-handed, and the 3,400-degree propane flame will ignite almost anything. Bonus: It’s also perfect for whipping up a perfectly caramelized creme brulee when you return home.

Bernzomatic TS8000BZKC Premium Trigger-Start Torch Kit
Bernzomatic Premium Trigger-Start Torch Kit
Image used with permission by copyright holder

UST BlastMatch Fire Starter

UST’s BlastMatch takes the design of traditional flint and ferro rod firestarters and upgrades it for the 21st century. With just one hand, you can release a flurry of sparks hot enough to ignite a wide range of tinder and other combustibles. It’s also designed to work in the rain, sleet, and wind while burning three times hotter than ordinary matches.

UST BlastMatch Fire Starter with One-Handed Operation and Lightweight Design for Camping, Hiking, Emergency and Outdoor Survival, Orange
UST BlastMatch Fire Starter
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Exotac nanoStriker XL Ferrocerium Fire Starter

Exotac’s nanoStriker XL features a narrow, pen-like design that makes it incredibly pocketable. The sparks burn at nearly 5,500 degrees Fahrenheit, and it has a replaceable interior rod. The lightweight body is a handsomely finished aluminum and is, of course, waterproof. It’s a rather expensive option, but the pure portability is worth it, in our opinion.

EXOTAC - nanoSTRIKER XL Self-Contained Ferrocerium Firestarter for Emergency Survival Equipment, Camping, Backpacking, and Hiking (Blaze Orange)
Exotac nanoStriker XL Ferrocerium Fire Starter
best fire starters wicked lasers flashtorch 250w
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Wicked Lasers FlashTorch 250W

We’re big fans of multi-purpose hiking gear, especially on long-distance backpacking trips where every ounce counts. Wicked Lasers’ FlashTorch is a combination flashlight and fire starter, making it easily the most interesting tool on this list. Even the best headlamps “only” throw off around 750 lumens. The FlashTorch 250W puts out an eye-popping 12,000 lumens, making it one of the brightest flashlights on the market. That same power also generates enough heat to light a fire, even melt some metals. Unnecessary? Yes. Seriously cool? Absolutely.

Wicked Lasers FlashTorch Mini
Wicked Lasers FlashTorch 250W

Editors' Recommendations

Tom Kilpatrick
A London-born outdoor enthusiast, Tom took the first ticket out of suburban life. What followed was a twelve-year career as…
The 10 Best Binoculars for Finding Your Game in 2022
A person holding a pair of binoculars with his left hand in an open field.

Your hunting success is determined by many factors, and some of the more important ones include how you locate and track your game. Therefore, it’s imperative to arm yourself with the best binoculars for hunting whenever you’re in the field. Even if your rifle has an expensive scope, it's a bit awkward to have to use it to scan (aka glass) your surroundings. So for a crystal clear view of your target, you're going to need a set of high-quality binoculars.

Your odds of tracking quarry such as elk or deer are high when you use the right hunting binoculars. Given the time it takes to review and compare different options, we’ve compiled some of the best binoculars so you can think about prepping your game as soon as possible, especially with the help of some of the best hunting knives or all-purpose camp knives. So with that being said, here are our 10 best binocular picks!

Read more
The 11 Best Backpacking Tents for Hiking and Camping
Best Hiking and Backpacking Tents

Hiking and backpacking shelters come at all shapes, sizes, and prices. Big, heavy tent options offer plenty of room for people and gear but weigh you down while trekking to the next camp. Ultralight models save your legs from burning on the trail but rarely provide proper living space or weather protection. Buying the right tent requires shopping for a wide range of solutions. If you're looking for a camping tent that falls somewhere in the middle, you're going to want a backpacking tent. Thankfully, we’ve done the hard work for you to round up the best backpacking tents, from budget to ultralight and everything in-between.

Read more
The Best Hydration Packs for Hiking, Trail Running, and Day Trips
Best Hydration Packs

 

Read more