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Vargo Ultimate Fire Starter
01 / 06
Vargo Ultimate Fire Starter
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Product Description
The Ultimate Fire Starter from Vargo has everything you need to start, grow, and maintain a roaring fire—just add fuel. First, unscrew the ferrocerium rod from the bellows and use the integrated scraper to ignite your tinder Read More
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keyboard_arrow_downKCrobble
41
Sep 29, 2017
I don't have a problem with this product, but is a metal straw really a "bellows?"
CrabMcNasty
15
Sep 19, 2018
You could also walk to the grocery store but it's easier to bring everything home if you drive.
alysdexia
26
Oct 1, 2018
CrabMcNastynowhere alike; what I mean is that you make a pipe shape with your hands, not carve out a pipe by hand.
SilverSeven
14
Aug 7, 2017
You can buy an extendable backscratcher at the dollar store and break off the scratcher part to replicate this. I did and it works perfectly.
Kqwert
19
Aug 8, 2017
SilverSevenOr even cheaper, lighter and easier to carry, a small length of 5mm irrigation hose
machine
131
Jul 30, 2018
SilverSevenI've literally bought 5 or 6 of the collapsible grilling forks from Academy. 2 bucks, heavy duty and come with a rubber coated handle.
JWCook
54
Aug 8, 2017
Just tested this out while camping over the weekend, and the bellows turned out to be extremely useful. It's significantly more effective than just blowing or fanning.
I'm a complete newbie to using firestarters like this, and have always just used lighters or matches to start campfires, but was curious enough to give this one a try. I had a few unsuccessful attempts trying to start a fire with this thing, but I guess it just comes down to having flammable enough tinder. It was hard to find decent tinder in the area due to having rained recently. My first attempts were with dead leaves and wood shavings, which probably could have worked if they were drier.
I tried again later with petroleum jelly-coated cotton balls, which ignited quite easily. That felt a bit like cheating, though, and I would perhaps be better off packing the equivalent weight in matches. I'd probably need to be more experienced in finding/making good tinder in the woods before relying on this as a primary means of starting fires.
TL;DR: Happy with my purchase, will probably bring this with me from now on based on the usefulness of the bellows alone, with the added benefit of having a (theoretical) backup firestarter in the event that I run out of matches.
I'm a complete newbie to using firestarters like this, and have always just used lighters or matches to start campfires, but was curious enough to give this one a try. I had a few unsuccessful attempts trying to start a fire with this thing, but I guess it just comes down to having flammable enough tinder. It was hard to find decent tinder in the area due to having rained recently. My first attempts were with dead leaves and wood shavings, which probably could have worked if they were drier.
I tried again later with petroleum jelly-coated cotton balls, which ignited quite easily. That felt a bit like cheating, though, and I would perhaps be better off packing the equivalent weight in matches. I'd probably need to be more experienced in finding/making good tinder in the woods before relying on this as a primary means of starting fires.
TL;DR: Happy with my purchase, will probably bring this with me from now on based on the usefulness of the bellows alone, with the added benefit of having a (theoretical) backup firestarter in the event that I run out of matches.
EverythingIsBetterOutdoors
94
Jul 21, 2018
Amen. When you need fire for survival you're in a very binary situation. You can't over carry. I carry two fires and two tinders myself.
McCaskill
68
Oct 3, 2016
Interesting Idea but i usually just make one out of a stick when out backpacking. split it down the center, bore out the core and use twine or reed to bind back together, simple easy and give you something to do at camp.
DannyMilks
4557
Oct 5, 2016
@McCaskill - Cool! Thanks for sharing the technique. Do you have any photos of one that you've built?
McCaskill
68
Oct 5, 2016
DannyMilksI don't unfortunately. Usually toss it into the last fire, leave no trace :D
Love2Fish
95
Dec 19, 2016
How about negotiating a bundle deal with the titanium wood stove. I'd be all in for that deal.
DannyMilks
4557
Mar 30, 2017
TrooperWe regularly offer the Vargo Titanium Hex Wood Stove. Request it here so you're notified the next time it becomes available.
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/vargo-converter-stove-with-hex-wood
shard_inc
214
Oct 7, 2016
How ridiculously unnecessary. A freaking 1970s car antenna and a ferro rod. Gonna pass on this one.
kristofoakleaves
17
Apr 7, 2018
I wish this was available in titanium. At the price point and from Vargo I assumed it was, read the details and now I’m disappointed.
Troutman
14
Jan 10, 2018
I bought one of these about a year ago. I haven't used it yet; however, last May while hiking the AT through the Smokies, and 3 consecutive days of serious rain, I loaned it to some thru hikers who were trying to get a fire going at the Mt. Collins shelter. Dry wood was scarce so I also loaned them my 15" Swen folding saw, and between the two, they managed a very nice fire late into the evening. They really liked the Fire Starter (and the saw), and at 1.8 oz , were very interested in obtaining one also. I would have given them mine but still had 4 days left on the trail myself and the weather forecast was dismal (it rained 3 more days in a row before subsiding on the last day). I am purchasing another for a friend who is finishing the last 500 miles of his AT section hike in June. I highly recommend this product.
Troutman
14
Sep 21, 2018
Actually it was, it just wasn't enough at that particular stage of it being to be of use as intended.
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