Camping

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. . . . Get The Campfire Burning On Your Hike

Hiking types have often started their love of the great outdoors as nippers in the adventure scouts, and some of them might even have a badge for successful fire-lighting which they managed by rubbing together two sticks to cause friction and lighting a little bit of dry tinder they happened to come across (or take with them) on their outdoor adventure. This is all well and good and a handy technique to learn on a dry, sunny afternoon when you’ve got all the time in the world, but realistically speaking . . . after a cold, wet day on the hiking trail when you’re tired, you’re hungry and you’re in no mood to try and find two dry sticks, never mind rub them together, there has got to be a better way . . . and there is, in fact, there are quite a few better ways of lighting a camp-fire whilst you are hiking or backpacking. It just takes a little forward planning and a visit to the hiking equipment store . . . that’s all!

• Stormproof Matches – normal matches might work just fine for lighting your mood candles in the bathroom to create the right ambiance for a soak in the tub, but as far as lighting a fire in the great outdoors . . . think again. You’ll soon use up the box without so much as a single flicker. That’s why storm proof match kits are such a good idea. Packaged in a waterproof plastic case (they’ll even light after they’ve been submerged in water) with extra long matches so stop your fingers from getting burned . . . matches which will light and stay lit in the wind and rain really are a fantastic addition to the emergency supplies stashed in your back pack.  Great for lighting camp fires, stoves and lanterns . . . don’t leave home without them.
• Hikers Pocket Torches – are another method of lighting fires, stoves and lanterns in the great outdoors. Think of them as lighters on steroids . . . .the burners on these torches are wind resistant and powerful, refillable with a cartridge they can re-light your fires for years to come. Another alternative to the cartridge filled hiking pocket torches are some which actually utilize the cheap disposable lighters you can buy just about anywhere. You simply pop the disposable lighter into your hiking pocket torch and ” hey presto”, you have a mini blow torch perfect for lighting the camp fire, the stove, a lantern or your mood candles back at home!

• Hiking Fire Starters – with the best will in the world, you can’t always find a bit of dry kindling to light your camp fire can you . . . how annoying is that? Well now it doesn’t have to be the end of the world, simply taking a few fire lightning nuggets with you can solve all of your campfire or barbecue lighting problems. They light easily (especially if you have your hiking pocket torch or your storm proof matches handy) and burn for around 15 minutes . . . long enough to get the rest of the fire started. There are other types of emergency tinder you can take along too . . . check out what’s available at your local hiking or camping store.

Good tip bro . . . so if you don’t take any dry kindling with you, you’d better hope that there’s some birch bark handy!

• FireSteels – are especially handy for cold weather hikers and those adventurers who regularly make camp (and fire) high up in the mountains. You see, altitude and temperature does affect some of these other firelighting gadgets, but with a firesteel it really makes no difference, they’ll work in the hot, in the cold, in the valleys, on the mountain tops, in the wet, in the dry . . . all hiking conditions.

He sure made that look easy didn’t he?