Swedish FireSteel Scout Model (Red) with MayaDust Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this for an emergency survival kit, but like all of my gear, I don't just buy something and throw it in a bag for later use. In an emergency is the worst time to try and found out if something will work. So I always give my gear a test run. Here are the results:
The first time I tested this I was initially impressed. I set up a small amount (maybe a half a golf-ball size) of the tinder into a little bowl sort of shape on my concrete patio. Scraping the firesteel created a good shower of sparks. Took probably a good 15-30 tries before a good spark caught in the tinder. Cupped the whole thing with my hands and blew very gently to increase the oxygen. Voila! Combustion. The weather was about 50*F, very little wind, and mostly dry, late afternoon.
Second time was more realistic. It was 38*F out, 5-10mph wind, and damp air; even a little nominal drizzle. Results were less than stellar. The firesteel again created an impressive shower of sparks, but the tinder failed to ignite despite over 100 strikes. Final option (I had resolved to NOT use matches or a lighter) was to get some cotton balls out. A good four or five cotton balls made a nice bed into which to scoop up and "nest" the tinder. This time in only 5-10 strikes, a spark hit cotton and spread to the MayaDust.
Now, keep in mind, I grew up in scouting and have a good number of fire builds under my belt, including mid-winter camp-outs in the far northern states. I would not want to solely rely on the MayaDust for tinder. It gives a bit more "beefiness" to the cotton, but is not in and of itself a great tinder, especially for the price.
Essentially, MayaDust is fatwood shavings in a plastic tin. For this price plus shipping, you can get a 10 lb. box of fatwood sticks from a hearth & home store, make your own sawdust and put it in a tobacco tin.
There's no problem with the FireSteel and I would highly recommend it to anyone who doesn't want to rely on matches or a lighter to start a fire. But don't waste your time or money on the MayaDust.

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Includes one Swedish FireSteel and one MayaDust. The Swedish FireSteel is a flash of genius. Its 3,000°C spark makes fire building easy in any weather, at any altitude. Used by a number of armies around the world, Swedish FireSteel's dependability has already made it a favorite of survival experts, hunters, fishermen and campers. *** Includes MayaDust *** Fire building made easy, the pure and natural way. Don't build your fire with noxious fumes or harmful chemicals. Use the time-honored, organic method. A technique that resembles the centuries-old art of the native fire-builder. From the heart of the ancient Mayan Empire comes the remarkable product known as MayaDust. MayaDust is made from Pino de Ocote, a fatwood pine cultivated in the highlands of Guatemala and Mexico. With 80% resin content, MayaDust is easy to light, even when wet and produces an extremely hot flame. Use a pinch to quickly light your campfire. MayaDust is shavings from MayaSticks packed in a convenient waterproof "snuff box" that is easy to carry in your pocket or backpack (weighs about an ounce). Gives maximum heat energy for minimal weight. Use MayaDust together with Swedish FireSteel to light your campfire with ease.

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Swedish FireSteel Army Model (Red) with MayaDust Review

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(More customer reviews)I would not again buy the combination of Swedish FireSteel Army Model (Red) with MayaDust. The Swedish FireSteel Army Model works well once a strip of the black paint is remove. The MayaDust is dry, but cottonballs with the lower half dipped in Vasoline works mush better. In this I mean cottonballs normally catch fire on the first try and the MayaDust is difficult to light. Also I was hoping the tin the MayaDust came in a tin made of metalm so the fire could be struck in tin's lid and then places under small tinder sticks, as was the historic method. The tin is plastic.

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Includes one Swedish FireSteel and one MayaDust. The Swedish FireSteel is a flash of genius. Its 3,000°C spark makes fire building easy in any weather, at any altitude. Used by a number of armies around the world, Swedish FireSteel's dependability has already made it a favorite of survival experts, hunters, fishermen and campers. *** Includes MayaDust *** Fire building made easy, the pure and natural way. Don't build your fire with noxious fumes or harmful chemicals. Use the time-honored, organic method. A technique that resembles the centuries-old art of the native fire-builder. From the heart of the ancient Mayan Empire comes the remarkable product known as MayaDust. MayaDust is made from Pino de Ocote, a fatwood pine cultivated in the highlands of Guatemala and Mexico. With 80% resin content, MayaDust is easy to light, even when wet and produces an extremely hot flame. Use a pinch to quickly light your campfire. MayaDust is shavings from MayaSticks packed in a convenient waterproof "snuff box" that is easy to carry in your pocket or backpack (weighs about an ounce). Gives maximum heat energy for minimal weight. Use MayaDust together with Swedish FireSteel to light your campfire with ease.

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Swedish Firesteel Fire Starter - Army Model - Black Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this product for a survival kit that I have for teaching Scouts and for my personal use. IT WORKS. What more can you say about a product. Used it for a class I taught for the, "Wilderness Survival", merit badge and the young men had a great time using the flint and steel to start a fire. Used the Mayadust just to show them how flammable it is, but used shaved, "fire sticks", to show them how to do this if you have to and do not have Mayadust or other commerical products available.

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Originally developed for the Swedish Department of Defense, the Swedish FireSteel is a spark of genius. Its 3,000°C (5,500°F) spark makes building a fire easy in any weather condition, or at any altitude. Used by a number of military personnel and adventurers around the world, the Swedish FireSteel's dependability has made it a favorite of survival experts, hunters, fishermen and campers. It can also conveniently be used in cabins, backyards and homes as an easy and fool-proof way to light stoves, gas-barbecues and fireplaces. · Durable - Army model lasts 12,000 strikes · Works when wet · Premium quality materials · No "dangerous goods" shipping restrictions · Approved by the International Survival Instructors Association · Produces a 3000°C (5,500°F) spark · Lights campfires, stoves, gas-barbecues and fireplaces · Great as a gift or corporate event give-away, it is easy to add your own logo · Bright spark - can be used as emergency signal for rescue

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Coleman Nonstick Aluminium Griddle Review

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(More customer reviews)If you are a whitewater rafter or camper, you want one of these...you just don't know it yet. I have two.

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Enjoy flapjacks in the morning or burgers at the tailgating party with this Coleman griddle, offering a thick cast aluminum that provides more even heat distribution. It features a non-stick coating for easy clean-up and a grease reservoir that drains grease away from food. It also fits all Coleman gas and propane multiple-burner stoves. The griddle measures 16 by 10 inches with 2.5 inches for the grease trap.

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Camp Chef BB100L Sport Grill Box, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)Camp Chef BB100L Sport Grill Box, Black
In the BOX:
Cast Iron Grate preaseasoned
Dome top lid with vent
Lid with handle on top
Fits Camp Chef Explorer Series EX-60LW 2-Burner Modular Cooking System, Black stove
Also Fits Expedition 3X Triple Burner Stove
NOTES from the Field:
PROS:
Cooking on cast iron is always better.
Can use as a smoker by putting pellets or wood chips under the grate
Grease burns away for easy clean up
Can use two side by side for a large "tailgate" cooking surface.
Lid is completely removable.
CONS:
Cast iron grates need to be oiled and kept up (I use Camp Chef CSC-8 6-Ounce Bottle of Cast-Iron Conditioner to keep it black.
If you fill the grill with higher fat meats it will drip a little since it cant burn off all the grease.
(this is only a problem if you are not camping or have it on a deck) Solution pad or cardboard for huge burger cookouts.
Sometimes I wish it had a hinged lid because when you take it off "where do you put it?" the step up model has a lid and deluxe handle.
works only on a camp chef stove.
Overall, the best accessory for your Camp Chef Stove....
the Griddle may be a close second.
If you cook as much as me you need products that can stand up to frequent use, from the field to the grill
Chef Kurt

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The CampChef BB100L Barbeque Grill Box perfectly compliments your outdoor gas appliance. This grill system will out perform anything youÆ've used before. With the heat-diffuser plate, you don'Æt have to worry about hot spots while creating a rich barbecue flavor. Captures and vaporizes grease away. Rich, delicious BBQ flavor. Features cast iron cooking surface. Includes vented lid. System covers one burner on all Camp Chef Professional & Sportsman models and all Crown Chef models.

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Coleman Hot Water-On-Demand Portable Water Heater Review

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(More customer reviews)I used this heater last summer, for washing dishes, and showers while boat camping. Heater works off a propane canister, so have extras of those. Pump depends on a small battery that has its own compartment. I carried a spare battery out of caution, but didn't need it on my longest trip of three nights with three people. I would guess 6-7 short showers were taken, along with washing dishes and hand washings during meal prep.
Easy to use. Variable temp. control, from cold to scalding just like a water tap at home, (though a much lower pressure) The water gets hot very quickly.
Instructions say not to use lake or stream water. I decided that applies if you are going to use the heater for cooking or drinking water. Since I use mine only for dish-washing/hand-wahing/showering, I ignored this instruction. There is an attachment for hooking to a garden hose, but I didn't get this as I don't camp where potable water is avialable. If you camp with kids, once it is used with non-potable water, I stongly recommend that you make sure they understand that they are not to drink water from the tap.
I found that a large three gallon collapsable bucket was much handier than the collapable container supplied.
As I remember, I purchased the shower attachment seperately. After our first camp trip with the heater, I replaced the hose on the shower attachment with a longer piece of plastic tubing bought at the hardware store, as the original tube was too short to work well. This was real easy to do and not very expensive and I would recommend it if you are more than four feet tall and want to use the heater for showers.
This is unit is not for pack-backing. But it you car camp or boat camp away from hot water and like the luxury of running hot water, this is a great unit. Not that heavy and and no bigger than a small cooler.
I have a Zodi which I used before I got this. The Zodi does a good job of heating water and is somewhat lighter and more compact. I like the Coleman better however. The swing-out spout on the Coleman may look like a gimmick, but if your are washing dishes over a dishpan it realy is an advantage. The instant on/off feature of the Coleman is a also great advantage
especially when showering. You can rinse off, shut off the water, soap up and turn on the water for a final rinse with just a turn of a dial. Since even three gallons of water goes fast, the ease of shutting off the unit "in between" is very handy. With the Zodi the best approach I found was to put the shower-head in the water supply "in between." This works, but it means the burner is continuing to run, using fuel, and if your are not quick, the water can get hotter than you may want. (Shuting off the Zodi means you have to get out the lighter or matches to relight, which can be a pain if you are wet and soapy.) With the Colman's built in igniter, a simple turn of the dial gets every thing going again. By the way, so far the igniter has worked as flawlessly as the one on the gas range top at home. You turn the dial, you hear a little "swoosh" as the burner comes on, and you have hot water.
I also bought the carry case which I recommend.

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Hot Water on Demand Portable Water Heater

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Swedish Firesteel - Army Model Review

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(More customer reviews)Lanyard is plenty long and it makes lots of sparks (after a couple of scrapes to remove the paint). If lanyard was not long enough one could exercise ingenuity and put on a longer cord.
It would easily light propane, but if you try to ignite a piece of sheet paper you will have trouble. Sheet paper is not fine enough and is not proper tinder (though you could shred and rumple it to make good tinder). You need a finer tinder bundle. Paper towel was also unsuccessful. I had easy success with toilet paper and dryer lint. It sparks more if you slow down and increase pressure a little. If the woods are wet and you can find no dry tinder you are in trouble, which is why most people carry tinder or fire starter or pick it up on the trail when they can.
I think it is easier to use the magnesium fire starter with a basic metal jigsaw blade as the magnesium shavings will ignite paper towel easily, and can also ignite paper if you make a dime sized pile of shavings (when igniting paper don't set the end of the magnesium fire starter on the paper as when you scrape the flint the vibrations will jiggle the shavings all around). Even better than a jigsaw blade may be a short hacksaw blade because it has a good hole you can put the cord through.
In summary: if you carry or can find/make good tinder the Swedish firesteel is tough, simple, and a good product. For normal people who want a firestarter that is somewhat easier to use carry the magnesium. That is what I will carry, in addition to good tinder (cotton balls with vaseline mushed in), and a very good lighter (more lights/space than matches).
P.S. Just watched Bear G. in Man vs. Wild (Discovery channel) use this after a major rainstorm starting a fire on the first strike BECAUSE he had previously harvested and protected some very good tinder. He did not use a magnesium firestarter. It does produce a 5,500°F spark, but it needs a purchase (tinder). Also I want to repeat that the lanyard I got was plenty long, but hey it's just a piece of cord that you can cut. Live bold. Also the first time I tried to make sparks I made plenty. I do not see how someone could not (unless they had the metal striker upside down - read the directions!).
P.P.S. Watched Bear G. in Ecuador (?) NOT be able to start a fire with grass using this because everything was wet and darkness came in not enabling him to search for better (dry) tinder. With typical Bear pluck he stuffed his shirt with the grass for insulation and kept his chin up. I bet the mag would have started a fire.
P.P.P.S. Watched 'Survivorman' take a mag starter out into the desert and easily start a fire, but he used the edge of his knife to make shavings and strike the flint. I don't reccomend dulling a knife like this, use the back or anything else. Also he CARVED off magnesium and I have found just SCRAPING works well. Finally on the magnesium starter the flint is a small rod on the side and you don't whack it like in Jeremiah Johnson, but you just scrape it. I think I read one reviewer that broke his flint and I bet he was whacking it, just like in the movies.
This is a long review because this is a survival tool and you should have confidence in it's capabilities.

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Originally developed for the Swedish Department of Defense, the FireSteel is a flash of genius. The FireSteel is intended to replace matchbooks, lighters, and other fire starters, providing a 3,000-degree C (5,432-degree F) spark that makes it easy to build fires in any weather, at any altitude. The FireSteel is a breeze to use: just pile up a small quantity of dry grass, paper, or other flammable material, and then force the included striker down the FireSteel. The resulting spark will create a fire even when wet, letting you light campfires, stoves, and gas barbecues at a moment's notice. Used by a number of armies around the world, the FireSteel's dependability has already made it a favorite of survival experts, hunters, fishermen, and campers. It's also found its way into cabins and backyards as a foolproof fire-starting tool for tough conditions. You can even use the bright spark as an emergency signal.
This Army version of the FireSteel, which comes in several handle colors, is designed to last for 12,000 strikes and is approved by the International Survival Instructors Association.
About Industrial Revolution Founded in 1971 as Uco Corporation in Redmond, Washington, Industrial Revolution has been a supplier of high-quality equipment to the outdoor industry. The company is known in particular for its outstanding line of beautiful and functional candle lanterns. In 2004, the company began selling its Play and Freeze ice-cream maker, a ball that allows users to participate in the ice-cream-making process by shaking and rolling the ball itself. In 2008, Industrial Revolution merged with longtime partner Pedco, a manufacturer of small, lightweight camera tripods.

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Coleman Grill Stove Griddle Review

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(More customer reviews)The griddle plate is great. Though you can't really determine it from the site, it fits the "9922" grill series. Used it today for a morning tailgate to cook up pancakes and bacon. For $20, its well worth picking up to get more uses from your Coleman grill!

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Expand your grilling options when cooking on a Coleman propane grill stove with the Coleman grill-stove griddle. Ideal for grilling flapjacks, sausages, bacon, eggs, and more, the griddle is a must for anyone who wants to combine the fun of outdoor cooking with the flavor of a fresh-grilled breakfast. The griddle offers such handy cooking features as an 11-by-12-inch grilling area, a nonstick coating that keeps food from clinging to the surface, and a grease channel around the perimeter that guides unwanted grease away from your food. And when you're done cooking, the griddle cleans easily in a dishwasher. The grill-stove griddle is compatible with Coleman's 9921 stove series, the 9920 PowerMax series, and the Coleman 9920A750J model.
About Coleman More than 100 years ago, a young man with an entrepreneurial spirit and a better idea began manufacturing lanterns in Wichita, Kansas. His name was W.C. Coleman, and the company he founded would change life in America. A man plagued with such poor vision he sometimes had to ask classmates to read aloud to him, Coleman saw a brilliant light in 1900 in a drugstore window that stopped him in his tracks. He inquired about the light inside and discovered he was able to read even the small print on a medicine bottle by the illumination. The lamps had mantles, not wicks, and were fueled by gasoline under pressure instead of coal oil. Soon afterward, Coleman started a lighting service that offered a "no light, no pay" clause--a big step forward for merchants who were burned by inferior products that rarely worked--and drew substantial interest from businesses that wanted to keep their lights on after dark.
In the ensuing years, Coleman expanded its product line well beyond lanterns. The company's current catalog is thick with products that make spending time outdoors a pleasure. There are coolers that keep food and drinks cold for days on end, comfortable airbeds that won't deflate during the night, a complete line of LED lights that last for years, powerful portable grills that cook with an authentic open-grill flame, and much, much more. Coleman has truly fashioned much of our outdoor camping experience, and expects to do so for generations to come.

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