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Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter
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- Gear and Advice You Can Trust
Orders of $50 or more ship for free.
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The BlastMatch™ fire starter from Ultimate Survival Technologies generates three times the heat of a standard match.
- Designed for all-weather use, the BlastMatch performs well in marine, arctic, desert and jungle environments
- Spring-loaded flint bar rotates 360° to help prevent uneven wear
- Tungsten carbide striker is built into the thumb button, allowing simple one-handed operation; user must press button to engage the striker
- If the BlastMatch gets wet, simply wipe it off and it's ready for use
- Compact size lets you easily pack the BlastMatch on every adventure
Made in USA.
Item 775076
REI Membership
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Gerber Bear Grylls Survival Series Fire Starter- Reduced to: $10.99
- Originally: $15.00
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Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter Customer Reviews
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
- Easy to use (19)
- Functional (19)
- Compact (10)
- Lightweight (9)
Cons
- Heavy / bulky (9)
- Heavy (6)
- Doesn't work (3)
Best Uses
- Survival (21)
- Backcountry camping (20)
- Camping (16)
- Winter (16)
- River (15)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid adventurer (14), Casual/ recreational (5), Outdoor professional (3)
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Survivalist / minimalist (18), Comfort driven (6)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (5)
Reviewed by 24 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-10
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Pros
- Easy to Use
- Functional
- Reliable
Cons
- Bulky
Best Uses
- Backcountry Camping
- Campgrounds
- Day Trips
- River
- Survival
- Trips
- Winter Camping
Comments about Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter:
I have owned this flint for a few years now. I have previously owned three other flints. I like this one the best because it is reliable. It works every time.
It can be a bit difficult to open when my hands are cold, but I always have something (such as the lid to my cooking pot) to help in those scenarios.
As others have said, it is a bit bulky for a flint, but I am willing to overlook that for reliability. When I'm cold, I know I can get a fire going. That counts for a lot.
The trigger works great and produces a lot of sparks which lite tinder very well. I also use this to lite my backpacking stove.
The people which I am with when I use this always comment on how well it works.
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Minimalist
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Set Up
- Easy to Use
- Functional
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Backcountry Camping
- Campgrounds
- Day Trips
- River
- Survival
- Trips
- Winter Camping
Comments about Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter:
It would be nice if it had a glow in the dark strip to make it easy to find if it gets dropped in the water or mixed up with gear.
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Minimalist
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy to Use
- Functional
- Lightweight
Cons
- Bulky
- Difficult to Use
Best Uses
- Backcountry Camping
- Campgrounds
- Day Trips
- Survival
- Winter Camping
Comments about Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter:
The top is a little difficult to get open. I have trouble getting it open with one hand. If I was in a survival situation, I would have some trouble. With that being said, this isn't the smaller sparker I've ever owned, but it's not meant to be that. This is meant to be a survival tool that you can use to start a fire with one hand. (In case the other is broke, etc.)
The Scouts in my Boy Scout Troop absolutely LOVE this thing. It puts out a great deal of hot sparks, and you can also use it during wet conditions.
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Comfort Driven
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy to Use
- Functional
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Backcountry Camping
- Campgrounds
- Day Trips
- River
- Survival
- Winter Camping
Comments about Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter:
works good but its a little heavy.
reguardless of it being heavy, i prefer it over using mag, mainly because you don't have to worry about wind blowing your mag pile all over.
i keep one of these in all my packs.. good piece of essential equipment.
some people will complain about it being spring action and having the potential to break... but even if it does break, you can still strike it like a feral rod
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Minimalist
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Set Up
- Easy to Use
- Functional
Cons
Best Uses
- Backcountry Camping
- Survival
Comments about Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter:
This is much easier to use than a two piece flint and striker. Because of the spring-loaded design you can quickly apply blast after blast until ignition. I am very pleased.
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Minimalist
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
- Easy to Use
- Functional
- Waterproof
Cons
- Bulky
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Backcountry Camping
- Campgrounds
- Day Trips
- River
- Survival
- Trips
- Winter Camping
Comments about Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter:
The BLASTMATCH FIRE STARTER is great at what it does! Creates plenty of sparks on every push, and when teamed up with a cotton ball fire is only a few seconds away. This is one of those rare items that actually does exactly what it clams to do. Really the only fault lies with alternative gear such as BIC lighters. The Blastmatch is slightly heavier and larger than a BIC, which if your counting ounces is a real negative. Also the obvious flaw is that the Blastmatch creates sparks not a flame, which means lighting my gas stove isn't going to happen. Also, the cost of a BIC lighter is about a dollar much less than the Blastmatch. On the other side of the coin, I've put the Blastmatch under water and after a few swipes with my hand, it sparked right up. Try that with a BIC! So it really all comes down to what your looking for. If you are like myself and find some romance in starting your campfire from spark, you aren't going to do better that the Blastmatch. I would recommend bringing one on your next trip, with a BIC in your pack as a backup.
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Minimalist
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
Cons
- Bulky
- Heavy
- Ineffective
Best Uses
- Backcountry Camping
- Campgrounds
- Day Trips
- River
- Survival
- Trips
- Winter Camping
Comments about Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter:
I hate trashing things but this definitely deserves it. I'll not go into a long drawn out diatribe I'll just state why it's a piece of junk and let you figure it out.
at first it worked great, nice shower of sparks, but that's how this works. It looks great at first. Once you get it on the trail you realize it's made of cheap plastic, and you think to yourself,"so what, it's still a good item." But that is the problem, the plastic is *SO CHEAP* that when you try to spark a fire to life, the sparks from the device itself actually heat up the cheap plastic, melting the tungsten carbide striker into it, so now it won't strike. You're probably thinking this is an exaggeration or that they wouldn't possibly make such a nice product out of plastic that was really that flimsy/meltable......but you would be wrong....and so was I .....and I am very disappointed. after I broke the now useless plastic casing off, all I'm left with is a striking steel which I could have bought for cheaper.
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Minimalist
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
- Easy to Use
- Functional
- Potent spark cascade
Cons
- Heavy
- Plastic Top Clumsy
Best Uses
- Backcountry Camping
- River
- Survival
- Winter Camping
Comments about Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter:
This is better than the Swedish steel flints because the quantity and potency of the spark cascade is much greater. It's easier and quicker to start a fire with this device. I'm a little concerned with the plastic button breaking, and I've only had it a week. It comes with a folding plastic top that is a little bit annoying. It's worth it for the fire-starting prowess though.
- Gift:
- No
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Comfort Driven
Pros
Cons
- Ineffective
Best Uses
Comments about Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter:
This seems like a good idea, but the steel is connected by plastic and the heat from the sparks melt the plastic. I used this once five miles on foot from the truck and the plastic melted as the thing literally fell apart in my hand. If you want fire in the back country, skip the springs and plastic and just use a flint and steel.
- Gift:
- No
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Minimalist
Pros
- Easy to Use
- Functional
Cons
- Bulky
Best Uses
- Backcountry Camping
- Campgrounds
- Survival
- Winter Camping
Comments about Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter:
Very nice product. I work with youth, and after years of them using this combined with my own personal use, I've yet to break it DESPITE the fact that it's made of plastic. Frankly, if you don't like the product, you're probably using it wrong.
- Gift:
- No
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Comfort Driven
Displaying reviews 1-10
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