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REI Stormproof Matches

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Product Description,
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These waterproof, windproof REI Stormproof matches burn in heavy rain and even while wet!

Match will not go out until chemical has burned out, then stick can be doused in water to completely extinguish the fire
Match sticks are 2.75 in. long for added safety to keep from burning fingertips
Includes 2 boxes, each containing 25 REI Stormproof matches

Imported.

Item 617046

with coupon code ANNV13
May 17-27 Details

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This item contains hazardous or flammable materials and is restricted to surface shipping only. Online orders for shipment to Alaska must be picked up at the Anchorage REI store (follow options for Free Shipping to REI Store when ordering); shipment to any other Alaska address is not offered. Sorry, this product cannot be shipped to Hawaii, APO, FPO or international addresses.

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REI Stormproof Matches Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

REI Stormproof Matches

4.2

(based on 44 reviews)

84%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Easy to use (35)
Functional (34)
Lightweight (31)
Compact (25)

Cons

Doesn't work (9)
Difficult to use (3)

Best Uses

Backcountry camping (34)
Survival (34)
Camping (25)
Winter (24)
Day trip (20)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid adventurer (17), Casual/ recreational (17), Casual adventurer (6), Military/law enforcement (3)
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Survivalist / minimalist (21), Comfort driven (11)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (14)

Reviewed by 44 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-10

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Apr

2012

4.0

Great Little Matches!

By The Gear Hoarder

from Southern Oklahoma

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Easy to Use
Functional
Lightweight

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Campgrounds
Day Trips
River
Survival
Trips
Winter Camping

Comments about REI Stormproof Matches:

I try to get boxes of these with almost every purchase (Even different brands, since they all worked the same). I like the REI brand because they're a little cheaper and the shipping seems a little faster.

These matches are pretty nifty and I got the chance to use them in a stormy situation since it's storming like crazy around here. I have to admit, they work great. The burn times differ, from match to match, depending on your environment, but these matches get 10+ seconds to each use. Plus, they throw out a good amount of heat, so lighting a small fire was a breeze (With the help of some tinder).

As stated, the boxes are not waterproof, but with the striker inserts and a waterproof container, these matches shouldn't fail you. I do agree, although dangerous, a strike anywhere version of these should be made. Fumbling for your matches, and a striker, isn't very fun in the dark. It would be nice to be able to just grab a match and be able to strike it on any rough surface.

None-the-less, these are a great product. :)

Comment on this review

Apr

2012

5.0

Excellent matches

By mainehunter18

from central maine

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to Use
Functional

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Day Trips
River
Survival
Winter Camping

Comments about REI Stormproof Matches:

Well I have a lot to say about these matches when it's a wet damp night after fall hunting these matches work great if not in the box (matches are supposed to be in a waterproof case basic rule and common sense when outdoors) work great even if your in mild hypothermia. When I last used them it was a cold wet late November day. I used cotton balls and Vaseline with wet pine twigs and worked great the box is not the waterproof and you can use other strike pads to lite them. But over all if using basic outdoors men rules they are amazing no ifs ands or buts.

Comment on this review

Jan

2012

5.0

good matches

By Rae the Adventurer

from Dallas, Texas

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to Use
Functional

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Campgrounds
Survival
Trips
Winter Camping

Comments about REI Stormproof Matches:

With a burn ban in effect in my part of the country for most of the year, I've had very few occasions to utilize these matches. I can say that for the times I've used them, they have held up to strong wind, rain, and tough-to-ignite fuel sources. Friends and family keep asking me: "Where did you get those matches?" The closest I have to a complaint is that they seem to burn for too long in most instances, but I think I can live with that.

Comment on this review

Aug

2011

(0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

Should be strike-anywhere matches

By SkookumChuck

from Seattle, WA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Long burn time
Waterproof
Windproof

Cons

Difficult to Use
Ineffective

Best Uses

Campgrounds
Day Trips

Comments about REI Stormproof Matches:

Because these are safety matches, they will only ignite when struck on the one of the two strikers on the side of the box, or on one of the two striker strips packaged inside the box. A true survival match should not only be waterproof and windproof, it should ignite darn near anywhere it is struck. In an emergency situation I want to be able to strike a match with my thumb, on my pants, on my beard, on my zipper, on the side of my matchcase, or on the nearest tree. Because of the long and intense burn of these particular matches, it makes little sense to make them dummy (i.e., safety) matches.

Fair product, just far short of what they could and should be. My next batch of matches will be strike anywhere matches dipped in wax -- the kind we made in Scouts.

Comment on this review

Aug

2011

5.0

Great!

By petomas11B

from el paso,tx

About Me Military/Law Enforcement

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to Use
Functional

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Inclement weather
River
Survival
Winter Camping

Comments about REI Stormproof Matches:

this product is bottom line great..i got it for emergency use or when its inclement weather and when im on the river and if everything gets wet and a lighter wont work. i started the match and drenched half gallon onit.. it goes out but lights right back up.

Comment on this review

Jul

2011

5.0

Works as advertised

By Ecorafterguy

from Grand Forks, ND

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Easy to Use
Functional
Lightweight

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Campgrounds
Survival

Comments about REI Stormproof Matches:

These things work...pure and simple. I bought these for a trip to Glacier (Just in case...at least that was my rationalization). First day in camp, I tried to used one of these. Lit with one strike. Waited two seconds then dumped my water bottle on the match. Flame went out but quickly took off again. Very Good. One thing: Move these to a sturdier container. The cardboard box is flimsy at best. But the do include some extra striker strips. REI made a great product.

Comment on this review

Jun

2011

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

Shiney

By ttk

from Miami FL

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Sparkely

Cons

Not so hot

Best Uses

Windy Conditions

Comments about REI Stormproof Matches:

Boy these matches have a lot of reviews!

They and the striker need to be kept dry before use. Once lit, they burn with lots of sparks and smoke but they do not generate much heat or real flame. They don't work well with slower starting tinder such as twigs. Even the wooden match sticks don't ignite.

That said, they are great in the wind, so paired with fast starting tinder they will get the job done.

Comment on this review

May

2011

4.0

They work, plain and simple

By Mountaingnome

from Folsom CA

About Me Military/Law Enforcement

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to Use
Functional
Lightweight

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
River
Survival

Comments about REI Stormproof Matches:

They simply work as advertised. I've had the same box of these matches for at least 10 years. The matches are still in great shape despite being beat up- regular matches will fall apart after being subjected to rattling around in a box for a while. They light every time i've tried to use them and haven't had problems with the heads snapping off the sticks like I do with other matches.

This really is a five-star product for lighting fires. My only complaint is that they work TOO well. Once lit, you can't put them out and have to wait for the entire match to burn out. They also produce a large amount of smoke that you don't really want in the tent- if you light them in your house they will likely set off your smoke detector. Like others have said, you can light them, submerge them under water, and pull them out and they will still be burning- both a blessing and a curse. :)

I find these to be a great back-up for other fire lighting sources, or they could be your primary source if you needed them to be (although I find a cheap bic lighter is cheaper, reliable, easier to find, and makes a lot less smoke).

Comment on this review

Apr

2011

5.0

Light my life

By Callahan Adventures

from Oakland, Ca

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Easy To Set Up
Easy to Use
Functional
Lightweight

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Campgrounds
Survival

Comments about REI Stormproof Matches:

These are amazing.

Once lighted stick them in water, under the sand or blow on them real hard with breath or wind and they just don't go out.

Definitely get the fire material all ready or the stove set to start and then strike. They do burn for some time, seconds and are excellent for lighting hard to start tinder.

A little bulky but store real well in the Coghlan's Plastic Match Box. I cut the strikers off the cardboard box and store, along with matches in the plastic match box. Of course striker surface away from the matches.

One match per fire is definitely enough and helps reduce bulk and weight on any trip.

These Stormprrof/Windproof/Waterproof matches add a higher level of security with such an intense flame guaranteeing a high chance that this match will start the fire.

Only down side is that striker works poorly when wet. So keep it dry.

Comment on this review

Feb

2011

5.0

Good After 20 Minutes in a Swamped Canoe

By bknight

from Dallas, TX

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Easy to Use
Functional
Lightweight

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Day Trips
River
Survival
Winter Camping

Comments about REI Stormproof Matches:

I had to put these to the test on a 4 day solo canoe trip on the Buffalo River.

I normally keep my fire stuff in a zip lock bag within a dry bag in my pack. Unfortunately, these matches were unprotected in an outer pocket of my backpack when I swamped my canoe. The pack was tied into the canoe and completely submerged for at least 20 minutes.

Backpacking dry bags are not really designed to work submerged. Most of my gear was either soaking wet or at least damp. I really needed a fire when I made camp.

The box of matches fell apart and the safety match striker was wet and useless. The extra sealed strikers worked fine and I was very easily able to get a fire started. A few of the matches failed.

I like that I can use one a more of these to start a fire with less than perfect tender. I would still carry waterproof tender and an alternate fire staring method. I carry my matches in a waterproof match box even if they are storm proof. Every effort should be made to keep any fire kit dry.