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Coghlan's Plastic Matchbox
$1.75
Item qualifies for annual
REI Member Refund (typically 10%)
This plastic matchbox has a watertight seal to prevent moisture from ruining your matches.
- Holds enough wooden matches for a weekend of camping
- Includes emergency firestarter flint on bottom
- High-visibility orange container ensures it won't get left behind
Imported.
Item 678278
Related Items:
Coghlan's Plastic Matchbox Specs
Specification | Description |
| Material | Plastic |
Coghlan's Plastic Matchbox Customer Reviews
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
- Compact (15)
- Lightweight (14)
- Functional (10)
- Easy to use (8)
Cons
- Ineffective (3)
Best Uses
- Backcountry camping (12)
- Survival (11)
- Day trips (9)
- Winter camping (9)
- Campgrounds (7)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Casual adventurer (8), Avid adventurer (7)
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Minimalist (9), Comfort driven (3)
Reviewed by 15 customers
Sort by
Pros
- Compact
- Easy to Use
- Functional
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Backcountry Camping
- Campgrounds
- Day Trips
- River
- Survival
- Trips
- Winter Camping
Comments about Coghlan's Plastic Matchbox:
use this container to hold 5 or 6 vaseline coated cotton balls as tinder for the the "FireSteel" firestarter and you'll never be left without a flame.
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Minimalist
Pros
- Cheap
- Compact
- Waterproof
Cons
- Too bright
Best Uses
- Geocache
Comments about Coghlan's Plastic Matchbox:
i use this as a micro geocache container. a little spray paint and it blends in very well. it is waterproof, big enough for a small pencil and cheap to replace when needed
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Minimalist
Pros
- Compact
- Easy to Use
- Functional
- Lightweight
- Watertight
Cons
Best Uses
- Backcountry Camping
- Minimalist
- Survival
- Winter Camping
Comments about Coghlan's Plastic Matchbox:
Perhaps the less-than-5-star ratings are related to the expectations built around the second bullet point on the Description tab (emergency firestarter flint). To be honest, I haven't even tried that feature nor do I care about an emergency starter.
This is an excellent little water-tight case that practically glows. No worries about leaving it behind. It weighs nothing (less than 1/64lb; minimalists unite!), so here's an idea - buy two. I filled one full of matches and the second with lint and two strikers from matchboxes. Now falling in at the river crossing doesn't mean you cannot warm up when you get out.
- Gift:
- No
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Minimalist
Pros
- Compact
- Functional
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Coghlan's Plastic Matchbox:
Thank you for explaining what the flint was for. I'm a newbie to camping, but I'm intent on figuring all of this stuff out. I bought the case because common sense told me the cardboard box my matches came in wouldn't hold up even under normal wear and tear. And, I have to admit, I did try striking my matches on the flint. :o) I'm glad to know it wasn't my own incompetance to blame for the matches not lighting!
Pros
- Blaze orange
- Compact
- Functional
- Inexpensive
- Lightweight
Cons
- Small flint
Best Uses
- Backcountry Camping
- Campgrounds
- Day Trips
- Fire starting
- Survival
- Winter Camping
Comments about Coghlan's Plastic Matchbox:
I have seen some reviews bagging on this because the flint on the bottom won't ignite matches. Are those users trying to drag a match on it like a rough striking pad?
If you're holding matches in this, I suggest including a piece of cut striker from the match box, or some sand paper and use strike anywhere matches. The bottom is actually a mini "flint" rod that creates sparks when you scrape it with metal. I would also include some cotton balls and carry a tube of vaseline instead of chapstick.
My personal method of using this container is to hold magnesium shavings and tinder. At home I scrape off a ton of magnesium shavings, compacting them along the way with my finger as if the vial was a trash can. In the top I include 4 tinder quick tabs.
In the cold or damp, I can open this up, sprinkle out a bit of the magnesium, then use the striker on bottom to spark the shavings, lighting tinder or if it's an emergency, one of the included tinder tabs.
This requires a knife and separate kindling wood. I may add some stuff to this kit in the future, such as a rubber bike tire tube pieces, a trick birthday candle and perhaps a thin flint rod (the one on the bottom isn't very big and can wear out).
- Gift:
- No
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Minimalist
Pros
- Compact
- Lightweight
Cons
- Don't depend on the flint
Best Uses
- Backcountry Camping
- Winter Camping
Comments about Coghlan's Plastic Matchbox:
Nice little canister. I use mine to hold magnesium shavings, with a few tinder tabs. The whole package is very light, and good in cold/wet weather in case starting a fire gets tricky.
- Gift:
- No
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Comfort Driven
Pros
- Compact
- Easy to Use
- Functional
- Lightweight
- Right Color
Cons
Best Uses
- Backcountry Camping
- Campgrounds
- Day Trips
- River
- Survival
- Trips
- Winter Camping
Comments about Coghlan's Plastic Matchbox:
I carry two of these: one with tinder, either vaseline-soaked cotton balls or Coghlan's Emergency Tinder, the other with large kitchen matches, each broken in half to save room. I also glue a piece of striker strip (cut into a circle and sized to fit) on the inside of the lid, if I cannot find "strike anywhere" matches.
For a long time, before this product came along, people continually searched for something to serve its purpose. Just less than 20 years ago, people were using bamboo and corks or fitting two spent shotgun shells together. Now this product is taken for granted.
I never have seen the flint as very useful.
Never tighten the lid too tight as to damage the O-ring: your container may no longer be fully waterproof.
- Gift:
- No
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Minimalist
Pros
- Compact
- Lightweight
Cons
- Ineffective
Best Uses
- Backcountry Camping
- Campgrounds
- Day Trips
- Survival
- Trips
Comments about Coghlan's Plastic Matchbox:
The good news is that this matchbox is water tight, light, durable and easy to find in the dark. This item will keep matches dry even when submerged for a lenghty period of time. The bad news is the strike plate on the bottom of the box simply does not work. It is either not coarse enough, too small, or does not provide enough exposure to the match head. I have tried several different types of matches of various manufacturers and could light none of them using this flint plate. So for storing matches, this item is great but for striking them, look for another product.
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Comfort Driven
Pros
- Compact
- Easy to Use
- Functional
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Backcountry Camping
- Day Trips
- River
- Survival
- Winter Camping
Comments about Coghlan's Plastic Matchbox:
Folks, the flint on the bottom is not designed to be a striker for matches! It is a (spark type) flint fire starter. It does not provide a very hot spark. So if you are trying to light up anything other than a very flamable fire starter, you'll be SOL (that's why I gave it the 4 star rating).
But when I ran out of matches, I found it provides a strong enough spark to easily light iso-butane and most other stoves.
I use the flint for lighting stoves and save the "life-boat" matches and striker I store inside the container for more difficult fire starting tasks.
- Gift:
- No
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Minimalist
Pros
- Brightly colored
- Compact
- Easy to Use
- Functional
- Inexpensive
- Lightweight
Cons
- Delicate
Best Uses
- Backcountry Camping
- Campgrounds
- Day Trips
- River
- Survival
- Winter Camping
Comments about Coghlan's Plastic Matchbox:
The matchbox is brightly colored so it's easier to find if misplaced. The seal is watertight (at least mine is)so the matches inside are protected. It's made out of plastic however, so the it's durability isn't great. The emergency firestarter flint on the bottom is a good idea, but it's far too small to be effective.
- Gift:
- No
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Minimalist
Coghlan's Plastic Matchbox Related Items
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