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Light My Fire Firesteel Scout
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Light My Fire Firesteel Scout

Item # 737335

$11.95

Item qualifies for annual
REI Member Refund (typically 10%)

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The Light My Fire FireSteel® fire-starting tool lasts at least 3,000 strikes!

  • Pulling the included stainless-steel striker or your own knife down the 1.75 in. rod emits 3,000° F sparks which in turn can ignite a stove, paper, dry grass or bark
  • Fireproof in solid form, tool works just as well when wet for use in any weather and at any altitude
  • Includes handle, striker, fire-starter rod and cord to keep striker and starter together
  • Approved for use by the International Survival Instructors Association

Imported.

Item 737335

Light My Fire Firesteel Scout Specs

Specification

Description

Weight1 ounce
Dimensions3 x 0.85 x 0.5 inches
MaterialMagnesium

Light My Fire Firesteel Scout Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Light My Fire Firesteel Scout
 
4.5

(based on 66 reviews)

94%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Lightweight (61)
  • Compact (60)
  • Easy to use (46)
  • Functional (44)
  • Durable (15)

Cons

  • Ineffective (3)

Best Uses

  • Survival (47)
  • Backcountry camping (43)
  • Campgrounds (39)
  • Winter camping (31)
  • Day trips (29)
  • Reviewer Profile:
  • Avid adventurer (33), Casual adventurer (30), Outdoor professional (3)
  • What Is Your Gear Style:
  • Minimalist (42), Comfort driven (10)

Reviewed by 66 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-10

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Mar

5

2009

(10 of 10 customers found this review helpful)

 
5.0

It Works, Just Use the Right Tinder.

By Off The Path

from Tennessee

About Me Avid Adventurer

Site Member

Pros

  • Compact
  • Easy to Use
  • Functional
  • Lightweight

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Backcountry Camping
    • Campgrounds
    • Day Trips
    • River
    • Survival
    • Trips
    • Winter Camping

    Comments about Light My Fire Firesteel Scout:

    The easiest tinder to ignite for me is the cotton fluff from dry reed grass: I wrap dry grass around a cut end stalk of reed grass with the cotton fluff sticking out and all it takes is one spark to burst into flames. I have also used the following successfully: cedar bark, honeysuckle bark, buffed-out dry grass, char cloth or magnesium powder (to then light more fibrous tinder), cotton balls, vaseline-soaked cotton balls, Tinder-Quik, Coghlan's Emergency Tinder, and the list grows.

    Anyone who cannot start a fire with one of these only needs to study more about tinder and lighting a fire in general, then practice. Practicing will give you confidence and make it easier when you really need it. Make sure and scrape the dark coating OFF of your new firesteel with a knife before attempting to use it.

    • Gift:
    • No
    • What Is Your Gear Style:
    • Minimalist

    Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

    (10 of 10 customers found this review helpful)

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    Jun

    10

    2008

    (10 of 10 customers found this review helpful)

     
    5.0

    A must have!

    By FlintSparkingMan

    from Fairfax, VA

    About Me Casual/ Recreational

    Pros

    • Compact
    • Durable
    • Lightweight
    • Stable
    • Works in windy conditions

    Cons

    • None

    Best Uses

    • Backpacking
    • Car Camping
    • High Altitude
    • Hiking

    Comments about Light My Fire Firesteel Scout:

    Great to store in a backpack, car, emergency survival kit, etc. Fun to use, but it's imperative that you try it out at home first before relying on it to start a fire in the wild. With practice and the right tinder (Cotton balls with vaseline, dryer lint, shredded bathroom or facial tissue, commercially made tinders, etc.), its easy to ignite tinder in one or two strikes. If using cotton balls or dryer lint, you will get bests results by pulling material apart to expose the small fibers before striking with flint and steel.

    Works extremely well in windy conditions and enables you to save your matches for igniting stoves, lighting candles, etc.

    I would not go camping, hiking or exploring without one. Great Product!

    • What Is Your Gear Style:
    • Minimalist

    Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

    (10 of 10 customers found this review helpful)

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    Apr

    9

    2008

    (9 of 9 customers found this review helpful)

     
    5.0

    This made my "Top Ten List"

    By gearhead357

    from Youngstown, Ohio

    About Me Avid Adventurer

    Pros

    • Compact
    • Durable
    • Lightweight
    • Stable
    • Worth it's Weight

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • Backpacking
      • Car Camping
      • High Altitude
      • Hiking
      • Making a fire

      Comments about Light My Fire Firesteel Scout:

      I think it took me longer to open the package then it did to get flames from some dried oak leaves off my back porch (3 strikes with the steel). If you are an REI shopper I really can see no reason not to own this product. It's light and it works. 'nuff said.

      • What Is Your Gear Style:
      • Minimalist

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

      (9 of 9 customers found this review helpful)

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      Dec

      23

      2008

      (7 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

       
      5.0

      Try using with Char Cloth

      By FlintSparkingMan

      from Fairfax, VA

      About Me Casual Adventurer

      Site Member

      Pros

      • Compact
      • Easy to Use
      • Functional
      • Lightweight

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Backcountry Camping
        • Campgrounds
        • Day Trips
        • River
        • Survival
        • Trips
        • Winter Camping

        Comments about Light My Fire Firesteel Scout:

        Just tried this using Char Cloth and the two worked just great. The Char Cloth catches a spark so easily, and the firesteel Scout throws out enough sparks with one strike to turn the char cloth into a smoldering piece of charcoal. All you need to do is enclose the char cloth in a birdsnest of dried grass, cedar bark or even a paper towel, blow it into a flame and you have fire! Store both in a waterproof container and you are all set to make fire! Really fun, reliable and great for those who like to travel light.

        • Gift:
        • No
        • What Is Your Gear Style:
        • Minimalist

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        (7 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

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        Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

        Jan

        20

        2009

        (6 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

         
        5.0

        fantastic product

        By chadh1966

        from Wilmington, NC

        About Me Avid Adventurer

        Pros

        • Compact
        • Easy to Use
        • Functional
        • Lightweight

        Cons

          Best Uses

          • Backcountry Camping
          • Campgrounds
          • Day Trips
          • Survival
          • Winter Camping

          Comments about Light My Fire Firesteel Scout:

          Just received this in the mail today. As we are having a rare snow storm here on the NC coast, this is a perfect time to try this out. A quick scraping off of the protective coating and massive, hot sparks showered from the firesteel. Quickly caught an ember on a paper towel, and my fire was well under way. Perfect for having to work outside in the snow. Can't wait to use it on the trail in a couple weeks. This, along with my char cloth, will be my primary firestarter from now on. Definitely a must have as a primary or backup firestarter. Lightweight and compact, this should be in everyone's pack.

          • Gift:
          • No
          • What Is Your Gear Style:
          • Minimalist

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

          (6 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

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          Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

          May

          4

          2008

          (6 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

           
          5.0

          Great Prduct

          By skyler the piler

          from new milford CT

          About Me Casual/ Recreational

          Pros

          • A must have survival tool
          • Compact
          • Durable
          • Easy To Clean
          • Lightweight

          Cons

            Best Uses

            • Aney out door suitwation
            • Backpacking
            • Car Camping
            • High Altitude
            • Hiking

            Comments about Light My Fire Firesteel Scout:

            This Proudct rocks. Its Small and wont waigh you down. it has a tool to make sparks so you dont need a knife. If you out for a hike or out for a week this is the tool for you. I would reccomend buying 2. 1 for pratic and 1 for the true survival

            • What Is Your Gear Style:
            • Minimalist

            Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

            (6 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

            Was this review helpful? Yes / No

             - You may also flag this review

            Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

            Jan

            1

            2008

            (6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

             
            5.0

            Great addition to the survival kit!

            By back2basics

            from Hermitage, TN

            About Me Avid Adventurer

            Pros

            • Affordable
            • Compact
            • Durable
            • Lightweight

            Cons

              Best Uses

              • Backpacking
              • Car Camping
              • Fishing
              • High Altitude
              • Hiking
              • Survival

              Comments about Light My Fire Firesteel Scout:

              Make sure the striker is facing the correct direction. Practice making fires at home with different types of tinder to see what works best for you, as you should with all your gear! This weighs next to nothing, takes up very little space, works as advertised, and is quite durable. If you don't have one already, why not?

              • What Is Your Gear Style:
              • Minimalist

              Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

              (6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

              Was this review helpful? Yes / No

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              Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

              Feb

              28

              2009

              (5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

               
              5.0

              Definately not a waste of Money

              By large family(6kids)

              from Yorktown, Va

              About Me Casual Adventurer

              Site Member

              Pros

              • Compact
              • Easy to Use
              • Functional
              • Lightweight

              Cons

                Best Uses

                • Backcountry Camping
                • Campgrounds
                • Survival

                Comments about Light My Fire Firesteel Scout:

                These things work great. The negative reviews of this product seem to have a common theme the reviewers thought this could catch paper on fire like a flame does. Sorry, if this is your expectation this product will let you down. However if you use some cotton or a little dryer lint (can't we all find some of this) then this thing is great. The sparks catch the lint or cotton on fire on the first or second strike which in turn lights up paper then sticks then logs...well you get the idea.

                • Gift:
                • No

                Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

                (5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

                Was this review helpful? Yes / No

                 - You may also flag this review

                Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

                Feb

                1

                2009

                (5 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

                 
                5.0

                WOW!

                By CrazyCamper

                from Southeast PA

                About Me Avid Adventurer

                Site Member

                Pros

                • Compact
                • Easy to Use
                • Functional
                • Lightweight

                Cons

                  Best Uses

                  • Backcountry Camping
                  • Campgrounds
                  • Day Trips
                  • River
                  • Survival
                  • Trips
                  • Winter Camping

                  Comments about Light My Fire Firesteel Scout:

                  This is as good as it gets for firestarting. If you can't start a fire with this you should probably not be in the backcountry alone. I demonstrated how to use this one time to my 12 yr old son and he lit a little cotton ball in one strike. Next my 9 yr old daughter...same result. Needless to say don't let kids play with this. My favorite tinder is one cotton ball with about a quarter teaspoon of vaseline. Lights instantly and burns for several minutes.

                  • Gift:
                  • No
                  • What Is Your Gear Style:
                  • Minimalist

                  Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

                  (5 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

                  Was this review helpful? Yes / No

                   - You may also flag this review

                  Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

                  Dec

                  28

                  2008

                  (5 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

                   
                  5.0

                  Awesome survival tool

                  By cityslicker

                  from California

                  About Me Casual Adventurer

                  Pros

                  • Compact
                  • Easy to Use
                  • Functional
                  • Lightweight

                  Cons

                    Best Uses

                    • Backcountry Camping
                    • Campgrounds
                    • Survival
                    • Winter Camping

                    Comments about Light My Fire Firesteel Scout:

                    This tool is incredibly easy to use and can ignite tinder with just one strike.

                    • Gift:
                    • No
                    • What Is Your Gear Style:
                    • Comfort Driven

                    Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

                    (5 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

                    Was this review helpful? Yes / No

                     - You may also flag this review

                    Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

                    Displaying reviews 1-10

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