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Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Mini
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Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Mini

Item # 762946

$7.95

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

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Small enough for your pocket, the Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel® Mini magnesium fire-starting tool lasts at least 1,500 strikes!

  • Pulling the provided striker or your knife down the 1.5 in. rod emits 5,500°F sparks, which in turn can ignite stove, paper, dry grass or bark
  • Fireproof in solid form, tool works just as well wet as dry, 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 762946

Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Mini Specs

Specification

Description

Weight1 ounce
Dimensions2.9 x 0.75 x 0.2 inches
MaterialMagnesium

Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Mini Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Mini
 
3.1

(based on 13 reviews)

69%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Compact (12)
  • Lightweight (11)
  • Functional (8)
  • Easy to use (5)

Cons

  • Ineffective (5)
  • Difficult to use (4)

Best Uses

  • Survival (11)
  • Backcountry camping (9)
  • Campgrounds (7)
  • Day trips (6)
  • River (5)
  • Reviewer Profile:
  • Avid adventurer (7), Casual adventurer (6)
  • What Is Your Gear Style:
  • Minimalist (9)

Reviewed by 13 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-10

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Sep

12

2007

(9 of 12 customers found this review helpful)

 
3.0

Not bad, hoping it will get better

By lumpymike

from San Diego, CA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

Pros

  • Compact
  • Easy to Use
  • Functional
  • Lightweight

Cons

    Best Uses

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

    Comments about Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Mini:

    I love ferro rods like these and have been using various types for years. I picked this one up this year after hearing a lot of hype about the quality of sparks that it produces, and my reaction has been somewhat mixed. It is very easy to use, I normally use the back of a knife blade instead of the striker, one less thing to carry around. And when I use it with my usuall tinders (cotton balls, dryer lint, cattail, pampas grass or a finely schreded tissue) it works as it should. However I was told the sparks that it generates were enough to ignite some dried grasses or other prepared tinder bundles. So far this has not been the case. I like it, I carry it, but so far I am kind of dissapointed. That being said I would and do recommend this or other lighters of the same type.

    Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

    (9 of 12 customers found this review helpful)

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    Dec

    5

    2008

    (6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

     
    4.0

    Great backup fire starter

    By haze11

    from Asheville, NC

    About Me Avid Adventurer

    Pros

    • Compact
    • Functional
    • Lightweight

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • Backcountry Camping
      • Survival

      Comments about Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Mini:

      I'm only planning to use the mini firesteel as a backup in case my lighter breaks and my matches are wet. I liked the fact that it only weighs one ounce. I count every ounce that goes in my pack.

      I tried it at home using dryer lint as tinder. At first I couldn't get enough sparks on the lint to get it to burn. I placed the rod flat on top of the tinder and rubbed it a couple of times. Doing that easily ignited the lint imediately.

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

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

      (6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

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      Apr

      28

      2008

      (6 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

       
      4.0

      The Best ! (with practice)

      By SirVive

      from Ridgefield, Wa

      About Me Avid Adventurer

      Site Member

      Pros

      • Compact
      • Functional
      • Lightweight

      Cons

      • Difficult to Use

      Best Uses

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

      Comments about Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Mini:

      These things are great! The next size larger is my main firestarting tool. I started fires with this one on a solo snow camping trip. Just remember to always practice a new skill at home before trusting your life to it.

      'SirVive'
      CCSAR (Clark County Search and Rescue)

      • What Is Your Gear Style:
      • Minimalist

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

      (6 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

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      Oct

      14

      2008

      (5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

       
      5.0

      Simple. Perfect. All you need.

      By Fire is Good

      from Texas

      About Me Casual Adventurer

      Pros

      • Compact
      • Easy to Use
      • Functional
      • Lightweight

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Backcountry Camping
        • Campgrounds
        • Day Trips
        • Survival

        Comments about Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Mini:

        FireSteel + Kindling = Fire Fast

        I went camping with this, found pine needles on the ground and within a few seconds had a blazing fire going. Make sure you use a little extra pressure to get good sparks. But all in all this was one the greatest purchases I've ever made. It was inexpensive, it's small enough to always have on me, and it is very effective in starting a fire.

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

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        (5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

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        Feb

        22

        2009

        (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

         
        4.0

        I keep it on my keychain

        By McJoeDonald

        from Michigan

        About Me Avid Adventurer

        Pros

        • Compact
        • Easy to Use
        • Functional
        • Lightweight

        Cons

        • A little too small

        Best Uses

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

        Comments about Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Mini:

        If you prepare your tinder properly, these are the easiest way to start a fire in any condition, short of a waterproof match or a functioning lighter.

        The tinder needs to be fluffy and relatively dry.

        just the right size for a keychain. Lasts for a while.

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

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

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        Mar

        8

        2009

        (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

         
        5.0

        Great For Keychain

        By Off The Path

        from Tennessee

        About Me Avid Adventurer

        Site Member

        Pros

        • Compact
        • Functional
        • Lightweight

        Cons

        • Takes Practice

        Best Uses

        • Day Trips
        • Everyday Carry EDC
        • Survival
        • Trips

        Comments about Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Mini:

        This thing will light tinder with practice. You have to learn how to strike sparks off of it, as it does not produce sparks as easily as the Army Model or Scout Model. I carry it on my keyring.

        One tinder easily overlooked is jute twine. Just fray the end a little and it will take a spark, then you can light more fibrous tinder. Be sure to put out the flame on your jute cord and save it for later. Make sure and scrape all of the dark coating off of the surface before attempting to use this firesteel. It will also break easily, so beginners need to learn first with a larger firesteel.

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

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

        Was this review helpful? Yes / No

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        Aug

        22

        2008

        (2 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

         
        1.0

        Broke in half.

        By Uncle Been

        from Bay Area

        About Me Casual/ Recreational

        Site Member

        Pros

        • Compact
        • Lightweight

        Cons

        • Difficult to Use
        • Ineffective

        Best Uses

        • Backcountry Camping
        • Campgrounds
        • River
        • Survival
        • Winter Camping

        Comments about Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Mini:

        I've never used this type before, so maybe I didn't understand its limitations... but I couldn't even get it to light wood shavings and paper. I got plenty of sparks and smoke, and almost got a flame to hold here and there, but before I had a chance to totally give up on it, the thing snapped in half. I'm not done with firesteel, but next time I shell out a little more money and hopefully get a more durable product.

        • What Is Your Gear Style:
        • Minimalist

        Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

        (2 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

        Was this review helpful? Yes / No

         - You may also flag this review

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        Mar

        3

        2009

        (1 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

         
        1.0

        broke after two strikes

        By meandmydogs

        from Lake Oswego, Oregon

        About Me Avid Adventurer

        Site Member

        Pros

          Cons

          • Ineffective

          Best Uses

          • Survival

          Comments about Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Mini:

          This would be a very useful tool but if not so brittle that it breaks in two. I would not want to rely on it in a survival situation.

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

          Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

          (1 of 4 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

          16

          2009

          (1 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

           
          1.0

          Broke 1st Time

          By Kevin503

          from Portland, Oregon

          About Me Casual Adventurer

          Site Member

          Pros

          • Compact
          • Functional
          • Lightweight

          Cons

          • Difficult to Use
          • Ineffective

          Best Uses

          • Survival

          Comments about Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Mini:

          This is a cheaply made. I used this one day and it broke on me. Good thing I wasn't in a real survival situation.

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

          Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

          (1 of 4 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:

          Oct

          14

          2008

          (1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

           
          3.0

          Good Enough

          By Jane of the Wild

          from San Diego, CA

          About Me Avid Adventurer

          Site Member

          Pros

          • Compact

          Cons

          • Tricky to use

          Best Uses

          • Survival

          Comments about Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Mini:

          This is a good product for the Survivalist. A bit tricky to use mostly because of its size. The trick is not to use the scraping tool that it comes with. Use a knife to shave bits off. Then the back of the knife to produce the sparks. Another issue that did come up was the carbon steel flint slid right off the handle. This can be attributed to me using alot more force to scrape and to produce spark with the scraping tool that it comes with. I simply slid the flint back into the handle and shoved it back into place.

          I was able to start a camp fire no problem. You just have to use the correct tinder.

          This works just fine.

          Service and delivery comments:

          I love REI because they let me pick up at their store and I don't have to pay for shipping. Their store is on the way home from work so I don't really spend more in gas.

          • Gift:
          • No

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

          (1 of 2 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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