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Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter
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Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter

Item # 775076

$23.95

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

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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

Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter Specs

Specification

Description

Weight2.7 ounces
DimensionsUnavailable
MaterialFlint/ABS case

Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter
 
4.0

(based on 12 reviews)

83%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Easy to use (9)
  • Functional (9)
  • Compact (6)
  • Lightweight (6)

Cons

  • Heavy / bulky (4)

Best Uses

  • Survival (10)
  • Backcountry camping (9)
  • Camping (8)
  • River (7)
  • Day trip (6)
  • Reviewer Profile:
  • Avid adventurer (6), Outdoor professional (3)
  • What Is Your Gear Style:
  • Survivalist / minimalist (9), Comfort driven (3)

Reviewed by 12 customers

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Oct

29

2008

(11 of 20 customers found this review helpful)

 
2.0

not ultimate survival

By survivorguy2

from great smokie mountains

About Me Casual Adventurer

Pros

  • Compact
  • Lightweight
  • Many sparks

Cons

  • Difficult to Use
  • Hard to aim

Best Uses

  • Campgrounds
  • Winter Camping

Comments about Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter:

for the price this thing could be alot better. it isn't half bad but i mush prefer the swedish firesteels and strongly recommend them over this. they are cheaper, easier to use, and easier to aim. it also somewhat hurts your hand if you have to use it repeatedly, or are in something of a tight space. bottom line-too expensive, and there are better products

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

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

(11 of 20 customers found this review helpful)

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Jun

21

2008

(11 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

 
4.0

Hot, hot, hot!

By Explorer Ron

from Phoenix, Arizona

About Me Casual/ Recreational

Site Member

Pros

  • Easy to Use
  • Functional

Cons

  • Heavy

Best Uses

  • Anywhere you need fire
  • Backcountry Camping
  • Campgrounds
  • Day Trips
  • River
  • Survival
  • Trips
  • Winter Camping

Comments about Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter:

I own so many fire starting tools that my wife must think I'm a pyromaniac. This one is so easy to use, and works so well, there is no reason to carry matches or a lighter. It throws off a shower of super hot sparks and makes igniting tinder a snap.

If this devise were smaller, it would be perfect.

  • What Is Your Gear Style:
  • Comfort Driven

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

(11 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

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Oct

19

2008

(9 of 9 customers found this review helpful)

 
4.0

Wouldn't want to go to work without this

By Rescwrk

from Southwest Border

About Me Outdoor Professional

Pros

  • Compact
  • Easy to Use
  • Functional
  • Lightweight
  • Reliable

Cons

  • Plastic case

Best Uses

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

Comments about Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter:

Item is a must have. Use it often on job, never fails. One piece, dumby proof, works when wet, won't dull my knife. Only improvement would be if the case was made of something tougher than plastic. Want my main firestarter to be bulletproof. I would suck it up and carry the extra 1/2 ounce. That said, I've had the same one for years, it gets tossed around in my pack regularly (i.e. working out of vehicles and working out of helo's).

  • Gift:
  • No
  • 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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Jun

12

2008

(9 of 13 customers found this review helpful)

 
5.0

expensive but reliable

By alexthegreat

from San Jose, CA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

Site Member

Pros

  • Compact
  • Easy to Use
  • Functional
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Bulky

Best Uses

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

Comments about Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter:

this tool is very lightweight and easy to use. some other people might prefer the magnesium flint with no scraping knife which i think is stupid because you will wear out your knife very easily. The BlastMatch is way easier to get a fire because it has a softer type of metal. overall this tool is very useful

  • What Is Your Gear Style:
  • Minimalist

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

(9 of 13 customers found this review helpful)

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Aug

26

2008

(6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

 
4.0

One of the Best

By espia4ci

from Sierra Vista, AZ

About Me Avid Adventurer

Site Member

Pros

  • Easy to Use
  • Fool Proof Operation
  • Functional

Cons

  • Bulky
  • Cheap plastic
  • Heavy
  • Not INDESTRUCTABLE

Best Uses

  • Backcountry Camping
  • Campgrounds
  • River
  • Survival

Comments about Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter:

This is one of the best ferro/mag fire starters on the market. It is probably the easiest to use as it requires no external striker. This device was designed to make using a ferro/mag starter fool proof. Plus it only requires one hand to make it work. The plastic case feels very flimsy and cheap like it would break very easily. Also, unlike other firestarters, it has moving parts that can break (plastic case, spring) and make the device nonfunctional.

  • 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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Feb

26

2009

(4 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

 
4.0

Pyro's Dream

By Kernmantle

from Pennsylvania Higlands

About Me Outdoor Professional

Pros

  • Effective

Cons

    Best Uses

      Comments about Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter:

      Pyros get ready. This is a flint and steel on steroids. It throws a narrow cone of brilliantly hot sparks. This forceful cone of sparks inundates deep into tinder and can burn through hard materials as readily as a propane torch. It will work at high altitude, wet, and in a gale force wind. It will last for many thousands of sparks. I love it.
      It IS bigger than your typical flint and steel but it works better. You can light a cigarette without having to drag on it. Try lighting a cigarette with a regular flint and steel.

      • What Is Your Gear Style:
      • Minimalist

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

      (4 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

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      Oct

      13

      2008

      (4 of 9 customers found this review helpful)

       
      2.0

      A Large Piece of Flint in a Cheap Case

      By wsuriot

      from Seattle, WA

      About Me Avid Adventurer

      Pros

        Cons

        • Bulky
        • Ineffective

        Best Uses

        • Backcountry Camping
        • Survival

        Comments about Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter:

        Frankly I was expecting a lot more. The case is cheap. It's pretty bulky for just a piece of flint. The blade causes no spark at all. I have to strike it with my knife to get any kind of spark.

        Overall it works, but is not quite as advertised.

        • What Is Your Gear Style:
        • Minimalist

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

        (4 of 9 customers found this review helpful)

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        Jul

        2

        2009

        (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

         
        5.0

        Works like a charm

        By weezy

        from Billings, MT

        About Me Avid Adventurer

        Pros

        • Compact
        • 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:

          I don't think they could one up this one. Sure you could knock off 1/2 an ounce and make it smaller, but I like the size personally. Doesn't get any easier than this. Even my nephews and nieces can use it. I toss it in my daypack or ruck wherever I go. Thought at first the magnesium would break or the spring might give out, but it is still going strong 5 years later. Awesome product.

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

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

          (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

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          Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

          Dec

          8

          2008

          (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

           
          4.0

          BlastMatch a blast!

          By paddler2

          from Baton Rouge, LA

          About Me Avid Adventurer

          Site Member

          Pros

          • Compact
          • Easy to Use
          • Functional

          Cons

            Best Uses

            • Survival

            Comments about Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter:

            I've used many "fire starters" over the decades. This is the easiest and best that I've used. Produces a plethora of sparks and lights tinder immediately. Recently took it to a survival course and it was the only "fire starter" that performed perfectly every time and did it quickly. Use a piece of wood or rock under your tinder to push upon and it works great. Every survival kit should have one!

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

            Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

            (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

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            Oct

            14

            2009

             
            4.0

            I always have this with me

            By Mountain Matty

            from Yosemite

            About Me Avid Adventurer

            Site Member

            Pros

            • Easy to Use
            • Functional

            Cons

              Best Uses

              • Backcountry Camping
              • Survival

              Comments about Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter:

              I finally busted the striker on this thing. I've had my blast match for at least 8 years and when bic lighters, matches in those groovy waterproof cases, and other stuff fail, this thing along with some Coghlan's Fire Paste will get the job done. I love to show people that you can dunk it in water and then start a fire with it.

              I agree with the others that if they made it a bit smaller and improved the casing it would be a 5 star product.

              I've now got it wrapped in duck tape and will continue to carry it as my primary survival fire starting setup

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

              Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

              Was this review helpful? Yes / No

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              Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

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