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Ultimate Survival Technologies Sparkie Fire Starter
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Ultimate Survival Technologies Sparkie Fire Starter

Item # 783662

$14.95

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

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Designed for use in the most adverse weather conditions, the lightweight and compact Sparkie™ fire starter from Ultimate Survival Technologies is a must-have for any serious adventurer.

  • Weighing in at less than 1 oz., the Sparkie fire starter is about a third the weight and less than half the volume of its big brother, the BlastMatch™
  • Internal tungsten carbide striker allows simple 1-handed operation; user must press thumb button to engage the striker
  • Rubberized grip gives you great control during use
  • Spring-loaded flint bar rotates 360° to allow for even wear; bar retracts inside the body for compact storage
  • If the Sparkie gets wet, simply wipe it off and it's ready for use

Made in USA.

Item 783662

Ultimate Survival Technologies Sparkie Fire Starter Specs

Specification

Description

Weight0.85 ounce
Dimensions2.3 x 1.2 x 0.7
MaterialFlint/ABS case

Ultimate Survival Technologies Sparkie Fire Starter Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Ultimate Survival Technologies Sparkie Fire Starter
 
2.3

(based on 6 reviews)

33%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Compact (6)
  • Lightweight (5)
  • Easy to use (3)
  • Functional (3)

Cons

    Best Uses

      • Reviewer Profile:
      • Avid adventurer (6)
      • What Is Your Gear Style:
      • Minimalist (5)

      Reviewed by 6 customers

      Sort by

      Displaying reviews 1-6

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      Jan

      27

      2009

      (7 of 9 customers found this review helpful)

       
      2.0

      Quirks not yet worked out.

      By Falcon5000

      from fl

      About Me Avid Adventurer

      Pros

      • Compact
      • Easy to use when not jam
      • Lightweight

      Cons

      • 3 strike shots per time
      • Jams up easy
      • Very small rod

      Best Uses

      • Backcountry Camping
      • Survival

      Comments about Ultimate Survival Technologies Sparkie Fire Starter:

      The product is a great concept but the design is prone for the rod to jam up in the body (even after cleaning), rod is way too small, cheap plastic guard easily gets damaged and your only allowed 3 strikes before letting it cool down or you will damage the unit. Bottom line is if the bugs are worked out it could be a awesome product, but for now it needs to go back to the drawing board. To many failure points and not enough rod for long time use like the blast match. Love the blast match, hate the sparky for now.

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

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

      (7 of 9 customers found this review helpful)

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      Feb

      2

      2009

      (2 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

       
      4.0

      Big shower of sparks

      By JL

      from Boston, MA

      About Me Avid Adventurer

      Pros

      • Compact
      • Easy to Use
      • Functional
      • Lightweight

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Backcountry Camping
        • Campgrounds

        Comments about Ultimate Survival Technologies Sparkie Fire Starter:

        I loved the other UST products but they were always too heavy for my purposes. I use a flint to start my alcohol stove and start the occasional campfire.

        At first I thought that it looks kinda like it could break easily and the pop-out mechanism could easily jam in the closed position. But it seems fine, and I figured if I was in an emergency I could break it open to
        use the flint anyways.

        I really like the one handed operation a lot. I use an alcohol stove and I never like lighting it using a conventional flint and striker. I always
        worried about the striker hitting the stove by mistake and knocking it over and spilling the alcohol out. The Sparkie totally solves the problem! Now I can just extend the flint, hold it over the stove and press the flint in with my index finger. Much easier and safer!

        The sparks are great, like your other two products which I've tried.

        Anyways, nice product, much more usable than the SparkLites for example...bigger sparks, easier to use when hands are very cold...just great!

        JL

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

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        (2 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

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        Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

        Jul

        7

        2009

        (1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

         
        2.0

        Pass on this gimmick

        By Jabbakahut

        from Eastern Oregon

        About Me Avid Adventurer

        Pros

        • Compact
        • Easy to Use
        • Functional
        • Lightweight

        Cons

        • Design

        Best Uses

        • Fun

        Comments about Ultimate Survival Technologies Sparkie Fire Starter:

        I wanted a simple striker to keep on my key chain. This product only appears to fit the bill. In terms of spark generation-it does well as long as you aren't on a slippery surface (i.e. a rock). The one handed use is nice and the strikes have been reliable. It does feel cheap and I'm suspect of how long it would last.

        I rate it so low because the selling point seems to be the collapsability of it. But it will not lock shut. When it was on my keys-each time I pulled it out of the pocket it was in the open position (which could catch and break). Even pulling it out of a pack it will be open.

        If a product is designed to remain closed until use, and it doesn't fulfill this design-it is a complete failure in my opinion.

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

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

        (1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

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        Jun

        1

        2009

        (1 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

         
        1.0

        Interesting idea, but...

        By Scoutmaster Matt

        from Bellevue, WA

        About Me Avid Adventurer

        Site Member

        Pros

        • Compact

        Cons

        • Difficult to Use

        Best Uses

          Comments about Ultimate Survival Technologies Sparkie Fire Starter:

          A neat idea, but don't count on it should the device become wet. Also, it is ergonomically awkward if you're trying to light a stove.

          As with any item in your ten essentials list, practice at home to ensure you'll be able to make it work in the field. Better yet, have the salesperson demonstrate the product in the store.

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

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

          (1 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:

          Oct

          22

          2009

           
          1.0

          Garbage

          By getlost

          from Poulsbo Wa.

          About Me Avid Adventurer

          Site Member

          Pros

          • Compact
          • Lightweight

          Cons

          • Difficult to Use
          • Gums up easy
          • Let me down
          • Not Durable

          Best Uses

          • Playing in my back yard

          Comments about Ultimate Survival Technologies Sparkie Fire Starter:

          This product is light enough for a back up fire starter.This should never be your main source for flamage!

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

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

          Was this review helpful? Yes / No

           - You may also flag this review

          Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

          May

          7

          2009

          (0 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

           
          4.0

          Showers of Sparks

          By Evan

          from Parrish, FL

          About Me Avid Adventurer

          Pros

          • Compact
          • Easy to Use
          • Functional
          • Lightweight

          Cons

            Best Uses

            • Campgrounds
            • Day Trips
            • Trips

            Comments about Ultimate Survival Technologies Sparkie Fire Starter:

            This is a nice fire starter. Now, I admit I haven't even attempted to start a fire with this but I think it will work just find (I spark it for fun).
            Now, I wouldn't recommend this in a survival kit because it is plastic and it could brake but it works great for every camping trip.

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

            Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

            (0 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:

            Displaying reviews 1-6

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