ust Spark Force Firestarter
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Small enough to stow in your pocket during backcountry sojurns, the ust Spark Force Firestarter lets you start a campfire even in adverse conditions.
Shop similar products- Pulling the striker down the flint bar emits sparks to light stove, paper, dry grass, bark or other tinder
- Fireproof in solid form, it works in wet, windy conditions and at any altitude
- Includes handle, striker, fire-starter rod and cord to keep striker and starter together
| Best Use | Backpacking |
|---|---|
| Material(s) | ABS plastic case |
| Dimensions | 3.1 x 0.75 x 0.4 inches |
| Weight | 1 ounce |
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Cotton Rounds, pealed apart...
Great product, but here are a few tips that helped me: 1) I scraped off black coating, 2) when striking, I press hard, using narrow edge of striker, and tilt back to the flat edge during the last part of the downward strike. 3) I have WetFire available for damp weather, but use plain, flat, cotton rounds (the kind for make-up removal) for dry weather -- but peal the round apart -- dividing it in two -- so that the inside fuzzy parts are up and I strike upon (or above) those -- it usually catches immediately. I keep cotton rounds and quartered cotton rounds in my kit along with the WetFire.
30 seconds to get the hang of it.
The coating needs to go, as others have said (See photo). Once that's done, strike at an angle, and you'll see the sparks fly. Getting the coating off took no more than 30 seconds to get to the point of actually creating sparks. It's nice and compact, easy to throw in your pocket or pack.
UST Spark Force - emphasis on Sparks
This takes a little prep - you must Scrape off the black protective coating and get down to shiny metal on the round ferro rod. Try to clean the full length of the rod and at least a quarter of the circumference. Then use a sharp edge of the striker at about a 45deg angle to scrape (not just rub - as if you were taking a shaving off the rod) a shower of sparks and little molten globules into your prepared tinder. The unit stores cleanly and compactly in itself, and fits easily in a pocket, fire kit, tool kit, or glove box. After trying one, I got several more to have handy as backups in different locations. My units came with both halves tied on a loop of cord. I retied it so each half is on either end of the cord as shown in the picture. The excess cord can be fed thru the slots and around the case so as to not get tangled.
Requires some finesse
This works well but requires some finesse. You will stroke it a bunch of times with no success and suddenly every stroke will produce a flood of sparks. Next time you use it you might go through the same motions, but once you learn how to use it is very reliable. I replaced my BIC lighters with this because the lighters don't always work - flints fall out and everything else. Was almost left in the backcountry of Yellowstone with no fire. I've used it to light my MSR white gas stove, canister gas stoves, Coleman duel fuel lanterns, and a Primus gas canister lantern. Not affected by weather or anything. By all means take a lighter, but this is a good backup. Just practice a little with it. Don't let your first test be in the backcountry with cold, shivering hands.
works
I agree with the other reviews about the need to get the black coating off and the advisability of practicing before you need it. I bought this as part of my compact emergency survival kit which I carry when I am day hiking. I hope I never have to actually use it, but if I need to, I am confident I can light a fire with it. I carry cotton balls as fire starters and a few matches as well. I like its small size, bright color, and the fact that the two pieces are tied together.
Great striker
I'm truly impressed with this little device to start a fire each and every time. Although I still carry matches as a backup this is the best for starting my MSR fire for cooking/boiling water. :-)
UST Spark Force Firestarter
Simply awesome. I just went on a camping trip in Wisconsin and this firestarter won MVP! Once you get the dark coating off, it showers sparks like crazy into your tinder. It ignites just about anything.
Works fine but does have a learning curve
Being able to start a fire without matches was one of my camping goals, so I picked up this item. I'm glad that I practiced extensively after buying it since I wasn't familiar with the striking technique. Using vaseline-soaked cottonballs (seriously - they're the perfect firestarter), I found myself struggling to get it to create sparks while practicing. I still brought it on my first camping trip and was able to get it to start a fire. While I'm still refining my technique (I have had subsequent success with it), it seems like you have to push down really hard and make sure it "scrapes" a bit. Just to be on the safe side I still carry matches with me (and quite frankly have used them in the morning when I want to get a fire going quickly) but I do find this to be a very useful item that will probably get easier with time.
Does it's job well
As other reviewers have stated, you need to scrape off the black coating to get a good spark from this (hence 4 of 5 stars), but once you've done that it works well. Got lots of sparks easily, and watched as someone lit their gas stove immediately--first spark! HOWEVER, don't try this with Esbit tablets. Those require a constant flame to get started, it took several of us a good 30 seconds of constant flame to get our tablets burning on a recent campout. Sparks won't do it.
Workout to start a fire
Forgot matches on camping trip--had this for emergencies--it worked. But it probably took 20 mins and 1.5 beers to get the fire going ;)