The what if gear list.

[realunlucky]

This is the best thing when you need a fire now, no matter the conditions, no matter how bad your body is shaking, you can always get a spark- https://www.rokslide.com/product/lightning-strike-fire-starter/

My pouch is orange so I know to ensure it's in whatever pack I'm taking. I keep the bare essentials in there so it's light as possible so I never leave it behind.
550 cord
55 gallon contractor tash bag
Poncho
Emergency mylar blanket
Whistle
Compass
Fire starter
Lighter
Matches
Flint/steel- lightening strike
Gallon bag for water collection
Extra blade for havlon
Combat dressing

 

[Bobrobheimer]

I have also carried some of these on colder hunts:

https://a.co/d/2qWZHRa

I actually don’t know how good they are as I have tried them! Which is definitely stupid.

 

[Wprinkle]

- 1/4” thick stack of paper towels or napkins & block of paraffin.
- double boiler to melt wax.
- cool off in a plastic bag with pot or book for weight.
- cut into 1-1/4” squares, keep half of them (2 oz) in your pack.
- flip up a corner to light & burns with a 6” flame for over 5 minutes.

Can you elaborate? When/ how do you mix the paper towel and paraffin? Do you boil it together?

 

[TaperPin]

Can you elaborate? When/ how do you mix the paper towel and paraffin? Do you boil it together?

The can the wax is melted in can be any size, but it’s easier if it’s fairly wide. Just set the can in a pan with about 1/2” of barely boiling water and it will have plenty of heat to melt the wax. It’s tempting to not use the pan of boiling water and heat the wax directly on a burner, but the double boiler is the proven safest method preferred by candle makers. The double boiler can’t get hotter than the boiler point of water. When the wax is fully melted the stove burner can be shut off. The paper towels or napkins are then pushed down into the melted wax and it fully saturates the paper in a few minutes.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

The can the wax is melted in can be any size, but it’s easier if it’s fairly wide. Just set the can in a pan with about 1/2” of barely boiling water and it will have plenty of heat to melt the wax. It’s tempting to not use the pan of boiling water and heat the wax directly on a burner, but the double boiler is the proven safest method preferred by candle makers. The double boiler can’t get hotter than the boiler point of water. When the wax is fully melted the stove burner can be shut off. The paper towels or napkins are then pushed down into the melted wax and it fully saturates the paper in a few minutes.

do you sit a stack of paper towels at once or one at a time.
How many layers do you prefer?

 

[sierracharlie338]

Can you elaborate? When/ how do you mix the paper towel and paraffin? Do you boil it together?

do you sit a stack of paper towels at once or one at a time.
How many layers do you prefer?

You can also use makeup remover discs found at any grocery or drug store.

I used a 3$ metal dog bowl over a cooking grate offset from a fire in the back yard. You can also add a little lighter fluid with the wax for easy fire starter cookies that will light with a ferro rod. The double boiler method is safer

These work great I’ve made several batches. I bought the tins in bulk on Amazon and gave them away for Xmas gifts.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Awesome idea,use my rogue nicotine pouches case for storage!

 

[TaperPin]

do you sit a stack of paper towels at once or one at a time.
How many layers do you prefer?

However many layers it takes to be 1/4” when compressed is what I shoot for - I’ve never actually counted how many layers that would be. Just hold them together while going in the wax and be patient while the wax soaks clear through. The easy button is just grabbing a stack of napkins or commercial paper towels because they naturally lay flat and stay together. You can also use a partial roll of paper towels or toilet paper that compresses to 1/4” and taking the cardboard tube out of the middle helps it compress more evenly.

A stack of cardboard or printer paper would burn just as well, but doesn’t saturate as quickly and requires a big flat wax melt pot since they don’t fold very easily.

Stacks of paper products thicker than 1/4” also burn just fine, there’s just not an advantage unless you want it to burn longer, and cutting a 1/2” stack with a utility knife is 4x as difficult. The 1/4” stack take three or four cuts to get through.

 

[Silviuswolf]

Is there a particular fire starting kit you use? Or materials you make sure you have in it?

Pyro putty is a little pricey but that’s what I have in my possibles pouch. I have the winter blend which is waterproof. I also pack like 4 lighters in various spots of my bag.