Trekker. Best Emergency Waterproof Survival Fire Starter. Magnesium and Euro Fire Steel Ferro Rod. Compact Durable Tool for Bushcraft, Camping, Backpacking, Hiking, Hunting, or Bug Out Bag

I have had a ferro rod and lost it. I almost bought another one similar to the one I lost but read the reviews on this. Then went on Youtube and watched a video or two on this one. After watching the videos I liked it. And figured if it was no good I could always buy another ferro rod.When I got it I took it outside to try. It seemed odd to scrape a bit of the wood off but I did. The only thing, you have to make sure there is no wind or put it in a hole so the tiny slivers of wood do not blow out. Then I scrapped the magnesium on the wood. I have had bad luck with magnesium not starting in the past and was not expecting much.Finally it was time to see how the spark would go. Looking at the little tool to strike the rod I almost got my backpacking knife and used the back of the blade. The tool looked so small lol. But I took the little sharpened tool, struck it down the rod and Wow!It made a big and Strong shower of sparks! The first try actually surprised me it was so intense! The tiny pile of wood and magnesium I had made for a first try did not light but honestly I was off a little. I positioned the rod better and the next strike lit it right up!The magnesium shavings were small enough even they lit! I was very pleased. Of course I had to try it again and made the pile of wood shavings from the handle a little larger as well as the magnesium. Took the little scraper-tool and first try it set the shavings on fire.Then I had to try it on other things without using the shavings from the tool, like cotton balls with Vaseline. Worked perfect.I love it. Much better to me than a regular ferro rod.

Very very good product, very easy to use would recommend this to any survival person like myself.

This thing is too bulky and heavy for backpacking, and if you carry a few bic lighters, do you need one of these? But I carry it anyway.The ferro material that generates sparks is far and away better than anything else I've used. You get a veritable shower of sparks and I've never had to strike more than twice to get cotton balls burning. It's like fireworks, compared to most cheap starters, and it doesn't take long to get the hang of it. And it looks like it will be good for hundreds if not thousands of lights. It works when cold and wet (which a bic lighter might not) and with metals other than the enclosed striker (the back of a knife will do).The magnesium is hard to shave off, but if you need it to start a fire, it's because you really need a fire and you'll put up with the difficulty. The use of paracord to attach the striker to the rod is a nice, if showy, touch. The fact that you can carve up the handle for kindling in an emergency is cute, though I question whether it's worth the extra size and weight it adds. People can pack their own tinder. To be perfect, they probably should have hollowed out the handle as a place to pack cotton balls and petroleum jelly, the firestarter's friends.

Hiking the Arizona trail, and this fire starter has not let me down. Sturdy construction. According to the enclosed data sheet, you can shave the handle to assist with your fire-starting efforts; however, I have not had to go that route. I highly recommend this bush tool; you will not be disappointed.

This is the best fire starter we have bought, a little learning curve, then one strike and the fire is going, this will probably outlast me. Heirloom grade product

I don't know how much of a value this is since I'm new to fire starters, but I can say it works. This makes it fairly easy to start a fire as long as you have some dry paper, leaves, dryer lint, etc. etc. as a starter medium.

what I liked the most was the generous size of the fire starter lots of material for the mags bar to scrape off and a large flint bar to strike a spark off of .

This is a very well made Ferro rod. All materials and parts are very high quality. Produces a serious amount of sparks.In the past I've bought a couple Fieldcraft Survival brand Ferro rods, I'm absolutely convinced this is the exact same product, just branded differently and cheaper.I'll be buying more to give as gifts.