The pros are saying all these things can let you down at just the wrong time. Waterproof matches require a striking material, and if the striking material gets wet, can't use em. Lighters can let you down in wind.

So it seems these guys prefer to have the steel and flint fire starters as the essential item. Any matches or lighters can also be in the kit if you have room.

along with a flint and steel and a bic. i carry two small (PLASTIC) jars one filled with potassium permanganate and one with glycerin a small amount of potassium permanganate and a few drops glycerin on top of it wait a few seconds and poof fire no striking needed . but be careful with the potassium permanganate it is an oxidizer and and can burn skin or eyes . both can be bought online

To save space in my survival kit. I use an old boy scout trick. I took a book of matches and dipped the ends of the matches into melted wax. That will water-proof them to a point. But the best thing to have in there is a flint and steel with some cotton balls.

I've never had any problems with my water proof matches and Vaseline strips, but I've had a few occasions where I couldn't get the plastic butane lighters to do anything. I do think that I'll look into the flint and steel and the stuff that COONER talks about.

In one of our "Reader's Digest Condensed" survival courses, the instructor gave us a "Let's say you're in a plane crash and your Bic lighter is ripped in half." story, showing us how it was still a great spark generator. I keep many around.

i think the reasoning behind that is that lighters don't work when they are wet .but if you take the same precations with your lighter as you would your matches you should be in good shape. however with the proper tinder a fire steel will out last both even when wet and won't malfunction.

Having both are fine. Put both in a soap dish. I have never had a pristine Bic lighter that I couldn't get to light in short order. That includes heavy rain and wind.

But the real trick is getting to Carnegie Hall. That is, whatever method you pick.... Practice with it. Again. And again. Until you're sick and tired of it. That's the way to be able to use it properly when you are sick and tired.

And if you choose a Bic lighter - test it reasonably regularly (at least quarterly, not more than monthly) to make sure it still has fuel, the action is still smooth, etc. But the only time you use your 'survival' Bic is when testing or in an actual survival situation, period.

It depends on how good you are with matches. I take waterproof matches, a cheap 30 cent lighter, and a zippo with an extra bottle of fluid.

sparking rod. starts more fires than either.