I have learned the hard way that "strike anywhere" matches are in reality rather particular about where they are struck. Strike them against anything too course and the little white head pops off. Butane lighters have trouble lighting in really cold weather, like when you need them most. My point being that producing the flame to light those "fire starters" can sometimes be a problem. The fire starter that has never failed me and is therefore my favorite is a cotton ball smeared with petroleum jelly. I use one of those metallic rods that when struck with a knife or steel provided will produce a shower of 5.000 degree sparks. The cotton ball will burst into flame and continue to burn even in a breeze long enough to get your tinder or thin kindling going. Whenever I head out the fire steel with striker and a waterproof vile of smeared cotton balls are on a nylon cord around my neck.

In the areas I hunt it's not too hard to find either cedar or standing dead jack pine. Base of jack pine is usually laden with pitch and twigs or branches broken off cedar will burn almost anytime. Birch is everywhere so I've always got "paper" available to start a fire. I've never had to rely on anything more than a candle to get a fire going. But I rarely bother building one that's not in my stove. In the kind of conditions I hunt, building a fire and keeping it going can often take more energy out of me than I could get in return from the fire. Always weigh that factor carefully before committing to hunker up. Once you've stopped and attempted the fire, you may not have enough juice left to get going again. As I have said before, fire starter is no replacement for the fuel you can get from the right food.

the smokey old mans beard grows on most trees