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Light My Fire FireSteel Scout
Long Term Report July 30, 2006
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FireSteel
after four months of use
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| Close-up of
fire-starter after four months of use |
Tester's Information
Name: Liz Neely
Age: 38
Gender: Female
Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight: 145 lb (65.8 kg)
Email address: liz at armory dot com
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Tester's Background:
I've been day hiking for many years, and started backpacking in 2005.
My hiking and backpacking has been primarily in the San Francisco Bay
Area of California, on designated trails, with occasional stream
crossings. My backpacking trips have ranged in length from two to four
days and have all been in state and national parks in the San Francisco
Bay area. The temperatures I encounter range from 25 F (4 C) to 80 F
(27 C), the elevations are between sea level and 7500 ft (2286 m), and
my pack weight is between 28 to 36 lbs (13 to 16 kg).
Product Information:
Manufacturer: Light My Fire
Year of Manufacture: 2006
URL: http://www.light-my-fire.se/
Listed Weight: 1.8 oz (52 g) in packaging
Measured Weight: 1.9 oz (54 g) in packaging, 1 oz (28 g) without
packaging
Listed Size: 4.2 x 6.8 x .9 in (107 x 173 x 23 mm) in packaging
Measured Size: 4.2 x 6.8 x .9 in (107 x 173 x 23 mm) in
packaging; .9 x 3.1 x .8 in (23 x 79 x 20 mm) without packaging
Available Colors: Yellow, Green, Blue, Red, Oak
MSRP: Unknown
Product Description:
The FireSteel Scout is a fire-starting device that allows the user to
start a fire without a match or lighter. According to the manufacturer,
it produces a 5500 F (3000 C) spark, will last for at least 3000
strikes, and will work in any weather and at any altitude.
The FireSteel consists of two parts: a stick of a metallic substance,
about 1.75 in (4.4 cm) in length, and slightly narrower than the
diameter of a pencil, topped by a plastic handle (the
manufacturer refers to this part as the "fire-starter"); and a flat
piece of metal about 2.75 in (7.0 cm) long and 1 in (2.5 cm) wide with
notches in one end of it (the manufacturer refers to this part as the
"striker"). These two parts are held together by a cord. The FireSteel
is used by pulling the notched end of the striker down the side of the
fire-starter,
creating a large spark.
Initial Impression:
To read about my initial impression of The FireSteel Scout, before
field testing, please read my Initial
Report.
Impression after two months of use:
To read about my impression of The FireSteel Scout after two months of
field testing, please ready my Field
Report.
Field Information
Since writing my field report, I have used the FireSteel Scout on a
four day backpacking trip, numerous times in my kitchen, and several
times in my backyard.
On the backpacking trip, the elevations were approximately 6100 - 7500
ft (1859 - 2286 m) and the temperatures were approximately 40 - 75 F (4
- 24 C). The elevation at my home is around sea level, and the daytime
temperatures (indoors and outdoors) this time of year are between 65 -
75 F (18 - 24 C).
Over the course of the full four month test period, I estimate that I
have used the FireSteel to light my backpacking stove approximately
forty times, my kitchen range and oven around 100 times, and for
experimentation on several occasions in my backyard. I estimate I've
struck it about 400-500 times in total. I've used the FireSteel at
elevations from Sea Level to 9400 ft (2865 m) and in temperatures from
25 to 75 F (-4 to 24 C).
For detailed descriptions of my experiences with the FireSteel during
the first two months of testing, please read my Field
Report.
In the two months since my field report, my experiences have been
similar, except I have not had any "accidents" as I mentioned in my
Field Report. I had one breakthrough while experimenting in my
backyard; I was able to ignite a pile of dried grass and leaves to a
full fire. It took me several tries on different days to accomplish
this, and it took 37 strikes to ignite the pile, but it ignited!! After
being certain it was fully ignited to the point where I could have then
turned it into a full campfire, I doused it with water to put it out. I
then built a similar pile of dried leaves and grass, but was unable to
ignite it even after 70 strikes, at which point my hand was too tired
to strike anymore. Later in the day, I tried again, but was again
unable to ignite a similar pile of dried leaves and grass. I also tried
to ignite a fire starter stick (the type that typically comes with a
box of firewood) and was unable to ignite that using the FireSteel.
Summary
Ease of Use/Convenience
I personally do not find the FireSteel as easy to use as a match or
lighter; while I am getting better at it, and I can now sometimes get
my backpacking stove lit on the first strike, it has the risk of
knocking my stove over as described in detail in my Field
Report, and it sometimes takes me two strikes to light the stove.
While I have now proven to myself that it's possible to ignite a pile
of dry leaves and grass, my experience is also that it's very difficult
(for me) to do this. Since Convenience and Ease of Use go hand-in-hand,
in general, because of my difficulties using the FireSteel, I don't
find it as convenient as a match or lighter.
Durability
Even after four months of use, I still find the FireSteel very
durable.
The fire-starter portion does show wear marks where it's been struck,
but it shows no deterioration in performance; it still produces as many
sparks with each strike as it did when it was brand new, and is just as
easy to strike.
Safety
I find the FireSteel to be very safe to carry around in my pack;
my tests indicated that it could not accidentally produce a spark. I
also have found that the sparks do not burn my fingers, no matter how
close to my skin they get. My only safety concern with the FireSteel is
the risk of knocking over my backpacking stove, as I discussed in my Field
Report.
Likes and Dislikes
Three things I like about the Light My
Fire FireSteel Scout
- It does not appear that it will break or stop working in the
field even after a lot of use.
- It produces just as many sparks when it's wet as when it's dry.
- It's a neat thing to show people.
Three things I don't like about the
Light My Fire FireSteel Scout
- I find it more difficult to light things with than a lighter or a
match.
- I seem to be more likely to knock over my backpacking stove while
using it then while using a lighter.
- It takes two hands to use it.
Conclusion:
I will not choose to use this as my primary fire-starting device in the
future, due to it being more difficult for me to ignite things using
this compared to a lighter. I would recommend this to people who like
the "coolness" factor, and to people who don't want to worry about
running out of lighter fluid or matches.
Thanks to BackpackGearTest.org
and Light My Fire for giving me the
opportunity
to test the FireSteel Scout.
Read more reviews of Light My Fire gear
Read more gear reviews by Liz Neely
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