Zippo Mag Strike Ferrocerium Rod Fire Starter

The Zippo Mag Strike is a ferrocerium rod fire starter with its own striker.

A ferrocerium rod works wet, works cold and works after being dropped, which is the entire argument for carrying one alongside a lighter rather than instead of one. A lighter fails when it is out of fuel or soaked. A ferro rod has no fuel and does not care about water.

The sparks it throws are extremely hot but very brief, so it lights prepared tinder rather than a log. Carrying tinder alongside it is not optional. It has no shelf life to speak of, which makes it the right thing to leave in a pack or a vehicle for years against occasional need. Explore more survival gear.

• Works wet, cold and after being dropped
• A lighter fails on fuel or water, a ferro rod does not
• Lights prepared tinder, not a log
• No shelf life, so it can live in a pack for years