spark lite fire starter?

MustardMan

MustardMan

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Mar 14, 2009
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Has anyone had any experience with the spark lite fire starters? Look like a convenient little one handed starter to put in a pocket sized kit, or to keep spares in different packs. I have heard of an older version that was all metal, but the newer, mass produced ones seem to have plastic cases. Any experience with the plastic to see how durable it is?


http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/spark_lite_fire_starter_basic.html

(BPL no longer carries them, but they are available all over the place, including some retail chains)
 
pretty durable I have a couple of them. Very handy and they work really well. Extremely simple design. I like that.
 
A couple of thoughts...
I have SparkLites scattered all through my gear, including my CRK sable, and my tweaked Ritter Kit. As C Bryant points out, they are handy, functional, and fairly durable;
however, my life-long experience with Murphy keeps dragging my attention to two design concerns: the body if the instrument is plastic, and ther is no way to either check or replace the spring/flint. I understand the original models were brass, with the capacity to do flint replacement, just like a Zippo.

Tad Gear seems to have addressed these concerns, and now offers a brass model of this tool.

I've got a couple of them on order, and will pass along a mini-review if anybody's interested.

Hope this helps...
 
I have a couple stowed away, and they work really well, in good conditions. I have yet to test them in rain or snow as I have with firesteels though.
 
Thanks for the pointer to the tad gear version - the plastic body was my biggest worry about these, so it's good to find a metal alternative.
 
MustardMan said:
Has anyone had any experience with the spark lite fire starters? Look like a convenient little one handed starter to put in a pocket sized kit, or to keep spares in different packs. I have heard of an older version that was all metal, but the newer, mass produced ones seem to have plastic cases. Any experience with the plastic to see how durable it is?


http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/spark_lite_fire_starter_basic.html

(BPL no longer carries them, but they are available all over the place, including some retail chains)
Click to expand...

I've toyed with the idea of trying these myself, please report back if you get one !;):thumbup:
 
My brass "sparkers" from TG arrived today. (sorry, no pics...:thumbdn:) This is a pretty impressive little tool, if a bit overpriced (what from TG isn't overpriced?). The construction seems solid, it kicks out a spark about the size of a dime, and appears bombproof.
However, it bears an interesting resemblence to the old lantern/stove lighters illustrated in the excellent write-up @ Equipped to Survive; except of course, it is straight like the plastic and aluminum versions. It is also not square, but round. This makes holding and manipulation slightly less comfortable than the square-bodies.

It does have an advantage (IMHO) over the new aluminium models described at the previously-mentioned website as far as changing the flint... this can be done with a small screwdriver, or with your fingers (if you haven't tightened it down too far) and requires no allen wrench.

I am leaning srongly toward ordering the orange aluminum model for direct comparison, but the truth is that most of us will use these strikers as an absolute last-ditch to start a fire... not for everyday conflagrations.

I will replace a couple of my plastic models in a couple of kits with these brass strikers, but I'd like them a lot more if they were square, and if there was a small hole/loop/ring so they could be carried around the neck or secured to a knife sheath...

TG sends them packaged in a neat little plastic case that can be necklaced, but it pretty much takes two hands to open that case... as one-hand use is one of the selling points of this tool..... :confused:

Again, sorry about the lack of pictures... :D
 
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I know they work well with the tinder quick, but how good is it lighting natural timbers like shaved wood or dried grass?
 
quietmike said:
A spark is a spark, it mainly depends on the operator.
Click to expand...

I disagree my kershaw sparks easier than my BSA , I would imagine thee sparklite throws less spark than the bsa.

I am sure they all work on the tinder quick. But what about more frustrating stuff like shaved wood
 
I have one in my altoid tin PSK because it is so compact.
I've found firesteels that small difficult to use without a handle, so it's a very attractive option if you want small.

I haven't used it a ton, just made sure it worked and i knew how to use it.
It doesn't seem to throw sparks as far as you easily can with a firesteel, but I didn't have a problem lighting some jute fibers after a couple tries.

I don't understand the desire for a metal one...I'm having trouble thinking up a reasonable scenario in which the plastic one could break...heck if anything i'd worry about the opposite...i've seen aluminum just snap...
...and if you're worried, buy two plastic ones, and it will still be cheaper. I don't really need to replace the flint either, it's a backup, not a first choice. I'll probably never wear out the flint on mine.
 
The Sparklite does not throw as large an area of spark as some other methods, but since there is no strike, just a flick of the wheel you can put the spark right on your tender. The Tinder Quik tabs take a spark great. Realistically if you only have one hand it will be far superior to any regular fire steel for ease of sparking. If you can use a lighter you can use a Sparklite.
 
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