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Netherlands, Amsterdam
1 Level
707 Review
65 Karma

Review on The Friendly Swede Ferro Rods: The Ultimate Fire Starter Survival Tool For Camping & Hiking! by Aaron Long

Revainrating 5 out of 5

I don't care if the rod is good for another 500 fires or another million fires

I've made fire a lot of different ways. This Extra Length (3 1/2 inch x 5/16 inch) rod is much easier to use. The extra 1/2 inch means a lot. Some practical advice though. These strikers are far more aggressive than others I've used. That means they'll throw more spark but wear out the rod faster. But, that's ok. When I'm cold and wet, I don't care if the rod is good for another 500 fires or another million fires. I'm only interested in the first one. So the more intense spark is what I need. In a situation where I'd give $100 for a DRY Bic lighter, I'd be glad to wear out a $6 ferro rod. Also, you can spark this rod using broken glass or anything else that's harder than the rare earth minerals that make up the rod. The chain is pretty, but I have broken similar chains by pulling the string on a light fixture. I'm putting the chains up and using a length of 550 paracord. I've never been able to break paracord just by pulling on it. I'll be ordering some more of these. Hope the Swede will consider selling 1/2" rods one day. And maybe a striker that will spark on both sides. No complaints about this one. It's the one I'll carry.

Pros
  • Compact design allows for easy storage and portability on your camping or hiking trip
Cons
  • Can be frustrating for beginners who are trying to start a fire quickly