I keep circling back to a sturdy, reliable firestarter—something like a ferro rod and striker. The knife is a close second for me, no doubt, but fire covers so many needs: warmth, cooking, water purification, signaling for help, even keeping certain critters at bay. Sure, you can make fire with a knife and the right materials, but nothing matches the certainty of a decent firestarter when conditions are damp or when your hands aren’t cooperating. Books have taught me just how often expeditions failed or succeeded based purely on the ability to make fire.
I suppose in different environments, my answer might shift—desert vs. forest, for example—but at least where I live, being able to get a fire going seems absolutely vital. Curious—have you ever found a firestarter didn’t work as promised in lousy weather?
