Fire Piston

[allangr1024 71]

I have used one to teach fire building, but I usually use it along with a metal match, and a bow drill, when we do wilderness survival. It usually takes several tries for me and an older boy to light an ember, and younger boys do not get it to work. I would say it is just like using an old fashioned flint and steel as far as the effort used to get the fire started. It is just fun for us to try when we are doing something that centers around fire building, which is always a big hit with the scouts.

 

As with all expensive pieces of camping equipment, I try to find these for as low a cost as possible, and EBAY is my friend.