Survival Fire Steel Premium Magnesium Ferrocium Rod Firesteel Includes Flint Striker Multi Tool & Chunky Wooden Handle for Grip Essential Fire Starter Camping Survival Kit

This works well, easy to strike and creates a mass of sparks every time. The string is a little short but I reconfigured it and now it’s perfect. Taught my 7yr old daughter some bushcraft and she found using it a breeze as well and successfully started a fire. Good value for the price.

I'm not a hardcore woodsman, but have wanted a half-decent fire steel for quite some time, and this one fits the bill nicely. I've mainly wanted it so that I can keep my skills up to scratch and to teach my daughter to use one too. The steel is a good size, and comes with a nice size striker that is big enough to be comfortable in the hand. It sparks easily, and the sparks themselves are clearly high temperature, unlike the ones you often get with a traditional flint and steel. The handle on the steel is a decent size, but is raw wood and in damp conditions over a long period might be susceptible to splitting, but I've not had it long enough to test this. A bit of wax, boiled linseed oil or varnish would sort that out easily enough, and allow you to personalise it a little anyway. The striker cord isn't too long or short either, so overall it's a good bit of kit at a very good price. I really can't fault it for the money, and if nothing else, it would make an excellent backup to a trusted favourite.

So the item itself is good however it does need some prep before you first use it. Firstly, if you run outside and attempt to strike it you will be disappointed as there won't be any sparks. This is due to the transit covering which stops it sparking accidentally in storage or delivery. Get a bit of fine sand paper and gently rub the striker rod until it looks a little like dark metal with patina on it. It will have a bit of a shine to it. It's now ready. Secondly. That nice wooden handle is unfinished pine. Get it wet and it'll split as it dries out (as described by some reviewers) but four or five coats of beeswax, varnish or stain will cure that problem, just don't forget to get it in the lanyard hole as well. All in all a good fire striker with a not so useful tool attached. Better to use the back of your knife or edge of your axe.

I saw one of these on Bear Grylls’ You V Wild with the kids and decided to get one for my husband as a little extra gift as it looked really cool! When he opened it I followed advice from here and rubbed the coating off with some very fine sandpaper. Even though neither of us had used one before we were able to create enough spark (with a little practice) to light a fire in the hearth using dry grass, twigs and wood shavings from the log store. It’s a great little thing, sturdy and easy to use, nicely affordable and won’t break the bank. Of all the gifts I got at Xmas this is the one I was most happy with, great buy!

I am a complete novice when it comes to building camp fires but this has made it so much easier, I won't go camping now without it, great piece of kit.

Sparks very well once the black coating is removed from the Ferro' rod and the edges of the striker. I have lit my alcohol stove with it and some cotton wool balls used for starting wood fires.

Purchased as gifts with outdoor fire pits. They work well (takes a little practise to get the technique) and were well received. Had to remind the (adult) recipients not to use them indoors as they actually DO start fires!!

Build quality isn’t great and black paint comes off when striking but when hit hard enough still gives some pretty good sparks. Haven't tested for any fire starting yet but imagine it would get a good light going. Not bad for the price really.