Les Izmore
Junior Ranger
I thought I'd pass along that we've been using Pine Mountain's new Extremestart fire starters for the past couple of weeks, and we are very impressed. They have worked with damp wood and in very windy conditions, and they work far better than the more common Zip firestarters that we have tried in the past.
With most campgrounds banning the importation of wood, we had been relying upon firelogs for campfires, which cost from $2.50 to $3.50 per log, and availability varies a lot by location and season. Of course they are heavy and bulky, so they are a less than ideal solution (they seem to last about as long as local softwood that sells for between $5 and $8 at most campgrounds, though they produce less heat).
The Extremestarts cost about 50 cents each (about $6 for a box of 12), and we generally can scrounge enough downed or abandoned wood to get a fire going with very little effort. We just put a log or two in the fire pit, add the Extemestart, build a tepee of small twigs over it and then set it on fire. So far we have gotten a great fire every time, including when using lakefront driftwood (usually wet on the inside). And even in 20 mile + gusts, once they are lit, they have stayed lit and do their job.
A dozen of these take up less space than a firelog, and weigh quite a bit less. At this time of year, with a lot of cool mornings and cool evenings, they save us a considerable amount of both expense and effort.
With most campgrounds banning the importation of wood, we had been relying upon firelogs for campfires, which cost from $2.50 to $3.50 per log, and availability varies a lot by location and season. Of course they are heavy and bulky, so they are a less than ideal solution (they seem to last about as long as local softwood that sells for between $5 and $8 at most campgrounds, though they produce less heat).
The Extremestarts cost about 50 cents each (about $6 for a box of 12), and we generally can scrounge enough downed or abandoned wood to get a fire going with very little effort. We just put a log or two in the fire pit, add the Extemestart, build a tepee of small twigs over it and then set it on fire. So far we have gotten a great fire every time, including when using lakefront driftwood (usually wet on the inside). And even in 20 mile + gusts, once they are lit, they have stayed lit and do their job.
A dozen of these take up less space than a firelog, and weigh quite a bit less. At this time of year, with a lot of cool mornings and cool evenings, they save us a considerable amount of both expense and effort.