Gear Review: Kupilka Firesteel 8
Whenever I’m chatting with other campers it’s always fun to gab about gear because of the wide range of answers…
What is everyone is using?
Have you tried any new gear?
What is one item that you just can’t do without?
But one question I find more often than not results in the exact same answer… what do you use as a fire starter?
I’d say the most common response is a lighter… most likely because it’s cheap, available at any corner store or gas station and works the majority of the time. It’s also commonly found laying around a campsite or portage because it’s empty, non-refillable or the mechanism has failed. Nothing like leaving even more plastic waste around the campsites we love.
While there’s no wrong answer (aside from these cheap newfangled USB fire starters that you find on Amazon), I find it intriguing just how many people that have tried a ferro rod and then immediately demoted it to the bottom of their gear bin. It’s easy to default to lighters because they are easy, but it’s also possible that you might have run into something I didn’t clue in to for the longest time…
Quite a few years ago I was at the Toronto Outdoors Show and at one of the booths was a guy showing off some ferro rods that he was selling. With ease he used his ferro rod to light, extinguish and then re-light a piece of paper and for a measly $5 I too could have one for my next adventure. The problem was that on my next camping trip after many, many strikes I could barely light anything including my stove. A far cry from the spray of sparks that flew from the hands of the guy at the trade show. It wasn’t until much later I learned that not all ferro rods are the same. Depending on the composition of the rod itself and the edge of the striker you can have all sorts of varying results and this is what most likely leads people (and I) to tossing them into the depths of their bin.
You might recognize the Finish company Kupilka when you spot one of their excellent drinking cups in a camper’s hands, but they also have an entire line of well made plates, cutlery and their very own ferro rod called the Firesteel 8 (we got ours at Canadian Outdoor Equipment). Just like their durable drinking and eating gear, their Firesteel is a grade above the rest. The large handle is made from Kareline Natural Fibre Composite (50% softwood-based fibres from the certified Finnish forests and 50% food-grade BPA-Free polyolefins) and gives you a place to sturdily grip the 124 mm firesteel.
I enjoy the large spray of sparks it gives off using my knife, but the included striker equally is effective and has a nice sharp edge that catches nicely (it’s attached via a reindeer leather cord which is a nice eco-friendly touch as well).
Sure it takes a little bit of practice to find the right angle to hold the striker to get the optimal amount of sparks, but unlike the dreadful ferro rod from the trade show booth, this firesteel has been nothing but reliable. From processing a piece of birchbark to lighting a stove, I’m not sure why you would ever resort to needing a lighter. In fact due to how effective and dependable it is, I have one in my day pack, my meal kit and my lifejacket and they will all last well past the lifespan of any lighter. It always impresses me how I can literally have the firesteel submerged in water, pull it out and immediately light a stove. From the most humid day to trying to create some warmth during a rainfall, I wouldn’t choose anything else.
One nice touch that Kupilka has done is to make the handle a little oversized with their trademark Kareline material. I can easily grip it with my winter gloves and still have a firm grip on it despite colder temperatures. I know ferro rods have the tendency to be viewed as only for bushcraft enthusiasts, but if you have ever considered using one this is the fire starter for you.
This review has been in partnership with Canadian Outdoor Equipment and their COEC Equipped Reviews program. If you are thinking of purchasing a Kupilka Firesteel 8 or any other quality camping gear, be sure to head over to Canadian Outdoor Equipment and have a look.
