Found these at rei: http://www.rei.com/product/838475/zippo-waxed-tinder-sticks

Tiny little guys, and lighter than cotton balls and petroleum jelly. Not sure how well they burn yet, will test and post results later. Reviews claim under 5 minutes burn time.

Hmmm, 62 cents each. Doesn't that seem a little pricey for a chunk of firestarter?

--B.G.--

Agreed. $5 might be a bit much to save maybe 7 grams. But why the heck not ;)

It may be cheaper and lighter weight to rub two boy scouts together.

--B.G.--

Tinderquik is just as light and cheaper. Vaseline and cotton balls is very reliable and cheapest of all. I'd probably carry one of those and use your knife to make a feather stick or pile of wood shavings for tinder.

There have been a lot of topics on this very thing, and this definitely isn't my creation, but a lot of people use the tried-and-true vaseline/cotton balls concoction and jam them into straws...making ultra-dense, tiny, cheap, and light firestarters.

That's essentially what these are anyway.

Edited by ollyisk on 05/07/2012 02:58:44 MDT.

It says 0.2 ounce. Maybe for 1 firestarter?

I prefer to take 1 egg carton section - 0.1 ounce

put 0.25 or 0.5 ounce of parafin in it. wrap with aluminum foil. Put in oven until it melts wax enough to soak into egg carton.

0.25 ounce (or less) of parafin is enough for dry wood. 0.5 ounce is better for winter when you need help getting wet wood to start.

This is less messy than vaseline - you don't need a container to put it in.

I've used these and they're great, not messy like vaseline, simple to make too

http://jjmatheshikes.blogspot.com/2011/11/i-like-fire-and-im-always-interested-in.html

Edited by A.Wallace on 05/07/2012 08:24:27 MDT.

The wafer tinder is cool Adam.

Dryer lint mixed with Pine Sap.