Ferrocerium rod that produces sparks over 3,000°C when struck. Works wet, lasts thousands of strikes.
A fire steel is the most reliable fire-starting tool you can carry. Unlike matches it won’t run out, unlike lighters it works at any altitude and in any temperature, and it functions perfectly when soaking wet. It’s the one fire-starting method that truly works in all conditions.
Thicker rods (10mm+) produce bigger sparks and last longer.
A good metal striker is more important than the rod. Avoid plastic strikers.
Attach to your kit so you don’t lose it in the dark.
New fire steels have a black coating that must be scraped off before first use.
Hold the rod still against the tinder and pull the striker back. This prevents scattering your tinder pile.
A ferrocerium fire steel that throws a shower of hot sparks in any weather, even when wet. Works long after matches and lighters have failed, making it a reliable backup fire source.
An oversized ferrocerium rod that throws a shower of hot sparks to light tinder, a stove or a storm kettle when matches are damp or gone. The extra-large 152mm rod is easier to grip in cold hands and lasts for thousands of strikes, and unlike a lighter it still works soaking wet. It takes a little practice to get consistent sparks, so try it before you rely on it.
Wax-coated wood wool firelighters that catch from a single match or spark and burn long enough to get damp kindling or a stove going. They're a cleaner, more reliable alternative to paraffin blocks and don't taint food the way some fuels can, which makes them handy for an emergency cook set as well as the wood burner. Keep a few sealed in your fire kit as wet-weather backup for a fire steel or matches.
A resealable butane/propane valve cartridge that fits Campingaz Bistro and Festivo stoves and lamps. The valve design means you can safely disconnect it part-used and store it, which suits an emergency stove kept for winter power cuts. Check your stove takes the CP250 valve fitting rather than a screw-thread or pierceable cartridge before buying.
Eight Campingaz CP250 valve cartridges — the resealable, puncture-proof type used by Campingaz Bleuet stoves and lanterns. Worth stockpiling so an off-grid stove or lantern keeps running through a long power cut or a run of camping trips. Only fits appliances built for the CP250 valve fitting, not screw-thread EN417 burners.
A single-burner butane stove that runs on Campingaz CP250 cartridges, giving you a stable 2,200W ring for boiling water or cooking a hot meal when the power is off. It sits flat on a sturdy outdoor surface and packs into its own carry case, which makes it a practical backup for camping and longer winter outages.
A twin-burner gas stove that lets you cook a proper meal off-grid or during a power cut, running from standard Campingaz gas. The two 2000W burners take normal pans thanks to removable supports, and the frame folds flat for storage. It needs its own gas supply and good ventilation, so it is for the garden or a well-aired space, never indoor use.
Refined liquid fuel (white gas) for Coleman dual-fuel and liquid-fuel stoves and lanterns. It keeps burning in the cold when gas canisters lose pressure, which makes it a sensible backup for off-grid cooking through winter. One litre keeps a liquid-fuel stove running across plenty of meals.
A screw-fit butane/propane gas cartridge from a long-established outdoor cooking brand — compatible with most screw-fit camping stoves and reliable in cooler weather.
Everything you need to know about assembling a reliable survival kit for UK conditions — from essential gear categories to budget-friendly options and proper storage.
Starting your preparedness journey? Here are the most important items to include in your very first survival kit.
A calm, practical UK guide to lighting a fire in damp British woodland: finding dry tinder, splitting to the dry core, choosing ignition, and staying safe and legal.
