A fire starter may not be the first thing that comes to mind when putting together road trip essentials until it’s the only thing that stands in the way of preparing a delightful mid-trip lunch or combating hypothermia.
Whether planning a day picnic or a month-long road adventure, it pays to include a fire starter tool in your checklist. Here are the five different situations where these handy devices can save your life on the road.
1. You Require A Fire Starter to Prepare Mid-trip Meals
This is perhaps the biggest reason to include a fire starter in your road trip itinerary.
Many road-trippers prefer to travel with fresh, healthy meals rather than make numerous stopovers at motels to grab junk food. If you fall in this category, a fire starter should be an indispensable component of your road trip toolbox. The device lets you make a fire and prepare a sumptuous meal before embarking on the next stretch of your adventure.
Fire starters mostly come in handy if your trip includes camping in an off-grid location with no hotels. Just ensure you’re also traveling with basic kitchen utensils and other necessary appliances, such as a portable stove, pan, and a compact pot.
However, a few drive-ins make provisions for guests who prefer to make their meals. Just be sure to find out in advance.
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2. A Fire Starter Lets You Keep Warm
Winter used to be the worst season to go on a road trip. However, attitudes have since changed tremendously. Many travelers are now drawn to the fact that the roads are less crowded and accommodation facilities are more affordable during winter.
That said, winter’s icy chill can still affect your health. And considering that some of the world’s most scenic roads are found in countries that experience harsh winters, it pays to have a fire starter in your road trip checklist.
A fire starter helps you stay warm when temperatures plummet to subzero degrees. It might be the only device you require to fend off hypothermia, allowing you to re-energize your trip.
When looking for the best fire starter for cold-weather road trips, choose one that’s water- and wind-proof.
3. A Fire Starter Can Help Patch Up Car Tires
Running a flat tire isn’t one of the best road-tripping experiences. It’s only worse if it happens while you’re in the middle of nowhere and with no extra tire handy.
In such circumstances, your only option would be to wait patiently for a motorist to come along and, if they do, hope they can help you.
Fortunately, the odds of patching up a punctured tire and resuming your trip increase tremendously if you’re armed with a fire starter. Simply attach a piece of rubber to the puncture (usually around the exterior of a tire’s rim), douse the rubber with a flammable agent, and use a fire starter to heat it. This will cause a mild explosion, which expands the gasses and causes the tire bead to set.
However, patching up a tire with a fire should be the very last resort. The method can pose severe risks if you’re not properly skilled.
4. A Fire Starter Can Help You Scare Away Dangerous Animals
Some of the most scenic road trips go through animal sanctuaries. So, if your trip includes overnight camping or roadside stopovers (perhaps to fix your automobile or stretch out a bit), you’ll likely receive unwelcome guests.
Now, all wild animals are naturally curious. Some are hardwired to attack with little or no provocation. The last thing you want is a confrontation with them.
Fortunately, most wildlife are innately afraid of fire. That’s understandable, as fire destroys their habitats and occasionally kills their offspring.
You might implement other strategies to stay safe around animals. But if you reckon an animal is drawing too close for comfort, simply light your starter to scare it away. Moreover, you could use a fire starter to make a bonfire. This serves two crucial purposes – proactively fending off unwelcome guests in your campsite and keeping warm.
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5. A Fire Starter Lets You Organize Small Tools
Fire starters may have been invented primarily to make fires. However, many of these devices now come with additional functionalities.
One notable add-on is a lanyard, which lets you organize small everyday carry (EDC) items while road-tripping.
A fire starter’s lanyard may be handy in keeping your car keys, whistles, and personal identification documents. The best part is that you can wear the tether around your neck or hang it over your vehicle’s sun visor to ensure critical items are conveniently within reach.
Depending on how long and strong your fire starter lanyard is, you could also deploy it as a safety harness for larger valuables like your camera.
Final Word
A fire starter’s usefulness depends on its specifications. Therefore, careful research is necessary while shopping for this equipment for your trip.
Insist on a fire starter rated for the outdoors. The device should produce flames hot enough to ignite damp wood and stable enough to brave strong winds.
Choose a fire starter with a maximum number of strikes (at least 20,000). That’s regardless if you’re a regular or occasional road tripper. The number of strikes in a fire starter reflects favorably on its durability.
