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survival matches

Survival Matches And 5 Reasons Why You Should Not Leave Them At Home

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So you spent a lot of time putting your camping checklist together and you think you have everything ready to go, but did you remember your survival matches?

Well, think again. There’s an essential item you may be leaving behind. Many campers do and it ends up being a costly mistake.

What is this oh so essential item I’m referring to?

Survival Matches

Now I know what you may be thinking, “Relax man, I’m already bringing a cutting-edge lighter with me that I just bought at REI, what do I need a backup for?” Or “Survival matches are only for newbies. I’m a regular Chris McCandless out there. I’ll be fine without them.”

No matter how much of a rough and tough wilderness (wo)man you think you are, you need to pack survival matches. In fact, EVERYONE needs to pack survival matches.

Whether you are new to the outdoor camping game or you are a seasoned vet, read on to find out the top five reasons why they should be at the top of your packing list.

1. Fire Building- Harder Than You May Think

We all know how crucial fire is when camping outdoors.

But building a fire is no easy task. Building a fire is a skill, and it needs to be mastered and practiced. And trust me, no matter how many youtube tutorials you’ve watched, you are not a master fire builder.

Depending on how frequently you camp, mastering this skill can take years of experience.

Fire making is simply too essential and often too difficult to master to be relying on a single means to create your fire. Therefore, it’s best to always have a backup.

2. Not everything is Failproof

Many campers rely on BIC lighters and Ferro rods as either their go to or backup fire source.  While these are typically very reliable options, malfunctions do happen.

If a BIC lighter has been sitting in a survival kit for several years, the butane may leak or the mechanism for sparking may seize up, rendering it useless.

Some Ferro rods are incredibly compact and easy to use; however, many traditional Ferro rods can be difficult to use in cold weather or with only one hand. They often require the use of tinder, but this tinder must be ideal, and spotting ideal tinder can be difficult without extensive training.

3. Survival Matches- Quick and Easy

These matches like the everstryke match provide much more than just a backup source for building the perfect campfire.  They can also be used for:

  • A quick light source for walking in the dark
  • An emergency light source
  • Burning off insects

4. Inclement Weather

When camping, you always should expect the unexpected. And sometimes that means inclement weather even though the forecast predicted sunny and calm.

Therefore, you need waterproof matches that can weather the toughest of conditions.

5. Anywhere, Anytime

Got a rough bark or a stone? How about buttons on your pants or a thumbnail? Great! These surfaces can all be used for striking your survival match.

With survival matches, you don’t need the perfect kindling to get your fire going, all you need is a solid surface and presto- you have a flame!

So, there you have it. Five perfectly sound reasons to never leave survival matches behind. Now, a quick Google search will yield thousands of opinions on the best ones to buy.

Drop a comment and I can tell you why the EverStryke Match kills the competition for best survival match.

Tip: If you do happen to find yourself without your survival matches, then be sure to check out our how to start a fire without matches blog post… it’s a lifesaver in an emergency situation.

3 Easy Ways To Make Waterproof Matches

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Waterproof Matches are a must have piece of survival gear and are key to your survival in an emergency situation.

If you have a sense of adventure, there is one must-have survival item that you won’t want to leave home without. Waterproof matches are not just a cool accessory to add to your backpack, they’re an essential survival fire starter tool, and you simply never know when you’re going to need them.

Which is why you should spend a few minutes learning how to make your own DIY waterproof matches using everyday products like paraffin wax, candle wax, nail polish, and regular matches or even strike anywhere matches.

Waterproofing Matches

Ordinary matches are powerful little sticks… until they get wet. Then, unless you have an awesome tool to light that fire, your adventure trip can quickly turn into a disaster.

So, here are 5 reasons why you should never leave your diy waterproof matches (a.k.a. survival matches) at home.

But purchasing some waterproof matches can be expensive, right? Do you really need the added cost?

The good news is, you don’t! You can create your own waterproof matches for little to no cost, and, in this article, we’re going to show you how to make a match waterproof using common household supplies.

How To Make Waterproof Matches With Turpentine

One of the safest ways to waterproof your matches is to use turpentine.

Here’s the super-easy method:

Step 1: Pour 2 to 3 large tablespoons of turpentine into a glass or container.

Step 2: Place your matches, match head down, into the glass.

Step 3: Leave them to soak for 5 minutes. This will allow the turpentine to soak into the match head and stem.

Step 4: When you take the matches out, spread them on a sheet of newspaper and leave them to dry for about 20 minutes.

Using this method, your matches will remain waterproof for at least a few months.

How To Make Waterproof Matches With Nail Polish Or Shellac

For this process, clear fingernail polish is the better option, but colored polish will work too if that’s all you can get your hands on!

Here’s how to turn your ordinary matches into waterproof matches with nail polish:

Step 1: Dip each match into the bottle of fingernail polish. Immerse some of the stick as well as the match heads.

Step 2: When you take it out, hold the match for a few seconds to allow the nail polish to dry.

Step 3: For proper drying, place the matches on a table, with their match heads suspended a little off the edge. Make sure to put a newspaper underneath to catch any excess moisture.

If you’ve used quick drying polish, this method can take less time than the turpentine method. If the polish isn’t quick drying, it may take a little longer.

All in all, this is a fairly fool-proof way to create water proof matches.

How To Make Waterproof Matches With Wax

The power behind this waterproofing matches approach all comes from the melted candle was or from readily available paraffin wax that you can pick up at pretty much any everywhere including your local hardware and grocery stores.

Here’s the full scoop on how to make matches waterproof with wax”

Step 1: Get some wax. You can use paraffin wax, a loose candle or even a candle in a jar.

Step 2: Light the candle and let it burn for a while. This is to allow a pool of candle wax to form around the wick.

Step 3: When you’ve enough wax, blow the candle out.

Step 4: Dip each into the wax, match head first. Immerse some of the stick too.

Step 5: Hold the match long enough to allow the wax to harden a little. A few seconds should do the trick

Step 6: Place the matches on a table so that each head is suspended off the edge of the surface. Remember to put a newspaper underneath to protect your floor from falling wax.

Step 7: When the wax has cooled down but before it has hardened completely, pinch the end of the wax coating where the stick meets the head. This will form a tight seal.

Tip: Just in case you ever find yourself without matches… check out our How To Start A Fire Without Matches tutorial. Or, check out our lists of the best ferro rod and magnesium fire starters.

So, there you have it.

Making your own waterproof matches has never been easier using simple everyday items like candle wax, nail polish, paraffin wax and turpentine or shellac.

Free Everstryke Waterproof Match Get Yours Now!  or Free Everstryke Pro (It’s A Waterproof Lighter!) Grab Yours Right Now, while you still can. Good while supplies last.