Out in the bush, a fire you can rely on is the difference between a good night and a miserable, possibly dangerous one. Matches get wet and lighters can be temperamental, so I like to carry a ferro rod fire starter as well.
This kit has a handcrafted wood handle and a chunky magnesium rod, and it promises hot sparks every time, whatever the conditions or altitude. We took it out into the weather to see if this traditional-style tool holds up.
What’s in the box
A handcrafted fire starter kit with an 8 mm thick, 12.5 cm magnesium alloy ferro rod that throws 3,000°C sparks and is rated for over 12,000 strikes. It includes a multi-tool striker and 13.7 metres of 550 paracord.
What we like
- Throws intense 3,000°C molten sparks
- 8 mm rod lasts 12,000+ strikes
- Hardwood handle is great for grip
- Includes 13.7 m of paracord
- Striker has a bottle opener
What we don’t
- No protective pouch or sheath
- Handle adds length: 12.5 cm total
- Striker tool is a little thin
Quick Specs
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | RKR Outdoor |
| Material | Magnesium alloy ferrocerium rod |
| Weight | 140 g |
| Rod Thickness | 0.8 cm |
| Length | Total12.5 cmParacord13.7 metres (45 feet) |
| Spark temperature | 3,000 °C |
| Estimated Strikes | 12,000+ |
First look
I tested the Fire Orange colour, which looks great against the natural wood handle. It also comes in Forest Green and Midnight Blue if you prefer something more subtle. It’s a good-looking tool with a traditional bushcraft feel. The rod is 8 mm thick, a lot chunkier than many cheaper models, so it should last a long time.
The hardwood handle is warm to the touch and feels well made. It’s bigger than I expected, and I soon found that helps with grip and leverage when scraping. The lanyard is huge: 13.7 metres of Mil-spec 550 paracord, double the length these kits usually come with. That’s a proper survival extra, not just a cord to keep the parts together. The one drawback at first look is that there’s no sheath or pouch, so you need to think about where you stash it to keep the paracord clean.
Materials & Build QualityMaterials & Build Quality
The heart of the kit is the magnesium alloy ferro rod, which throws sparks at 3,000 °C. That heat matters because it gives you the best chance of lighting stubborn or slightly damp tinder. At 8 mm in diameter the rod is rated for over 12,000 strikes. If you light one fire a day, that’s decades of use.
The handle is handcrafted hardwood, a big step up from the plastic handles you often see. It’s comfortable in cold weather and gives a solid base for a hard strike. In a pinch you can also scrape the handle for fine shavings to use as emergency tinder. The striker is a stainless steel multi-tool. It works, but it’s the thinnest part of the kit. Its sharp spine does throw plenty of sparks when you use it properly.
Ergonomics & WeightErgonomics & Weight
The ergonomics are very good, mostly thanks to the wood handle. The 12.5 cm overall length gives plenty of leverage when striking the rod, which means hotter, bigger sparks for less effort. It’s a good size in the hand, with gloves on or with cold, wet fingers.
At about 140 g it feels like a solid tool without being heavy. It’s a comfortable weight to carry in a backpack or attach to a tactical gear bag. The large handle stops the tool slipping out of your hand, which is a common problem with smaller rods that have no handle. The 13.7 m of paracord does affect portability. If you plan to carry it in a small trouser pocket, coil the paracord carefully or swap it for a shorter lanyard, because that much cord takes up space. In a backpack, the extra cord is worth having.
Performance & FeaturesPerformance & Features
This ferro rod fire starter does what it promises and throws a big shower of sparks. I tested it after leaving it outside overnight (around 5 °C and damp), and it threw sparks as strongly as it did dry. With sparks at 3,000 °C, dry tinder lights almost instantly. The chunky 8 mm rod allows a deep, consistent scrape, so each strike takes off plenty of material.
The extras are what make this kit. The 13.7 metres of Mil-spec 550 paracord has many uses: you can unravel the seven inner strands for fishing line, sewing thread or small repairs. The multi-tool striker is the scraper for the rod, and it’s also a concave tinder scraper, a bottle opener (handy for camp evenings), a ruler, a hex wrench and a map scale. It stays attached by the paracord, so it’s always with the rod.
Conclusion: Ferro Rod Flint Fire Starter KitConclusion
This handcrafted ferro rod fire starter kit is a good buy for anyone who relies on fire outdoors. The thick 8 mm rod should last for years, the hardwood handle gives a proper grip, and it threw hot sparks for me after a cold, damp night outside. The 13.7 metres of paracord and the multi-tool striker add real use. There’s no pouch or sheath, the striker is a little thin and the handle makes it 12.5 cm long, so it’s better in a pack than in a pocket.
A magnesium ferro rod that threw hot sparks for me in cold, damp conditions.
The 8 mm rod has a grippy hardwood handle and comes with 13.7 m of paracord and a multi-tool striker. There's no pouch, and the striker is a little thin.
- Bushcrafters
- Campers
- Emergency kits
Yes. A thick 8 mm rod good for 12,000+ strikes, a hardwood handle and 13.7 m of paracord offer far more than a basic fire starter. There’s no pouch and the striker is thin.
