keeping your matches safe and dry when camping
By Miranda
@Miranda (728)
South Africa
January 19, 2007 2:58am CST
Matches would be the most important item in your back pack.
Well these days when people go camping, they have all these gadgets, but there is always a what if?
Matches are the easiest way to start a fire. Carry the non-safety 'srike anywhere' type and as many as possible.
Waterproof matches by dripping candle wax on to them. Strip the wax off with a fingernail when you about to strike one.
Strike a damp match by stabbing into the the striker strip instead of drawing the match against/along it.
If your hair is dry and not too greasy, roll the damp match in it, electricity should dry out the match.
Do you have any great survival ideas or just camping ideas to tell us?
6 responses
@patrice7 (1191)
• United States
19 Jan 07
yes i agree. when camping or going outdoors you must keep matches or lighters dry. also when you are camping it is really very useful to carry or bring a knife. always place it in its handle for safety measurements. knives always helps you cut things and helps you in your food and is very helpful outdoors. also always nsure that you have a flashlight and you keep extra batteries. always bring your tent or a jacket as the outdoors are extremely cold and dangerous.
1 person likes this
@Miranda (728)
• South Africa
19 Jan 07
Great response, we went on a african 4 x 4 trip, and things do go wrong, punctures, rain - so much everything is wet, your zippo and lighters are wet, but the good old faithfull matches are always there to safe your behind. You have to experience something like I have, it is tough out there, where there is nobody around for miles and miles, you just better hope you packed your knife, mathes and all those things that will safe your life. Remember a human can only go without water for three full days.
@samson1967 (7414)
• India
19 Jan 07
During Camping, Why you want to use complicated match boxes, when easiest windproof and zippo lighters are available.
@aquarian9 (548)
• Canada
31 Jan 07
I bring a bbq lighter. It can be stuck in a mound of tender or relight a dwindling kindling pile. One way to keep mathces safe is an old pill bottle or film canister.
@gabbyheart (63)
• United States
30 Jan 07
All of the above ideas are good, but what good is fire without wood? So another important tool is the hand axe. We use it to make kindling and other sizes of wood more manageable, plus we use it to cut down saplings good for making walking canes.
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
23 Feb 07
...shaking head and grinning... I take it noone posting has heard of flint? If matches somehow get wet, flint will still light even after being submerged in water. That's all I used when I used to do a lot of backpacking. Even better, striking a knife against a rock to create sparks which also can start a fire if done right. Sorry, but when I say I camp, it's really primitive camping sometmes. I still amaze my hubby and daugher when I pull out my ole flint to make a fire for cooking.
Happy camping! :-)
