Exotac nanoStriker Lightning Review: Fire, On Demand

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When you find yourself in the back-country during a downpour and need a fire—like 5 seconds ago—that fancy Zippo of yours isn't going to cut it. The Exotac nanoStriker, however, will get your fire going with a shower of burning Ferrocerium.

Like

It's so tiny! The nanoStriker is less than 3.5-inches long and weighs just 14.5 grams, which means I can dump it in a pocket or tie it to my pack and just forget about it until I need to set something alight. I also dig that the entire system is completely self contained—the ferrocerium rod and steel striker just unscrew from either end of the handle. Plus, it even works when it's wet.

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No Like

There isn't much to fault with the nanoStriker though I wouldn't have minded the rod itself were a bit longer. As it is, you've got to hold the striker at precisely the right angle to get a solid shower of sparks.

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Last Word

While it won't be the first fire starter I reach for when lighting a cigarette, it will be the first I reach for when lighting a campfire. [$27 from Exotac]

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