Choosing A Ferro Rod
Andrew Hautzenroeder
Ferrocerium
One of the most essential pieces of kit, a good Ferro Rod can make the difference between a warm fire and a miserable cold night.
I am often asked for recommendations on a good ferro rod for a bug out bag, and I have put many to the test over the course of many self-induced lunatic adventures. While my particular preferences and peccadilloes may differ from yours, my experience has led me to certain conclusions: larger ferro rods give more strikes and are easier to grip, and a good striker matters a lot.
Thickness
At a full 1/2” diameter, this ferro rod helps you get a grip on starting that fire when it counts…
If you have ever been in a situation where you need to make a fire and have no lighter or matches, you discover one thing quickly… size matters! I recommend sticking with a ferro rod large enough to grip securely in adverse survival conditions. When your hands are numb, daylight is fading, and you are tired the last thing you want to fiddle with is a 2” miniature ferro rod that keeps slipping out of your hand and trashing your tinder!
Quality Ferrocerium
I use Bayite rods as optional accessories on my own knives.
While almost any Ferro Rod will throw sparks, a quality rod is significantly harder, removing less material per strike than softer rods. It might take some practice getting used to the added pressure required to effectuate a spark on a Bayite rod, but with a proper striker this rod will give you a much longer service life.
Striker Edge
A 90° angle is vital to throwing good sparks!
The other important consideration when utilizing a Ferro Rod is the striker edge angle. A 90° edge angle is ideal for striking a ferro rod, which is why all of our outdoor knives feature a 90° spine. While I prefer to use my knife as a striker, Bayite offers a newly designed striker included with their rod.
The other nice feature found in Bayite products is a drilled hole on the end of the rod. I prefer a piece of shock-chord on my rod, and I wrap 1” duct-tape around the end to give a secure grip and emergency tinder material for a wet fire.
If you are in the market for a good quality Ferro Rod that you can entrust with your life, simply follow my link to purchase this setup on Amazon. This piece of kit works for me, and I’m confident it will work for you.
-Andrew Hautzenroeder
