I am always on the lookout for nifty tools that work when nothing else will.
About a month ago one of my coworkers showed me this neat little lighter that works using a parabolic lens and the sun.
I have used a magnifying glass before but haven't had much practice using a parabolic lens…. so of course I had to have one!
Sadly, for the week after it arrived, a storm system blew through and made using it all but impossible.
At the first hint of sunshine I took it out to test it before the Texas weather decided to make another change.
As soon as the light focused on the test incense that they send along with the lighter, it began to smolder and smoke.
Check out the video I shot here:
I was extremely impressed with how quickly it formed an ember, and to test it out further, I light a coworkers cigarette with it.
So here are my thoughts on it so far:
The good:
Lightweight
Instantly starts a fire
Compact
Doubles as a signal for rescue
The bad:
A little high priced in my opinion
Does take up some space in a pack
Requires strong, full sunlight to be effective
Bottom Line:
Even though the price is a little higher than I would like, the effectiveness of the solar spark as a fire starting tool is amazing. I always say that you need at least 3 ways to make a fire in any situation. If you are looking for something a little out of the box, you should definitely check this out!
One major problem I have found with these is that they are hard to find readily available online.
I managed to find one through amazon via this link but they seem to be in short supply right now:
I have actually found a few of them cheaper through ebay and aliexpress.com.
These all come direct from China, but if time isn't a big deal for you, look at getting them here aliexpress.com
Check out the review I did on another fire starting tool: The Sparkie
Want more? Check out these related articles from our site:
10 Fire Starting Materials You Probably Have at Home
Start a Fire with a Guitar Pick
DIY Fire Starter: The Cotton Ball
