Expert survival secret: The 3 best ways to start a campfire

Matches/lighter

Strike-anywhere matches remain the easiest and most efficient method of lighting a campfire, so I keep a supply in a waterproof case in my pack at all times. As a back-up, I also carry a Zippo lighter (pictured), which works great until the flint gets wet or it runs out of lighter fluid. Some folks swear by their butane lighters, but butane is useless in cold weather.