Esbit Lighter

Use titanium spoon (or extra tent stake) and rubber band on end to extend length of a match for caldera lighting.

Another option that can save burnt fingers while lighting the esbit:

Fire Starting Gel in a dropper bottle.

Bought the fire starting gel at OSH Hardware Store for $5 for a small bottle/life time supply.

http://www.osh.com/eng/product/_one_match_gel_fire_starter_16oz_/6779706

Amazon option:

http://www.amazon.com/Rutland-49-Match-Pellet-Starter/dp/B000DZHDPW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1300991878&sr=8-1

Transfered some of it to the smallest BPL dropper bottle…though the medium sized one would be better.

Squeeze out a drop of it on the side of the esbit and light it up with a lighter in one go and the gel starts to burn and burns for a good amount of time (multiple times longer and stronger than handsanitizer) and it will get your esbit tablet burning in no time.

Just need to makes sure you have a windscreen, which is not a problem with my knock off Caldera Cone.

A little bit of convience and the minor weight of less than 1 oz can be made up for getting away with still being able ot use a mini bic lighter vs. the need for a full sized lighter needed for longer lighter "burn" times to get the esbit going with direct flame from the lighter.

Hope that helps give you an alternative.

P.S. Credit for this idea goes to my friend, David Vassallo, who came up with this idea.

-Tony

After a few burnt fingers lighting Esbit tablets I started carrying a few of the gag birthday candles that won't blow out. I light the candle with the Bic lighter then hold up to the Esbit tablet until it starts buring. The candle can be put out by shoving it in the dirt and can be used multiple times. The candles are also good for starting a fire as well if you're too lazy to gather all the appropriate tinder. The birthday candles weigh almost nothing.

Richard,

Great idea….never thought of that before.

Have to check that out.

When you say gag birthday candle….you are talking about the ones that don't blow out easily, right?

-Tony

I light esbit or hexy tablets with a match like this. Rest the lit match on top of the fuel cube so that the flame has about 1/4 inch to burn before it touches the fuel tablet. As the flame approaches the tablet it will light. It works for me every time with no burnt fingers.

Tony – the dropper bottle is exactly what I've been doing for years. Great method and still probably my preferred for weight savings. Being honest, though, this lighter is just dead simple for both Esbit and campfire starting. Maybe I'm getting lazier as I age (I like to think it's smarter :) , but the realization that I'm probably carrying more than the weight difference in mud on my shoes has found me caring less and less about fractions of an ounce. The difference between a regular lighter and this is under an ounce. Refillable, extendable, no finger burning = simpler.

Great ideas here. Good stuff all around for Esbit users!

Tony,

Yeah, the ones that don't blow out. They are funny the first time….

cigar lighters , common now so the ones you can solder with.