Matches for Scouts
Discover the essential skills of fire lighting using various match types, crucial for any bushcraft enthusiast.
Explore Our Fire Lighting Techniques
What Is a Match?
A match is a simple and reliable tool used to start a fire. Most matches are made from a small wooden stick, although some are made from stiff paper. One end is coated with a special chemical mixture, known as the match head, which ignites when struck against a suitable surface.
The match head contains combustible materials and a binding agent, and it is often coloured to make it easy to identify. When the match is struck, friction creates enough heat to ignite the chemicals, producing a flame that can be used to light tinder, kindling, candles, stoves, or campfires.
Matches are lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to carry, making them one of the most common and dependable methods of fire lighting for camping, bushcraft, and everyday use.
Teaching a young scout to strike a match can be a great step into the world of bushcraft.
Before the use of matches, fires were sometimes lit using a burning glass (a lens) to focus the sun on tinder, a method that could only work on sunny days.
Another more common method was igniting tinder with sparks produced by striking flint and steel.
Types of Fire Matches and Their Uses
Safety Matches
Safety matches are the most common type of match. They can only be lit by striking them against the specially prepared striker on the side of the matchbox. This makes them much safer to carry and store because they cannot be ignited accidentally by rubbing against rough surfaces.
Strike Anywhere Matches
Strike-anywhere matches can be lit by striking them against most rough surfaces, such as rock, brick, or sandpaper.
Best for: Bushcraft, Survival kits, Outdoor adventures.
Advantages: Do not require a matchbox striker, Quick and convenient.
Waterproof Matches
Waterproof matches are specially coated to resist moisture. They can still be used after being exposed to rain or damp conditions, making them ideal for outdoor adventures.
Best uses: Canoeing and kayaking, Hiking, Wild camping, Emergency kits.
Stormproof Matches
Stormproof matches are designed to burn even in strong winds and heavy rain. Once lit, they produce a powerful flame that continues burning despite difficult weather conditions.
Best uses: Mountain expeditions, Coastal camping, Marine environments, Survival situations.
Windproof Matches
Windproof matches create a stronger flame than ordinary matches, allowing them to stay lit in breezy conditions. While not as robust as stormproof matches, they are excellent for general outdoor use.
Best uses: Campsites, Hiking, Backpacking, Outdoor cooking.
Long-Reach Matches
Long-reach matches feature an extended wooden stem, keeping your hand safely away from the flame. They are commonly used around the home.
Best uses: Lighting fireplaces, Wood-burning stoves, BBQs, Candles.
Survival Matches
Survival matches are built for extreme conditions. They usually have larger heads, burn for longer, and are often supplied in waterproof containers. Many will continue burning even after brief immersion in water.
Best uses: Emergency preparedness, Survival kits, Bushcraft expeditions, Remote camping.
Lifeboat Matches
Lifeboat matches are among the toughest matches available. They are designed to burn for an extended period and continue burning in strong winds and wet conditions, making them suitable for marine emergency equipment.
Best uses: Marine survival, Emergency grab bags, Offshore, boating, Expedition kits.
Tinder Optimisation
- Fluff Up Your Materials: Sparks fade rapidly and will bounce off hard surfaces. Crush, tear, or scrape natural materials like birch bark, cedar bark, or fatwood into fine, hair-like fibers to trap the sparks.
- Use DIY Accelerants: For guaranteed ignition, pack cotton balls lightly smeared with Vaseline (petroleum jelly). The cotton easily catches the instant spark while the jelly burns like a candle wick for several minutes
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