Praxis: Fire Starters and CordLock Lights from FireSteel.com.

The other day I received two versions of an excellent piece of equipment called the GobSpark produced by Ron Fontaine of FireSteel.com.

Ron doesn't call it "GobSpark" without reason, for when I opened the box and tried it out, my daughters cried out in alarm as a fountain of sparks shot across the room in the general direction of the Christmas tree.

The larger of the two, pictured above, is the Armageddon FireSteel has an oversize handle designed to use with gloved hands and is priced, with lanyard and striker, at $10.99 each. The Ranger FireSteel, pictured below, has a smaller handle for those who seek to minimize gear weight. It is priced at $4.99.



Here is an independent evaluation I found on YouTube:



Today Matt called me from Germany (yes, he's finally finished his third tour of Iraq) and we were talking about these inexpensive and very nifty instruments when he pulled up this page on the FireSteel website about another product:



The CordLock LED light can attach to any 550 cord lanyard or drawstring, making illumination very handy. No fumbling around for a flashlight in your cargo pocket or pack, the CordLock is always close at hand. The website says:

Pressing the black button on the side of the cord lock turns on the bright LED light. Press the button again to make the light even brighter. Press the button a third time to cause the light to rapidly blink. It is that easy.

These are not cheaply made - composed of rugged plastic with a corrosion proof stainless steel cord lock spring, these cordlocks are designed with the outdoorsman in mind.

Lithium batteries included.

Specifications

* 3mm Hyper Bright white LED
* Power Source, Lithium CR1220 batteries X2, Shelf Life 5 years
* Weight: 1/4 ounce (8 grams)
* Water Resistant Construction
* 3 Modes Low-High-Flash
* Corrosion Proof Stainless Steel Cord Lock Spring
* Rugged plastic construction

Features

* Three powerful LED Settings: medium intensity light, high intensity light, and flashing light.
* Bright yellow color for easy location.
* Burn times: 12 hours on high, 20 hours on low, 50 hours on flash.
* Comes with two replaceable lithium CR1220 batteries.

The CordLock light from FireSteel is priced at $6.99 each.

"Hey, that's a good idea," Matt said when he saw it. He's going to be getting some of these to try out on his gear and when he evaluates them, I'll let post it here. He would prefer to have them in a more subdued color, but hey, that's what spray paint and camo tape is for.

Here's an independent video evaluation of the CordLock light:



Anyway, if you're looking for a fire starter, you really ought to try one of FireSteel's "GobSparks." I can attest to the fact that they certainly produce gobs of sparks.

Mike
III

PS: And remember boys and girls, don't try it out under the Christmas tree.