Although people traditionally use matches or a lighter to start a campfire, it’s good to know other methods that will work just as well in the absence of these vital materials. Sometimes matches have become damp and won’t work because of uncooperative weather conditions; sometimes these tools just aren’t available. Whatever the reason, here are three weird ways that an individual can start a campfire without either a matches or a lighter.
1. Chocolate and Aluminum Can
As strange as it sounds, a piece of chocolate and an aluminum soda can start a campfire. The chocolate is used to polish the bottom of the aluminum until it is clear enough to show a reflection. That reflection allows sunlight to reflect onto the pile of tinder. The energy from the light will heat the tinder so that a fire can be fanned into action.
2. Glass Lens and Sun
It’s not difficult to start a campfire with a lens of some sort, provided the sun is shining. The lens can be anything similar to a pair of glasses, including a lens from a binocular or a magnifying glass. The lens is held in a way that a beam of light shines through. The light is then focused on a pile of tinder, such as dry leaves. The sunlight will generate heat until the tinder starts to smoke. Gentle blowing fans the flame until the fire is burning.
3. Shaped Ice and Sun
Finally, even ice can also be used to start a campfire in a pinch. This is a great method during the winter. A little water can be put in a small cup and allowed to freeze; the best size is around a couple of inches thick. Use a knife to shape the ice into a lens, thicker in the center than the outer edges. The lens should then be polished to smoothness and used to focus a beam of light onto a pile of tinder until it catches flame.
These three handy tricks will help anyone who’s out on a camping trip or hike and would like to start a campfire in a nontraditional way. For other handy campfire tricks, follow along with: 3 Ways to Open a Can Without a Can Opener in the Outdoors or 3 Incredible Ways to Open a Can Without a Can Opener.
Featured Image from Sergio Vilches/Unsplash
