Outdoors & Fitness · Head-to-head
Exotac fireROD V2 vs Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Army 2in1
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Fire Starters: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The fireROD V2 wins because it carries its own dry tinder, the rod is replaceable, and at 1.1 oz it is the lightest ferro rod here with a full specification table. The Swedish FireSteel Army is cheaper, rated for more strikes, and adds a whistle, which makes it the better buy for a kit you will rarely open.
Exotac fireROD V2
Buy itA 1.1 oz ferro rod with a sealed tinder capsule in the handle and a rod you can replace when it wears out.
- A waterproof sealed capsule in the handle holds tinder tabs, natural tinder or water purification tablets, so dry tinder travels with the spark.
- The 5/16 in ferrocerium rod is replaceable with a standard or XL refill, so a worn rod never means a discarded tool.
- Exotac publishes a full table: 1.1 oz, 4.625 in long, CNC-machined 6061 anodized aluminium body, up to 10,000 strikes, and a limited lifetime warranty.
- At 5/16 in the rod is thinner than the Zünden's 3/8 in, and a thinner rod gives a narrower spark shower.
- Rated for up to 10,000 strikes, the fewest of the three ferro rods here.
- Exotac designed it to be struck with a knife spine, and it works best if your knife has a sharp, square spine.
Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Army 2in1
Buy itThe best-value ferro rod here, rated for 12,000 strikes, with an emergency whistle moulded into the handle.
- Rated for up to 12,000 strikes, and Light My Fire states it sparks at 2,980 °C (5,400 °F) and works when wet and windy.
- A 120 dB emergency whistle is built into the handle, which is a genuinely useful addition to a kit item.
- Made in Sweden, with the striker attached by a lanyard so the two parts do not get separated.
- No weight, length or rod diameter is published on the product page.
- The rod is not described as replaceable, so a worn one means buying another tool.
- The handle is plastic, which Light My Fire describes as biobased, and it feels less substantial than aluminium or hardwood.
Side by side
| Exotac fireROD V2 | Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Army 2in1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Anyone who carries a fixed-blade knife and wants spark and dry tinder in one small tool. | Emergency kits, scout packs and anyone who wants a reliable spark and a whistle for little money. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $ · budget |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Exotac fireROD V2 - A 1.1 oz ferro rod with a sealed tinder capsule in the handle and a rod you can replace when it wears out. Choose the Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Army 2in1 instead if emergency kits, scout packs and anyone who wants a reliable spark and a whistle for little money.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Fire Starters: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).