ALWAYS bring at least 2 ways to start a fire.  Remember the saying: TWO IS ONE, AND ONE IS NONE.

I always carry 3 options:  a disposable mini BIC lighter, the best 1/2″ round Firesteel and scraper money can buy (which will last forever), and stormproof matches — as pictured above.

I’ve hardly ever used the matches during camping (I have 22 left in my match case) and have lit most of my fires over the years with either the firesteel or lighter.

Practically speaking, matches are a last resort given all the other modern-day options we have today, but you might as well carry them too since they are so light-weight.  If you insist on bringing matches, then just spend the money on a 25-pack of UCO Stormproof matches and be done with it.  You will get 25 fires out of it.  These matches are really incredible.  They will stay lit for a full 15 seconds: plenty of time to start a fire.  They even continue to burn if you submerge one that’s lit, completely under water.  It will automatically re-light itself.  I’ve never had a stormproof match fail to start a properly built fire bundle — but they do require the special striker that comes with the matches — don’t loose that.

Make sure you PRACTICE OUTSIDE before using any of your fire starters in camp.  Lighting a fire outdoors is actually not that easy, due to wind and moisture.  I’ve posted a quick video on Youtube which shows how simple — and at the same time, difficult — it is to build and light a decent campfire.

Its always good to bring 8-12 cotton balls lightly smeared in Vaseline/petroleum jelly (also available as pre-packaged tinder quik tabs), or some other pre-packaged starter fuel.  I’ve also experimented with a slice of indestructible rubber bicycle inner-tube, which works incredibly well since it is bulletproof even when soaking wet.  The rubber requires at least 5-7 seconds of high heat from a continuous flame (a lighter) to combust.

A more expensive option is to carry a fuel tab like Wetfire or an Esbit stove tab.  They burn for well over 3-5 minutes and allow you to establish a good coal-base in more discouraging camping conditions.