Swedish Firesteel Strikers

There are so many choices in getting the camp fire started with using regular or water proof matches and fire lighters. Doing it the old-fashioned way of rubbing two sticks together, or using fire-steel or magnesium fire strikers.
The video's i watch recommend the stainless steel strikers that can provide up to 3000 strikes to produce sparks to get fires going even in wet weather.

Does anyone here use this handy tool and maybe provide some details on which ones work the best and provide the longest amounts of strikes?
I am thinking of getting one as an addition to my fire starting choices. What is your opinions on this tool?

 

Well in my opinion the tinder you have setup which you are trying to light is much more important than whatever you're using to generate sparks or heat. Most of the tools (even the ones some may consider lousy) do a good enough job if you have some dry tinder ready. Some people actually bring this along with them because it can often be difficult to find dry clean burning fuel in the woods even if it hasn't rained recently.

 

These things?



Yeah those can be handy for when you to reach your fire tinder at an awkward angle.

 

I have watched the Canadian man on you-tube use one to start fires with various types of tinder like wood shavings and dried pine needles, parts of birch trees and twigs. I think there is an art to making it work well, but as a back-up tool I think it would be useful to have along when camping or backpacking. It gives you one more choice when all other tools are empty or no longer working, or available. I guess I need to find that video link to share here.