Our ancestors might have had to hunch over a pile of sticks and strike flint to start a fire, but we don’t. You won’t even have to carry around matches or a lighter if you have Pull Start Fire Starters. I’ve used the three-pack to start my smoker, grill, and a bonfire quickly.
Though I’m a self-admitted pyromaniac, I found a few things that would keep me (and possibly you) from buying these, along with several reasons why I would order more.
“Fire in the hole!” I exclaimed after I set the wood large wood chunks in my grill, looped the string around one of them, pulled the safety tab out, and pulled the starting string. After the loud pop (that sounded like a quiet firecracker), the Pull Start Fire Starter began smoking shortly before flames errupted. It didn’t take long until the logs began to burn on their own.
I’ve always enjoyed a good fire. Maybe it was helping conduct controlled burns as a kid, or the hours I spent poking a stick at a campfire that fueled my love and respect for fire. I also enjoy the process of making a fire, but sometimes I just need to hurry up and get a fire started so I can start cooking dinner. Or after a rain, when the wood is damp and starting a fire is much more tedious, I welcome a little help. Thats when the Pull Start Fire Starters are very handy.
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Pros
- Minimal effort fire starter
- Eliminates the need for kindling (I still like to use it though)
- Windproof, rainproof, and lights damp wood
- Food-safe
- Multiple safety features ensure it won’t accidentally ignite
Cons
- Bulkier than matches or a lighter
- Expensive
- Need to have something to pull against
What I Love About Pull Start Fire Starters
As much as I enjoy the process of starting a campfire, sometimes, I need to speed it up a bit. I appreciate that the Pull Start Fire Starters require little effort to start the fire. You don’t have to worry about gathering kindling (though I often still do) or babying the fire in the early stages. Simply, lay out and stack your logs, like you normally would, pull the safety tab, hook the loop over a log, pull the starting string, and watch it burn.
I never recommend starting a fire on a windy day. It can quickly turn dangerous. However, a gentle breeze can sometimes put out the initial fire. The Pull Start Fire Starters don’t. They produce enough heat to start a fire in wind, light rain, or with damp wood.
Some firestarters produce toxic chemicals that are dangerous to breath or cook over, that’s no so with Pull Start Fire Starters. I let the fire starter and the logs burn completely, before cooking over them. I’ve cooked chicken and beef on my grill after using them and didn’t have a hint of anything other than the typical wood fire smoke. Even while it’s burning it doesn’t reak of chemicals.
Before you rush over to purchase these fire starters, there are some drawbacks to using them.
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Where I Think Pull Start Fire Starters Can Improve
The biggest drawback for campers, especially backpackers, is how much bulkier these are than a lighter or small box of matches. But, they’re still pretty compact at 1” x 2” x 5” and weigh only 4oz. If you’re your counting ounces, then these firestarters will likely be one of the first items to go, but they’re plenty compact if your RV camping or keeping them in a drawer for a backyard smores session.
The $20 three-pack price, isn’t outrageous… until you count the cost ($6+) of starting each fire. If you camp and start fires a lot, these fire starters can and will get expensive. For those who only camp a few times a year and may or may not start a fire each time, they’re not terribly expensive and would be worth investing in, considering the engineering, designing, and planning that went into making them.
The problem I initially ran into was finding something to loop the string around to pull against. I was using oddly shaped wood pieces that were either too light to pull against or too large to get the loop around. I ended up stacking the wood in such a way that allowed me to pull against it, so just be aware, sometimes you’ll still need to be a little creative when starting a campfire with the Pull Start Fire Starters.
Final Thoughts: Pull Start Fire Starters Review
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After starting a few fires with the Pull Start Fire Starters, I see the benefits compared to starting fires the way our ancestors did, but also recognize they’re not perfect. For the pyromaniacs, like myself, who regularly start fires on the grilll or campfires, the Pull Start Fire Starters are helpful but expensive. However, if you’re still a novice at starting a campfire, the weather isn’t cooperating (windy or rainy), or are in a hurry, the Pull Start Fire Starters are a worthy investment.
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