Exotac nanoSTRIKER XL Self Contained Ferrocerium Fire-Starter with Stainless Steel and Tungsten Carbide Striker, Waterproof 1/4 in. Ferro Rod Produces Up To 3,000 Fire-Starting Strikes

Was reluctant on purchasing any Exotac products because of price but I have slowly warmed up to them. The quality is second to none. Very well made. The striker is very sharp and will shower sparks when used. Small design works well on keychain. Glad I purchased. Recommended.

Why do I think I need a protective case for a ferro rod?When looking at ferro rods I came across forum posts detailing peoples' experiences with bare rods that start corroding and eventually turn to dust. When you use a ferro rod, the shavings you scrape off undergo an extreme exothermic oxidization process - so intense that they burn at 3000 degrees Celsius. This same reaction occurs very slowly when any ferro rod is exposed to air, and the long-term result is a useless, brittle fire starter. This is the reason that all rods are sold coated with a black oxidation inhibitor that must be scraped off before using them.By having the rod stored in an airtight container, the oxidation process is prevented.Ferro rods are already brittle to begin with, so the case will also ensure that it doesn't break while being kept in my pocket or backpack.When unpacked and assembled, the case doubles as an extremely comfortable non-slip handle. The ferro rod is long enough to get really nice sparks. I made the mistake of testing it in my bedroom, from a standing height, and the sparks burned all the way to the carpet! The striker is also very comfortable to hold and I like that it's not a separate piece that's going to be dangling around on a lanyard when stored.Overall, I'm really happy that I invested in something that will last for a long time.One comment on size... The XL is the same length as the regular Nanostriker, just wider. I've read that the smaller Nanostrikers might have a problem with the rods snapping while in use. This thicker one seems very sturdy, so I'm not concerned about malfunctions.

I bought the original Exotac NanoStriker 12 years ago and found no difficulty using it to ignite a variety of tinder. That earlier model was smaller, had a 3/16 inch diameter ferro-cerium rod. I carried it in my pocket every day and never had the rod corrode or give any problems due to the well designed O ring seals. I enjoyed lighting the tops of dandelions growing in our yard, great practice. The top flares up instantly when a spark hits it. The original rod has lasted 12 years and provided many hundreds of hot strikes. I've used it to light alcohol stoves. My hand is medium size, my dexterity is excellent, and I never had a problem getting excellent strong sparks from it. This original model has been replaced by the the nanoStriker XL after losing the old nanoStriker from a hole in my pocket a month ago.As the photo shows, the new nanoStriker XL is larger, uses a 1/4 inch diameter rod, yet is still small enough to carry in a pocket, pouch, bag, or small survival kit. Every bit the quality of the first striker (which I found today while walking my dog). Being larger the rod will last a lot longer than the original. As you can see from my 12 year old nanoStriker it has been carried in my pocket long enough to wear the anodizing off and the surface is now shiny aluminum.A favorite tinder I like to make by working a little petroleum jelly into a cotton ball, kneading it well until it makes a slightly greasy cotton wad. Just pluck an edge to expose some fibers and they will ignite at the smallest spark. The petroleum jelly keeps the cotton burning a while, long enough to get small twigs and grass/leaves or pine cone burning.I highly recommend the Exotac nanoStriker XL if you want a compact reliable fire striker and you have some dexterity to handle the small striker and enclosed carbide striking blade. If the rod gets wet, be sure to dry it off well and leave it uncovered until all moisture is gone. Closing up the rod with water will corrode the ferro-cerium rod and shorten its life.

There are a lot of ferro rods out there. Many of them are marketed as something special. They really aren’t. They are mostly all basically Chinese rods packaged in different ways. Nothing wrong with that, but some of them are wildly over-priced. So why buy this one?Well.. it’s small, protected, and easy to have on you when you need it. That’s it pretty much.The best thing about this one is the striker. Yes, it’s small bordering on tiny. Yes, it’s hard to hang on to unless you attach something else to it. The thing is though, it’s carbide. It throws a great spark once you figure it out.I attach a rescue whistle and small knife to either end of this thing. I use the included fire cord for the knife attachment. It goes in my pocket when out in the woods. Gives me everything I need to build a fire or start a stove.It’s quite expensive. That’s not great but at least it is well made, put together right here in the USA. I know I can count on it in a pinch. You can get some replacement bits for it too, so it’s not disposable if that’s important to you.This shouldn’t be your only method of starting a fire if you are going out in the wild for a good while. But, for the average hike or overnight it’s just the ticket.One star off for the price.