My camp stove let me down in a drizzle, but I figured out a fix

I was camping last weekend and a light rain started. My portable stove would NOT light, no matter what. The spark maker got damp and failed. Now I always put the lighter and fuel in a sealed bag. This small step made a BIG difference next time. I tested it at home with a water spray. Keep your fire starter DRY or you'll have no hot food.

3 comments

3 Comments

harris.andrew8d ago

My cousin swears by keeping a small silica gel packet in his stove kit, says it soaks up any hidden moisture. I always thought that was overkill until my own stove sputtered out in just high humidity, no rain at all. It made me realize the spark gap can short out from damp air, not just direct water. So now I double bag my lighter with those ziplocs and toss in a gel packet too. Your spray test is smart, but try it on a humid day to really see the difference.

lewis.brian8d ago

Ever try uncooked rice as a cheap backup?

blair708d ago

You really trust those little silica packets in the field? I find they get crushed to dust bouncing around in a pack... then you've got a bigger mess. Dry rice in a film canister has never failed me, even when my gear takes a dunk.