In a survival situation, a fire can be the margin between life and cold, shivering, hypothermic death. You should be able to start one quickly and easily, in any weather, no matter what the conditions, even if you’re hurt. Firestarters are an essential element of even the most rudimentary survival kit. A range of compact, lightweight options are available. Which should you carry?

IGNITION You need a spark to generate flame. Cheap butane lighters are a handy flame-creating package, but should not be relied upon. They can fail, especially if they get wet, and are difficult to use with cold, shaking hands. Quality waterproof matches are a more reliable, but still not infallible, alternative. Most require a specific striking strip, which is useless if soaked or lost. In this category, one of the best is the REI Stormproof Match ($5 for 50), which is coated for two-thirds of its length with ignition material.

A metal match ($8-$25, 1-3 ounces), on the other hand, works in any conditions. Strike the magnesium shaft with a sharp metal edge and —SH-POW!— a shower of high-temperature sparks cascades downwards. Most metal matches include a striker; make sure it's tethered securely so it's there when you need it. If the striker is lost, use a knife blade or other available metal edge.

The big drawback to metal matches — and to similar flint-and-steel options — is that you need two hands to strike a spark. If your arm is injured in a survival scenario, this is a problem. For situations like these, consider a one-hand sparker. When struck against a hard surface, it sparks as the magnesium shaft depresses into the handle and slides over an attached striker. Unlike a metal match, however, these have some simple moving parts that could fail. And they're not nearly as convenient to use if you do have both hands working.

FLAME Next you need sustainable flames. To convert your ignition source to fire, you need easy-to-light tinder that will burn as long as possible. A range of excellent, lightweight, and compact options are available. One of the best is Vaseline-coated cotton balls. Throw sparks on their easily ignited fibers and they’ll burn for five minutes or more. Smear the Vaseline on by hand or, for maximum saturation, melt it in a low-temperature double boiler on your stove and soak the cotton balls. You can easily cram a dozen into a small pill bottle.

DID YOU KNOW?
Magnesium burns at a temperature of 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit.

Dryer lint is another extremely flammable material; coat it with Vaseline or cover it with melted paraffin wax. Wax-coated cardboard is another good option. Check at the grocery store for used waxy fruit shipment boxes that can be cut into compact pieces. Alternatively, cut normal cardboard into strips roughly 1 inch by 12 inches. Roll them up tightly and then soak in paraffin wax. Though bulkier than other options, they produce a substantial flame for well over 10 minutes.

You can also buy pre-made tinder from most outdoor shops ($5-$10). Many are just compact versions of the paraffin/Vaseline idea; you simply get to avoid the messy hassle of making them. You can also buy fuel paste, which is essentially kerosene in jelly form. It ignites easily and can be smeared over whatever you're burning, but comes in a bulky and not very durable tube. If you've got none of the above, look for shredded birch bark — it will burn even when wet — or other small, dry, easily-lit forest material.

ACCELERANTS Several small items can help accelerate the fire-starting process. Magnesium shavings light instantly and burn intensely. Look for magnesium in small blocks that can be whittled with a knife; some also include an attached flint for striking a spark. In dire situations, white gas can be used to intense effect. Be extremely careful when lighting it with a spark — it ignites like a fireball.