Gear Review – Ion Flashlight Firestarter

I’m at it again. In my never ending quest to have more than one way to start a fire, I was able to obtain the Ion Flashlight Firestarter from the good folks at Solo Scientific. To cut to the chase, if you are looking for an addition to your EMP preparedness kit or any kit for that matter, this is it.

I will start with two quotes from the company:

During outdoor adventures, flights over remote areas, or in any emergency survival situation, there are two pieces of equipment that you never want to be without, a flashlight and a firestarter. We have combined the two into one lightweight, compact, powerhouse of a product called the ion Flashlight Firestarter™!

The ion works great to cauterize wounds but stopping yourself short of cutting yourself is highly recommended ! The ion works great with char cloth and lights it instantly and the light will go over 60 hours continuous although we only advertise 48 hours and the magnetic tip can com in handy and can even be used to magnetize a needle that can be floated in a cupped leaf or other non metallic container filled with water to form a crude compass.  Have fun and thanks!

More on these quotes as we go through the review. First, the packaging. As you can see, this is another fine product “Made in the USA”! The Ion comes ready to go complete with batteries and char cloth. I always appreciate it when a company provides the batteries but when they add char cloth, that was just a little extra, added benefit for me.

I examined the flashlight and the firestarter very carefully, noticing that if I turn the cap one way, it turns on the flashlight and the opposite direction starts up the wire contact for the firestarter. Notice I said wire contact. This is not your typical metal striking or pump firestarter, instead it operates much like steel wool on a battery. That combination ensures a lighted fire within very little effort. Within a half of a second of me touching the cloth, smoke started and embers were forming. After adding a little bit of air to the ember, FIRE!

As shown in the photo below, you can see the cap that protects the wire attaches to the base with a magnet to keep it within reach. As mentioned in the quotes, that magnet can be used against a needle in order to provide a makeshift compass in emergency situations.

As you can see, it does more than just start fires. The fact that it is a flashlight, as well, makes this a variable tool for many uses. With the included 2 – Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA batteries, it is no wonder they guarantee of 50,000 hours of use from the LED.

Before closing this out I have one last claim to verify, the use of the firestarter to cauterize an open wound is not a misrepresentation. I was slicing avocados and the knife slipped against the pit and sliced my hand open. I took this as a good time to test the claim.

DO NOT TRY THIS EXCEPT IN AN EMERGENCY!

While you can see the red cut itself, the nice little brown semi-circle shape is where the wire made contact with the wound. Although in the hand there are thousands of nerve endings which made the pain intense, it did work. It also healed quicker than normal, as I did not add any antibiotic ointments. Within a week, the wound is a slight scab on my left hand. Keep in mind, this was not something I had planned on for this post, but alas, I thought it was a great opportunity to try it out.

From the site:

• Aircraft aluminum with 3 o-rings to ensure waterproofing
• 2 – Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA batteries included
• 2 – pieces of fire starting material included
• 7.25″ long
• 4.64 ounces
• Reaches temperatures up to 1250 degrees
• Lifetime Warranty
• $129.95

When it comes to solid USA made products that are very helpful in survival situations, Solo Scientific just keeps producing top of the line, quality products. I am thankful that I was able to provide another review for them.

Until then,

Use your instincts to survive