It Is A Good Time To Be A Heathen!

What does community mean to you? More specifically, what does your tribe, kindred, clan and respective wolf pack mean to you? When it comes to the here and now and immediate and distant future what are your feelings and goals?

When I started on this journey of mine much like many other people I felt like I was alone. And for a long time I practiced as such. Hours of time spent online studying history, religions, my family background, reading books, putting pieces together of the big picture. I never would have thought I would have ended up here where I am currently at. And to be honest it would have never been possible without the people I now call my folk. It just could not be possible without them. With kindreds and contacts all over the US it's a good time to be a heathen.

The kindred itself is more than just a group of friends. We are relatives of sorts and we feel it when we meet. We are bound by a common blood and a common goal which is to continue the practice of the old Germanic religion which we now call Asatru, and to share it with other people. There is little that comes close to the rewarding feeling of getting people together who have felt lost and distant into a group of folks that make them feel comfortable and more like family. There is something so special about getting together and getting to do ritual like blot or sumbel. And its even more special when you get to be present for one that is charged and has new members involved in it. To see someones eyes light up, and have a real connection is unparalleled. It is awesome. That feeling you all collectively have in that moment is something magic. You get to see a switch being flipped. Its like you can see them saying "this is it, this is what has been missing." With the options for public meets and gatherings just a click or a phone call a way, I have to say it's a magical time to be a heathen.

Right here and now we're collectively present at what I would say is a pivotal time. An awakening of sorts. A lot of people are coming out of their sleepwalking and mindless droning of everyday life. More people are wanting to break away from the Abrahamic religions and learn more about who they are and who they came from. They are trying to find their true folkish identity. They want to know who their ancestors and gods are. A wave is coming and more people are waking up and more people are being vocal about it. It's a good time to be a truthful heathen.

In the immediate future I would love to help continue to arrange and facilitate a welcoming environment for new folk to come experience this with us. To continue to disseminate and share what Asatru is really about, and to open others up to the ways of the old. And to encourage guilt free living in the light of our ancestors. To build tribal communities and to bring the traditional family units back into the household is of utmost importance. Overall, I would love to see people living with purpose and intent with Asatru as the fire guiding our way. It's a good time to be an honest heathen.

We are paving the way for the future. To build something more important than ourselves for our children and our grandchildren to nurture long into time. What we do today greatly affects and changes the course of our religions but also our people. It is imperative to take care of it. Without our people, and without our folk, these native Germanic gods and our ancestry will cease to be. The modern folkish Asatruar breathes life into our monumental past. We are honoring our folk, the ancestors and the gods by being the best versions of ourselves that we can be. Not just for them but for one another and our children and the future. They deserve our very best. It is a powerful time to be a heathen.

Time and energy are the two things once they are spent we cannot get back. With the kindred, my folk, my people, everything I do is worth it and then some. They deserve the best I can give. And its an honor to be able to do so. I never have and never will regret any of the sacrifices and exchanges I have made to make it up to this point possible. With all of this, I am no longer lost and wandering. I have found my purpose. I have found my people. And I feel so fortunate to the unending support to continue on this journey with such a wonderful group of folk. Its a spectacular time to be a heathen.

We are lucky to be together to see all of it unfold and to build the foundation that will no doubt shape the very future of our faith.

Ladies, Do Not Carry A Pink Pistol.

If you are of age and willing to accept the responsibility to carry a firearm for self defense, you should. If you are going to continue training after getting your CCW then that is even better. This is something I always suggest after getting your Concealed Weapons Permit. Its not uncommon that ladies will get theirs and get excited about shopping around for a CCW pistol. This is a good thing! You should be excited on the leg of the adventure. But just before you decide to pull the trigger on the Tiffany Blue, the Electric Purple, or the Hot Pink firearm of your liking let me drop some knowledge on you first.

Hate to break it to the lot of you, but you should never buy a pink gun. Ever.

Lets start with the obvious. A firearm is not a toy. Do not purchase one that looks or resembles a toy. Many women will go out and the first bright pink one they see may catch their eye. The urge to want to get something cute or pretty that matches this or that is probably strong. Your common sense should be stronger! A firearm is a tool. It is NOT a fashion accessory! And it should be treated as a tool. The way that it looks matters. Especially if you have children. And especially if you actually have to use it in self defense.

First off, if it looks like a toy and you decide to carry it in your purse (you should never carry in a purse, that is another topic for conversation) and its a bright color, to a young child or adult it may look like a toy. This is a recipe for disaster. Every year children and people get killed negligently due to a firearm resembling something like a toy. It simply gets picked up and accidentally gets fired whether by a child or an adult not thinking it is real or it is loaded. As a carrier you are responsible for what happens at all times with your firearm while it is in your possession or on your person. Lets reiterate, you are ALWAYS responsible for your firearm while it is in your possession and or on your person.

Secondly, it is a tool and should be treated with respect. If you respect the firearm and you abide by the most basic of firearm safety rules then negligence is minimized or completely neutralized from the equation. A firearm needs to resemble what it is. A tool to be respected.

The last point is if you actually have to use it in a self defense scenario in court the jury of your peers will see the weapon used. And it should be no surprise that the peanut gallery is going to make assumptions based solely on what the firearm looks like. They have no idea about firearms usually and it tends to be a popularity contest of sorts. A bright pink or purple pistol may unfortunately give the jury a preconceived idea about who you are even without knowing the case. Another common tactic used by prosecutors is to use the color of the weapon as weight in the case against you. Don't give them that. In the end the jury needs to like you and needs to side with you. A bright color pistol may give them reason not to. They may think you are not serious about the privilege of carrying. This goes to the couch commando men too. Donning a pistol with Punisher logos or parts that say "KILL THEM ALL" is not suggested. Your very character is being judged by a bunch of strangers that have no idea about guns. Giving them a reason to question that may be a mistake that can land you in jail, even though your use of it was justified.

Ladies, if you decide to carry a firearm and be part of the armed and trained responsible population do yourself a favor. Skip over the bright color pistols please. It does no benefit for you in the long run. We all have responsibilities to be the protectors of ourselves, our children, our families and our kindred. Its very easy to go and get a CCW permit and to go and purchase a pistol for the upstanding citizen. Accepting the responsibility is a challenge and a long term duty. Do not make it harder on yourselves if you can help it. Its already hard for the law abiding citizen to live their life peacefully. There is no sense making it any more challenging in the wake of having to use it in self defense.

Gear Review: Kahr CW9 pistol.

First off I am not paid by any firearm companies. This info and my opinions are strictly my own. I am not a professional but rather a guy who loves to train and shoot and happen to have spent quite some time researching myself when I was in your shoes. If you are looking for a CCW pistol this review may be of use.

When it came time for me to purchase my first handgun I needed something that fell into 2 major categories. The first was that it needed to be chambered in 9mm, and secondly it needed to be comfortable. I looked into the 9mm round and found it was very available, cheaper priced to shoot and very effective for personal defense. 9mm also is very mild on recoil which was important to me as I would be carrying it and would need to be as accurate as possible with follow up shots. It has been proven that 9mm is becoming the Goldilocks option as more government agencies and Police Departments choose to switch after in depth FBI testing has proven its effectiveness. As for comfort everyone has different preferences. For me a big one is getting all of my fingers on the grip. Some smaller CCW guns may allow 2 or 3 fingers and your remaining fingers hang off the pistol grip. This for me wasn't an option. I had to have a smaller option that facilitated all of my fingers comfortably when I practiced. The Kahr CW9 did just that. As soon as I picked it up I knew that it was the one. For reference I have medium sized hands.

For comfort we as carriers sacrifice a few things. Major things sometimes. Carrying a gun isn't comfortable by any means. It grates, irritates, and constantly reminds you its there. Kahrs C line value guns are very slim which I noticed right off the bat. This means you get better comfort carrying concealed inside the waistband. The cost of this added comfort for a slick and thin little package is the round capacity for the CW9 is limited. It boasts a 7+1 capacity which as the time of writing this is on the lower side. Which is okay if you plan to carry 2 magazines. Which you should. Always. No matter what you choose to carry. So that itself isn't much problem but it does only come with one magazine. The CW9 is also very light as a package as it's just under 1 pound. Polymer lowers make it so much easier to find lighter and durable options for the every day consumer. Heavier options will be uncomfortable over the course of a long day in your holster.

 

Speaking of the C line, the Kahr value line is priced just right. New to CCW folks commonly go to a gun shop and buy the cheapest option in the gun case. Do not do that! Remember this a tool to put your life on the line with. You are worth more than the cheapest gun in your local shops cabinet. Kahr has been making precision CNC'd guns and gun parts here in the USA since 1985. These guns are functional and reliable and they do not have anything extra a new CCW carrier does not need. Which is also why they can be priced competitively against much more expensive guns for similar qualities. They put everything you need into the package, nothing to cause price bloat.

Prices for the CW9 varies. Kahr has an MSRP of $449 but I have seen them in store as low as $279. At that price range these things are an absolute steal. There are a lot of functional cheap guns out on the market. Its a great time to be a gun buyer. There are so many options. But rarely do you see a mix of really top notch quality machining, functionality, design, and ease of use and maintenance at this price point.

Its simple to take down and work on. No frills. No extra bells and whistles. It has a super easy disassembly for cleaning which is important for folks new to the cleaning process. It has no safety selector on it which makes for scar free training (training scars means practicing habits that may not translate well with other platforms). The trigger is very smooth and predictable and crisp. And most importantly it will eat nearly any ammo you run through it without any issue or problem. I never had any issues with any ammo type I ever used with mine. This is probably the most important factor, reliability. In cheaper guns you may sacrifice some of this for that lower price tag. And in a moment of need you want to be certain its going to work. Buy once, cry once. And if it doesn't work you die once.

My experiences with the CW9 were above average and I highly suggest it for new to CCW people. All the people who tested mine out at the range or in training always commented on how nice it functioned, how smooth it was to operate and how accurate it was. Even with new shooters it was very forgiving. They always had very good groupings at the standard 7 yard shot. Its a great platform to learn what CCW is all about.

Don't take my word for it. Find a local shop that has them and check Kahr pistols out. They are an underdog in a highly saturated low quality, low price era for CCW guns. Ask questions and handle the ones you are interested in. Chances are you will know right away which one you should get when you pick it up. I know I did.

Bottom line: if you are in the market for a CCW pistol go get your mitts on many different models and brands. Ask questions in the shops about the ones you like. And if you have the option to test fire some of them out before buying. What ever you choose get something you feel comfortable with. And ladies, what ever you do please do NOT buy a hot pink or a Tiffany blue pistol. But that's a discussion for another time.

Questions, comments, concerns? What was your first CCW pistol? Feel free to reach out to me.

The Legendary Mora Knife - Gear Review

*I am not paid or endorsed by any knife company. I am just a guy who goes in the woods occasionally and likes to use my gear. This is my honest unbiased account of my experiences with Mora and a trio of their products.*

The pocket knife is an essential tool for any EDC (every day carry) loadout. In my previous post I discussed 3 tiers of knives. The utility/multi tool knife, the folding pocket knife and of course the fixed blade knife. All have different uses and applications and alternatively each have their strong and weak points. There is no doubt though when it comes to use and function the fixed blade is the go to for most people.

Fixed blade knives offer more rough use applications and safety. With a fixed blade knife extreme use most likely is the choice that will work for your duty assigned and it has the least probability to fail. To be more specific a pocket folding knife has a chance of breaking or failing with it causing possible injury during a job. The folding mechanism can (and will) fail at some point. A fixed blade has a much stronger design and structure, meaning the blade run completely or mostly through the handle. This will leave little chances for the blade to break or fail as it does not fold or have any extra mechanism to be more portable.

                                 

One company I have tested extensively was Mora. Mora is a Swedish knife company that has been producing blades for rough industrial use for over 100 years. Their uses range from the Scandinavian Military branches to bushcraft, and even in industrial and hobby woodcraft uses. They have been preached about for their quality and attention to detail at the budget of the common man. Are they worth it? Ill give you an idea of what I think of them after about a year of testing first hand. 

I bought a couple different versions to try out. I bought a Mora Companion Stainless, a 511 in Carbon Steel and also a Mora Robust Carbon. All three hit different price points but I didnt spend over $16 on any of these blades. They come factory sharpened nearly to razor quality. All the grinds on the blades were Scandi styled grinds. For the majority of people, this info about the grind will not matter but I bring it up for good reason. Scandi grinds are a simple one bevel style grind. Which translates to it being easy to sharpen and fix with little to no experience in sharpening. This is important to me because I spend more time beating up and destroying my knives than I do actually working on them. The hope in testing all of these blades was to use them as I needed and do little or no work on them. Type of blade material Carbon Steel or Stainless matters a little bit to a degree for prices and also for durability over the long haul. I prepped both the 511 and the Robust by forcing a patina on the blades to help protect them a little longer. Carbon blades will rust easily and not last as long if left alone. They will work just fine but I wanted to give them as best a chance as I could. A chemical patina will turn the blades to an almost black color if forced by a vinegar bath, which was what I did.

                                     

To be fair the only option of the three I purchased that I tested extensively was the cheapest of the three. The 511 in carbon steel which I feel is fair. Its a 3.6 inch blade with a thickness of .08 and weighs 3.9oz. The grip is TPE rubber and has a small guard on it so you wont slip while using it. And at a price point of about $10 shipped its a steal. It does come with a sheath which is utilitarian at best but it does the job it needs to.

For a long time I carried the Mora along with a folder every day. Carrying a Mora is easy outside the waist band with a simple rigger belt. I used the Mora a lot in place of my folder as it typically takes a beating. On an average day or work week I probably use it mostly cutting and opening boxes. But there were days I really set out just to abuse it. A couple of times for instance, I cleaned off battery terminals that were crusted over, or I stirred paint cans, and I even batoned some wood chunks preparing to build a fire. I also cut wiring and some metal cable up just to see if it would do it.  I pushed the blade and its build quality to its very limits with my normal activities. The only thing I did to the 511 that was maintenance was I oiled it occasionally. For carbon knives keeping them dry and oiled is an important step for the long run. I admit I did not oil and keep it dry nearly like I would if it was a knife I cared deeply about. When I tested these I tried to use them how an average person would. I carried the 511 every day for a period probably of 3 months. What I found was that when I carried it and my folder I usually would opt to use the Mora. It was easier to use, sharper and seemed to be overall better. For the price of $10 it certainly gave my folder a much needed break.

                                  

Pros
-Price
-Durability
-History
-Grind choice for easy sharpening
-Option for colors and styles
-Mods are vast for range of uses
-Variety of price points

Cons
-Availability
-Sheath quality
-Mods may be needed for specific uses

                                     


Is it worth the price? Very much so. Avid outdoors people would be happy to know that even the cheapest knife Mora makes like the 511 basic is now a favorite for me. It is now rusted, paint covered and battle torn. And the best part is, it is still very sharp. With some work on it there is no doubt that it would be back to near perfect shape. The quality for dollar is unheard of and unmatched.

As for the cons you have to really nitpick. One con is that these will more than likely have to be purchased online. No big deal for the majority of people. The sheathes are functional but that is about it. Some complain that they barely do that. The aftermarket sheaths are out there but you will spend more than the knife to get something kydex worth carrying. The other reviews will also say that the retention starts to fail with the stock sheaths. Poor retention = losing your knife. And I also listed is a con about some of  mods for other functions. The bushcraft models which are much more expensive will come with a striking rod. Those models have the spine of the knife outfitted to be used with it as a striker. Commonly other folks that are in the outdoors would use a cheap knife as a striker but unfortunately the cheaper Moras will need to be ground down a bit to be used this way. They come sort of unfinished and need to be ground just a smidgen to work properly. Not a con if you are wanting to pay the Bushcraft Mora prices, but it is if you are looking to do this specifically with a cheaper model and should be noted.

Over all these knives are well worth their weight and the cons I listed. With an assortment of styles and price points I cannot stress how good these are. Get one. Try it for yourself.

5 Items The Prepared Person Carries

In the disaster preparedness or prepper community a common topic of discussion is every day carry items. Also known as EDC items. These are the things that you would carry on your person every day. While a lot of folks maybe do not know about this facet of prepping, it can tell you a lot about a person. Try this for size.

Take everything out of your pockets (or purse) and dump it all out on a table or on the floor. Look closely at the items you have on your person and in this pile. Would you be able to survive a random attack from a stranger or wild animal? Or what about an unplanned walk in a wooded area you are unfamiliar with and its getting dark? Maybe you are stranded and your car isn't starting? Even worse, no one is around for miles? These unforeseeable incidents will happen to all of us at some point or another. But being prepared and equipped can make some of these things much easier to deal with and overcome. If the items you have dumped in front of you are not really going to make any of these situations weigh into your favor, its time to start seriously thinking about your EDC load out.

EDC is the most basic of planning and prepping. This article is not going to dive into the more complicated ideas related to it, but will be much more of a crash course in the philosophy and practice and why it matters. As stated before, at the EDC level it is the items on your person at any given time. There are many levels to prepping and your EDC is probably the most important.

There are essentially 3 levels of prepping I personally use and practice and it goes like this.

EDC - Every Day Carry (What you have on you now and always)
GMH - Get Me Home (More specific items carried in a bag , or in a car geared to get you home)
BOB - Bug Out Bag (A bag  typically at home ready to go with 72 hours worth of supplies)

Why everyone should care and think about their EDC?
Your every day carry items should improve and help you in your daily life but also prove more than useful in dire times of need. Your profession and lifestyle may dictate and change what you may carry. Generally your EDC will change as needed and change often. Here are a few simple suggestions may help the majority of people new to prepping and get them going on a path to prioritizing and optimizing their daily load outs.

The following list is 5 of the most basic items I feel are important for building an EDC. Your personal items and choices will vary but these items have proven to be useful for nearly every event planned and unplanned I have encountered.

1. Cash

While this one may seem obvious for a lot of people it isn't something they generally think or worry about. Cash and paper money can prove very helpful in a pinch. Ever been to a fast food restaurant or a gas station and conveniently the computers or internet go down? There you are, standing with 10-15 other people now waiting to pay for something and the managers and customer service people are saying "Sorry folks the machines are all down. But we can take cash over here on this register." Out of the people standing around there usually one or maybe two people that end up getting out quickly because they were smart and packed a few bucks in their wallet somewhere for coffee or a sandwich. Today, we do not put much thought into paper money because everything is on debit or credit cards. But once the internet or a hiccup with a computer network happens those means of paying for goods and services no longer apply. Until the problem is remedied the card itself and the numbers in your bank account are about useless. Having $20-100 stashed away on your person is a smart move to get out of a tight spot. If $100 sounds like a lot, it really isn't. If your car breaks down it could easily cost $70 just to get a hook up and a pull a few miles down the road to get it to a shop. And if you decide to hide your cash on you in a spot you would not typically pull from (hidden pocket in wallet, or in a shoe under an insole for instance) that few dollars could prove to be very helpful if your account is a little low and you get in a bind. Cash is king usually, and its always good. That is why its #1 on my list of must have items in an EDC at all times. Another avenue to expand on this would be buying and collecting silver or gold, or any other precious metals. As those resources more than likely will always be worth something and more than what you paid for if inflation and value is in your favor.

2. Knife

A knives usefulness as a defensive tool and utility item can go a long way. Typically there are three types of knives I think about when it comes to EDC blades and they are Good, Better, and Best. Good may be classified as a blade found on a multi tool or Swiss army knife. These will help with small tasks and needs, but are difficult or dangerous in application from a defensive perspective. Better category would be the most common choice for every day carry, the trusty folding knife. Liner lock or frame lock options are probably the most popular and are practical for carrying for most utility and work purposes. A 3-4 inch blade may be a viable defensive tool if necessary. They are slightly more safe than the Swiss army option and can be quickly deployed if needed in a situation. However, these pocket knives (typically with clips) can fail when put under major stress. Which is why there is another option that is formidable and dependable. Fixed blade or full tang are knives that goes through the entire knife grip and all. These are meant for rough use or strictly for combat. Lots of companies market fixed blade to the outdoor community to be used in the woods as survival and military knives. They are the most reliable, robust, and trustworthy out of the bunch. While they may be longer than the folding variety most of the time these can fit a role as far as uses and needs much better typically. These sheathed 4-6 inch knives though are cumbersome for people to try implementing on a daily basis or for smaller detailed work. They also may not be an option to carry openly depending on where you are at or what you are doing. Finding one of the 3 options that works best for you is very important. You are better to have a small one on you than to not have one at all. This philosophy will be used many times but this is where the application really starts to make sense.

3. Water

Another item on the list most people may over look and it should be an obvious thing. Humans are able to go very long periods of time without food. This is not true when it comes to water. Staying hydrated is essential to health and success when dealt a crappy hand. Without water dehydration will quickly ruin morale and chances for success if in a survival situation. A lot of preppers will have a gallon or two in their cars for moments when it may be needed. As a rule of thumb, 32oz - 3 Liters is a smart amount to carry at all times.  A Nalgene bottle, or hydration bladder are two easy ways to achieve this. They can be taken easily anywhere and can be carried or put in a bag or thrown in the car. Water is even more essential in dry or hot climates. In the heat you may want to double or triple the amounts mentioned above. Plan accordingly and do what works for you where you are at. This is a hard lesson to learn on accident or by mistake. Not to mention it could be a deadly one.  For in the woods and on the go, companies like Lifestraw or Sawyer make small portable light multi use filter devices that can clean and make non potable water safe to drink from pretty much any water source. These are cheap and easy to use and purchase, and go great in GMH bags or BOB's. These will save your life and should be considered for the more prepared and trained. Until then, get used to carrying water everywhere, every day, no matter what.

4. Flashlight

There are a multitude of choices at just about any price point but the idea is simple. In a pinch where you need light, you want a flashlight. Before you say something about your smart phone, I know. You got one on yours. For the applications of the prepper it isn't really a good option. Flashlights can be used for signaling or for just finding an item you misplaced or dropped in the dark. They also serve an important role like identifying and confirming possible threats or hazards. A bright flashlight can be used also to deter possible attacks or advances from a physical confrontation. These lights geared to the EDC person will typically have a clip for pocket carry and also have a button that is hard to press accidentally, but easy to turn on and off quickly. More expensive options may use Lithium batteries, or even have strobe settings or SOS signals built in. For carry I recommend something with 100+ lumen and has an adjustable throw/flood or focus. When flashed directly in the eyes of a person or animal it will cause temporarily blindness and will be disorienting. When something goes bump in the night, a flashlight is a must to identify and confirm a threat. For the size and price and weight, its worth having one all the time day or night. Lots of options have single AA or AAA batteries that are cheap to use and replace while still being powerful. With the many applications and uses, and also the bonus factor that it may be all you need to stop a threat before it begins. The flashlight is a huge asset and tactic to the modern warrior.

5. Pistol

 Last but not least is the force multiplier. A sidearm is of the utmost importance. A lot of people will say, "I have no need to carry a gun at all, let alone everywhere with me." There are a lot of people ignorant to the most basic of defensive teachings let alone firearm safety. To be clear on this I suggest everyone take firearm safety courses from certified trainers. People who are competent, confident and responsible should be carrying a sidearm when able. A sidearm or pistol is the equalizer for the defensive minded. Protecting ourselves and our families from threats and dangerous forces is not optional and non negotiable. This is true for people and animals alike. Concealed carry makes this easily done with a permit or license. But training should not stop there. Practicing and taking classes are encouraged and required to be sure you always have an upper hand. With defensive anything, a you never train to have a fair fight. Always plan and prep to be more prepared and equipped than anything you ever may have to go up against.

***

These are the items I suggest as a must for people new to EDC to think about. Its always a hot topic of conversations and debate within the community. Take the "pocket dump" challenge and see where you may improve your personal EDC. Consider some of these suggestions and philosophies and make changes that fit your situation. While they may not all work for everyone these have worked great for me and have helped me numerous times when the odds were not exactly in my favor.

Self sufficiency is one of the major core beliefs of a modern heathen. As time has progressed people have naturally put their safety and well being in the hands of others in lieu of doing it themselves. Its easier that way. And they have become rather comfortable doing so. A follower of the old ways would never rely on someone else for their own personal safety. We train and live the same way our ancestral warrior descendants would have over 1000 years ago. Asatruar today are no exception. The field worker would never leave the home without an axe or knife as a force multiplier. In the modern day, our force multiplier is a firearm much to the same philosophy. We are living products of that philosophy in action. We are living proof that it works.

Remember, it is better to have some things and not need them than to need them and not have them at all.

Cash, knife, water, flashlight, pistol.
What do you carry?

Zippo EFK - Emergency Fire Kit Review and Test

The connection between man and fire is a strong bond. On a ancestral and evolutionary level we are connected all by the warmth, comfort and security fire brings. Often having an emergency fire kit is overlooked for the average person however it can prove to be a very important tool given the right circumstances. I do think that a means to start fire should be a part of everyones EDC or Every Day carry kit. Meaning you carry it everywhere all the time, some means to create fire. This is a review and test of the Zippo branded EFK or Emergency Fire Kit and my experience with it.

*Note: I am not endorsed by Zippo or any of it's affiliates. I am just a guy who likes to be out in the woods and test gear. I test these things so you dont have to.

On a recent fishing trip while bank fishing with a friend after a few hours of being unsuccessful we started to slow our roll casting and started talking. We had a little gear with us some of which  we have never tested and probably should. One piece of equipment was a Zippo EFK. Surprisingly I have never seen something from Zippo like this. At least not the survival or camping variety from Zippo. This practice of using and becoming familiar with your gear is an essential part of success and confidence with outdoor endevors and survival. I highly suggest testing gear multiple times before deploying it in the field when you need it most. Fire starting gear is not one to skimp on. Test your fire gear. Test it often and change what doesn't work. Being able to start a fire could be a

At first glance the Zippo EFK came of as a little gimmicky. Its plastic and light. Simple design but it seemed practical. Watertight and had a lanyard hole for mounting anywhere, including on military MOLLE style gear. The cap comes off and inside is what looks like the guts from the top of a Traditional Zippo lighter striker but its open and not shrouded. In the other lower compartment which is also air tight was 5 cotton based, oil/accelerant starter coated tinder blocks. All of which fit conveniently around the tube that holds flints for the striker. It appeared as the design was well thought out. That is it. straight and to the point. A means to create spark and tinder that can hold it for a few minutes. But the primary concern was "does this thing work".

To give it a fair trial we started a small fire on the bank just to see if we could. We have labored over other methods of fire starting that lots use as back up methods such as magnesium bars and strikers. Some of these were unsuccessful probably because of imitation and cheap materials used in cheaper imported sale options online. It had rained a few days prior to the test so some sticks and twigs were still damp. I walked only 10-15 yards from the area we wanted to use it and found more than enough dry sticks, a variety of all sizes to start a decent sized fire. We took one of the wax coated blocks and opened it up making it fluffy. Hit it one time with the striker and boom, we had fire. Just like that it worked. Building from small twigs to larger sticks it worked perfectly. Much better than we expected. Whole process only took a few minutes for set up and to have a fire going. We didn't even break a sweat.

Pros:
Easy to use.
Cheap.
Air tight and waterproof.
Easily mountable anywhere.
Cheaper than some other similar options.
Can reload with flints and tinder blocks.
Effective.
Made in the USA.
True one hand fire starting option.
Light then place control. Instead of place then light.

Cons:
Zippo branded tinder blocks are a little pricey and you can only carry 5 at a time.
Not available in stores locally.

As noted the tinder blocks were available online as well as the EFK. Check availability on Amazon or Ebay if you don't have a Zippo retailer. Price is $10-$12 per kit and it comes with 5 tinder blocks to get started. However, the reload kits cost nearly as much as a new kit does. I highly suggest buying some cotton balls and making your own soaking with wax if you need more.

When it comes to fire use what works. From this test alone I can say I am swayed to get one. Reason being the other options I have used have been difficult to control and use. For instance a typical magnesium bar and striker is tedious sometimes to use. Scraping enough magnesium shavings to start a decent fire may prove difficult for someone who injured an arm or the functionality of one of their hands. This would be no problem for the Zippo EFK. Its better to use what you know will work in a time of need. Fire is not something to try and chance when it comes to cooking food, boiling water for safe drinking, or if you just need a the light, warmth and protection of a big bonfire in the wild. This is core survival. Do not go cheap on fire related gear.

As Asatruar, our ties with fire are strong. The ancestral and spiritual connection is woven into who we are. The bonfire is the center of our rituals and was the gathering point for all of our communal and holiday events. Fire ties us together on an evolutionary level just a much as a religious level. Whether its for blot or sumble, or for just making smores with the neighbors after a BBQ, fire ties all people together on a deeper level. For heathens though this is a major link to our Pagan Germanic peoples, our loved ones with us physically and spiritually, and our Gods.

Hail the Old Gods!
Hail the Folk!
Hail the Ancestors!