If you can’t make a fire with this BCO Backcountry Fire Kit, the woods may not be the place for you! All kidding aside, this kit offers numerous ways to make fire. The kit gives beginners a chance to practice on three types of tinders utilized with a ferro rod.
The BCO Backcountry Fire Kit
BCO: Born in the Wild, Built for a Lifetime
Since 2011, Badger Claw Outfitters (BCO) has crafted gear as tough and adaptable as the people who carry it. From hand‑tooled leather to waxed canvas and rugged nylon, every stitch, seam, and rivet is made in the USA and backed for life. This isn’t just equipment — it’s a promise born from the founder’s years hunting, fishing, and living off the land, from Alaska’s wilds to the Texas hill country. Whatever the journey, gear up with confidence and make every mile, every campfire, every memory count.
BCO Backcountry Fire Kit
When the weather turns foul and the wind cuts deep, this compact kit turns a cold night into a warm camp. Built for those who know a Bic lighter isn’t enough. The BCO Backcountry Fire Kit delivers the tools and assurance needed to make fire when it counts.
| Stainless Steel Collapsible Pocket Bellows | Drives oxygen right to your ember’s heart, turning a stubborn spark into a roaring flame with minimal effort. |
| Fatwood Shaving Stick | Burns hot and fast, even when soaked, giving you a dependable fuel source pulled straight from nature’s resin‑rich bounty. |
| Alcohol Swabs | Ignite instantly, doubling as emergency tinder when conditions leave everything else damp and useless. |
| Jute Twine | Fluffs into a tinder nest in seconds, catching sparks with ease and speeding your first flame. |
| 5/16” Ferro Rod | Throws a shower of molten sparks that light your fire in rain, snow, or high altitude — no fuel, no fail. |
| Carbide Steel Striker | Bites into the ferro rod cleanly, producing hotter, longer sparks for faster ignition. |
| Laser‑Etched Matte Black Tin | Shields your kit from the elements, keeping contents dry and ready, with enough space for extra tinder. |
| BCO Small Zip Pouch | Organizes and protects your fire‑making lifeline, slips easily into a cargo pocket or pack. |
| Fire Kit ID Tag | Marks your gear with pride and makes it quick to spot when time matters. |
| MSRP | $31.95 |
Summer Kit Testing
That’s right, making fire in the heat of the summer seems strange. Time wasn’t my friend when it was time to test this kit before an extended overseas trip. I knew when I would come back, it would be cool autumn weather, perfect for making fires. However, I had to crank out a couple of cook fires to get a feel for how the kit handles.
Since it was the heat of summer, I made sure to have small fires, and this is where my Uberleben flat stove came in handy. Nothing like a small contained cook fire when it’s about 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Preparing for a fire, as usual, involved making sure I had all the right components: toothpick, pencil, and finger thickness. Then, I needed thumb thickness, in addition to larger chunks of wood used for small fuel. I split down the larger pieces using my heavier tool. For the most part, I relied on twigs and dead standing wood. Summer in my area doesn’t necessarily mean dry weather; we often experience rain in the Northeast during these months.
And The Fire!
A stick of Fatwood was a godsend in the humidity. However, it didn’t start there. I used jute twine and shredded it to create the initial spark. Then, I added shavings and slivers of fat wood to keep the flame alive until the small, damp twigs ignited. Eventually, the pencil and finger-thick pieces were ablaze, and I knew I would have a sustainable fire if I kept that up.
On another occasion, I stored Poplar bark in the supplied BCO Small Zip Pouch for marginal protection from dampness. Marginal being the keyword here. The poplar bark was a little damp but quickly dried out as I repeatedly struck the ferro rod into the tinder bundle. You can consider this technique as warming or charring the tinder material.
The BCO Backcountry Fire Kit has a hidden gem in carbide form. A good carbide steel striker stays sharp and has an evil edge for scraping tenders and the Ferro rod. I could have easily cut myself if I had not been careful or wearing a glove. However, the striker is too small for wearing a glove, and gloves are fumbly.
The stainless steel collapsible fire bellows was perfect for pointing towards the small opening of a wood stove. This was a much simpler bellows than I’ve seen before. It didn’t have a knob at the top or bottom, or a key ring or other pieces that could come loose.
And of course, the pouch that came with it makes it easier to add components for fire-making or survival.
Backcountry Fire Kit Conclusion
Made in the USA and guaranteed for life, the BCO Backcountry Fire Kit doesn’t just help you start a fire — it enables you to stay alive, stay warm, and stay in control of your adventure. Carry confidence everywhere and ignite fires anywhere!
