Stormproof Matches

Stormproof Matches are the match to reach for when conditions have already turned bad. An ordinary match is defeated by wind, by rain, and by a wet striking surface. These are engineered around all three problems. They light quickly and consistently in driving rain, heavy wind, and falling snow, and, unlike a normal match, they will relight after being dunked in water: the burning head keeps going even after submersion.

Each match burns for up to 15 seconds, which is a long time when you are shielding a flame and feeding it into tinder. That burn time is the practical advantage over a standard match, which often goes out before your tinder catches. Each box holds 25 matches plus spare strikers, because the striker is the part most likely to fail you: if it gets wet it will still work once dry, but in the meantime a spare keeps you moving. For a reliable strike, use a firm surface; closing the box usually provides one.

A few handling notes matter. Strike away from your body or in a downward position, and be aware that sparks can fly off the igniting head, so keep bystanders clear. If the matches themselves get wet, wipe them dry before use. After a match is spent, run it under water to be certain it is fully out before discarding it.

Stormproof Matches are made by UCO and sold by Exotac. They are designed to be carried in the MATCHCAP XL, whose capsule is sized for the extended stormproof length and whose sealed cap keeps both the matches and the striker dry. Together they form the match-based leg of a three-way fire kit, backing up a ferrocerium rod and a lighter. Twenty-five matches with a 15-second burn is enough for weeks of trips, and because each box ships with spare strikers, a wet striker never ends your ability to use them.