Pyro Putty: The Ultimate Firestarter from Outdoor Survival to Leisure
The appeal of heat and flame is undeniable. Glowing embers and coals along with dancing flames are aesthetically pleasing for sure. They can also be a necessary companion when the elements chill us in the wild or we get hunger pangs.
While warmth and sustenance are real needs, sometimes we just need a controlled fire to gaze upon. Whatever the case, creating heat via flame isn’t always an easy undertaking. Of course, there are time-tested basics for creating fire. Creating a balance of heat, fuel, and oxygen is necessary. Along with a heat source, Kindling and tinder bundles are usually necessary components of fire-starting as well.
Then complications related to wind, temperature, moisture, and elevation come into play; things that can frustrate even Jeremiah Johnson-like woodsmen and women.
I’ve packed it all: zip-locks of newspaper strips, kindling sticks (sometimes lighter-fluid-soaked), and barbeque grill lighters. Regardless of your fire-starting capabilities, it’s not easy to start a fire in harsh weather. Snow, rain, wind, and other unforgiving conditions can make starting a fire very difficult. The day I discovered Pyro Putty was life-changing. While that may seem a little dramatic, it’s true. I can vividly remember the encounter with my first little tin can of this fire-starting genius. Part of the Phone Skope/Skoped Industries family, Pyro Putty has since become a staple for both my backwoods and backyard undertakings. There are various reasons, but before I touch on them, here’s a little information about the tool itself.
Pyro Putty Basics
There are several ways to describe this handy substance used for fire-starting. Easy – check. Fast – check. Non-toxic – check. Offered in weatherproof .5 and 2-ounce tins, it comes in a variety of formulas:
Winter Blend (Blue): Thinner, ideal for colder temperatures. 20-degrees – 90-degrees.
Summer Blend (Orange): Thicker, ideal for hot temperatures. 30-degrees – 110-degrees.
Eco-Blend (Green): Good all-around blend accommodating all conditions.
Ultra-Light (Light Green): 30-degrees – 100-degrees.
BBQ and Charcoal/Cinnamon Stove and Pit (Red/White): Ideal for stoves and barbeque pits.
Simply collect any combination of small twigs, dead grasses, or leaves (as dry as possible) and set to the side. It never hurts to pack some in a zip-lock bag to ensure you have a dry stash. Ignite a nickel to a quarter-sized piece of the putty. You can start it with a BIC-style lighter or matches. In the event they fail, make sure you have a ferrocerium or magnesium fire starter. Along with a knife blade or other striker, a ferro rod will create the spark you need. Once lit, place pieces of the small kindling over it. Once the kindling catches, you can intermittently add larger pieces. A quarter-sized piece will afford you about 15 minutes of fire – a generous window for gradually building the size fire you want.
Uses and Benefits
I’ve got to come clean; I’ve tried about every trick in the book. A mediocre-at-best fire-starter, I’ve usually taken the lazy route during my hunting, camping, and outdoor excursions. Here, my packing list includes the likes of fireplace starter bricks, pine kindling, and even lighter fluid – not exactly a recipe for an Eagle Scout or backcountry outfitter. A small tin can of Pyro Putty affords me packing space, confidence in the wild, and a new-found ability to create heat in a pinch. It’s so simple, I now have two choices. One, I can show off the simple ignition system; or two, I can nonchalantly create a fire with no hassle while nobody is looking. Either way, I come out a hero.
Portability
You don’t have to be an ounce-counting backcountry hunter to appreciate the convenience of including a can of Pyro Putty in your pack. I keep a tin of it in my backpack, as well as my truck. Similar in size to a snuff can, the 2-ounce can is lightweight and compact and each has enough putty for, at a minimum, twenty fires, depending on the size piece used from the can. Also available are .5-ounce tins and foil packs. If you choose to use a ferro rod, Pyro Putty offers two sizes ( Mega and Compact Inferno Kits) both with storage space for the putty in the handle. This is an especially efficient way to carry this fire-starting system.
Hunting
When hitting public land or even your private land hunting grounds, the ability to make a fire is up there with having a supply of water. It’s crucial. From solo hunters to deer camp patrons, there will be a need to warm your body or cook food.
“As backcountry hunters, we can’t stress enough the importance of having the ability to strike a lasting fire. We don’t hike or hunt without it”, said Wyoming backcountry hunter Sean Curtis of Kill Switch Outdoors.
I second that. Heck, for that matter, I can’t do without my coffee, so a simple heat source is my best friend. For only a few ounces, Pyro Putty offers a ton of utility and peace of mind for my hunting and outdoor adventure.
Survival/Preparedness
First and foremost, Pyro Putty is an outstanding emergency fire-starting system. While it’s a good all-around heat source, it is indispensable when it comes to survival. This will be especially true if your hunting excursion takes a bad turn due to dangerous weather, a dead vehicle battery or any number of misfortunes. This is yet another scenario where a small tin of Pyro Putty is a lifesaver. However, precarious predicaments requiring a heat source don’t only occur while afoot in the wild. They happen right at home.
“We recently had a record 30-inches of snow in two days,” Curtis said. “Having a couple cans of winter blend Pyro Putty was essential. Living in rural Wyoming, we always maintain a stash of it along with lighters, candles, and dehydrated meals – you just never know.”
Needless to say, including a can or two in your preparedness stash is academic.
Cooking and Ambience
In addition to Pyro Putty’s survival benefits, it’s a great solution for less urgent situations like bringing an outdoor fire pit or makeshift fire ring to life with friends. I’ve yet to meet anyone that doesn’t like to gaze upon a fire, whether alone or in a group. Talk about a no-nonsense fire starter for deer camp and at home. Another good quality is its flexibility. It’s non-toxic and non-messy meaning all blends can be used to initiate flames, coals, and smoke for a variety of cooking styles. Nonetheless, Pyro Putty comes in both BBQ and Charcoal and Cinnamon Stove and Pit blends, ideal for your next outdoor culinary feat.
A small clump of the putty was recently a quick catalyst for my last slow-smoked pork shoulder. No lighter fluid or starter bricks resulting in unwanted pyrotechnics. Within minutes, I had a small set of kindling and tinder ready to accept a few chunks of lump charcoal and oak tree deadfall; No fuss, no big production.
From the backwoods to the backyard, the mountainside to the tailgate, Pyro Putty is a great source of fire and heat on so many levels.
So, what are you waiting for? Undoubtedly, there are a few inches of space in your hunting pack, camping tote, or vehicle glove box. Outdoor adventure, fellowship, or an emergency can happen at any time. Are you ready? Heat and flame are valuable commodities. Let Pyro Putty light your way.
Based in Texas, Jerald Kopp is President of 1st Light Hunting Journal. His articles cover a variety of topics about hunting and the outdoor lifestyle. Jerald is an avid outdoorsman with deer hunting and whitetails being by far his greatest passion. He was introduced to hunting and fishing at an early age and has been enjoying it for 40+ years. In 2005, he established the Empowerment Outfitter Network (EON) – a faith-based non-profit organization that provides hunting opportunities for disabled and terminally-ill children and youth. When not hunting, he spends his time traveling and enjoying life with Amy, his wife of over 30 years. Jerald and Amy have two adult daughters and a son-in-law.
Hunt Day or Night