REVIEW: EXOTAC Nanostriker XL Firestarter

A fire without a lighter or matches? Of course that's possible, fire steels are widely used in the survival scene because they are moisture-resistant and easy to handle. They also usually provide reliable results. Here we present to you the Nanostriker XL from EXOTAC.

The fire steel comes in a small, simple, elegant box with foam padding. In the box itself are: The 3-piece fire steel, a small key ring, the user manual, a small piece of string, and spare O-rings.

Technical data for the Nanostriker XL:

Diameter: ~11mm

Length ~93mm (screwed together)

Weight ~27g

The fire steel consists of a "Ferrocerium Rod" which can be replaced if needed (nice addition, as the set is very aesthetically pleasing and therefore not useless once it's used up). The "scraper" is a sharp-edged H-shaped construction made of tungsten carbide (extremely hard and temperature-resistant). The manual mentions that it can be sharpened, but that it is not necessary with proper use. However, since it is very delicate and hard, the edges tend to break easily. The scraper has a small handle with a hole for the string.

The housing is made of lightweight T9 aluminum and is black or olive anodized.

The first impression upon unpacking is more than good, the fire steel is elegantly packaged and the three parts are connected with threads and O-rings. The "Ferrocerium Rod" has a matte coating that should be scraped off before use.

For use, the steel should be screwed into its "sheath" upside down, to get a better grip.

The steel strikes beautiful long sparks, which according to the manufacturer can reach a temperature of nearly 3,000°C, more than enough for typical tinder like dry grass, "fire bushes," or birch bark. With proper practice, dry tinder ignites after 1-2 strikes.

If the scraper is not sufficient or seems impractical because the handle is quite small, you can of course also use a knife or another scraper.

We would estimate the durability to be similar to that of the well-known "Swedish" fire steel, with similar diameter and use, both steels wear out almost identically.

CONCLUSION: Due to its elegant shape, perfect as a functional gift. The price is not cheap, but you get a stylish and fully functional fire steel. It can also be used as a keychain thanks to the sheath and O-ring, and the integrated scraper ensures that you don't damage your knife. If the XL version is too large, there is also a smaller version called the "Nanostriker."

You can buy the EXOTAC Nanostriker XL in olive or black at ASMC for 34.90 euros (excluding shipping).