Road flare questions???

[stuckinatree]

How many guys pack them? How do you carry them? Anybody actually used one to start a fire on a sled trip?

 

[happylilcuss]

I carry 2 of them in my pack. I carry them in the inside pocket where they dont get wet. I have used one to start a fire a few different times. I also used one to flag down a helo to have someone flown out once. we also carry a small flare gun for signalling the helo if needed. IMHO its easy and not a bad idea.

 

[EagleRiverDee]

I carry at least one year round in my ATV or sled. I have used one to start a fire in particularly wet conditions once, and it worked like a charm, although the smoke is pretty nasty until the flare burns off. Right now I carry one in my backpack and one in my tunnel bag.

 

[cascadesnowjunky]

I carry one at all times, it is by far the best fire starter you can have. You have 15 minutes of 2000+ degree flame. I carry mine in my backpack and replace it every year just to be safe. I have built a fire right on top of the snow with one before, they work awsome.

 

[DTR]

I carry one in my backpack, and 2 in my seat. I put them in a ziplock bag, wrapped the bag around them, then taped it (make sense?). I have never had to use them, but they are cheap insurance (about $6 for 3 at Napa).


DTR

 

[RXB-1]

I always have a few in my pac and some in the truck. For the ones in my pack I wrap duct tape around them to keep em dry, More than enough and the extra tape can come in handy at times, If you need them just unwrap and have at it

 

[Dummy]

flares

I put mine in a piece of 1" pvc glued a cap on one end and just slid the cap on the other end keeps them dry and keeps them from falling apart

 

[snowrodeo]

how long do they last??

i just built a couple of holders for mine out of 1" pvc. works awesome, just make sure you dont get the schedule 40 pipe - the wall of the pipe is to thick and i couldnt get the cap of the flair into it - use the 200 instead.

so, does anyone know if flares have a "shelf life"? do they need to be replaced every so often???

 

[RXB-1]

A flare stored in PVC with caps would probably lite 200 years from now, Might make sure they dont rattle inside the holder

 

[giddyup]

i cut the butt end off the ones i have i dont need a nail sticking out of it, and then i put them in a food vacume packer, they stay sealed all year, i put one under the hood and one in my pack work great

giddyup

 

[deepdiver]

I have been using them for many years. The pvc holder is an excellant idea..i have mine wrapped in ace wraps fopr first aid reasons and have had them broken a few times from the backpack hitting the snow too hard with a lot of weight on it.

Another trick I learned from Turbo Al in Revelstoke(i think) is to carry a couple of tampons..yes no shiitt. They typically have waterproof plastic wrappers and they have a string attached so you can easily dip them into your gas tank...they burn quite a while..also an old school 35mm film canister or go to the local "smoke shop" and get the aluminum version/o-ring type...pack it full of cotton balls packed in Vasoline...they will act as good fire starter as well.