Costco's New Fire Starter Kit May Prove Less Useful For Seasoned Campers & Backpackers

In the world of camping, it can be hard to know which items are worth picking up for your next trip or which you can hold off on getting. And one of the most important tasks to be able to do when you get to camp is start a fire. Costco has a new fire starter kit that has gotten some hype online and could be useful if you are just getting into camping. The SOG Ultimate Camping Kit includes a knife, a camping axe, a folding spade, and a flint tool for $60.

This kit is compact and easily fits in a backpack, but collectively the tools are heavy, so they would be handier for car camping adventures than a long-distance backpacking trip. But you can throw it in your vehicle for easy access to campsite essentials. Some items in the kit, like the axe and spade, are things you may not need every trip, but can a lifesaver in an emergency. The flint tool also doubles as a window punch, which can help you break a car's glass window in an emergency. The flint itself is useful if you're somewhere without other ways to start a fire but isn't necessary or the easiest option if you have access to a lighter or matches. 

If you're a more seasoned outdoor adventurer, you may already have individual tools that are higher end or more effective. While reviewers note some of the tools aren't the ideal size for every situation — such as the axe not being large enough for significant wood chopping — it's a great compact beginner option. 

Camping can seem intimidating to start when you haven't been before, so kits like the SOG Ultimate Camping Kit can help you get started. Then you can add to your list of equipment slowly but surely. Plus, you can pick up a bunch of camping gear and other fun outdoor items from Costco to prep for your next summer vacation. Before you head out on your camping trip though, make sure to set up your new equipment and test it out to avoid packing less useful (and potentially dangerous) gear.

Creating a collection of camping gear can quickly become expensive, so adding some budget camping essentials from Costco can help get you started and then you can always upgrade your items as you learn and figure out what you use most often and need to upgrade. From this kit, the knife will always be useful at camp, while the axe and spade may not be needed.

The camping axe can be used to cut wood into smaller pieces to make a fire, but since it's a small axe, it might not be as helpful as larger axes to split logs. The folding spade and built in saw could be helpful if you have to shovel or saw something in a pinch, but having dual purpose might reduce the effectiveness of both tools. But purchasing all of these items in the most useful state can be very expensive so if you're just starting your camping journey a camping kit like this could be helpful to get started.