If you've been following our print magazine, you'll likely recognize the name EXOTAC. The company produces fire-starting tools designed for every-day carry, with machined aluminum construction and a slick modern appearance. We reviewed the EXOTAC nanoSTRIKER XL ferro rod in Fire at Will, our fire-starter buyer's guide in Issue 18.

EXOTAC is well-known for its EDC ferrocerium rods, like this nanoSTRIKER XL.

Today, EXOTAC released a new fire-starter called the nanoSPARK, and launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund its production. The new American-made EXOTAC nanoSPARK is a compact sparking device which fits on a keychain, and can be operated with one hand. Rather than a ferrocerium rod and scraper, it uses a flint wheel design. Anyone who has used a cigarette lighter should be familiar with this mechanism — it's even compatible with standard Zippo lighter replacement flints.

The nanoSPARK has another trick up its sleeve. Knowing that dry tinder can be hard to find in an emergency, EXOTAC designed the fire-starter with a built-in waterproof storage capsule for the company's quickLIGHT tinder. Unscrew the aluminum body of the device, and you'll be able to insert one piece of the tinder as well as a few additional flints. Each nanoSPARK includes a total of five pieces of tinder.

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The EXOTAC nanoSPARK is available in four colors: anodized orange, olive green, gunmetal gray, or black. A limited number of “early bird” backers of the Kickstarter project can snag an orange fire-starter for $18, after which the price will increase to $22. They're also available in packages of two, three, or four units, so you can share them with your friends.

The company says all orders from this crowdfunding campaign will be shipped by the end of July. For more information and a video of the nanoSPARK in action, visit EXOTAC's Kickstarter campaign.

Written by Patrick McCarthy