High-Vis Orange Beast & Hive Fire Starter

Developing a high-vis fire steel has been in the works at FF for a long time. It’s no secret that misplacing your fire steel is extremely frustrating, not to mention potentially dangerous if you’re in the middle of nowhere.

We’re pleased to finally announce that two of our best-selling fire steels, along with our signature strikers, are now available in high-vis orange, complete with reflective orange 550 paracord lanyards.

Like the standard black coating on a ferro rod, the orange coating will gradually scrape away with use. However, if you keep your striking to the same edge of the rod and slowly work your way around it, it will take a serious amount of use before the orange is no longer visible.

The strikers are exactly the same as our signature strikers, just orange. They’re still manufactured from heat-treated steel and feature two raised striking edges for right and left-handed users, along with a straight, bevelled end for processing tinder.

Like our standard rods, both sizes use our own blend of Forest Fundamentals Ferrocenium™. We tried and tested numerous ferro rod compositions until we found what we believe to be the optimum balance between softness and durability. Our rods throw large showers of molten sparks, while remaining hard enough to provide excellent longevity.

We’ve included some information on both sizes below. For the full specifications, check out the individual Beast and Hive product pages.

A mammoth ferro rod, so big it can also be used as a self-defence weapon. It’s an absolute fire-lighting machine and makes quick work of igniting a tinder bundle. At 203 mm (8”) long and 12.7 mm (0.5”) thick, the Beast gives you a huge striking surface and plenty to grip onto.

The Beast provides up to 20,000 strikes and weighs approximately 200 g, including the striker and lanyard. If you primarily strike from the end and gradually work your way up the rod, it can provide years of use.

Its sheer size also makes it much easier to grip and operate, particularly for kids, when wearing gloves, or when working with cold hands.

The ferro rod of choice for multiple leading bushcraft schools in the UK, the 152 mm (6”) Hive features six raised edges, allowing the striker to bite into the rod and produce large showers of sparks.

It measures 152 mm x 12.7 mm (6” x 0.5”), provides up to 20,000 strikes, and weighs approximately 130 g, including the striker and lanyard.

The Hive is also slightly harder than the Beast, meaning a little more pressure is required to produce the same volume of sparks. This gives you greater control when you only need a smaller shower of sparks and can help extend the life of the rod.

Both ferro rods are designed for people who are serious about their firecraft and don’t like leaving much room for error.

When we head into the field for multi-day trips, it’s always a close call between the Beast and the Hive. For us, the ultimate choice comes down to how much weight we have to play with.

If weight isn’t an issue, the 203 mm (8”) Beast is very difficult to beat. If you want something lighter and more compact while still carrying a seriously capable fire steel, the 152 mm (6”) Hive is the one to go for.

• High-Vis Orange Finish: Easier to spot if you misplace your rod in the field
• Super-Thick Rods: Both rods measure 12.7 mm (0.5”) thick, providing up to 20,000 strikes
• Beast’s Dimensions: 203 × 12.7 mm (8” × 0.5”), weighing approximately 200 g, including the striker and lanyard
• Hive’s Dimensions: 152 × 12.7 mm (6” × 0.5”), weighing approximately 130 g, including the striker and lanyard
• Forest Fundamentals Ferrocenium™: Our own blend, developed to balance large showers of molten sparks with long-term durability
• 7-Function Strikers: Heat-treated stainless steel with two striking edges for right and left-handed users, plus a straight bevelled edge for processing tinder
• 1 m Long 550 Paracord Lanyard: High-vis orange for increased visibility
• Large, Easy-to-Grip Design: Both rods are ideal for kids, use with gloves, and cold hands

• 550 ‘Survival Cord’: Includes waxed fire cord
• Forest Fundamentals Ferrocerium™
• Heat-Treated Steel Ferro Rod Strikers
• Stainless Steel Carabiner Clips
• Durable High-Vis Orange Coating