Carrying your own fire starting tinder can be a real lifesaver when you need to get warm after a dunk in a frigid lake, boil questionable water, or simply roast some hot dogs and s'mores. One of the best methods you can use is petroleum jelly-soaked cotton balls. Watch the video below to find out why.

Not only does this method light easily and burn for a long time, but it's also lightweight, repels water, and is very quick and easy to make and store. You could carry enough for up to a hundred fires and you wouldn't even notice the weight in your pack.

Perhaps the best reason to use this method is how cheap it is, especially when compared to some of the commercially manufactured fire starting methods available at camping stores.

This is a great trick to make use of, and if you aren't already, give it a shot. You'll never use another method again.