The Windproof Match
Lighting a candle or a campfire on a breezy day can turn into a real struggle. You strike match after match, only to watch each flame flicker out before it catches anything. It’s frustrating, and it wastes matches fast, especially when you’re down to your last few.
There is an old technique sometimes called feathering. Before lighting the match, use a small knife to make a few shallow cuts down the wooden shaft. Leave the thin curls attached and keep well away from the match head. The wooden feathers catch the flame and help it last. This simple change gives you more time to light a candle, stove, or prepared campfire without hurried, repeated attempts.
Handle the knife with care and always strike the match away from your body. Prepare the match in daylight on a stable surface. Cut away from your hands, and skip the trick if your eyesight or grip makes knife work uncertain. Use it outdoors only where flames are permitted. Clear away dry grass and keep water nearby. Never hold the match close to clothing, hair, or your face. Prepare several at home and store them dry. This little adjustment can save you a whole box of matches on a windy evening, whether you’re lighting a barbecue, an outdoor candle, or a fire pit with friends. It’s a small change with a surprisingly reliable payoff, straight from the days before windproof lighters existed at every corner store.