Different Ideas to Make Torches in the Wild

Many people find light hard to come by in a wilderness survival situation. Fire provides light at a base camp, but you must make torches if you're engaging in any type of movement at night. Only a few practical routes exist to creating a wilderness torch, but mastering the techniques often provides the light you need.

  1. Hickory Bark Torches

    • Hickory bark works extremely well as torch fuel; the key to long-burning torches is a mixture of green hickory bark mixed with dried strips of hickory bark. Bind together a group of these strips. Include enough kindling in the middle to catch fire easily, and to maintain enough heat to light the bark.

    Cattail Torches

    • Cattails enjoy a reputation as an extremely useful plant in the wild. The inside of these water plants are used for insulation and as a fire starter; parts of the cattail are edible. Cattails are preferred as a wilderness torch, assuming the right materials are on hand to create them. Soak the heads of cattails in oil are lard. These soaked torches last 5 to 10 hours.

    Birch Bark Torches

    • Many wilderness survival experts laud birch bark as an excellent fire starter. These are quick-burning torches; they are not acceptable for cave exploration or long journeys at night. Pull a 3- to 4-foot strip of birch bark from a tree, and fold it into a cone. Tie the cone in several places, and load the middle with the burnable material.

    Construction Considerations

    • Torches need handles, wicks,and fuel. You must be able to hold the torch without burning your hands. You must be able to light the torch, and the fuel must burn for an acceptable length of time.