Exotac tinderZIP Zipper-Pull Tinder, 5-Pack

The Exotac tinderZIP is a zipper pull with a waterproof, flammable inner core that turns any zipper into a permanent tinder source. Each pull is 3 inches long, weighs 0.06 oz, and threads through the pull hole on jackets, backpacks, tents, and day bags. This listing includes five tinderZIPs, available in Black or Blaze Orange.

Tinder You Cannot Forget to Pack

The tinderZIP solves a specific and common failure: tinder left at home. Because each pull installs once and stays on the zipper, it requires no packing decision and adds no meaningful weight to any piece of gear. Outfit every jacket and pack you own and the supply becomes effectively distributed across your entire kit, present whenever the zipper is.

Wax-Coated Core Resists Water

The red inner core carries a wax-like coating that keeps moisture out, so a tinderZIP that has been rained on or submerged will still light once water is knocked off and the end is fluffed. That resistance matters most in cold, wet, and low-light conditions, where fire starting is already hardest. The durable black outer sheath protects the core during normal use and is stripped away only when the tinder is needed.

One-Minute Burn from a Single Spark

To deploy, strip the black sheath, pull out the red core, and scrape the end with a knife to expose fibers and increase surface area. A spark from a ferrocerium rod catches the prepared end immediately, and the core then burns like a candle wick for approximately one minute, long enough to transfer the flame into kindling and build a fire. The five-pack format makes it practical to equip an entire wardrobe and gear closet at once.

Features

• Flammable inner core: treated red strand that catches from a ferro-rod spark after the end is scraped and fluffed
• Wax-like water-resistant coating: core resists moisture; knock water off and fluff before lighting
• Durable outer sheath: black sheath protects the core during carry; stripped away at use
• Universal zipper attachment: threads through the pull hole on any zipper, including jackets, packs, tents, and dry bags
• Approximately one-minute burn time: burns like a candle wick, long enough to establish a fire in kindling
• Made in the USA: origin confirmed by Exotac

Specifications

WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including carbon monoxide, lead, and lead components, which are known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

Who This Is For and Isn't

The tinderZIP suits campers, backpackers, overlanders, and anyone who carries zippered gear and wants tinder permanently available without a separate packing step. It works on any zipper with a standard pull hole and pairs directly with ferrocerium rods for fire starting.

The tinderZIP requires a separate ignition source such as a ferro rod to light and is not a standalone fire-starting system. It does not replace a lighter or matches and is not rated for use as a sustained fuel source beyond its approximately one-minute burn time.

Common Questions

How do I use the tinderZIP in an emergency?

Strip off the black outer sheath, pull out the red inner core, and scrape the end with a knife to expose fibers and increase surface area. Strike a ferrocerium rod against the prepared end to produce a spark; the core catches and burns like a candle wick for approximately one minute, providing time to transfer the flame into kindling.

Is the tinderZIP waterproof?

The tinderZIP's red inner core has a wax-like coating that resists water penetration. After exposure to rain or submersion, knock off standing water and fluff the scraped end before attempting to light it. The coating does not make the core permanently impervious, but it maintains ignitability in wet conditions when properly prepared.

What zipper types does the tinderZIP fit?

The tinderZIP threads through the pull hole on any standard zipper, including jacket zippers, backpack zippers, tent zippers, day bags, and dry bags. No tools or modification are required; it installs the same way a standard zipper pull does.

What ignition source does the tinderZIP require?

The tinderZIP is designed to catch from a ferrocerium rod spark after the end has been scraped and fluffed. Exotac notes compatibility with ferro rods such as the nanoSTRIKER XL and nanoSPARK. A ferro rod or similar spark-producing tool is required and is not included in this listing.

Where is the tinderZIP made?

The tinderZIP is made in the USA.