Hope this is ok to post up. Some ideas for new products from Exotac - two compartment match case, XL sized match case on one side, smaller compartment on the other side to store tinder. Make the bottom compartment screw on lid like the bottom lid of the Exotac Lighter. - permanent match . (see pic) round, sized like the Exotac match case, with a replaceable 1/4” ferro rod (epoxied into U shaped groove on case) and a larger “match” scraper/ wick (1/4” wick). Match would screw into the top of the match case body, and that would be where it’s filled with lighter fluid . Make it matchcase size and round - fishing kit. XL matchcase sized, with the outside of the case machined deep enough to hold about 50’ of 15 to 20 lb test braided fishing line. Inside to hold hooks, sinkers , swivels, small spoons , flies etc. Small smooth machined hole on bottom of case to tie off line - small machined aluminum pin on / tie on / necklace compass holder. Replaceable button compass - molle / belt pouch (flat/compact, 1” thick x approx 5” long x approx 4” tall) with sewn slots to hold at least 3 Exotac products (match case, lighter, fishing kit & a SAK. All gear lanyarded in to gear tab with grommet. ITW buckle (3/4”) closure, not Velcro -Exotac machined shot glasses / pint glasses Ok. All I could think up for now
Yes! Especially the match case with tinder, fishing kit, the molle pouch (in orange) and the shot glasses
How about one of the match cases with a replaceable ferro rod in the center with match storage around the edges.
How about a decent compass built into the match case also like the fishing idea maybe make it slightly longer then fist size with a place to tie the line off on the outside and it can work as a hobo fishing kit/ hand line
i like the permanent match. years ago case xxx had a survival knife with a similar one. i used it for a long time till it was stolen with my truck and gear and have not been able to find another
I’d like to see a large tackle box tin (like the XREEL case , but 5” wide x 1.25” deep,) with a machined groove on outside for extra line storage . Same machined threaded lid / o ring seal, machined lanyard hole .
Butane torch lighter similar in size to Matchcap XL, with flint wheel striker rather than piezo (or maybe have both?), and this might sound a bit odd, but how about a Lindal valve fitting for refilling from a canister stove cartridge instead of the little needle-like fitting that lighter refill canisters normally use. Advantages are that the camping gas is usually cheaper than lighter fuel, and it is isobutane which works better in cold weather than pure butane does.
Ok, here is another one, in I think the simplest implementation (I've been pondering fancier versions with electronics and stuff too). I'd like a catalytic heater (same idea as Zippo hand warmer) but in a Matchcap form factor, with lower heat output (say 2 watts thermal instead of the 15 watts or so of a Zippo), more fuel capacity, and a hose barb air inlet. The idea is I want a way to keep my water filters from freezing during winter camping. The heater and the filters (Sawyer Squeeze, Grayl cartridge, or whatever) would go in a flannel pouch, and the pouch would be buried in a backpack surrounded by insulating clothing and stuff to keep the heat from escaping. You'd run a PVC air hose (like an aquarium hose) out through the clothes to get air into the heater. I think you can do this with 1ml of fuel per hour, so with 25ml of capacity you are good if you top up once a day. There would be a way to adjust the airflow (adjustable clamp on the hose might be enough, or one of those stopcock aquarium hose valves) to keep the heat output about right. The Boston-S hand warmer was electrically ignited so a fancy version of this thing could do something similar and turn itself on and off automatically as needed. The adjustment in a fancy version could be servo controlled by a temperature sensor to keep the temperature steady, or a simple version would come with a dinky keychain thermometer as an accessory that you would put in the pouch to manually check things. If you can keep the pouch at 5 degrees above freezing you're doing fine. Maybe there could still be a sensor with a beeper that would alert you if the temperature in the bag dropped too low. I don't know of any product like this and it seems to me that there is a need for it. A primitive approach would be some kind of enclosure with a long burning candle inside, but this catalytic thing seems like way less hassle (you can hike with it inside your pack), less fire hazard, etc. I also thought about doing it with an electric heater (battery powered) instead of catalygic, along with a vacuum insulated container, but that gets cumbersome. I have a bunch of notes about how that could work if anyone wants them. But I now prefer the catalyst approach. I spent a while researching the catalytic stuff and can post more info if wanted.
