Zip Great Bags of Fire Wood-Free Firelighters

Because practical presents are the best presents!

I’m nothing if not predictable, and for a Christmas present a good friend bought me a decent bottle of wine… and a packet of these Zip Great Bags of Fire Wood-Free Firelighters. Anything that helps get a fire going with less faff is always welcome, especially when it’s cold, damp, and you just want flames rather than frustration.

At first glance, these are a bit different to the usual waxy cubes or kerosene-smelling blocks most of us have grown up with. Instead, Zip’s Great Bags of Fire come as individual sachets, made from 100% natural, wood-free materials. No chopping, snapping or getting lighter fluid on your fingers, just pop one (or two if you’re feeling impatient) under your logs or charcoal and light the corner.

In my experience they catch quickly, burn consistently, and crucially don’t stink the place out while doing it. Whether it’s a wood burner, fire pit, BBQ, or Petromax Fire Kettle (as pictured), they just get on with the job, which, frankly, is exactly what you want from a firelighter. Once the flame started, I placed the kettle on top of the base, added a few sticks and within a minute or so I had enough boiling water for a refreshing brew.

“Why can I buy them in Tesco but not on Zip’s UK website?”

This is where things get mildly confusing, and you’re not imagining it.

Despite being very much a real product, the Zip Great Bags of Fire Wood-Free Firelighter don’t currently feature on Zip’s main UK website. Yet wander into Tesco (and a few other supermarkets) and there they are, quietly sitting on the shelf like they’ve always been there. Not that it matters, but the likely explanation could be that they’re designed specifically for supermarket retail rather than Zip’s core online range; other companies do that too.

The Mud Life verdict

These are exactly the sort of thing you don’t think much about… until you use them. Then you wonder why all firelighters aren’t this simple. They light easily, don’t smell grim, don’t require kindling origami skills, and feel a bit less guilt-inducing than some traditional options.

Are they exciting? No.
Are they useful? Absolutely.
Would I be happy to find another packet tucked into a Christmas bag next year? Without question — especially if there’s another bottle of wine alongside it.

Price: around £2.50 per box.