How to Make Fire From Ice

Making fire from ice sits right at the edge of survival skill and science experiment. It’s one of those techniques that feels like a clever survival hack — and technically it is — but in practice it’s notoriously difficult. Pulling it off requires a near-perfect combination of conditions: bright and direct sunlight, calm air, dry tinder, and most critically, a good-sized chunk of exceptionally clear ice. That last requirement is what makes this method especially difficult in the wild. Naturally occurring ice is often cloudy, cracked, or full of air pockets, all of which scatter light instead of focusing it. 

That said, it’s still possible. A small chance is better than no chance, after all. 

As such, this is still a worthwhile skill to understand and experiment with. You can try it out and get comfortable with it at home by making your own clear ice: boil water first to drive off dissolved gases, then freeze it slowly to minimize bubbles; use an insulated container so it freezes gradually from the top down. Practicing this way lets you focus on shaping, polishing, and aiming the lens without fighting bad materials or poor weather.

Ultimately, you should think of fire from ice not as a reliable backup plan, but as a last-ditch effort in a truly dire situation — as well as a fascinating demonstration of what’s possible when physics, patience, and conditions perfectly align.

Illustrated by Ted Slampyak

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

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