Fatwood vs Fire Starter Cubes: Which One Should You Buy?

Fatwood vs fire starter cubes: side by side

Figures are from the listings reviewed, collected 19 October 2026; a figure from one listing describes that listing only.

What fatwood is

Fatwood is natural pine wood, and the Pine Mountain listing leans on that: all natural and additive free sticks, sold as a 1.5 pound pack for campfires, fireplaces, wood stoves and fire pits, indoors and out. The pitch is simplicity: no kindling, no newspaper, no gels or fluids, just light the stick and build the fire around it. The maker also claims its firelogs burn cleaner than cordwood, with up to 80 percent less carbon monoxide and 75 percent less particulate matter. That is the maker’s claim, stated in its own words, not a figure we can check from the listing.

What fire starter cubes are

The cube examples here are wax-based. Weber’s are odorless, non-toxic wax cubes, sold as 96 count in a 4-pack of 24, designed to catch fire even when wet and pitched for fast charcoal ignition and any fire starting needs. Duraflame’s bundle pairs an 18-pack of Firestart CUBES with a 4-pack of Quick Start Firelighters, made of wax and wood, for grills, smokers, fireplaces, wood stoves, campfires and fire pits. Duraflame positions its cubes as a wrapper-light alternative to lighter fluid, and says the Quick Start firelighters help reduce wood fire emissions. Those are the maker’s claims, reported as stated.

Where each side fits

For the wood stove or fireplace, all three examples name the job: Pine Mountain lists fireplace and wood stove, Duraflame lists fireplaces and wood stoves, and Weber says any fire starting needs. Fatwood suits the purist who wants wood-only fire starting with nothing added. Cubes suit the pragmatist: compact, consistent, and in Weber’s case stated to light even when wet, which matters for damp kindling or a rainy campsite. Neither side states a burn time per stick or cube, so the listings leave that comparison unclear.

Three examples

How we scored them

Each example is scored on performance, build, value, safety and warranty, using only what the listing publishes. The weights are on our How We Pick page.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each product’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score.

Fire starters are the easy part of the fire; the stove is the part that needs respect. Run the stove per the maker’s manual and local code, keep smoke and CO alarms working, get the chimney inspected yearly, and burn seasoned wood only. Store fire starters where kids cannot reach them.

Around the Woodpile

• Match the starter to the fire. Pine Mountain names fireplaces, wood stoves and fire pits; Duraflame adds grills and smokers; Weber says any fire starting needs.
• Wet weather: only the Weber listing states its cubes light even when wet.
• Storage: the Duraflame bundle is described as compact and easy to store; keep any fire starter dry and away from kids.
• Emissions claims: both Pine Mountain and Duraflame make cleaner-burning claims; those are the makers’ words, not measured figures from the listings.

Buying advice

Buy for the fire you actually light. If your main job is the wood stove or fireplace, the Pine Mountain fatwood listing is built for that use case: it describes 1.5 pounds of all natural, additive free sticks for wood stoves, fireplaces, campfires and fire pits, with no kindling, newspaper or accelerants needed. The stick form is handy for indoor fires because you snap off what you need and store the rest near the stove.

If charcoal is in the mix, lean toward cubes. The Weber listing packs 96 cubes as four packs of 24, so a single purchase covers many grill sessions, and its key claim is that the odorless, non-toxic wax lights even when wet, which matters for damp backyard or campsite conditions. The Duraflame bundle takes a middle path: an 18-pack of Firestart CUBES plus a 4-pack of Quick Start Firelighters, aimed at charcoal, firewood and kindling across grills, smokers, fireplaces, wood stoves, fire pits and campfires. For a household that splits time between the grill and the hearth, that bundle is the most flexible of the three examples.

One practical note: Duraflame positions its cubes as a cleaner, safer alternative to lighter fluid, which is worth weighing if you currently squirt fluid on charcoal. And if you value the natural angle, the Pine Mountain listing stresses that its fatwood is additive free and made from renewable resources, while the cube examples are wax-based, with Duraflame listing both wax and wood in its materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is fatwood better than fire starter cubes?

Neither in general. Fatwood is natural, additive-free wood that lights on its own; cubes are wax-based starters that light consistently, with Weber’s stated to light even when wet. Pick the material you prefer to burn.

Are fire starter cubes safe for wood stoves?

Duraflame lists wood stoves and fireplaces among its uses, and Weber says any fire starting needs. Follow the stove maker’s guidance on what goes in the firebox.

Do fire starters replace kindling?

The Pine Mountain listing says you do not need kindling with its fatwood sticks. The cube listings do not make that claim, so plan kindling as usual unless the maker says otherwise.

Which works when everything is damp?

The Weber listing states its cubes catch fire even when wet. Neither of the other two listings makes a wet-conditions claim.

Is fatwood natural?

The Pine Mountain listing describes its StarterStikk as all natural and additive free wood. The cube examples are wax-based, though Duraflame’s bundle lists wax and wood in its materials.

Related guides

See the best fire starter for a cold stove, the fire starter vs kindling comparison, the fire starter types guide, the best fire starters for wood stoves and the wood stove accessories list.