I like the little handles. Very convenient. You can always find a stick for the bow but you have to carry the string since parcord stretches to much for a bow drill. I usually go to the store and buy a plank of wood I want and premake the cuts for the spindle and cut the plank down into small fire boards. This way I just pack the small plank section and the spindle. I prefer a bic lighter but usually like to carry several ways to make fire on my person like a lighter and a fire steel and then several more in my pack. Lighters get wet and small fire steels can get lost so I like around 7 way to make fire if I am actually going to be out somewhere like a several day hiking trip where things could possible go wrong.