I use a lighter to start mine... no seriously. I use Thermos Sure 2 Burn fire starter pack. I use to use the Weber cubes, but with three dogs I had to stop as they break a little bit and the damn dogs try to eat that stuff, and I don't need my dogs to have flames throwers coming out their butts so to speak or worse yet killing them. These packs are very easy to light and are self contained, so there is no leaking of any kind and they are water proof as well. I buy these at Target.