A decent-quality ferro rod can last you many years of camping trips and outdoor excursions, with most wearing out somewhere between 8,000 to 10,000 strikes. In some cases, they can last even longer. However, their durability depends on a variety of factors, including:
Size: Larger ferro rods contain more material and thus provide a longer lifespan than smaller ones.
Frequency of use: The more a rod is used, the more it will wear down over time.
Quality: Pure ferrocerium rods last longer than lower-quality rods mixed with impurities.
Storage: Leaving ferro rods in humid, moisture-ridden conditions will cause rust to form.
Some ferro rod brands may have a surface coating to prevent rust from forming. That being said, remember that ferro rods last best when properly used and safely stored, and also know that they won’t last forever, so be sure to have a secondary fire-starting method ready to go.