The simple altoid tin fire kit. Too often people carry far too much in terms of materials. Plenty of options exist out in nature that can be had without much fuss. Various tree barks, dry grasses, old pine needles, and the list goes on. It is good to be prepared with pre-dried and prepared tinder, even if it doesn't get used frequently.
The tin itself can be any real shape or size one may prefer. I prefer a tin so it can be utilized to prepared charred material for more renewable methods of ignition. The ranger band, or bicycle inner tube, can also be burned for a slow burning tinder.
Inside is kept simple, with most of the contents being made from naturally gathered materials. Resinous wood from a fallen Yellow Pine tree, (fatwood) is an excellent tinder that can be replenished in the field. Folded bark from a Paper Birch tree is an excellent tinder option easily taken from the tree without needing to damage it. Both of them can be lit with a ferrocerium rod. The ferro rod can be any type one may like. Softer ones will throw better sparks at the cost of reduced life span, it's a worthwhile trade off. A Bic lighter is hard to beat, as long as it is kept dry. An open flame ignition is the simplest and it is easily done with only one hand. Two small man made tinder tabs are good for fluffing up when in need of very fine and dry tinder. I keep a small rectangle of hardened carbon steel in there for scraping tasks and also for flint and steel fire craft. Some pre made charred material is also thrown in since its so light and easy to carry.
Ideally, one would have no need of the prepared tinder materials. It's best to leave them inside unless absolutely necessary, simply learn the land and know what you can utilize around you.
One can always adjust the kit as they see fit, this is just a starting point.
