The axe was originally designed for trappers, hunters, and fishermen. Part of what makes an axe good for camping is that it's fairly small, easy to pack, and easy to carry. The orange end of the handle is hollow, meant to absorb vibrations, saving your hands and forearms. Our research proved that Estwing is providing one of the best camping axe we know. The cutting blade quickly widens into a wedge, with a pronounced curve on the axes' cheek. The axe was originally designed for trappers, hunters, and fishermen. Our two lead testers split rounds, chopped up logs, and went on an invasive autumn olive tree-chopping rampage (because old habits die hard). The rubber is softer, helping to cushion vibrations on impact. Backpacking, no matter how short or long the journey requires tools. Reviews of the Best Camping Axe. And for more must-have camping gear, check out our selection of the best camping stoves. Best Camping Axe And Hatchet Reviews (Top 11) 1. In addition to processing wood, it can be used to hammer in tent stakes, for food prep, self-defense, as a pry bar, and, of course, for the odd ax-throwing competition with your camping chums. The Gransfors Bruks Small Forest offers outstanding balance and is our favorite option in the test for accuracy oriented tasks like limbing logs or cutting down saplings (of invasive species only, don't worry). But a camping ax is far more than a simple symbol or bringer of backcountry swagger – it’s also a versatile piece of kit that, perhaps more than any other, can supercharge your independence, survival skills, and self-efficiency out in the wilds. The grip is very comfortable and durable. So here are some of the best camping axe brands. Estwing Tomahawk axe is specifically suitable for soldiers and sportsmen. Few backcountry accessories are quite so capable of making you feel as badass as a great camping ax. The Husqvarna is not well balanced. The axe cuts across the grain instead of across the grain, so it is the best camping axe for the price. Because there are dozens upon dozens of worthy axes out there that you may choose to wield, many would-be buyers are left scratching their heads when it comes to deciding upon the best option for their needs. If you have some serious lumberjacking to do on your car camping trips, there are few options out there as suitable as the Gränsfors Bruks American Felling Axe. Before you buy the best camping axe, you should know about some of the renowned camping axe brands. The snaps are stubborn, hard to open and close, and the entire sheath can slip, exposing the top point of the blade even when it is closed properly. Credentials don’t come much better than those! We also like it for cutting down small trees and chopping kindling. For example – other small woodworks, campfires, etc. Still, it is a wide and flat surface that many will use that way. This makes them ideal for lighter tasks like trimming firewood or kindling and even a little bit of camp kitchen food prep. The Fiskars X11 Splitting Axe is great for small jobs around camp, like limb trimming or bucking up longer longs. Going camping in the woods soon? Their founder, Ernest Estwing, was from Sweden and started the company back in 1923. We ordered them up and then took them out into the real world, trying them out on the tough wood of a locust tree, splitting some rounds, making kindling, and chopping down an autumn olive invasion. This axe works at home and at camp flawlessly, offering a great value and our favorite performance across the board. Axes become more effective nowadays and require little human effort. Which are the best camping hatchets, axes, and tomahawks and what our picks are? That's handy since this option is so short that it often doesn't make sense to swing it, so you do find yourself choking your hand up to carve off a piece of kindling rather than whacking away. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Finding the best camping axe for your needs mostly depends on where you’re planning to camp, your intended activities, the length of your trip, and the handle type you prefer. The word of hatchets is synonymous with Estwing, and the E24A Sportsman Axe is no exception. Secondly, the Estwing’s 17.3-inch length means it packs way more cutting power than other axes in the 2 to 3-pound weight range, meaning it’s more than capable of slicing through large chunks of wood and a solid choice for high-volume processing. Measuring 12 inches long and weighing in at just 2.1 pounds, this ax straddles the ground between a lightweight backpacking ax and a midweight car camping ax. That way, you can be absolutely certain that you’re getting the best axe for the job at hand — be that chopping down foliage, cutting up firewood, assisting you around the campground, or even if you’ve got something a bit more tactical in mind. An axe or hatchet is an essential tool to have in many outdoor pursuits and survival situations. It's not their main purpose. Fiskars is a Finnish company with a long history of building rugged and durable hardware. Tomahawks are general-purpose defense and bushcraft tools traditionally used by Native Americans. The Best Choice is dull and poorly balanced. These are some feature's to look for when researching survival axes and hatchets. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. The Estwing Sportsman's Axe is forged in one-piece and made in America from American steel. It’s just in your blood, even if you don’t realize it yet. Schrade is a well-known manufacturer of knives and outdoor tools and accessories that’s been around since 1892 when George Schrade patented the press button switchblade. Privacy | Cookies | Terms, The world's most in-depth and scientific reviews of gear. If you’re someone who’s spent a fair amount of time camping, you probably already know how useful having an axe or hatchet around the campsite can be. Designed to be versatile and reliable, this axe can do it all. The construction seems solid, and we expect this axe to last. Choose wisely, and the chances are you’ll have a chopping companion for life, not just a few seasons. THat is when I found a specialized axe head that was made specifically for camping. The entire axe head is thin, keeping weight down while the mid-length handle still gives you the power you need to get the job done. The Coleman Camp Axe Hatchet is one of the most beloved camping tools around, as basic as its design may be. What's the best small camping ax to add to your pack? Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet; 3. council tools hudson bay axe; 4. The Best Backpacking Hatchet and Axes for 2020 – Reviewed. But it also means that it offers far superior leverage and head weight than any other ax in our review. As already we have Estwing 14 inches on our list but this one made in the USA is as good as you can get. #1 – Estwing E24 Sportsman’s Hatchet. The Estwing is forged from a single piece of steel in the U.S. We don't see it failing anytime soon. Like many of these axes, it comes with a sheath that can loop through your belt. Features: The head is very sharp. That makes for more leverage and power, though, which is part of why we like it. The Estwing Camper’s Axe is the best camping axe, it has a 26 inch long handle for a decent swing while being lighter and more portable than a standard axe. Our nod for the best value in a camping axe goes to the MTech USA Camping Axe. An axe head … Although their trade is mostly in knives, they have wandered onto the survival and camping hatchet market in recent years, making scores of high-quality full-tang hatchets, survival hatchets, and axes. The axe head is just too heavy for the handle, and we don't like it for smaller, precise jobs. You can use for camping, fishing, hunting, the RV and many other adventures. In a two-generational effort, she also ran these axes Glen Tate, the one in charge of cutting all those trees down. Chopping, kindling, splitting small branches, and clearing trails you can do many tasks with this axe made of stainless steel. The straight bodied aluminum handle unscrews to reveal 7 useful survival and camping tools. You can see the Fiskars' wedge shape, which does a great job of splitting wood, and the slightly convex curve that they claim helps you pull it back out of the wood. This makes it ideal for light cutting, building shelters, splitting small pieces of wood, and driving in your tent stakes. When it comes to weight and packability, this wooden hatchet is a true winner, using a 13-inch shaft that provides enough leverage for solid strike power yet weighing in at a very portable 2.24 pounds. Estimated Price: $150 My Review: Council tool has been making quality axes and hatchets for over 100 years, since 1886. It’s 4-pound weight and 23-inch shaft might make this a little on the large side for multi-day backpacking trips, but makes it ideal for car camping adventures or even shorter, overnight backcountry trips when you anticipate having to hack through large quantities of wood. Camping axes aren’t like any other part of your equipment. The blade doesn't cut into the wood as well as sharper options like the Gransford either. It works exceedingly well and was a welcome break from our testing consultant's normally massive splitting maul. The nylon sheath has a loop for your belt and is built to be opened from above, but the top snap is incredibly stiff, and it can feel awkward to open and close. While the Bruks Small Forest will split rounds, it's not great at it. Because it’s made with a protective rubber coating with finger grooves, it’s much more comfortable to grip for longer periods of time than most other designs and far better at absorbing shock. The 8 Best Hatchets for Camping, Backpacking, and Survival By Mike Richard October 27, 2020 Few tools are as essential to the outdoorsman as a well-made hatchet. The Schrade SCAXE10 is very similar to the MTech USA axe. 10 Best Axes and Hatchets for Camping – 2020 Reviews. It’s light, tougher than nails, measures just 11 inches, and uses a super sharp, 3.5-inch blade that’s ideal for more delicate tasks around camp. Because head weight and shaft length typically translate directly into striking power, this one’s a winner for anyone who envisions using their ax for high-quantity processing, felling trees, or any other larger and tougher tasks. In this video, I'll review what may be my favorite hatchet - the Husqvarna Camping Axe. Need a headlamp? The axe is spray painted in black to be a hindrance to corrosion and rust. Table Of Contents_Top 7 Best Hatchets in #1 Fiskars X7 (378501-1002) Hatchet #2 Estwing Sportsman’s Axe 14″ Camping Hatchet #3 Schrade SCAXE10 11.1in … Unfortunately, the axe head feels too heavy for the length of the handle, throwing off its balance and making it feel less effective. Ultimate buyer's guide you can't miss! But a camping ax is far more than a simple symbol or bringer of backcountry swagger – it’s also a versatile piece of kit that, perhaps more than any other, can supercharge your independence, survival skills, and self-efficiency out in the wilds. Written by. Easy indeed. This combo provides a nice weight balance and decent strike power for such a small ax. MyOpenCountry is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. The plastic sheath is also surprisingly sturdy and handy, with an included nylon strap so you can sling it over your shoulder. The accuracy of the Fiskars, Gransfors, and Kershaw help again here. While the axe is heavy for its dimensions, and that weight lends it a bit of power, the balance is all off. We bought the top 10 best to test side-by-side after thorough market research. When you’re hitting the trail for the weekend, you need the best camping axe by your side, and Husqvarna’s got it … This camping axe from Yeacool gives you a fully functional axe and a true multi tool. Design of the poll is longer than splitting axe. It offers decent striking power, uses a tough, ding-resistant blade that doesn’t require frequent resharpening, and uses a handle that’s absolutely ideal for camping in cool conditions. Different axes and hatches use different types of materials in their construction. We don't recommend buying this option. They use a more rounded, wider head shape that forces the fibers in the wood apart when striking. This axe is also more expensive than the MTech, so we don't recommend it unless you find a really good deal and don't plan on using it very often. Unlike many bushcraft axes, the Snow & Nealley brand is pure American, and with American goods always comes the American spirit. It feels sturdy, without any discernible weak points. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. Our lead female tester particularly liked using it, as she is smaller herself. This tomahawk-style hatchet isn’t made for processing large quantities of wood, but is ideal for cutting, trimming, creating kindling, and campsite food prep. That meant spending weekends watching trees fall, splitting rounds, and stacking wood. Because using an ax is a little riskier than using, say, a spork (!) These three axes take a different approach. If you’re looking for something that’s the perfect size for backpacking, this lightweight ax may be the model for you. A camping, hunting or canoeing experience is only as good as the axe that you use. From hammering tent stakes to splitting kindling, axes are designed to be workhorses that can be used for a wide range of tasks. Originally made out of bone, over the years they’ve evolved into slim metal axes with a straight shaft. That is why the best backpacking axe for you may not appear the same to others. It weighs just under 2 lbs and … The lightweight shaft also makes weight distribution surprisingly effective and the textured handle makes for easy, slip-resistant handling. These is some of the coolest camping axe and hatchets we found so far! The removable carrying sling attached to the Kersahw's easy-to-use sheath lets your hands swing free as you walk to your project site. Best All-Around Wood: Gränfors Bruks is one of Sweden’s three remaining axe forges, and it traces its history back through a complicated web of family and business ties to the beginning of the 20th century. The Fiskbars construction also leaves little cause for concern, aside from the orange plastic dial on the sheath, though it's hardly mission-critical. Nathan Borchelt has been working in the travel industry for more than 15 years as a writer, photographer, editor, and product manager. The blade cuts into the round but doesn't split it very efficiently since it doesn't widen into a wedge. We wouldn't want to cut log after log with this camping axe. At first glance, hatchets and axes for camping look very similar. The Iunio Camping Axe with Sheath is a solid choice for a camping axe. 5 Best Bushcraft Axe Reviews are written by our expert in 2020. or any other gear items we’ve reviewed elsewhere, before leaving you we thought we’d add a little note on axe safety and maintenance: Here are the tools you need for ax maintenance: Did you like our article? Few backcountry accessories are quite so capable of making you feel as badass as a great camping ax. Extra Features. Time will tell how long it lasts, but you can certainly get by without it. This handcrafted axe, produced by the Amish, is known for its expert craftsmanship. Few backcountry accessories are quite so capable of making you feel as badass as a great camping ax. The blade cuts easily into wood, and the length and handle curve provide impressive leverage. A well-balanced axe transfers power effectively from the handle through the blade, cutting into the wood efficiently. First of all, this ax uses a full tang design that, together with the rubberized, shock-absorbing handle and curved shaft, make it far less likely to sting on errant strikes or when chopping particularly stubborn wood types. Cutting wood is hard work, and you want every swing to count. It's long enough to pack a little power, and the sharp blade gets the job done quickly. Nathan Borchelt. If so, please feel free to comment, like, or share with your friends! This is one of the most flexible hatchets. As far as our highest recommendation overall, we prefer the Gransfors Bruks Outdoor Axe and all it has to offer. The hollow orange handle also helps absorb some of the vibrations, saving your forearms. With stainless steel, ballistic, nylon, and plastic composites materials, an ax has changed noticeably. So what’s the difference? Top 10 Best Camping Axes & Hatchets 2019 You Must Have! Unless you're into wood carving by the campfire, we're betting you'll mostly be using it to carve up kindling. Best Choice 14-Inch 20-Ounce Outdoor Camp Axe and Survival Hatchet with Unbreakable Fiberglass Handle Buy Now From Amazon . It makes carving off some kindling a breeze and splits rounds with surprising authority. Unlike many bushcraft axes, the Snow & Nealley brand is pure American, and with American goods always comes the American spirit. 4. The rest of the axes bite into the wood but don't effectively wedge it apart. As you probably know, good brands manufacture good products as they put their reputation on the line. Yes4All . With this product, you get a 13-inch build, as well as a nylon head sheath and a snap closure that ensures easy attachment and storage. The sharpness and easy swing of the MTech also works, but we do tire faster when using it. If car camping, then weight is less of a concern. 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