Why do you need to get the best hatchet for backpacking and camping? Ok, to be more precise, why do you need the extra weight of a camping axe when you already have the best knife for camping?
Well, as they say in Africa, a rope at home will always find some use. This means that you will only know the need of having a hatchet once you need it, when you are out there dry camping somewhere. Do not leave home without the best camping hatchet.
When you are choosing the best hatchet for backpacking and camping, you want to consider the weight. This means it has to be light in weight but at the same time, it should be made in such a way that it still packs some chopping power.
So you should find a balance between weight and power. The more powerful it is the better because you can clear the campsite fast chop wood faster and make a bonfire quickly.
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Gransfors Bruk Wildlife Hatchet – best camping hatchet
This company has maintained a universal reputation for all these years because of their consistency in making the best quality hatchets that are friendly to the environment, and this one is no exception.
The Gransfors Bruk Wildlife Hatchet has been rated highly, such that it takes a position among the best survival hatchets that are currently on sale in the market.
Its ideal size makes it fit perfectly in a backpack, its capability to loop off large branches and split campfire firewood are among the features that makes it perfect for camping or scouting.
Who is this hatchet for?
This hatchet is ideal for any one that is looking for a serious hatchet that is able to stand the test of time. It is perfect for anyone that would want a tool that will make cutting and splitting wood more of fun than a chore when camping or even at home.
Handle and grip
The Gransfors Bruk Wildlife Hatchet has a 14-inch long handle that is made from Hickory. The length of the handle and the convex edge enhances the overall power of the axe, enabling you to chop or split woods easily and with less effort. The handle has a pre-drilled hole at the end for fitting a lanyard, and it is embossed with the Gransfors Bruk logo at the middle.
The handle has a very comfortable grip, since it is made from straight and knot free hickory. The handle is also very sturdy and durable since even after a lot of use, it still manages to remain rock solid and undamaged.
Blade and sharpness
This hatchet has a very robust blade that is made from high quality stainless steel. The blade is able to retain its sharpness over several uses. It is easy to sharpen and when properly sharpened, it is able to deliver a clean cutting job with minimal resistance.
In addition, the head is rightly weighted and shaped, since it has a thick convex blade that provides plenty of chopping power for its size of a tool. The package includes a sheath that helps in protecting the blade when not in use and also for protecting the user when moving around d with it.
Pros
- High quality construction
- Long hickory handle
- Environmentally friendly
- Sharp blade
Cons
- Pricey
- Few mounting options
Fiskars X7 Hatchet Review – Best Backpacking Hatchet
The Fiskars X7 Hatchet is one of their products that combine world-class engineering and high quality lightweight materials to make the best camping hatchet that stands out from the rest.
This hatchet comes in a traditional design and it is compact in size, hence suitable for backpacking, camping or any other survival situation. It is incredibly light in weight and impressively durable. It has the capability to handle medium sized chopping and splitting tasks with minimal efforts and its high quality, capabilities and durability are backed by a lifetime warranty.
Who is this hatchet for?
This hatchet is suitable for all outdoor enthusiast such as campers, hikers, scouts or any other person that frequently requires to chop smaller wood pieces and logs.
It is also ideal for the people who could be looking for inexpensive hatchets with an exemplary performance. This is a great survival hatchet, which could also be suitable for people who love owning or collecting sharp good-looking tools.
Handle and grip
The Fiskars X7 Hatchet comes with a handle that is super lightweight yet stronger than steel. The handle offers a non-slip grip, which increases its efficiency and control.
With proper grip, one is able to work with this tool without straining their hands too much. The incredible grip also reduces the danger of the hatchet slipping out of your hands while using it, which could potentially pose danger to you or the other people near you.
The handle is incredibly durable and it is very smooth, protecting your palm skin from blisters even after using it for long. The convex design at the edge enhances the overall grip and the pre-drilled hole at the far end provides a place a lanyard.
Blade and sharpness
One the features that make this hatchet stand out from the rest is its razor-sharp blade that chops deeper in small and medium sized logs effortlessly and with a lot of precision.
This hatchets head is made from hardened, forged steel, which enhances its durability and helps the blade to stay sharper for longer.
The hatchet’s blade is also finished with a coating that enables the head to loosen up easily in case it is stuck in the piece of wood being chopped.
The coating is also low in friction enabling it to make cleaner cuts. A sheath is included in the package to help protect the blade and the user when the hatchet is not in use.
Pros
- Great quality for handle and blade
- Non-slip grip for safety
- Affordable to buy
- Durable
- Light in weight
Cons
- The molded handle around the head can lender the hatchet useless in case the handle breaks.
Husqvarna 13-inch Wooden Hatchet – Camping Axe
When it comes to the best survival tools, the Husqvarna 13-inch Wooden Hatchet is really a leader. It gets the work done when you are outdoors for camping, scouting, hiking or backpacking. It is constructed with high quality features that allow you to cut, chop or split woods with minimal efforts and precision.
Who is this hatchet for?
This hatchet is ideal for any survivalist who is looking for a great quality yet inexpensive tool for their survival backpack. It is also a perfect tool for campers or any other outdoor enthusiast who would love to have a survival tool with them. It is an incredibly versatile tool since it would also be good for you if you are looking for a tool that can be helping you at home when undertaking random projects. It is compact and lightweight, yet its chopping power is amazing.
Handle and grip
The Husqvarna 13” Hatchet’s handle is made of hickory. The grain is fairly good, very straight and it runs across the handles length. The handle is however longer and thicker when compared to that of the previous model, which enhances the overall power of the hatchet.
The handle has a very comfortable grip and it does not slip. It is curved at the edge in order to give you more control while using it. The handle is also sturdy and durable and it does not break or show signs of weaknesses even after using it for a long time. Lastly, the far end of the handle is pre-drilled for a lanyard, for easier portability of the hatchet. You can attach it to your hiking backpack for easy portability.
Blade and sharpness
The Husqvarna 13″ Hatchet’s head comes in a great design and shape. The Hults Bruk (renowned Swedish hatchet manufacturer) has used the design in this hatchet as their main axe head design for years. The edge is big and razor-sharp and the cheeks come in a perfect curvature.
The overall head is greatly balanced and has good chopping power. In order to protect the blade, the hatchet comes with a leather sheath that covers the blade when the hatchet is not in use.
Pros
- Good chopping power
- Hickory handle
- Very sharp blade
- Reasonably priced
- Heavier head
Cons
- Could be too heavy for some users
Hults Bruk Tarnaby Hatchet – Best hatchet for backpacking
The Hults Bruk Tarnaby hatchet is a serious tool that comes in a compact design, and which gets the cutting, kindling and splitting work done with much ease and precision. It is also lightweight, which makes it ideal for outdoor campers and backpackers.
Who is this hatchet for?
The Hults Bruk Tarnaby hatchet is a great choice for any survivalist who is looking for a serious tool. It is a perfect survival tool for campers, scouts and any other person who could be looking for a great tool to be using around home for light clearing, cutting and splitting.
Handle and grip
The Hults Bruk Tarnaby hatchet’s 15-inch handle is made from sturdy American hickory. The length of the handle helps in enhancing the overall power of the hatchet.
The grain on the handle is very smooth and runs straight across the length of the handle. This makes the handle have a very comfortable and firm grip, and one can use this tool for long without getting blisters on the palms.
The handle is also anti-slip, giving you confidence when swinging it that it will not slip off from your hand hurting you or the people near you. In addition, it is curved at the end to enable you to have more control and grip when using it. For ease when carrying it, it is drilled at the end to allow for use of a lanyard so that you can easily hand it on your shoulder or backpack.
Blade and sharpness
When you first take the Hults Bruk Tarnaby hatchet out of its sheath for the very first time, you should be very cautious because you may end up cutting yourself. This is because the hatchets blade is extremely sharp. The beauty about it is that the sharpness does not fade away even after multiple uses.
During its manufacture, the steel head is struck severally in order to increase its density and enhance its durability. The head is also designed in such a way that it has a tempered area that holds the sharp edge even after multiple sharpening. The leather sheath included in the package protects the blade when the hatchet is not in use.
Pros
- Durable construction
- Sharp blade
- Great chopping power
- Balanced weight
- Comfortable firm grip
Cons
- A longer handle would be better
Columbia River 2745 Birler – Camping Axe Review
This hatchet is a product of a Vietnam veteran Elmer Roush, who has over 40 years of experience in blacksmithing. He is popularly known as an enthusiast for premier caliber tools.
In addition to having the best camping knife with you, you also need a good camping axe. It is a good tool to have close by, as you will see.
This hatchet comes in a compact and lightweight design, which makes it easy to work with, and at the same time making it ideal for backpacking.
Despite its small size, the hatchet is robust enough and it gets the work you require it to do done within the shortest time possible.
Who is this hatchet for?
This hatchet is ideal for anyone who is looking for a sturdy, durable and serious survival tool. Due to its size and performance, it is also a great choice for outdoor enthusiasts such as campers. It is also good for backpacking lovers, scouts and any other person looking for a serious hatchet for clearing, chopping, cutting or for making kindling.
Handle and grip
The Columbia River Knife and Tool 2745 Birler comes with a very strong Tennessee hickory handle. This handle is very smooth and the grains are straight, thus ensuring that you enjoy a firm and comfortable grip.
It does not crack or break even when working on tough woods. It also does not slip, and this together with the curved edge, ensures that you have maximum control over your hatchet while working with it.
It is also amazingly light in weight, which minimizes the fatigue on your hands when working with it. In addition, it is quite long, which makes it comfortable to work with and the length helps in boosting the overall chopping power of the hatchet.
Blade and sharpness
The blade of the Columbia River Knife and Tool 2745 Birler is made from high quality 1055 carbon steel. This material is sturdy, robust and durable.
Once you take the hatchet out of the box, the first feature that will strike you is its razor-sharp blade. You actually have to be careful not to cut yourself with the tool.
The head comes in a unique design that ensures that you chop deep into the wood with minimal resistance. Its weight also helps it to deliver an incredible chopping power.
The blade does not easily lose its sharpness even after multiple strikes and it also does not lose its shape even after several sessions of sharpening.
This is a good tool to toss into your car with your camping tent, portable toilet and any other item that is designed to make you life comfortable when you are camping in the wilderness.
Pros
- Durable construction
- Very hand-friendly grip
- Compact and light in weight
- It has good chopping power
- It is properly weighted
Cons
- Loose handle
- No hole for a lanyard
Why you need the best hatchet for backpacking and camping
The best camping hatchet is one of the tools you need while backpacking in the woods. This is a model of an axe, which is light enough to be used single-handedly.
It is also light and more compact in design. You can find hatchets with handles made of various materials. More advanced backpacking enthusiasts prefer a wooden handle as it is able to absorb impact and vibrations.
It is safer to use a longer hatchet because when you miss your mark, it is more likely to hit the ground than your leg. It will also be safer for you to use a sharper hatchet because you will only need to exert little force when splitting wood. When going camping, you have more than enough reasons to bring your hatchet with you, as you will see below:
Splitting wood – best axe for splitting wood
When you want to make a fire for camping, you can use a hatchet to split the wood. You can also split the logs so as to expose inside of the dry wood during bad weather to keep the fire going on.
To get effective results when splitting wood using a hatchet, do not split the wood when standing split from your knees because hatchets are usually shorter than the normal axes. If you split while standing you may end up missing it.
Mind where you are splitting your wood because doing so on rocky ground can damage the edge of your hatchet rendering it useless. Get firewood from dead and dry branches on the tree by using the hammer on your hatchet which will knock them off the tree with just a single blow.
Clearing the way – best hatchet for camping
You can use a hatchet to clear woods and tree branches on the way. It is easier and safer to use a hatchet because trying to remove the woods using your hands can cause injury.
Some of these woods on the way are heavy and it can become a challenge trying to lift them up while you can just push them away using a hatchet.
If you want to erect a camping tent, you can use a hatchet to clear the area where you want to build your tent.
Defend yourself
You can use a hatchet for self-defense because when you compare it to a knife it has a longer handle and a longer reach. You can use it against animals like snakes and even bears. Your power to strike using a hatchet is going to be higher because the momentum is increased by the higher overall mass, weight and the handle of the camping axe. In addition to the best camping flashlight to blind an animal that is attacking you, bring your hatchet for defense. You may also want to bring your trekking pole for backpacking as it can help you ward off snakes from the trail.
As a hammering tool
If you want to make a tent, you can use the hammer (mostly opposite side of the cutting edge) on your hatchet to drive poles into the ground. Ensure that when doing so, your blade is protected because the upward swing can cause the sharp edge to damage your face.
Skinning animals when hunting or for survival
When you are lost in the wilderness, you know that you will do anything to survive. Having the best camping hatchet, you can skin game and clean meat faster and easily.
You can also use it to separate quarters and joints of the animal more easily compared to using a skinning knife. It is also easier to chop through the bones using a hatchet. This is why many deer hunters take a hatchet with them.
There are many more reasons for using the best hatchet for backpacking and camping. Most of the time, the wilderness is quite unpredictable and you never know when you might every tool that you have at hand.
