Do I Need An Axe For Camping

It seems that a 3/4 axe is the most practical for all kinds of work. I will really hurt your knuckles on the hand holding the wood id you don’t. The Fiskars X11 Splitting Axe is a stellar camping axe. Impeccably balanced and compact enough for most adults to use with one hand, it’s great for small jobs like splitting kindling or limbing trees.

Mo brings enthusiasm, and you can’t have a solid testing team without that. Some manufacturers may not properly sharpen their axes before shipping, so test the sharpness after you purchase it. A sharp axe will cut a piece of paper without tearing. Ax that is portable, lightweight, and can easily be used with one hand termed as camp or pack axe. Axes do have a bit more weight and are not ideal to carry for camping as they have long handles as well. Axes – Have long handles that allow greater swings and generates more power to split big and heavy logs easily.

Summary Of Superb Camping Axes And Hatchets

The only “swinging” or “chopping” tool I do carry is a Tramontina 14″ bolo machete. Great for stripping dead wood from fall downs and clearing brush, vines, and grasses. Did keep a axe out on the wood pile in case needed to chop some little bit of a split loose and it was handier to use. In fact, I have plenty of tools and gear I don’t need. But they bring me happiness and I enjoy playing with them.

Its weight and size make it a convenient backpacking companion. If you’re new to backpacking, camping, or hiking, you should consider getting a camping axe. They are mid-sized, sturdy, and can handle a variety of tasks from cutting down bushes, to splitting firewood, among other camp chores.

Which Is Better Axe Vs Hatchet For Camping?

Some hatchets have a hammer head on the backside of the head, whereas true axes will only ever have a blade — they are not designed for hammering. That said, there are some axes on our list that feature hammer heads. The feel of an ax and a tomahawk is very different, yet the results are similar. Unless that is you’re chopping into trees or large piece of wood.

The Head is made of solid Swedish steel and pretty sharp to bite deep into the wood like a knife cutting butter. This is not only a good camp axe but can easily be used for other woodland projects. Whether you are looking to clear trials, kindling or getting firewood this one will get the job done and make you feel like a pro. Steel handles are made for sheer strength, being able to chop through ice.

Mauls are a type of splitting axe with a narrower blade. Like the splitting axe, a maul is best used to split wooden longs by forcing the fibers of wood apart. When building a campfire, it’s best to split more substantial pieces of wood into smaller pieces that burn easily.

I don’t even need my hawk to split wood most of the time. I carry it because it’s one heck of a self defence tool with a bunch of other uses. I almost never carry one, in this area I can build a hell of a decent fire by just breaking off dead branches, and scavenging blow downs. I don’t carry a saw unless I’m staying in one place for days on end, and I’ve only batoned wood a handful of times in my life.

Picking The Right Axe Size And Weight

Essentially, you may not carry a weapon, either exposed or concealed unless you have a CCW permit . A knife is considered a tool unless you are treating it as a weapon. If you are stopped and asked about it you should not say it’s ‘for protection’. The Gator Combo Axe is a versatile, low-cost chopper boasting a super-handy integrated freebie – a coarse-bladed handsaw! The textured grip prevents slippage in wet conditions and length of the shaft (15.6”) gives good striking power for larger chops.

We really wish the leather handle was easier to hold because the Estwing is satisfying to swing. The MTech is sharp, swings well, and is a great size for packing. Of all models we tested, the X11 offers the best all-around performance and a reasonably compact size. If I am with a canoe, horse or other implement where weight is not a significant factor I will also have an axe, but it will be the 3/4 size, not the full sized.

Types Of Axes For Camping

Splitting mauls look much like axes but have a larger wedge shape head to split a log into pie shapes that will fit in your fireplace or campfire. Well, we have compiled the top 15 best camping and backpacking axe list with Our top 2 Picks. Our research proved that Estwing is providing one of the best camping axe we know. As already we have Estwing 14 inches on our list but this one made in the USA is as good as you can get.

This product is best for backpackers who want a well-balanced, heirloom-quality axe that’s going to last them for several years. Overstrike protectors will also come in handy, for shock absorption. They’ll reduce the impact on your axe’s handle and can help prevent it from breaking. The second reason why you need an axe cover is that it helps protect the axe from wear and tear. As you can see, an axe sheath will benefit both you and your axe.

This product is best for people who want a durable backpacking axe with a head that won’t get detached. These are just some of the benefits of having a backpacking axe. To help you determine what kind of axe you should carry on your trip, we’ve analyzed some of the best backpacking axes in the market. Our selection consists of axes that you can rely on regardless of your chosen destination.

Sog Camp Axe

Every type of axe has a different-sized head, which makes up for the bulk of an axe’s weight. At over 2lbs in weight and 16” long, however, this isn’t the most portable axe in our analysis. It also falls a little short of other one-piece or heavyweight competitors the Gerber Pack Hatchet, Estwing Sportsman and Husqvarna hatchet in terms of practicality. First of all, it arrives fairly blunt and will require some sharpening before cutting through even small branches efficiently. The blade and bit are also fairly shallow, meaning that, despite its size, the SOG struggles to make its way through larger chunks of wood.

They are a great fit because they can help build shelter, fell trees, chop big branches, and other tasks that would be challenging to handle with camping axes. Weighing in at a fairly hefty 1.75lbs and boasting a 16” American Hickory shaft, the Almike packs a lot of power with good leverage and balance. The dense axe head is hand-forged and made from Swedish steel making it super durable whilst maintaining its sharpness, even after multiple sharpenings. If you’re after an exceptionally high quality axe that will last you a lifetime of superb performance then look no further than the Hoffman Camp Axe. Hand forged in the USA by Liam Hoffman himself, the axe heads are heat treated and hung directly onto hand carved, kiln dried, ash or hickory handles. Complete with a vegetable tanned leather sheath and a hardened poll that truly stands up to the demands of proper hammering, this is no everyday axe.

The handle is very versatile as it also holds a knife inside. Handle made of Glass-filled nylon provides a very comfortable grip even if you are working in wet conditions. Although the knife is sharp the handle holds the knife inside magnetically for easy and secure transport. American hickory wood provides perfect gain orientation for flexibility and strength to last long for years. Wood is nicely crafted to give it a traditional look.

It can be very dangerous when your axe slips and cuts your foot or leg. This type of axe has a thin, curved blade on one side that is used to remove branches without damaging the trunk or main body of the tree. Since the blade is curved, it can be used on both sides of the trunk without harming the wood grain. You can also start a fire with a hatchet by using friction to create sparks.

Best Backpacking Axes Analyzed

While the Gransfors blade isn’t built to wedge wood apart for splitting, it executes every other task beautifully. Forest Axe to cut trees to get out of mudholes, deep water and such… This would lessen the weight factor without sacrificing anything.