When venturing into the great outdoors, a reliable camping axe is an absolute must-have for any seasoned adventurer. Whether you’re a seasoned camper, an avid hunter, or simply someone who loves exploring nature’s wonders, this versatile tool should always be at the top of your packing list. A camping axe is not just a handy companion for chopping firewood or clearing trails; it also serves as a vital means of self-defense and can even be used in emergency situations to signal for help.
The 7 Best Camping Axes
When it comes to choosing the right axe for your outdoor adventures, there are many options available on the market. However, a few stand out from the rest in terms of quality and performance. For instance, Fiskars’ X27 Super Splitting Axe is a popular choice among woodworkers, while Helko Werk’s Germany-made Bavarian Woodworker Axe offers exceptional craftsmanship. Meanwhile, Estwing’s Special Edition Camper’s Axe provides a unique blend of power and portability.
If you’re looking for the best all-around axe, Cold Steel’s All-Purpose Axe is an excellent option to consider. For smaller tasks, Gransfors Bruks’ Small Forest Axe or Council Tool’s Dayton Pattern Miners Axe might be more suitable. Finally, Husqvarna’s Wooden Splitting Axe is a great choice for those who prioritize splitting power and durability.
Our Top Pick for the Best Camping Axe
When it comes to finding the best camping axe, our top recommendation is the Cold Steel All-Purpose Axe. This reliable tool stands out from the rest thanks to its sharp and solid head that provides efficient splitting and chopping capabilities, paired with an ergonomic hickory handle that ensures a comfortable grip. Whether you’re embarking on a camping trip or exploring the wilderness, having the 26-inch Trail Boss axe by Cold Steel in your backpack is a must.
With its impressive performance, this camping axe has earned its place as our top pick.
Love Camping? Pack the Camping Axe!
As you embark on a camping trip, your gear should include staples such as a sturdy tent, a reliable sleeping bag, and a portable lantern. However, it’s also crucial to pack a trusty camping axe, an essential tool that will aid in various outdoor tasks, preparing you for any scenario that may arise.
With its versatility, the camping axe can be used to: chop firewood into manageable pieces for a campfire, trim larger branches into smaller, more usable kindling, fell small trees to clear a space for your campsite, clear trails or roads for off-road adventures, hammer in tent pegs, and even cut through thicker meat. Its range of applications makes it an indispensable addition to your camping kit.
Camping Axe Versus a Hatchet
When it comes to outfitting your camping gear with the perfect chopping tool, understanding the distinctions between two popular options – camping axes and hatchets – is crucial. Both serve as excellent devices for felling wood, but their sizes and intended uses differ significantly.
While these tools share a common purpose, their unique characteristics make them better suited to specific tasks.
By recognizing these differences, you’ll be able to choose the most suitable tool for your camping needs, ensuring effective wood chopping and a more enjoyable outdoor experience.
The Hatchet
A hatchet, often referred to as a mini-axe, excels at tackling small-scale woodcutting tasks like splitting tiny firewood pieces or trimming shrub branches. Its diminutive size makes it an attractive option for outdoor enthusiasts who prioritize portability and minimal gear loadouts – think backpackers and hikers seeking to travel light. Moreover, the hatchet serves as a reliable defense mechanism against potential predator threats.
The Camping Axe
While both hatchets and camping axes share similarities, their handles are the most notable distinction. A hatchet’s handle is longer and more substantial, providing a stable base for the blade to effectively bite into tree trunks and swiftly fell firewood. This extra length enables a smooth swinging motion, allowing users to tackle small, medium, or heavy-duty tasks with ease. For these types of tasks, a camping axe proves to be an indispensable tool.
How to Choose the Best Camping Axe
Size
When it comes to camping axes, size matters – literally. There are three main sizes to choose from: large, medium/three-quarter, and small. Each has its unique characteristics and uses. Large camping axes, such as the Fiskars 378841-1002 X27 Super Splitting Axe, are designed for heavy-duty chopping tasks and felling larger trees. Their size and weight make them ideal for tackling tough jobs, but they may be cumbersome for smaller tasks.
Medium/three-quarter sized axes measure around 26-inches and offer a good balance between power and maneuverability. The Estwing Special Edition Camper’s Axe and Cold Steel All-Purpose Axe are great examples of this type. They can handle thicker branches, logs, and even thick meat or rope with ease. Smaller camping axes, like the Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe, have a compact size that makes them perfect for smaller tasks such as chopping firewood or kindling.
What’s more, they’re often lightweight and easy to wield with one hand – making them great for packing away in your backpack or camping gear.
Overall Design
The construction of a camping axe typically involves two primary components: the handle and the head. The former is designed to provide a secure grip, while the latter is responsible for chopping through wood. In terms of materials, handles can be crafted from smooth wood, often hickory, fiberglass, or metal. Wood offers a traditional feel, with its curved design and smooth finish providing comfort in the hand. However, it may become slippery in wet conditions, necessitating caution.
Steel handles are durable and rust-resistant but can transmit vibrations through the axe. Fiberglass, on the other hand, is lightweight, weatherproof, and produces minimal vibrations, making it an ideal choice for inclement weather. Regardless of material preference, the key consideration is that the handle remains strong and sturdy, securely attached to the head. The head or blade, made from stainless steel or carbon steel, is the focal point of the axe.
While stainless steel provides strength and rust-resistance, carbon steel boasts exceptional cutting performance. A single-piece forged steel head with a high-carbon cutting edge offers unparalleled durability and edge retention.
7 Best Camping Axes – Reviews
Fiskars 378841-1002 X27 Super Splitting Axe
Whether you’re a seasoned camper or just starting to venture outdoors, the Fiskars 378841-1002 X27 Super Splitting Axe is an indispensable tool for any outdoor enthusiast. This axe boasts impressive power and versatility, making it perfect for splitting medium to large-sized logs. With its perfected balance and power-to-weight ratio, you’ll be able to chop wood efficiently, taking less time and requiring less strain and effort.
The Fiskars’ superior design features a hardened forged carbon steel head that stays sharp over time, thanks to a proprietary grinding technique that provides a sharper edge for better contact and cleaner cuts. The advanced bevel convex blade geometry and black non-stick coating make the blade easier to remove from wood, reducing friction and making the chopping process smoother.
The redesigned fiberglass handle is lightweight yet surprisingly strong, providing a comfortable grip without producing any vibrations while you chop and split wood. And with Fiskars’ innovative insert-molded design, the axe head securely locks into place, eliminating the risk of it unhitching itself from the handle over time. While the 36-inch length may not fit in a backpack, you can easily strap it to your camping gear for transportation.
Plus, the included hard black plastic sheath provides extra safe storage and transportation options. The Fiskars X27 Axe also comes with a lifetime warranty, giving you peace of mind with your purchase. Overall, this axe excels in terms of quality, value, and performance, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to chop large logs or fell small trees. However, some users may find the price point a bit steep, and those who use their axe extensively may need to sharpen it more frequently.
1800 Helko Werk Germany Bavarian Woodworker Axe
The 1800 Helko Werk Germany Bavarian Woodworker Axe is a top-notch choice for camping enthusiasts, made in Germany with exceptional craftsmanship. The axe’s high-grade carbon steel head boasts super tensile strength, capable of handling demanding cutting tasks. Its sharp, slim, and wide-bleed design, combined with a Rockwell Hardness rating of 53-56 HRC, delivers a powerful striking force for felling large trees, splitting logs, and chopping heavy firewood.
While the axe demands controlled strength from its operator due to its extra-long size, it’s worth the effort. For those who require exceptional cutting performance, there is no better option than this Bavarian Woodworker. The handle is crafted with sustainably sourced Grade A American hickory, individually selected for its strength, grain orientation, and density. The ergonomic design and boiled linseed oil finish provide a comfortable grip during wood-chopping tasks.
To ensure safe storage and protect the blade from rusting over time, the axe comes equipped with a full- grain vegetable-tanned leather sheath. Additionally, Helko Werk Germany includes a 1-ounce bottle of Axe-Guard protective oil. The pros of this exceptional tool far outweigh its cons, including fantastic quality, rugged construction, and sustainably sourced materials. However, those on a budget may find it expensive and slightly cumbersome for smaller cutting jobs.
Estwing Special Edition Camper’s Axe
The Estwing Special Edition Camper’s Axe is an exceptional choice for outdoor enthusiasts. Its robust all-steel design makes it perfect for chopping small logs, splitting firewood and kindling, and withstanding heavy use. The 4-inch full tang blade is crafted from premium American forged steel that has undergone a special tempering process to ensure maximum strength and durability. The blade’s honed edge allows for easy cutting and chopping throughout its lifespan.
The axe’s stunning appearance sets it apart from others in its class, boasting a hand-polished and lacquered head and neck, as well as a smart black powder-coated finish. For added comfort during extended use, the handle features Estwing’s patented rugged shock reduction grip, which is bonded to prevent slippage and reduces impact vibration by up to 70%. The longer handle provides greater leverage and swinging power, making it ideal for campers who have a vehicle.
However, its considerable weight of 4.25lbs and larger size may not make it the best choice for wilderness hikers seeking to travel light. Estwing offers two design options: blue and special edition black. Some notable pros include excellent quality, great value for money, and exceptional performance in chopping logs or splitting firewood and kindling. The axe is also made in the US, featuring a hand-sanded and lacquered handle for a comfortable finish.
Unfortunately, its size can make it difficult to fit into a backpack or bug out bag, and some users may experience vibrations when chopping hardwood.
Cold Steel All-Purpose Axe
If you’re planning a wilderness adventure, don’t forget to pack the Cold Steel All-Purpose Axe, specifically the 26-inch Trail Boss. This versatile axe is designed for hard work and can handle tasks like chopping down small trees, splitting kindle, or clearing roads and trails. The European-style head features a large 4-inch drop-forged 1055 high carbon steel blade with a 4.5-inch cutting edge, allowing it to take big bites with every swing.
The straight-grained American hickory handle is both easy to grip and strong, making it suitable for rugged outdoor conditions. In fact, Cold Steel has extensively tested the Trail Boss in the Australian outback, ensuring its durability in tough environments. Weighing only 2.6 ounces, the Trail Boss is lightweight enough to strap to your backpack while hiking along a trail without weighing you down. Its pros include high quality, an affordable price, and excellent value for money.
It’s ideal for tasks that require precision, such as chopping small trees or kindling, rather than heavy-duty chopping. Some minor drawbacks are the blade’s lack of razor-sharpness upon arrival (although it maintains its edge over time) and the absence of a sheath. Nonetheless, the Trail Boss is an excellent choice for anyone seeking a reliable axe for their wilderness escapades.
Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe
The Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe, measuring 19 inches, is an exceptional tool for clearing trails or chopping firewood. Its perfectly balanced design and razor-sharp edge make it an efficient choice for tackling various tasks. The large steel blade, crafted in Sweden, boasts a strong and sharp performance right out of the box.
In addition to its impressive cutting capabilities, the axe features a smooth hickory handle that provides a comfortable grip, despite being one of the smaller axes available. This compact design allows you to strap it to a pack, making it an excellent companion for hiking excursions, as it weighs only 2 pounds. Furthermore, Gransfors Bruks includes a high-quality vegetable-tanned leather sheath to protect your axe from harsh weather conditions.
With its impressive pros and cons, the Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe is a great option for those seeking a well-rounded tool.
Council Tool Dayton Pattern Miners Axe
The Council Tool Dayton Pattern Miners Axe is an exceptional tool for cutting, splitting, and felling small trees. Its hand-sharpened, forged carbon steel head showcases remarkable durability, sharpness, and edge retention. The blade’s red enamel coating and clear lacquer treatment prevent rust, ensuring a long-lasting performance. The axe features a robust straight American hickory handle, comfortable to hold as you work with the tool.
For added strength, the head is hydraulically seated onto the handle and secured by a serrated aluminum wedge. Its 20-inch length allows for one-handed use while splitting and chopping logs. Weighing in at a compact and lightweight size, this axe won’t hinder your movements or storage needs. Council Tool stands behind their product with a lifetime warranty.
Praises:High-quality constructionExcellent value for the priceIdeal for firewood preparation and small tree fellingHand-sharpened forged 1055 carbon steel demonstrates exceptional sharpness, durability, and corrosion resistanceStraight American hickory handle provides comfort during use and allows for powerful swingsCan be used one-handed for added versatilityCompact and lightweight design makes it easy to store or transportCriticisms:Not suitable for heavy-duty applications
Husqvarna Wooden Splitting Axe
When it comes to splitting wood for campfires, the Husqvarna Wooden Splitting Axe stands out as an excellent choice. Designed with a focus on weight distribution, this axe allows you to split small logs without having to apply excessive force. The medium-length polished hickory handle is expertly crafted and features a curved shape that fits comfortably in your hand, even allowing for one-handed swinging and chopping.
Forged in Sweden from high-quality materials, the blade delivers exceptional performance, effortlessly gliding into wood and splitting it into two parts with minimal effort required. The head is securely fastened to the hickory shaft using both a wooden and steel wedge, ensuring long-term durability. Measuring 19 inches in length, this axe is easy to pack away in your camping gear. Husqvarna also includes a leather edge cover to protect the blade’s sharpness.
While not designed for heavy-duty chopping tasks, this axe excels at splitting smaller logs and lighter firewood. If you require a more robust axe, Husqvarna offers a range of larger-sized options. This axe boasts several advantages, including its high-quality construction, lightweight design, excellent weight distribution, classic design, smooth hickory handle, well-balanced build, and sturdy overall construction, making it ideal for smaller log splitting tasks.
However, keep in mind that this axe may not be the best fit for heavy-duty use due to its lighter design. Some drawbacks to consider include the higher price point compared to other options, the need for sharpening out of the box, and the potential for slippery wood surfaces when wet.
Our Top Pick for the Best Camping Axe
When it comes to finding the perfect camping axe, our top recommendation is the Cold Steel All-Purpose Axe. This exceptional tool stands out from the rest due to its durable and razor-sharp head, which provides a reliable splitting and chopping performance. Coupled with an ergonomic hickory handle that offers a comfortable grip, you can count on the 26-inch Trail Boss camping axe being your trusted companion for any outdoor excursion.
Before embarking on your next adventure, be sure to add this top-notch camping axe to your packing list.
