A high carbon steel head is just what the doctor ordered for this hatchet. I’m not joking, this hatchet likes eating trees. I like it because it will do most jobs you throw at it while staying small. I really like the sheath that comes with this. Composites can make great handles, but how you attach them is the key. So which is better axe vs hatchet? Any handle made of metal just needs to be kept free of rust. If you use it mostly for chopping kindling and small branches, then you probably don’t need something very heavy. It's because of the ease of use and portability of a hatchet. Axe would be better f or breaking bigger pieces of wood while hatchets would be good for logs/wood about the thickness of your arm and smaller. My Review: Off Grid Tools executed this design very well. With a hatchet of this quality, I would prefer a leather sheath, but the ballistic nylon sheath that comes with does get the job done. Check on it every ten minutes or so. They would make sharp cutting tools out of pieces of stone that were shaped into a weapon for fighting and hunting. So Axes are the ideal tool for chopping wood. Conversely, you can have something that is huge but shaped in a way that allows it to fit into a space more easily. Some even come with a metal handle welded to the head making it pretty much indestructible. The axe head is the traditional shape and even has the mill scale on it still. The hatchet head is shaped much like a splitting axe, which makes it perfect for camping. It is very durable on the whole and very easy to use. Smaller handle and weight allows for one handed operation. So, if you plan on doing any extensive work with this thing then invest in some gloves or buy a different axe. The first one is small hatches which are 10-12 inches in length, the second is about standard hatches which are 13-14 inches in length, and the third is about chopping axes which are 23-26 inches in length. It still gets the job done well but is not as suited for felling trees as the Council Tool axe is. This cuts down on weight while making them more resistant to heat and higher stress when prying. On average, a hatchet is about 12 inches long, while axes are over 22 inches long. If you have an axe that is high-end, I am willing to bet it is made of a high carbon steel. Now lets take a look at some pros and cons of the hatchet. As you know by now, I am a big fan of having the “complete package” when it comes to weapons and tools. So whether you choose the camping axe or the camping hatchet due to your specific needs, they are both great additions to your outdoor camping gear. If you want to carry an axe that will give you the option to make perfectly square posts, this would be a great tool to carry. And since you can swap the blade for a new one, you never have to worry about losing functionality. Skinny cheeks are great for chopping and fat cheeks are great for splitting wood. I guess they reason that some folks don’t like sheaths. The Survival Axe packs 31 features into a hatchet style axe that’ll fit into any backpack or bug-out bag. My Review: For a camp hatchet, the Ruger can handle just about anything. Even if you are spending a great deal of time on “the trail” a heavier axe is something you might have to make a compromise for if you are building shelters and felling trees. Just like the SOG camp axe, this tomahawk head is fastened to the handle by two little screws. I recommend putting in just as much time and effort into choosing a hatchet as you do a knife, especially if you need something for the bush. This could be anything from poly, linseed oil, wax, etc. Estwing sportsman hatchet 14 inch- Comfortable leather grip Certainly one of the famous hatchets for camping that can easily be gifted to any outdoorsman. 3.0 out of 5 stars 12. Zombie Killer Recon Double Headed Throwing Axe 4.4 out of 5 stars 123. It is a very durable hatchet but doesn’t have enough weight to really take care of trees. You just can’t beat the edge retention and durability. How many other hatchets have 30 features? Eye: The eye is where the handle is fit into the blade. Also, on the back of the blade is a semicircular shaped device that is great for grabbing onto stuff. It is sharp and heavy enough to cut through trees of several inch diameter trunks with just a little work. Outdoor Camping Tactical Hatchet Axe Tomahawk Hunting Survival Machete Hand Tool . If you want a hatchet to take into the bush all the time, this isn’t your best option. Unfortunately, all of these great benefits come at a price. The rubber handle makes it very comfortable and since it is a full tang hatchet, you never have to worry about the axe head flying off. Maybe you wished you would have an axe with an adjustable handle length meeting your all camping needs. The main reason why we have put this on our list of the best camping axe is that it has the power of an axe and the slim design or the weight of a hatchet. These types of axes are usually made out of expensive material such as titanium. It has an excellent cutting ability and it’s practically indestructible. With a razor-sharp blade made of Swedish steel, this tiny hatchet can cut through just about anything. From hammering tent stakes to splitting kindling, axes are designed to be workhorses that can be used for a wide range of tasks. If you are interested in learning how to throw an axe or which axes the best, check out our throwing axes guide. Yep, that is hefty. The thin head allows for maximum penetration into the material. $22.71 - $57.95 #20. Some of his passions include hiking, cycling, running, competing in long distance triathlon races, shooting, camping, and helping others! The Best Backpacking Hatchet and Axes for 2020 – Reviewed. Camping requires a lot of hiking, and you don’t know where to build the campsite. Buy some Nikwax waterproofing wax made for leather and apply it to the sheath. Using a light axe to fell even a small tree can leave you totally exhausted. This thing is really made for fighting in urban environments or someone on a job site. So let’s take a look at two scenarios to help you know whether the use of a camping axe or camping hatchet is more appropriate. The 11 Best Axes, Hatchets, and Tomahawks . It would also be good for keeping around the house for yardwork and other small jobs. It comes with a form fitted kydex sheath that is molle compatible. Now lets to take a look at the hatchet advantages and disadvantages. I have always been very impressed with 5.11 and their level of quality in pretty much everything they produce. If you are constantly moving around, choose a smaller axe. There are axes that also feature multi-tool options that are useful in the wilderness. Hatchets are a fascinating camping tool with origins dating back thousands of years. He is one of the most respected tactical trainers in the world, so he knows a thing or two about weapons and how to use them. Make sure you buy a blade holder or find a sheath that fits it because it doesn’t come with one. Everyone wants their belongings to last forever. You will be faster on your swings and have a better chance of hitting your target when your weapon is thrown. This “talon” is awesome for penetrating your target and since it is a full tang build, you don’t have to worry much about something snapping when you start prying. The Survival Axe packs 31 features into a hatchet style axe that’ll fit into any backpack or bug-out bag. We are mostly talking about wooden handles here. You can also use yellow mustard to create really cool designs. But it can do some really tough work and is a very solid hatchet. My Review: I don’t typically like any of the composite handles, but Gerber did a pretty good job with this one. Sanding and repainting rust spots is all you need to do to upkeep a metal handle. Like all lightweight hatchets, it isn’t the best for heavy duty work and chopping. FREE Shipping by Amazon. What is the difference between hatchets and axes? Think about being in the woods without any weapon, a large and heavy tool with a sharp edge is often more useful than one that is small and very light. This website is not affiliated with the United States Marine Corps, and the information on this website does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Marine Corps as a whole. First, I always run some high grit sandpaper over the handle to remove any rough spots or anything. You can use it to cut big branches or logs into smaller pieces to build a fire, but also for a wide range of survival situations. My Review: Have you ever wanted to tear an entire house down and only use one tool? From the advantages and disadvantages of the camping axe or camping hatchet, you can start to get an idea where one might be more advantageous over the other. They can be much more useful than you expect. I know, that might be a little confusing the first time you read it, but it is one way to think about it. The back of the head is flat so you can hammer all day long with it if you have to. My Review: The CRKT Kangee is designed and built by RMJ Tactical in Chattanooga, TN. Related Article: 10 Best Throwing Axes and Tomahawks (Ranked by a Marine). It takes a lot of work to fix that mistake. Hatchets are a fascinating camping tool with origins dating back thousands of years. For the size of this thing you can’t go wrong. You end up just removing it and leaving it on the ground. Oak Curve camp axe is the best camping hatchet in the market right now. Overall, it looks great and feels great. They can remove small tree branches, but you aren’t going to have much fun chopping down a tree for firewood or shelter construction. It seems pretty stout and didn’t give me any reason to doubt it would last a while. The overall length of your axe should be next on the list for things to think about. Use a piece of steel wool and dab the mustard all over the head. Get it Wednesday, Dec 16. Most of us get too caught up in planning for all the things that have a low probability of happening and I have certainly backpacked many times and only used half of my gear. Two-piece construction is the main concern here when it comes to durability. This usually happens with wood handles when an axe has been used a ton and improperly maintained. Most camping axes and hatchets fall into this category. If it isn’t, your handle will feel sticky. A well-maintained axe can cut just as well as the sharpest knife on top of being able to hammer, pry, and chop down trees. The camping axe is going to be the better choice if you need to … These bad boys are for people who want to do much more than cutting. The head of the axe is great for cutting lending to the high carbon tool steel it is made from. Design of the Shaft The handle of both tools features a gentle double S curve, instead of being straight (though some models could have linear handles). On the flip side where the axe falls short the hatchet easily fills the gap. Splitting mauls are a type of axe used primarily for splitting logs. And a full battle axe is great for defeating a shield. Small forest axe, camping hatchet and backpacking hatchet features a 3.1-inch blade. Shoulder: If the metal blade is the head then the closest part of the handle to the blade is the shoulder. When I say form factor, I mean how much space it takes up and how it is shaped. The Head and the handle come in one piece so no worries of the head getting loose and coming off. Backpacking, no matter how short or long the journey requires tools. Cheek: If the sharp edge is the face and the butt of the head is the back, then the cheeks are on the side. There is less maintenance, but the blade suffers much more than high carbon steel. This isn’t a knock against the hatchet itself, but don’t handmade craftsmanship from an axe that is mass-produced. While the axe is typically 22” and longer, the hatchet tends to be a foot long. A camping axe is often a versatile tool with multiple uses. A hatchet is around half the size of a camping axe. There are some hewing axes that have flat edges and some that have an edge with a radius. It is small and light enough to not really notice but it is an extremely powerful tool. This is great because you can place two fingers on each side of the loop and effectively “choke down” to give you more swinging power. Full tang construction means steadiness in hand and the strength to power through swinging chores . That is about it, one hand vs two hand. Popular Article: 32 Best Survival Knives (Ranked by a Marine). Related Article: Ultimate Camping Checklist (with Free Printable PDF). My Review: For a compact hatchet, you don’t get much better than this. If you want something to carry with you in the woods, many of the features that make these things so awesome are not going to be very useful to you, but if you want one axe for everything you do in life, you can’t beat a tactical axe. One with a spike on the back and one with a hammerhead on the back other than the back, they are the exact same tool. Another good reason to choose an axe with a simple form factor is if you store it in your vehicle. Meaning what will you be using your hatchet for 80 percent of the time. Although our ancestors used small axes (like tomahawks), the word hatchet as we use it today, derivees from an old French word that describes an axe of diminutive size. My Review: Estwing is a company that’s well known for making some of the highest quality hammers and axes at a reasonable price. It has a prybar on the knob and a handle built into the head, so you don’t have to awkwardly fumble with finding a good grip when you are breaking a door off of its hinges. It isn’t a big deal if you take care of your blade and most manufacturers will put a layer of durable paint or sealant on the blade to keep it from rusting. It’s all about tradeoffs so just know what you want. It comes with a nylon sheath that serves the purpose well and is easy to get in and out in comparison to other axes and sheaths on the list. You can use for camping, fishing, hunting, the RV and many other adventures. Crossing rivers. They are usually the size of a tomahawk but incorporate far more features. If you combine a heavy head with a long handle, you end up having a very effective axe for tackling big jobs. Stainless is great and everything, but you do give up a little of the hardness that high carbon axe heads have, so you get less blade retention and overall durability. And I mean that in a good way. Reinforced plastic handles are sturdier than wood and often lighter, but could become uncomfortable if damaged. The back of the axe is slightly convex so hammering something does take a little accuracy and practice. I would venture to say this is the most durable tomahawk on the list. He also has a bit of experience playing in the sandboxes of Iraq and Afghanistan. I know it may be small for some, but this little guy can be carried in a cargo pocket if you have to. A hatchet that isn’t the proper length for the job can cause you considerable anguish. Axes, on the other hand, are made to … But it even goes beyond that. It can also work as a splint in an emergency. 4150 is a high carbon steel so it definitely makes a sharp and durable blade. Heavier axes do a lot of the work for you when chopping so you have to think of it like this: If I am chopping wood frequently, do I want to spend a ton of time and effort hacking with a really light hatchet, or do I want to carry more weight and spend much less time and effort when I need to chop? The balance of this axe is certainly more towards the handle. It comes in at a very reasonable size so you can stow it in your ruck very easily. As an example take a look at this Gerber survival axe with an integrated saw. Jason is an avid lover of camping, hiking, and well just about anything outdoors. Best Survival Axe: Off Grid Tool’s take on the survival axe brings new depth to the multitool category. The saw blade is a very nice addition but with a lot of chopping, it won’t want to stay in the handle. Most axes and hatchets can be used this way but SOG basically added a hammer to the back of the blade. Leverage. Report item - opens in a new window or tab. Home » Camping and Outdoors » 17 Best Camping Hatchets and Axes in 2020. Most of us aren’t slaying dragons or fighting sword wielding knights on a daily basis. In addition, typically hatchets have the typical double beveled cutting wedge angle on one side but also have a hammer head on the opposite side allowing for more uses and versatility. If you don’t want to fool around attaching it to your kit, then you can use the included shoulder sling. It might be quicker to saw through the material than using the hatchet. Depending on your camping and hiking preferences, some axes and hatchets might be better than others. Axes and hatchets are some of the most versatile tools anyone can buy. The Swedes have been known worldwide for making great steel and have done a pretty good job of hiding their secrets. link to Why are Hiking Boots so Expensive. My Review: Bearded axes are so cool! There may be some dents and chips on the blade or handle. This type of axe isn’t something you are likely to take with you on a backpacking trip. Bearded battle axes were great for combat because you could hack at your opponent as well as grab them with your weapon. It is lightweight for the type of hatchet it is, but it has enough heft to dominate the typical firewood sized tree most people need to fell when on camping excursions. Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. For light and general use though it does a great job. Some hatchets even have more survival-based features and functions so make sure you buy the right tool for your use. Being stainless steel, you can’t expect it to hold an edge as well as a high carbon hatchet, but you can easily sharpen it in no time. Especially when you don’t have access to the tools to properly complete this task. Now that we have considered weight and length for defense, let’s talk about the fighting method. And they really pay attention to detail and deliver on every aspect of the user experience. It’s also a very popular throwing axe (although Estwing does not recommend it for throwing) because it’s made from one piece of steel. So, know why you need a hatchet and what you will be using it for. Most splitting mauls have heads that weigh between 6 and 8 lbs. The drawback is this steel is much more susceptible to corrosion than other steels such as stainless. The handle is made out of reinforced fiberglass and is actually quite impressive as far as durability goes. Well, unfortunately, there is no clear. Because of this, they work their way loose and make the axe unstable. He is both a writer and editor for Outside Pulse and has been camping and hiking for over 20 years. Then I use a wet rag to wipe away the dust. But why is this, why are hiking boots so expensive? 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