Hatchets are a must-have tool for camping, survival, and backpacking, as well as for quickly and easily clearing brush and small limbs around your house.
However, there’s no such thing as the best hatchet for all jobs. The best hatchet for camping may not be the best survival hatchet, and it may not be great for chopping wood at home or for lugging around in a backpack or a bug-out bag.
When it comes to selecting the right axes and hatchets, there are quite a number of options available.
The best camping, survival, and backpacking hatchet should be heavy-duty, easily transportable, and efficient. Tip: Check out our day hike checklist for other must-have backpacking supplies.
Table of Contents
- Best Hatchets
- 1. Fiskars x7
- 2. SOG Tactical Survival Hatchet
- 3. Estwing Special Edition Camper’s Axe 16 inches
- 4. Helko Werk Germany Rheinland Hatchet
- 5. Husqvarna Wooden Hatchet
- 6. Hults Bruk Agdor
- 7. Hultafors SV
- 8. Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet
- 9. Schrade SCAXE2 Outdoor Survival Hatchet
- 10. Gerber Gator Combo Axe II
- 11. Husqvarna H900 Fiberglass Hatchet
- 12. Estwing Sportsman’s 12-inch Hatchet
- Hatchet FAQ
Best Hatchets
Here’s a list of 12 of the best hatchets available for any job, including camping, survival and backpacking (I may earn a referral commission on qualified purchases):
1. Fiskars x7
I own several Fiskars x7 Hatchets and they are very easy to carry. I like to keep one by the woodpile for splitting kindling and Fatwood, and another by the campfire or firepit to take care of any last minute chopping needs that pop-up while I’m enjoying a roaring bonfire with my friends and family.
The Fiskars x7 is a 14-inch, ergonomic, and relatively light camping hatchet mostly suited for small to medium-sized jobs such as chopping wood. The long handle provides an excellent grip and can comfortably accommodate two-handed operation. The blade is super sharp and comes with a low-friction coating that ensures clean cuts with less effort. It’s one of the lightest and well-balanced power-to-weight ratios. With this hatchet, you get a lifetime warranty and value for your money.
Customer Reviews
The Fiskars X7 Hatchet receives widespread acclaim for its efficiency, durability, and convenience, as detailed in customer reviews. This hatchet is celebrated for its lightweight, compact design, perfect for various outdoor activities. Users appreciate its sharp, durable blade, ergonomic handle, and the balance it offers between portability and functionality. While its performance is great for tasks like chopping, kindling, and splitting small logs, some reviews hint at the metal’s softness as a potential drawback.
Pros
- Compact and Lightweight: The hatchet’s size and weight are ideal for one-handed use, enhancing its portability and ease of handling.
- Ergonomic Design: The FiberComp handle and textured grip ensure comfort and control, reducing fatigue during extended use.
- Sharp and Durable: The hardened steel blade maintains its edge even with rigorous use, and the low-friction coating enhances cutting efficiency.
- Versatility: Its innovative design optimizes performance by excelling in a range of tasks from log splitting to branch clearing.
Cons
- Blade Softness: A few users have noted the metal may be softer than ideal, which could lead to chipping if the hatchet is misused.
- Limited to Smaller Tasks: While its design is perfect for kindling and small logs, it may not be as effective for larger wood-chopping jobs.
Overall Customer Satisfaction
The Fiskars X7 Hatchet enjoys high overall customer satisfaction, with its design, functionality, and performance receiving particular praise. It’s seen as a valuable tool for anyone in need of a reliable hatchet for camping, hiking, or home use. Despite minor concerns regarding the blade’s softness, the hatchet’s benefits—such as its sharpness, durability, and ergonomic handle—far outweigh these points for most users.
Find the lowest price for the x7 on Amazon, or check it out on eBay.
- Ideal for Kindling and Logs: Our product is perfect for chopping kindling and small- to medium-sized logs, making it a versatile tool for your firewood needs.
- Efficient and Fast Chopping: With each swing, our tool chops deeper, allowing you to get more done in less time. Experience the benefits of increased efficiency and productivity.
- Enhanced Swing Speed and Power: The perfected balance and power-to-weight ratio of our product result in increased swing speed, multiplying your chopping power. It’s like using an aluminum baseball bat to make your swings more impactful.
- Sharper Edge for Cleaner Cuts: Our proprietary blade-grinding technique ensures a sharper edge, enabling better contact with the wood and delivering cleaner cuts. Experience the satisfaction of precise and effortless chopping.
- Lifetime Warranty and Low-Friction Blade Coating: We stand behind the quality of our product with a lifetime warranty. The low-friction blade coating allows the tool to power through wood smoothly while preventing the head from getting stuck, ensuring durability and ease of use.
2. SOG Tactical Survival Hatchet
My wife and kids bought me a SOG Tactical Hatchet for Father’s Day one year. At first, I didn’t think I could chop much wood with it. However, I discovered that it’s perfect for attaching the included sheath to my belt as I walk along my property line, clearing brush and pruning small branches from the trees overhanging my driveway.
The SOG Tomahawk Tactical Survival Hatchet is a multi-purpose tool with an overall length of 15.75 inches and features a razor-sharp 2.75-inch straight edge made from 420 hard-cased black stainless steel (rc 51 – 53), a piercing spike for breaking through glass or breaching a door, a checkered hammering surface a glass-reinforced nylon handle and a ballistic nylon sheath that accommodates 1.5-inch belts. The SOG Tomahawk Tactical Survival Hatchet is perfect for camping, throwing, and even emergency or fire rescue. Weight: 24 ounces.
Tip: Knowing how to start a fire without matches is a skill everyone should have for emergencies.
Customer Reviews
The SOG Tactical Survival Hatchet has garnered positive feedback for its functionality, durability, and design, particularly appealing to those engaged in camping, backpacking, and various outdoor activities. Users have highlighted its effectiveness in cutting and chopping, praising its sharp blade and well-constructed handle. However, some criticisms focus on the sheath’s quality and the handle’s comfort for those with larger hands.
Pros
- Effective and Durable: The hatchet is lauded for its ability to take down trees and perform various tasks without showing signs of wear or dulling.
- Compact and Lightweight: Its size and weight make it a convenient addition to any day pack, offering a good balance for easy carrying and efficient use.
- Versatile Tool: Equipped with features like a fire starter, nail remover, and a full tang build, it’s seen as a multifunctional tool for camping and tactical needs.
- Quality Construction: Users appreciate the full tang construction and stainless steel material, which contribute to its durability and reliability.
Cons
- Sheath Quality: Several users expressed dissatisfaction with the sheath, finding it suboptimal in design and functionality.
- Handle Comfort: The paracord handle, while functional, is noted to be a bit thin and slick, which might affect grip comfort, especially for individuals with larger hands.
- Gimmicky Features: Some features like the firestarter are considered by a few as gimmicky, although they do add to the tool’s versatility.
Overall Customer Satisfaction
The overall sentiment towards the SOG Tactical Survival Hatchet is highly positive, with many users recommending it for its solid value, effectiveness, and versatility as both a survival tool and a tactical tomahawk. Its performance in various outdoor settings, combined with the support and reliability of the SOG brand, contribute to its appeal. Despite some criticisms regarding the sheath and handle comfort, the hatchet is viewed as a practical choice for those looking for a durable and handy tool for outdoor adventures, tactical situations, or general utility use.
Click here for the lowest SOG prices on Amazon, or check it out on eBay.
- SOG Axe with Bite: These hatchets and hawks are designed to swing fast and true, measuring 15.75 inches. They feature a razor-sharp 420 stainless steel hatchet blade that ensures exceptional cutting performance.
- Lightweight Yet Heavy-Duty: Our hatchet weighs 24 ounces, striking the perfect balance between lightness and durability. It serves as an excellent survival axe and fire rescue tool. The sleek black blade finish adds to its overall strength and longevity.
- Emergency Axe with SOG Tomahawk Sheath: This woodsmen-meets-urban tactical tomahawk securely snaps into its ballistic nylon sheath. The sheath includes a belt loop designed for 1.5-inch belts, allowing for convenient and secure carrying.
- Hammer Axe Edge and Piercing Spike: The FastHawk tactical survival axe is equipped with a flat edge, ideal for hammering, and a spike for chipping. While it serves as an excellent emergency kit tool, it is also versatile enough to handle small wood chopping tasks.
- SOG for Life: We take pride in our products and offer support throughout their lifetime. Properly maintained SOG FastHawk hatchets are eligible for repairs and replacements as needed.
3. Estwing Special Edition Camper’s Axe 16 inches
The Estwing Special Edition Camper’s Axe features a slightly longer-than-hatchet length 16-inch handle and is the perfect year-round axe for camping due to its high-quality materials and classic compact design. The Estwing Special Edition Camper’s Axe is ideal for heavy-duty tasks, from chopping logs to splitting wood. The ergonomic leather handle ensures you have a perfect and useless effort. Additionally, the grip has shock reduction features that reduce impact vibration for your comfort. The included sheath is made of ballistic nylon for durability. Hand-sharpened, polished, and proudly Made in the USA with American Steel.
Customer Reviews
The Estwing Special Edition Camper’s Axe, with its 16-inch length and all-American craftsmanship, receives widespread acclaim for its durability, functionality, and design. Reviewers highlight its balance, high-quality steel construction, and comfortable grip as key features that set it apart from other hatchets and axes on the market.
While primarily praised for its performance in camping scenarios, such as batoning and chopping wood, it also garners appreciation from collectors and enthusiasts for its aesthetic appeal and solid build.
Pros
- High-Quality Construction: The hatchet is made from top-grade steel, ensuring durability and a sharp edge that holds up well over time.
- Well-Balanced and Comfortable Grip: Users find it well-balanced for efficient swinging and equipped with a comfortable handle that reduces fatigue.
- Versatility: It is effective for a range of outdoor tasks, including making kindling, chopping wood, and even axe throwing. Its sturdy build allows for prying.
- All-in-One Design: The one-piece steel construction with a rubberized grip offers enhanced durability and safety over traditional wooden handles.
- Protective Coating: Comes with a coated blade to prevent rust and a sturdy nylon sheath for safe storage and transport.
Cons
- Weight and Size Concerns: Some users note that the axe’s weight and length require a bit of hand and forearm strength for prolonged one-handed use.
- Sticker Residue: A minor critique involves difficulty removing the manufacturer’s stickers from the axe, which some find unsightly and bothersome.
Overall Customer Satisfaction
The Estwing Special Edition Camper’s Axe is highly regarded among outdoor enthusiasts, campers, and even those in axe-throwing leagues for its exceptional build quality, functionality, and aesthetic appeal. Its solid, one-piece steel construction, sharp, durable blade, and comfortable grip make it a favored tool for a wide range of outdoor activities. Despite minor criticisms regarding its weight for some users and the annoyance of sticker residue, the axe is seen as a valuable, long-lasting investment for anyone needing a reliable and effective chopping tool.
The consensus among reviewers is that this axe not only meets but often exceeds expectations. Many anticipate it will last a lifetime with proper care.
Check out the best price on Amazon for the Estwing Camper’s Axe or on eBay.
- Forged in One Piece: Our striking tools are meticulously forged in one piece, resulting in the most durable and longest-lasting tools available. Experience exceptional durability and reliability with our products.
- Outdoor Versatility: Our tool is perfect for a range of outdoor tasks including chopping logs, small trees, and branches, as well as splitting firewood and kindling. It’s a versatile tool that can handle various wood-cutting needs.
- Heavy-Duty Sheath: To ensure the safety and protection of the hand-sharpened cutting edge, our product includes a ballistic nylon sheath. It provides reliable protection during storage and transportation.
- Genuine Leather Grip: The tool features a genuine leather grip that has been hand-sanded and lacquered. This provides both durability and a comfortable finish, allowing for a secure and ergonomic grip during use.
- Made in the USA: We take pride in crafting our tools in Rockford, IL, using the finest American steel. Each tool is meticulously manufactured to meet our high standards of quality and craftsmanship.
4. Helko Werk Germany Rheinland Hatchet
The Rheinland Hatchet sports a traditional German wide-bit blade and is handmade and hand-forged in Germany using c50 high-carbon steel. The hickory handle is made from Grade A American Hickory, which is hand-selected to provide maximum durability. It is finished with a boiled linseed oil finish for a silky-smooth finish that will feel great in your hands. The included sheath is made of premium leather that protects the head and increases its durability. Dimensions: Head weight 1.25 lbs, handle length: 14 inches, total weight equals 1 3/4 lbs.
Customer Reviews
The Helko Werk Germany Rheinland Hatchet has received high praise for its quality, design, and effectiveness in wood chopping tasks, particularly from professional users such as arborists and serious outdoor enthusiasts.
The detailed reviews highlight the hatchet’s heavy head weight, total weight, and length as crucial features for efficient tree felling, especially in challenging conditions where chainsaws cannot be used due to fire risk. The hatchet is appreciated for its performance on hard-to-split wood like Ponderosa pine and Elm, which are known for their toughness and knotty, twisted grains.
Pros
- Quality and Durability: Crafted with high-quality materials, ensuring longevity even with heavy use.
- Efficiency: The hatchet’s weight and balance are designed for powerful chopping, making it effective on tough, knotty wood.
- Comfortable Handle: Features a hickory handle with a design that minimizes user fatigue and is suitable for prolonged use.
- Versatility: While primarily designed for chopping, it performs well in splitting, debarking, and even felling smaller trees.
- Edge Retention: The axe maintains a sharp edge over extended use, reducing the need for frequent sharpening.
Cons
- Grain Orientation: A minor critique concerns the grain orientation in the handle, which is not perfect but unlikely to significantly affect performance.
- Edge Sharpness on Arrival: Some axes may require additional sharpening before first use to achieve optimal sharpness.
Overall Customer Satisfaction
The Helko Werk Germany Rheinland Hatchet is highly recommended by its users for professional and serious hobbyist applications. Its robust construction, designed for heavy and prolonged use, sets it apart from other hatchets and axes.
Particularly noted for its ability to tackle tough woods and maintain edge sharpness, it is a testament to Helko Werk’s reputation for producing quality tools. Despite minor criticisms concerning the handle’s grain orientation and initial sharpness, the overall feedback is overwhelmingly positive.
This hatchet is considered a valuable tool for anyone needing a reliable and effective chopping instrument. With proper care and maintenance, it has the potential to outlive its user.
176 years of axe-making experience goes into hand-making each Helko Werk Rheinland Hatchet… and it shows! Check it out on eBay.
- Handmade in Germany: The Rheinland Hatchet, handmade in Wuppertal, Germany, excels at various cutting tasks such as limbing branches, making kindling, and carving. It features the traditional German wide-bit blade known as the Rheinland pattern, which is exceptionally well-suited for cutting work. These hatchets are named after the renowned Rhein River Valley in the region.
- C50 High Carbon Steel: 53-56 HRC: Each Helko Werk axe head is individually drop forged by hand using German C50 high-grade carbon steel. The process involves skilled blacksmiths using tongs to shape and manipulate the hot steel as a drop hammer repeatedly falls onto it, ensuring superior quality and durability.
- Grade A American Hickory Handle – Linseed Oil Finish – 150 Grit Sanded: Our hatchet features a sustainably sourced grade A American hickory handle. Each handle is meticulously hand finished and selected for grain orientation and density. It is then treated with a boiled linseed oil finish and sanded to a smooth 150 grit, providing a comfortable and enjoyable grip.
- Includes Full Grain Leather Sheath and 1 Oz Bottle of Axe Guard Protective Oil: For your convenience and protection, all Helko Werk axes and hatchets come with a premium vegetable-tanned leather sheath. This sheath safeguards the axe blade and head. Additionally, the package includes a 1 oz bottle of Axe Guard Protective Oil, a metal protecting oil that helps maintain the steel of your axe head and prevents rust over time.
- Dimensions: The Rheinland Hatchet has a head weight of 1-1/4 lb, a length of 14 inches, and a total weight of 1-3/4 lb.
5. Husqvarna Wooden Hatchet
The Husqvarna 13-inch wooden handle hatchet is Made in Sweden. It features a curved hickory handle and a hand-forged axe head made from Swedish Steel. The 1 1/3 lbs axe head provides excellent one-handed striking power and is ideal for chopping large chunks of wood or for pounding in tent stakes. The sheath is made of leather for added durability. The handle is attached to the head using a steel and wooden wedge for durability and safety.
Customer Reviews
The Husqvarna Wooden Hatchet garners high praise for its quality, functionality, and aesthetics, making it a preferred choice for campers and outdoors enthusiasts looking for a reliable tool. With its hand-forged head made in Sweden and durable wooden handle, this hatchet is not only an effective chopping tool but also stands out for its classic design.
Pros
- High-Quality Craftsmanship: Hand-forged in Sweden, indicating a high level of craftsmanship and attention to detail.
- Effective Performance: Despite some users needing an initial sharpening, the hatchet proves highly effective for various tasks, including splitting wood and cutting sticks.
- Aesthetic Appeal: The hatchet’s head texture is visually appealing, and its handle is attractive wood grain. It is appreciated by those who value both functionality and appearance.
- Value for Money: This hatchet offers excellent quality at an affordable price point, which is a great deal compared to higher-priced alternatives.
- Comfortable Grip: The handle design ensures a comfortable and secure grip, enhancing the hatchet’s usability for extended periods.
Cons
- Initial Edge Sharpness: Some users noted the hatchet needed additional sharpening upon arrival for optimal performance.
- Sheath Quality: While functional, the sheath is described as “spartan” and could be improved to match the hatchet’s overall quality.
Overall Customer Satisfaction
Overall, the Husqvarna Wooden Hatchet is highly recommended for its blend of quality, performance, and aesthetic appeal. Users appreciate its solid construction and functionality for camping and other outdoor activities. Although minor improvements could be made, such as enhancing the sheath quality and ensuring the hatchet arrives with a sharper edge, the positive aspects far outweigh these criticisms.
With proper care, including occasional sharpening and handle maintenance, this hatchet is a valuable tool for casual campers and serious outdoors enthusiasts, offering great value for its price.
Click here to see the lowest available price on Amazon, or check it out on eBay.
- One-Handed Design for Light Wood Cutting: This hatchet is specifically designed for easy one-handed use when cutting light wood. Its compact size and ergonomic design make it efficient and comfortable to handle.
- Premium Hand-Forged Axe Head: The hatchet features a high-quality hand-forged axe head weighing 1.32 lbs. This ensures durability, strength, and optimal performance during cutting tasks.
- Constructed with Hickory and Swedish Steel: Crafted using a combination of hickory wood and Swedish steel, this hatchet offers a perfect balance of resilience and precision. The hickory handle provides durability and a comfortable grip, while the Swedish steel blade delivers sharpness and cutting efficiency.
- Includes Leather Edge Cover: For added safety and protection, the hatchet comes with a leather edge cover. This cover helps preserve the sharpness of the blade while ensuring safe storage and transportation.
- Made in Sweden: This hatchet is proudly made in Sweden, known for its exceptional craftsmanship and expertise in producing high-quality tools. You can trust in the hatchet’s superior quality and reliability.
6. Hults Bruk Agdor
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