There are several occasions when you may need to cut some firewood to start a campfire. With a sharp hatchet, it is simple to chop branches and logs. I’m certain you’ll like at least one of the Best Camping Hatchet 2023 listed here. These tools are very sharp, and among the finest I’ve come across for chopping and cutting objects when camping. I could spend hours simply reading the positive customer comments on these things. These hatchets have fantastic attributes, and I am certain you will fall in love with one of them.

There are different Types Of Head Shapes Found In Axes. Which one is best for Best Camping Hatchet 2022

Chopping Or Cutting Axe

Most cutting axes have thin blades or heads. The blade is very thin, so it can easily be cut through wood. You can use these axes to cut down trees, logs, firewood, etc. These have a lot of force and are very sharp. These axes are usually about 32 inches long and weigh about 3 pounds. People usually swing this axe side to side, not up and down.

Axe for Splitting

The head of an axe used for splitting wood is broad and large. The large head of these axes prevents them from becoming trapped in the timber. These are used to split logs and timber by pressing the fibers of the wood down the grain. Most of the time, these axes are heavier than axes for cutting. These are what you use to cut logs into firewood. These are too heavy to be good for backpacking, but people can bring them to car camping.

How to Choose the Best Camping Hatchet 2023

Best Camping Hatchet 2023

Sharpness

The hatchet is better if it’s sharp. The sharper something is, then it is easier to cut wood and start a fire. If the tool is not very sharp, you will have to work hard to split the wood. The more effort you set in, the less energy you will have to enjoy the outdoor activities that your group has planned.

Weight

The item’s weight is important because its power comes from its weight. The more weight a thing has, the more power it has. It’s easier to chop wood. But if the item is too heavy, it might not be easy to move around. So try to find a good balance between portability and power. Weight is a very important thing to think about. How heavy a person wants their hatchet to be is a matter of personal taste.

Best Camping Hatchet 2023

Durability

You want the thing to last. It might fall apart as you use it if it isn’t strong. When you are using the hatchet, you don’t want it to break. This can make things go wrong and hurt people. So, think about how long the item will last based on what others have said. You often get different opinions, so use your best judgment to determine which item will last.

Power

The axe is better if it has more power. Something about having power makes it feel good to use an axe. Depending on how it’s made, a hatchet can be strong or weak. You want a good, very powerful item. The less energy you have to chop wood, the more power you have.

Dimensions

Also important are the sizes. On a backpacking trip, you might want to bring your hatchet. You should get something easier to carry around. This will ensure you can use it for backpacking and other outdoor activities.

Benefits Of Best Camping Hatchet 2023

Most of the time, a hatchet is a better choice for campers than an axe. It’s easy to understand why:

Best Camping Hatchet 2023

Size

Hatchets are smaller and fit in your hand better. So, they take up less space and are less likely to hurt people when used. A hatchet, which can be anywhere from 9.5 to 16.5 inches long, is much easier to use than an axe, which is usually 19 inches or longer.

Utility

Hatchets are versatile camping equipment. They may be used to split kindling and cut small logs. They also have other uses, such as hammering the rear end. Best Camping Hatchet 2023 is an excellent alternative if you are not chopping huge trees or ranching.

Easy to keep up

Even though any sharp blade will lose its edge over time, hatchets are still easy to take care of. Most hatchets today have blades created of stainless steel or carbon steel, which makes them much easier to keep in good shape than blades made of regular steel. On top of that, the synthetic handles make it easy to keep them in good shape. Most wood handles have a protective finish that can wear off or get smudged over time.

Quick Recommendations

  1. ESEE Knives James Gibson Camping Bushcraft Axe
  2. 1844 Helko Werk Germany Traditional Saxon
  3. CRKT Woods Chogan Tomahawk Axe
  4. Schrade SCAXE5 12.8in Full Tang Tactical Hatchet with 3.1in High Carbon Steel Blade
  5. SOG FastHawk- Lighter, Faster, Agile Throwing Hatchet
Best Camping Hatchet 2023

ESEE Knives James Gibson Camping Bushcraft Axe

It was very easy to hold this axe. The sculpted micarta handles give you a good grip when chopping, and the Viking-style beard on the head lets you get closer to the blade. This suggests that it will be easier to control when carving. Micarta is my favorite handle material, and it’s clear that the grip surfaces on this axe were made with a lot of thought.

The fit and finish are great, as expected from an ESEE product. The finish is a black oxide that has been stonewashed. People will either want it or despise it, I think. In one review on Amazon, a person said that their axe looked nice, but it was scratched all over.

No, that’s the way it should look. Even though I like the brown Micarta scales, it would have been nice to choose from other colors. It is one of the best Best Camping Hatchet 2023.

If you want to baton with this axe, you have to switch the side of the log that you can reach with your hand instead of the far side like you would with a knife. This usually makes the axe shake a lot in your hand, like how an aluminum bat can sometimes shake when you hit a baseball.

This is a terrible situation. And if you try to hit without hitting your hand, you’ll find that the small axe head is easy to miss.

Key Features:

  • Carbon Steel 1095
  • Stonewashed Finish with Black Oxide Coating
  • 4.5 “Length of the Head
  • Cutting Edge: 2.75″
  • .188 “Thickness of Steel
  • 55-57 Rockwell Scale
  • Micarta Handles with Chips
  • 20.5 fluid ounces
  • 10.5″ in total

PROS

  • Simple to transport
  • Sheath for the blade
  • Warranty for the life
  • For minor projects, it is more convenient to utilize.
  • Handle built for improved grip and reduced hand fatigue
  • Sharp knife for rapid and simple wood splitting
  • It includes a protective cover.
  • The ideal size for camping vacations
  • The axe is well-balanced.
  • Simple to use and suitable for kindling

CONS

  • The head of this axe is a little bit small.

1844 Helko Werk Germany Traditional Saxon

The Saxon Splitter is a heavy-duty splitting axe best suited to huge rounds and challenging logs. The Helko-designed head produces forceful strokes without becoming entangled or constricted in the wood. The Saxon has the splitting strength of a maul while maintaining the balance, feel, and control of an axe.

Best Camping Hatchet 2023 usually have two or three different lines of axes. We have everything from hatchets to splitting axes and mauls and every size. But that’s not exactly the case here.

The “traditional” line of axes from Saxon includes the splitter. If you look below, you’ll see that this list already has a “Traditional” Helko Werk splitting maul. So, why are there two standard splitting mauls? Good question.

This tool is more like a splitting axe but looks and feels like a maul. I know that sounds hard to understand. A splitting axe and a splitting maul are not the same things. Most of the time, the difference is in weight and shape.

Key Features:

  • Head Weight: 6 14 lbs.
  • Total Weight: 8 12 lbs.
  • Length of bit: 3 7/8 in.
  • 31 in. handle length
  • Hand forged on open dies with a drop hammer
  • C50 high carbon steel of superior quality
  • ​53-56 HRC (Rockwell Hardness) (Rockwell Hardness)
  • Grade derived from sustainable sources Hickory from the United States
  • Boiled linseed oil finish, smooth sanded to 150 grit
  • Hanged with a hardwood wedge and a steel ring wedge

PROS

  • Forged Drop Head
  • Handle made of American Hickory
  • Excellent Quality
  • High Carbon Steel C50
  • Finish with boiled linseed oil
  • It includes a leather sheath.

CONS

  • Expensive

CRKT Woods Chogan Tomahawk Axe

Ryan Johnson invented the CRKT Woods Chogan to simplify your life while you’re off the grid. The popular and original Chogan Tactical Tomahawk inspired the design of this t-hawk.

The Woods Chogan is forged from a solid block of 1055 carbon steel into a rock-solid head with a hammer finish. The t-hawk features flat ground main and secondary edge bevels to cut through wood like a beaver.

With my newly sharpened tomahawk, I quickly cut off the dying branch. But it took many more hits than my bigger and heavier axes to cut through the wood. If you had to cut down a big branch, you could expect to get hit a lot and get blisters.

The feathering test was the second test I did to see how sharp it was. Feathering is a way to get kindling for a fire by cutting a stick down into smaller pieces. The T-blade hawk’s worked well, and I could tell it was sharp because I cut off some nice kindling that would have made a great fire starter. So I can recommend this axe as the Best Camping Hatchet 2023.

Key Features:

  • Overall length when open: 19.13 inches
  • Weight: 2 pounds, 1.4 ounces
  • 4.21 inches in length
  • 0.52-inch thickness
  • Blade-HRC: 50-55 Material: 1055 Carbon Steel
  • Hammer finish Flat finish grind
  • Style: Axe in the foreground, Hammer in the back
  • Hickory from Tennessee

PROS

  • Outstanding classic design with a long handle
  • The wood handle is both pleasant and durable.
  • Dependable leather sheath

CONS

  • More pricey than the majority of camping hatchets
  • Demands regular sharpening

Schrade SCAXE5 12.8in Full Tang Tactical Hatchet with 3.1in High Carbon Steel Blade

The Schrade SCAXE5 full tang tactical hatchet is a small but powerful tool by the well-known Taylor Brands, LLC. You can get a light tactical hatchet that packs a punch for a reasonable price.

This amazing weapon is made to be small enough to carry easily, and it’s perfect for emergencies where a bigger axe isn’t available or wouldn’t be useful. It will find a place in your toolbox. The pry bar on the end of this full-tang steel hatchet makes it stand out.

This tool has SK5 powder-coated high-carbon steel and glass-filled nylon handle slaps with grooves and shapes that make the grip comfortable and less likely to slip. The SCAXE5 has a polyester sheath with belt snaps and two adjustable belt loops.

The deep saber grind on the cutting edge of the razor-sharp blade makes it easy to cut through wood and even sheet metal. The back of the head has a sharp spike that is both strong and scary. It can easily break through cinderblocks and dig deep into wood or walls. The SCAXE5, Best Camping Hatchet 2023, is a lightweight tactical tool that weighs less than 2 pounds and is easy to use and carry around.

Key Features:

  • Schrade is a brand.
  • Full-Tang Tactical Hatchet is the model.
  • 12.8″ total length
  • 3.1″ blade length
  • Steel: Powder Coated SK5 High Carbon Stainless Steel
  • Length of Handle: 6.4″
  • 1 pound 9 ounces total weight
  • Polyester sheath

PROS

  • Skeletonized to keep the full-tang design light.
  • The handle is contoured to offer a secure grip.
  • The electro-coat coating prevents rust and corrosion.
  • Pick works well for digging or piercing.

CONS

  • The term “tomahawk” is a bit misleading.
  • A fantastic tool that exudes strong “that guy” feelings
  • Although versatile, it is not ideal for bushcraft.

SOG FastHawk

Even though you might not need a tomahawk every day, the SOG F06T-N FastHawk is a good selection if you need to remove some brush from your land or if you want to throw something at a target. This tactical tomahawk is small and light, making it great for backpacking and working in the woods near your home.

With a fiberglass-reinforced nylon handle, two bolts, and a steel ferrule holding the head to the handle, you can be sure it won’t break even if you put your back into it. The blade looks scary and comes sharp from the factory, but the spike on the back is not. We found that as good as it is at cutting, it is also a pretty good hatchet for throwing, which is what we would expect from something called a tomahawk.

Even though you might not need a tomahawk every day, this tactical tomahawk is small and light, making it great for backpacking and working in the woods near your home.

With a fiberglass-reinforced nylon handle, two bolts, and a steel ferrule holding the head to the handle, you can be sure it won’t break even if you put your back into it. The blade looks scary and comes sharp from the factory, but the spike on the back is not.

We found that as good as it is at cutting, it is also a pretty good hatchet for throwing, which is what we would expect from something called a tomahawk.

Key Features:

  • Blade Dimensions: 2″ x.26″
  • Total Length: 31cm
  • 0.5Kg in weight
  • Straight edge
  • Steel: 420
  • HRC: 51-53
  • Fiberglass/Nylon handle
  • Hard-cased black finish
  • Nylon sheath

PROS

  • Hand fatigue reduction method 
  • The pick end is useful for breaching and excavating.
  • Construction of forged steel

CONS

  • Longer than most backpacking hatchets
  • The hatchet isn’t the finest for splitting wood.

What Makes an Axe Different from the Best Camping Hatchet 2023?

At first glance, camping hatchets and axes look pretty much the same. So what’s the point?

Most hatchets are smaller, easier to handle, and have thinner, shorter blades. This makes them great for smaller jobs like trimming firewood or kindling and even cooking food in a camp kitchen. Most of the time, hatchets are made the same way as tomahawks. So, the obvious question is, “What is a tomahawk?”

Native Americans used tomahawks as general-purpose tools for defense and survival in the wild. However, they are not as good as axes at cutting wood or chopping things up.

On the other hand, camping axes are usually much bigger and heavier, almost always made for chopping and splitting wood.

Splitting mauls are axes that are made just for splitting wood. These are very helpful if you need to cut up a whole tree or log. When they hit wood, the head is more round and wider, which forces the wood fibers apart.

How To Safely Use Best Camping Hatchet 2023

A hatchet is very useful equipment for trekking and camping. Remember that, like a knife, it may be harmful if not handled with care and consideration.

  • When utilizing, ensure you have secure footing and are not off-balanced.
  • Keep an eye on your surroundings and ensure no one else is at risk of getting struck.
  • Keep an eye on your hands and fingers. It’s a wonderful idea to attempt to keep them all!
  • Never use a dull blade. Before utilizing your hatchet, take the time to sharpen it.
  • Be wary of an overswing or deflection, which might lead the blade to strike your foot or leg.
  • When not in use, always replace the sheath.

Final Words

That is our interpretation of the article. We hope this Best Camping Hatchet 2023 guide has assisted you in selecting the finest camping hatchet or axe. Remember that, as we said, each product on this list has advantages and disadvantages.

After extensive testing, we produced every product’s description, so you don’t have to purchase them all. When selecting a product from this list, read the description and figure out what best fits you. Last but not least, have fun with your new camping or trekking gadget.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Hatchet vs. Camp Axe

The size is the biggest difference between a camp axe and a hatchet. Most camp axes are longer than hatchets, which makes them better for cutting through bigger pieces of wood. On the other hand, a hatchet’s handle is shorter, which makes it easy to chop wood with just one hand.

Axes, unlike hatchets, are meant to be used with both hands to get the most power out of each blow. Because of this, each tool has pros and cons that make it better or worse for different tasks. When deciding between a camp axe and a hatchet, you must consider the work you’ll be doing to choose the best tool for the job.

Which is better: an axe or a hatchet?

Whether you should get a hatchet or a camping axe depends on your needs and preferences. Since hatchets are smaller and easier to pack, they are perfect for backpacking. They can’t, however, split bigger pieces of wood. On the other hand, camping axes are much heavier but can cut almost anything.

So, a camping axe is better if you don’t care about weight. But if you need something light, a hatchet is a good choice. Finally, selecting which tool will work best for you is up to you.

Should I take an axe with me to camp?

If you can, bring a real axe with you when you go camping. You can cut almost any size of wood with it, and you can also use it as a hammer. Keep in mind that this is a suggestion if you plan to stay in the camp for a few days.

If you only want to stay for one night, a camping hatchet is better because it is lighter and easier to use. It will most likely be enough to meet your wood needs.

Which axe size is required for camping?

The axe comes in many different sizes, each with its use. You shouldn’t pick the biggest one you can find. You should only use an axe that is less than 2 feet long. This length makes sure that you can cut firewood with enough force.

It will give you the most power when you hit, and you won’t get tired. On the other hand, you only need an axe about 12 inches long to cut small pieces of wood for the fire.

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