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The Best Camping Axes And Hatchets

best camping axes

Camping axes and hatchets have seen tremendous improvements over the past 10 years as materials have become lighter weight and stronger.

The days of having to lug around a big, heavy, steel axe with you on camping trips are thankfully gone! Top-rated camping hatchets and axes are available in a wide variety of designs ranging from standard wood and steel to high-tech carbon fiber designs.

Important! Before buying an axe or hatchet for camping, first consider what type of camping you intend to do!

If you are car camping you can go with a heavier model that is more robust and better suited for chopping and hacking larger trees.

If you are backpacking or camping at remote sites you’ll want to consider a lighter weight and more compact option that is easier to carry around.

Check out the combo axe-saws for on the move camping or survival situations as well. Having a little pull-out saw in the handle is a great option. Yes you sacrifice overall durability, but for light to medium use the combo option can be a wonderful choice.

Here are our picks for the Best Camping Axes:

1. Estwing Tomahawk Axe

Estwing Tomahawk Axe

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Coming with an interesting design, the Estwing Tomahawk ax is a great stylish ax that gets the job done. This ax is forged from one piece of steel, which makes it more durable. This ax is lightweight, which makes handling it very easy. The grip is made with shock reduction materials, which offer comfortable use. The size of this ax is 16 inches, and with a weight of 1.5 LBS, this is an excellent ax for those who don’t need a heavy ax to do the required job while camping.

2. Schrade SCAXE2 Stainless Steel Small Axe

Schrade SCAXE2 Stainless Steel Small Axe

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Made out of stainless steel and coated with titanium makes this ax one of the most durable and most robust axes on the list. The handle is made out of fiberglass, and it also has a rubber grip, so when using the ax, you won’t hurt your hands, or it won’t slip from them. With the ax, you also get a thermoplastic sheath. This ax’s measurements are 1.8 inches long, and the blade is at 3.8 inches, as for the weight, it is around 1.37 LBS. And since this is a small ax, you sometimes feel the need for a longer one to do more heavy work.

3. Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet Axe

Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet Axe

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The Gransfors Bruks is one of the most expensive axes on the list, but there comes higher quality with that kind of price. With a 1 pound head and a 13.5-inch handle, this ax can handle anything. Together with it, you will also get a stealth sheath, which is also very high quality. If you can afford this, it would not disappoint, I guarantee.

4. SOG Camp Axe

SOG Camp Axe

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Another very stylish ax that is not just looks. With a 3.1 inch blade that is made out of stainless steel, this ax offers everything. The SOG Camp ax can also be used as a hammer, which is very useful while camping, especially when setting up tents. With its lightweight and compact design, this ax is one of the best you can find.

5. Gerber Gator Combo Axe

Gerber Gator Combo Axe

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One of the most interesting axes on the list, and as you can see from its name, this is not just an ax. In the handle, which is hallowed, you have a hidden knife that is good enough for almost everything you need to do with a knife while camping. Don’t worry, the knife is using magnets to stay inside the handle. When you are using the ax, the probability of the knife falling is very low. The ax is on the small side, which is not the best for every task on your trip, but it’s still good enough. The materials used on it are forged steel for the head, which provides more durability. The handle is made with glass-nylon materials, which provide a good grip while using this ax. Weighting at 1.5 LBS and with a length of 8.75 inches, this ax is excellent for light packing.

6. Gerber Gator Combo Axes II

Gerber Gator Combo Axes II

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The second combo version from Gerber, this one is slightly different than the first one but still one of the best camping axes. Instead of a knife, this ax has a saw in the handle. Because of that, it’s a better fit for wood cutting or sawing on occasion. In general, the ax is the same material-wise but very different measurement wise. The length of the ax is 15.6 inches, and the saw is at 10.24 inches. It is up to you to decide which combo is better suited for your situation.

7. Estwing Camper’s Axe

Estwing Camper's Axe

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The second ax from Estwing, which tells us that they know how to do quality axes. As you can see from the name, this ax is made with camping in mind, and it also is a 16-inch ax. Both the head and the handle are forged in the same piece, which guarantees a durable and reliable ax. You can also use this ax as a hammer since the back of its head is flat. In general, this ax is better suited to small tasks, but it can do other ones as well. The handle is wrapped with shock reduction materials that will make the use of this ax more comfortable. Together with this ax, you also get a ballistic nylon sheath, which will protect you from the sharp blade.

8. Husqvarna 13″ Wooden Hatchet

Husqvarna 13" Wooden Hatchet

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Coming with a classic look with its curved handle and shiny head. That shiny head is also hefty, with it being at 1.5 LBS, while the handle is only 0.5 LBS, which makes this ax not so great portability wise. Apart from that, this is an excellent ax for cutting into larger wood with its tremendous striking power. You can find many different versions of this ax varying from 13 inches up to 32 inches, so it’s up to you to decide which ax length you want. With a low price and good performance, this ax is a good deal.

9. CRKT Ruger Hatchet: Compact Survival

CRKT Ruger Hatchet Outdoor Axe

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With a straightforward design, this ax is one of the best out there. Made with high-quality materials that make this great for any task you throw at it. A lightweight handle is also hollow on the inside like some other axes on the list. And unlike the Gerber Gator Combo Axe, this does not have a knife or a saw inside that is made out of fiberglass and extra texture to increase grip. As for the head, it’s forged with 1055 carbon steel, which is more durable. You can also use this as a hammer since the back of the head is flat. The head is also coated with magnesium phosphate, which will ensure that this ax will remain corrosion-free for a long time.

10. Council Tool 2.0 Hudson Bay Camp Axe

Council Tool 2.0 Hudson Bay Camp Axe

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It is made by one of the oldest forging companies in the USA, and this ax shows how much they have perfected the ‘art’ of making axes. This ax is made with performance and durability in mind. With a weight of 3 LBS and a handle length of 28 inches, this is the biggest ax on the list, and because of that, it’s also one of the best for heavy-duty tasks. The handle is made out of American hickory wood, and it’s also very durable and shock-resistant. The head is forged steel, and it’s coated with black enamel. The Council Tool 2.0 might not be the best ax to pack for a short trip, but if you have the room for it, you won’t be disappointed.

Closing Thoughts

As you can see, there are quite a few options out there for the best camping axes. Some of these axes are made specifically for camping, which makes them slightly better than the rest. You can find a lot of variety here, from small to big axes, lightweight, combo axes. In general, most of them are great for what a short camping trip requires.

With some of these axes, like with the Gerber Gator Combo Axe, you get two tools in one, which will make figuring out what you need for a camping trip more comfortable. No matter which one of these axes you choose, they are all good enough for all the tasks you need to do.

Written by Jakob Coleman

Camping, hiking are my passions in life! Growing up in Buffalo, WY I've been lucky enough to live at the doorstep of the Bighorn Mountains where I spend most of my free time backpacking, exploring, and testing new camping gear!

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