There are many essential tools that one needs when camping. Whether it be a tent, a portable stove, or even just a sleeping back, the difference in quality could mean the difference between having a good time and having a terrible time. Camping, while you are supposedly roughing it, is supposed to be a fun and exciting time with the family. The only way to make it fun and exciting is by having the right tools. Out of all the tools that you’ll need on your camping excursion, you won’t find any of them more essential than the camping hatchet.
The hatchet not only provides much-needed protection, but it’ll come in handy for firewood, kindling, but it’ll come in handy when clearing for a campsite. Simply put, the hatchet is the ultimate camping tool, and you’ll want to make sure you bring the right one along with you on your next trip. That’s exactly where this camp hatchet review guide will come in handy. It’ll review what type of hatchet you need for camping as well as what you need to look for when buying a hatchet.
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Contents
Best Selling Camping Hatchets Compared and Reviewed
Quick Top 5 Comparison
Last update on 2024-04-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1. WilFiks Chopping Axe 15” Camping Outdoor Hatchet
When you are looking at buying a hatchet that is all set up and ready to use, you simply can’t beat the WilFiks hatchet. This specific hatchet was designed for easy chopping of firewood (if you have a good wood-burning stove), logs, kindling, and branches, as it includes an optimized blade geometry. This might sound a bit technical, but what it basically means is the blade with mathematically designed to provide more one-strike splits. This is something that every camper can benefit from.
You couple this with the durable forged carbon steel heated treated blade and you can read any camp hatchet review you want, but you won’t find one that’ll stand with this type of durability. This forged carbon steel not only makes the hatchet more durable, but it improves on the density while also helping with sharp and quick splits. It’s easy to see why this is one of the best camping hatchets available.
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2. Schrade SCAXE10 11.1in Full Tang Hatchet
You can read all the camping axes reviews that you want, but you still won’t find a hatchet as beautifully designed as the Schrade. This beautiful hatchet features dimensions measure to a total of 11.1 inches with a total blade length of 3.6 inches and weighing in at an impressive 1 pound and 6 ounces. The lightweight design allows for quick and easy swings. Couple this with the durable rubber hammer and you’ll always feel like you are in complete control of the hatchet when swinging.
If you are interested in a hatchet with sheath, you’ve come to the right place because this bad boy also comes along with a sheath that’ll protect the blade when not in use. It also features a hammer pommel with a full tang design that allows the device to double as a camping hatchet hammer. This will come in handy when assembling your tents (unless of course, you opted for one of the best pop up tents) or pounding stakes in the ground.
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3. Estwing Sportsman’s Axe 14” Camping Hatchet
Estwing is a name that most people are familiar with in the tool community. However, after reading several camping axes reviews, you might have discovered that their tools, in particular their axes, can be used for camping as well. And, that’s exactly what this one can be used for. This forged one-piece design offers one of the most durable constructions you’ll ever find in a tool, making it extremely long-lasting. Its versatile design makes it perfect for chopping logs, small trees, branches, splitting firewood, and splitting kindling.
This is also a hatches with sheath, as it includes a nylon sheath with the initial purchase. The sheath will protect the hand-sharpened cutting edge while the ax is in storage or not being used. The genuine leather grip features a hand sanded and lacquered finish that not only looks beautiful and traditional, but it offers users complete control of this stainless steel hatchet.
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4. Fiskars 378501-1002 X7 Hatchet
The Fiskars 378501-1002 X7 Hatchet is completely unique from design to color. The first thing you’ll notice is the striking orange and black design. This was intentional to not only catch the eye of the user but to make it easy to spot in the wild. Whether you drop or misplace the hatchet, you shouldn’t have a hard problem relocating it thanks to the offset design. If there is anything that you should take away from this camp hatchet review it is that this axe was specifically designed to make chopping easier.
With the perfect balance of power to weight, similar to that of an aluminum bat, the user will be able to chop deeper with each swing. Who doesn’t want to get more done faster and enjoy their time in nature? Not only is the blade perfect balanced, but it features blade-grinding technology that’ll help provide cleaner cuts coupled with better contact. Despite all of this and the fact that this is not a hatchet with a sheath, it does come with an impressive lifetime warranty.
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5. Gerber Pack Hatchet Camping Axe
The Gerber Pack Hatchet might not be the longest hatchet with a 9.46 total length, but it only weighs an impressive 21 ounces and is a stainless steel hatchet. On top of this, this is a tool that was designed for complete convenience and ease of use. This hatchet with sheath features a unique design that’ll allow users to either mount the axe on their belts or backpacks. This will come in extremely handy when on the go. It’ll eliminate the need to carry the axe around at all times and completely free up one hand.
The handle of this stainless steel hatchet is wrapped entirely in a runner over mold that offers an added grip and comfort that you won’t get with a lot of other hatchets. However, these are not really the things that make this hatchet for camping. No, this would be the full tang construction that offers complete steadiness in hand coupled with the strength to swing completely through most of your chores.
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6. SOG Camp Axe
When buying a hatchet there are no doubt a lot of things to consider, but after reading this camp hatchet review, you’ll see that the SOG covers pretty much everything entirely. Not only does it feature stainless steel construction, but it offers a total of 11.5 inches, which is impressive for a portable camping hatchet. If you’ve read a lot of camping axes reviews then you likely already know there aren’t a lot of portable axes out there today that offer this kind of length. More length means more powerful swings, which leads to makes your job easier.
Do not let the length fool you because while this axe is heavy-duty it does feature a lightweight and compact design that makes transportation easier than ever. This could also be considered a camping hatchet hammer, as it features a design that is perfect for pounding stakes. The textured GRN handle makes controlling the axe easy while also giving you a comfortable grip.
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7. RoverTac Multitool Camping Tool Survival Gear
When they call the RoverTac a multitool, they simply weren’t lying. Just looking at this thing looks like an axe out of the future. It features a handle that opens into a Swiss Army Knife design, giving uses the ability to choose from a bottle opener, a file, and assorted wrenches. The backside of the hatchet is actually designed like a hammerhead, while the middle and be split and couples as a pair of pliers. This multitool literally offers a total of 14 unique tools that’ll prove more than handy on any camping trip.
The fully stainless steel construction is not only more durable than ever, but it also features oxidation on the blade and handle that’ll protect against rust and corrosion. The easy to carry design gives you the ability to take the tool with you wherever you go. And, while doing so, you can store the hatches in its nylon pouch that fully cover the blade.
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8. Schrade Mini Axe/Saw Combo
Earlier on this camp hatch review, you probably remember seeing another Schrade. After seeing everything that hatchet for camping had to offer it probably isn’t a huge surprise to see another one make the list. That being said, this camping hatchet hammer is completely different than its counterpart, although it does feature a similar style and design. The first thing to be noted with this hatchet is that it offers an even more impressive 12-inch overall length with a weight of only a pound and a half. The overall length of the blade is 6.9 inches and is made of reliable Ti-Nitride coated stainless steel, as just compared to the traditional stainless steel.
The twice-injected rubber handle not only makes the device super durable, but it gives users complete and total control in all situations. Whether it is shaving kindling, chopping down small trees, pounding tent stakes into the ground, you can rest assured that you’ll be doing so with complete control and comfort. The design will also give users complete confidence that they’ll never have to worry about the blade slipping. And, this is all in part thanks to the ergonomic rubber grip. It also features a handy lanyard that allows you to wear the axe around your neck, while there is a hand saw that that can be pulled from the handle.
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9. Estwing Camper’s Axe
Here is another Edtwing to grace the list. This one like the Fiskars is constructed of black and orange to help stand out against a green backdrop. However, this one is also graced with the manufacturer’s name – Estwing. This might not mean a lot of some individuals, but the one-piece design provides durability and a type of strength that only the Estwing name can back up. With the heavy-duty ballistic sheath, you’ll never have to worry about damaging the axe when it’s not in use.
One huge advantage that the Estwing wing name gives over other competitors is that all its products are manufactured in the United States. The United States is known for providing exceptional quality and that’s exactly what you’ll get when you invest here. Plus, you be funneling money back into the local economy. Couple this with the patented shock reduction grip, and it’ll be more than apparent that you are getting quality coupled with durability that can’t be matched.
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10. TABOR Tools Chopping Axe
You can read camp hatchet review after review and you likely won’t see many TABORs on the list. This is because they are still somewhat new to the industry, considering that they were only founded in 1982. This might seem like a long time, but it really isn’t in terms of business years. That being said, the name will be a memorable one with avid campers alike because they feature a hatchet design that is a one of a kind. With the rubber protective band for safe storage and transport, you’ll be able to safely store and take your axe wherever you want. Not only this, but the blade is resharpenable with a protective coating that will offer lasting protection for years and years to come.
The fiberglass handle is one that not only offers the utmost protection, comfort, and grip, but it’ll allow you to swing the axe for longer periods without tiring out. What’s even more impressive on top of all of this is that this product comes backed with customer satisfaction, meaning that if you encounter any problems, TABOR’s stellar customer service will jump right on the problem.
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Benefits and Feature of Camping Hatches
When it comes to the outdoor world, there are a lot of tools available at one’s disposal today. Thanks to technology, there are now tools available that make the outside world and living all that more desirable and easier. Not only this, but modern technology has improved on older, traditional tools to make things easier as well. Just look at the traditional camping hatch hammer.
Through innovation and invention, a lot of today’s hatches cannot only be used to cut firewood, limbs, branches, trees, and kindling, but they can be used as hammers as well. It’s certainly a lot easier than using a camping knife! Pound in stakes in the ground or bang something back to life. Whatever you need to do, you can likely use today’s traditional hatchet to do so.
This isn’t the only benefit that comes along with today’s hatchets. You can see from the reviews above that today’s hatchets are also extremely lightweight and portable. You can literally take them just about anywhere with you when you buy a sheath or lanyard. Some sheaths can be attached to your belt or backpack. In addition to this, hatchets today are just more durable. The blades not only include protective coatings that allow the blade to be resharpened but they offer the utmost in durability for years and years of long-lasting use.
Types of Camping Hatchets
When in the market for the best camping hatchet, you’ll no doubt discover that there are tons of them available. In fact, there are probably too many available to list here. However, that doesn’t mean that they’ll all be suitable for camping.
Some of today’s hatchets and axes are designed specifically for outdoor and survival, while a lot of them are designed for battling. In fact, the axe or hatchet used to be one of the premier battle weapons used by many forces across the seas and waters. That being said, when shopping for a hatchet, you have to know the types available if you want to choose the best for your specific situation. Below, you’ll learn about the different types and what they have to offer.
Traditional Hatchet – First up is the traditional hatchet. This is basically just a small version of the axe that can be utilized in a variety of activities. Most people buy these items to take along on camping trips because they are so versatile and portable. They are great for chopping firewood quickly and making kindling on the spot. They can also come in handy when you need to cut something open or make a perimeter gap. The fact that these items are small and lightweight it makes them a little easier to wield and control than the traditional axe. Today’s models are so durable and versatile that they could literally fell small trees.
Tactical Axe – Another type of hatchet available today is what is known as the tactical axe and as you can tell by the name, this is one that is used in tactical situations. These are tools that are not generally used by urban dwellers, but this doesn’t mean that they can’t be used. It just means that they are more popular amongst the solder, mercenary, law enforcement officials, security personnel, survivalists, and others who need tactical support in the field. Most of these modern axes come equipped with heads that are so durable that they can literally shatter the toughest of glass, cut into cars, and piece Kevlar.
Wildlife Hatchet – The wildlife hatchet is specifically designed for camping and scouting. While it does share a head design with the hand hatchet, its handle is slightly longer than most other hatchets. It is ideal for tree-felling for firewood. It will fit safely into your rucksack to ensure easy and quick access. Utilize it to cut, chop, and split downed trees. This is a very diverse hatchet for camping.
Splitting Hatchet – A splitting hatchet is exactly as its name entails. It is utilized to split small branches for firewood. The handle measures about 19 inches (48 centimeters) in length. This is a small hatchet, weighing approximately 3.3 pounds (1-1/2 kilograms). This is not a diverse hatchet but it will make splitting small pieces of wood a breeze.
What to Look for When Choosing a Camping Hatchet
There are many factors to consider when shopping for a camping hatchet These factors include handle length, weight, warranty, construction, and uses. While all camping hatchets look the same, they are slightly different which is why it is crucial to conduct thorough research before making an initial purchase.
Weight – Camping tasks are generally minor like chopping kindling. Since the tasks are minor, a lightweight camping hatchet should be fine. The lightweight design will ensure efficiency, convenience, portability, and ease-of-use. With this said, a lightweight hatchet should still be durable to endure the test of time.
Length – The handle length is also important. You do not want a hatchet with a very long handle but it must be long enough to deliver the highest level of comfort. A good length for a camping hatchet is 15 inches. This is long enough to ensure a high level of comfort, flexibility, and efficiency.
Warranty – Like all tools, a camping hatchet must be covered under a decent manufacturer’s warranty. This level of protection is a necessity to fight against the financial loss associated with manufacturing defects and low-quality construction.
Portability – Portability is important when it comes to camping hatchets. You may be forced to walk for miles to find a downed tree in the forest or woods. The hatchet being lightweight will not burden you down when trekking in the woods.
Ease- Of -Use – If the camping hatchet does not offer ease-of-use, it will be rendered useless. By taking all the factors listed above into consideration, you will be ensured to get it right the first go-round.
What’s the Difference Between an Axe and a Hatchet?
The main difference between the axe and hatchet is usage. Both are utilized for different purposes. For example, the hatchet is utilized for small chopping and splitting projects while the axe is utilized for large chopping and splitting projects. Both can be utilized for firewood but the hatchet is more suitable for smaller projects.
The axe weighs between one and seven pounds, making it suitable for chopping, cutting, shaping, and splitting large pieces of wood.
