Seven Best Camping Hatchet Available In 2023 with a Buying Guide

When it comes to camping, a hatchet is one thing you don’t want to leave without, but they come in varied options, and picking one could be stressful. Well, not to worry because I’ve got you covered! So, what’s the catch? It’s pretty simple. I’ve listed out some of the best camping hatchets you may find to your liking, and the best part, they all come at a low-cost price! Interesting right? Let’s find out.

Top Seven Best Camping Hatchet In 2023

1. Fiskars Camping Axe

This orange looking Fiskars camping axe is one of the most stunningly looking axes you may ever see and is number one on our list. Beyond its striking looks, this handsome axe packs a whole lot of amazing features, boasting of a non-stick coating, water-resistant, lightweight, a steel blade, and a reinforced rubber handle. It also comes with a body that works awesomely for splitting small woods and branches of about 3cm. These features show that the Fiskars camping hatchet is very light and makes for a comfortable and convenient camping trip. 

One other outstanding feature of this hatchet is its sharp steel blade and strong handle that is perfect for cutting and carving anything. All you have to do is swing it! 

Pros

Cons

Takeaway

If you decide to purchase this hatchet, rest assured that its blade meets high standards and will last for long. 

2. SOG Camp Axe

The SOG Camp Axe is the second on our best camping hatchet in 2023. If you have ever wanted to call a woodworking equipment badass, this will be the precise tool you may probably use that term for. One thing this one-handed axe boosts of is its sleek finishing, which makes it look shiny and classy even from a far distance. But that’s not the best deal you’ll get from this axe. With a lightweight stainless-steel material and a blade that delivers the maximum cutting power, this axe is what we term the real badass! It also comes with a flat head and rubber grip that helps you knock in stakes. Hence, apart from using it as a splitting axe, this hatchet also serves as a hammer tool. 

Another intriguing feature of this tool is its sheathed covering. It has glass-reinforced nylon, which protects the blade from breaking and getting blunt. Furthermore, the hatchet is lightweight, portable, and can serve heavy-duty jobs.

Pros

Cons

Takeaway

This hatchet is a cool addition to your camping trip as it portable and cuts into your wood easily. 

3. Cold Steel Camping Hatchet

The Cold Steel Camping Hatchet is like a classic Chinese hatchet because of its attractive and eye-catching outlook and the embellished Kanji character that stands for ‘Axe Gang’ on it. It features a carbon steel head and has a blade that can drive into any log. But has a relatively soft-steel body that absorbs the cutting impact. However, when used appropriately and properly taken care of, it lasts long.

Pros

Cons

Takeaway

Overall, this big guy is a nicely built and modest hatchet that will work well for you as long as you do not slit a large log with it. 

4. LIANTRAL Survival Camping Axe

Our fourth pick is the Liantral Camping Hatchet, which has a Wolf head design embellished on both surfaces of the blade. This hatchet is produced with a premium alloy steel material that is durable and can withstand severe weather situations to make it last longer. This camp hatchet’s most appealing feature is its excellent design, which combines both the durable head and an anti-corrosion log handle.

This super classy axe also comes with a nylon sheath that protects you from harm because it has a sharp edge that may easily cut through the skin. So, you would want to protect yourself when using this axe. To top it all, you can use this hatchet for many other outdoor activities, but most especially for survival and tactical purposes.

Pros

Cons

Takeaway

This hatchet is one of the most-classy and high-end axes that meet up to its name. With its sharp blades, just one swing and your log are ready for use.

5. Edward Tools Harden Camping Axe

Another stunning and best hand axe in 2023 is the Edward Harden Camping Axe. This tool has a durable carbon steel head that does not lose its sharpness even after using it for long. Adding to this, it comes with a balanced weight that ensures comfortable and better swing momentum. 

But that’s not all. It comes with a rubber sheath casing that protects the axe from wearing out easily and serves as a protective covering to prevent the arm from injury. The handle is also comfortable to grip because of its protective rubber build. It works exceptionally well for chopping from small to medium logs when camping. 

Pros

CONS

Takeaway

Its balanced weight ensures that when used, it dives a clean cut in your log. 

6. Gerber Pack Hatchet Camping Axe

Although the Gerber Pack Hatchet Camping Axe rather looks more like a tomahawk but does a great job with chopping logs. It has a cool brown color that adds to its stylistic look. This hatchet is reasonably small and can be considered portable. But notwithstanding its size, it pretty much does everything a large and bulky wood hatchet will do. It also has an ultra-compact length and portable weight that you can carry about without even realizing it. Moreover, it has a narrow blade that works exceptionally for chopping woods and comes with a grippy handle wrapped in a rubber material for ease of use. A superb addition to this axe is its exquisite nylon sheath, which you can either mount on the hatchet’s pack or belt. 

Pros

Cons

Takeaway

This axe pretty much cuts anything, from small wood to large ones, and above all, it is ultra-light. 

7. Kershaw Deschutes ”Bearded” Hatchet

Last on our best camping hatchets in 2023 is the Kershaw Deschutes Beaded Hatchet Camp Ax. This axe has an angular and sharp handle head and comes with a full tang (an extension of the metal blade past the handle) that makes splitting the log easier. One unique part of this axe is the head. Its head has an extended beard design that helps you carve on your wood without having to put much work on swinging. Amazingly, with all these features, this camping hatchet is ultra-light and convenient for moving around. 

Do you think that’s all? No, there’s more! The Kershaw Deschutes bearded hatchet camp axe also comes with a tan glass-packed nylon handle and a rubber surface that makes it easy to grip the tool when cutting a log. 

This tool is unlike any other with its versatile design.

Pros

Cons

Takeaway

The beauty of this hatchet is in its build. Its versatile design and full tang helps you easily split logs. 

Buying Guide to Best Camping Hatchet – What Factors to Consider

The first thing you need to know before buying a hatchet is that they are different from the axe. Many people confuse an axe for a hatchet because they look the same. But even with their similar outlook and function, both are different from each other. A hatchet is smaller than an axe, and you only use one hand to hold it when used. On the other hand, axes are the larger version of hatchets, and to use them, you need both hands, most especially when cutting for larger objects. A hatchet has its head weighing 1.25 pounds and its whole body at 2 pounds. What does this mean? They are incredibly light! 

But that’s not all! With camping hatchets, you could chop small trees and even carve on wood. They work incredibly well for cooking to serving your defense needs. This makes it far more versatile than any other camping tool. 

There are various things you need to consider before buying a camp hatchet. Let’s look at some of them. 

Know Your features

A hatchet has five key features, the head, ear, neck, haft, and grip. Before buying a camping hatchet, it is necessary to evaluate these features as they are the main parts of your equipment and show if the hatchet is of a high-quality build. So, let’s see what you should evaluate. 

• The head: a hatchet head is a thick and sharp metal that helps you split or chop woods. A good camping hatchet should have a thin head angled at about twenty degrees, and the side of the head, also known as cheeks, must have a smooth outline to split your stock efficiently. 
• The rear: this part of your hatchet is usually flat and is best used for camping chores like hammering nails, flattening woods, and the best part, pounding tent states. 
• The neck: this part connects directly to the head. But its primary work is to connect the body of the hatchet to the head. Some camping hatchet does not have this part, but that does not mean that they are not well suited for your camping needs. 
• The handle: also called the haft, this part holds the metal head in place. When checking for the best handle for your hatchet, note that there are three different types you may get on sale, from wood to metal, to fiberglass. Metal hafts are weighty, and wood handles may not necessarily serve you well. But, the fiberglass takes both the features of the metal and wood handle. This means that it meets their characteristics in-between. You would want to be on the look for a fiberglass haft when picking a camping hatchet. 
• The grip: this is the last feature of your camping hatchet. Just as the name suggests, the grip is that part designed for holding your equipment. Most brands use a rubber or leather material to make this part of the hatchet. Whatever type of material you choose, it all depends on the brand. So, go for one that suits you the most. 

Price Matters

Your tool’s cost depends on various factors like the material, size, brand, function, and most importantly, your need. A handcrafted wooden hatchet tends to be more expensive than the machine-made and metal counterparts. This is because of its unique craftsmanship and skill that goes into their making. If you are looking for a relatively in-expensive camping hatchet, a metal or machine-made one could probably work best for you. 

Quality Construction

One of the most disappointing factors of a hatchet is falling apart or breaking when used in woodworking. Many of us wouldn’t want this as it could be frustrating. You may not have another tool to fall back on. For this reason, you would always need to check that the material used in making your camping hatchet is of high-quality. But how do you know a good material? It’s simple. Look for one made from a stainless-steel material and a sturdy, long shaft. Hatchets made from these materials can give leverage to your arms and hand. Also, make sure to check that the weight between the head and the shaft is balanced.  

Go for A Hand-Crafted Build

Although handcrafted hatchets are mostly expensive, they are long-lasting than a commercially produced hatchet. It is because its production takes not only the manufacturer’s time but also his skill and artistry. 

The Size and Weight

The fun of buying a camping hatchet is that they always come portable and lightweight. A portable hatchet will not inconvenience you when transporting or wielding it. However, most people prefer going for a weightier option. 

It all boils down to your choice! You could go for a heavier or bulkier camping tool. However, make sure to consider your leg power before purchasing a hatchet. 

Cutting Power of The Axe

The last thing to consider when getting a camping hatchet is its efficiency. The overall cutting-edge power of your equipment is one factor you always want to check. To know if the hatchet will work best for you, check if it has a good balance when you grip it. Also, ensure you check that the hatchet’s weight is on the head and not the handle. A weight that falls on the handle will greatly inconvenience you.  The last thing you need to look out for the width of the blade. Too much width makes cutting your wood difficult. You do not want to buy a hatchet that has too much width. Also, ensure that the blade is not overly skinny as it could get stuck in larger woods.

FAQs

Will the nylon sheath last in tough weather conditions?

Absolutely! The nylon sheaths are hard-wearing and last long. But you have to keep them in good condition to ensure it stays looking new. 

Can I sharpen the blades?

Yes. If you want to do so, use a 4-inch grinder that has a fine wheel. Make sure that you are using the slope of the head to sharpen it.  

Do these axes weigh a ton?

Technically, some axes are bulky and make a camping trip stressful. However, these hatchets are ultra-light, portable, and convenient for a camping trip. 

Can I use these hatchets to split large firewood?

It depends on the type you choose. If you are going for the SOG camp axe or the Liantral camping hatchet, you can use them for large woodwork. Any other hatchet from this list works better for cutting small logs.

What makes are these axes?

They are all made of premium stainless steel material. 

Conclusion

Getting the best camping hatchet can be really tricky as various products and brands choose from. You just have to know what you want before shopping for one. But, with this review, rest assured that there’s one that will suit your need.