A camping axe is an essential survival tool for any outdoor adventure. Whether you are a camping enthusiast, a hunter, or an intrepid wilderness wanderer, a camping axe needs to be packed and ready for action in your camping gear.
The 7 Best Camping Axes
- Fiskars 378841-1002 X27 Super Splitting Axe
- 1800 Helko Werk Germany Bavarian Woodworker Axe
- Estwing Special Edition Camper’s Axe
- Cold Steel All-Purpose Axe (Our Top Pick)
- Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe
- Council Tool Dayton Pattern Miners Axe
- Husqvarna Wooden Splitting Axe
Our Top Pick for the Best Camping Axe
Our top pick for the best camping axe is the Cold Steel All-Purpose Axe. Before you plan your next camping or wilderness trip, do not forget to pack the Cold Steel 26-inches Trail Boss camping axe.
With its solid and sharp head that delivers a reliable splitting and chopping action and an easy-gripping hickory handle, you will always be prepared for any outdoor adventure with this superb camping axe.
Check the price on AmazonLove Camping? Pack the Camping Axe!
When you set out on a camping trip, your camping gear will have necessities such as a tent, a comfy sleeping bag, and a portable camping lantern. You also need to pack a camping axe. This essential survival tool will help you with cutting, splitting, and chopping camping tasks and help you to be prepared for any outdoor adventure scenario. The camping axe can:
- Chop up firewood for a campfire
- Trim large branches for kindling
- Fell small trees to clear a space for your campsite in the wilderness
- Clear a trail or road for your off-road adventure
- Hammer in a tent peg
- Cut and chop through thick meat
Camping Axe Versus a Hatchet
To find the perfect camping axe for your camping gear, we need to look at the difference between the two most common chopping tools, a camping axe, and a hatchet.
These 2 tools are excellent devices for chopping wood. However, the main difference lies in their size and what tasks they are specifically designed for.
The Hatchet
A hatchet is a shorter version of the axe and it is ideal for splitting small pieces of firewood and trimming branches from bushes. Its compact size makes it a popular wood cutting tool with backpackers or hikers who want to travel light and do not have a lot of space in their camping gear. A hatchet is also a good weapon against attack from predators.
The Camping Axe
The main difference between a hatchet and a camping axe is its handle which is longer and more solid and sturdy. Its extra length gives you the necessary swinging action for the axe’s blade to bite into a tree trunk and chop up a lot of firewood quickly. For small, medium to heavy-duty tasks, the camping axe is the best tool for the job.
How to Choose the Best Camping Axe
Size
Camping axes come in 3 sizes: large, medium or three-quarter, and small.
– Large Camping Axes
Large axes, such as the Fiskars 378841-1002 X27 Super Splitting Axe, are ideal for felling large trees and heavy-duty chopping tasks.
– Medium Camping Axes
Medium or three-quarter sized axes that measure around 26-inches, such as the Estwing Special Edition Camper’s Axe or the Cold Steel All-Purpose Axe, have a slightly smaller handle, which is easier to wield as you take a swing. You can chop through smaller to medium-sized logs, tree branches, thick meat, or thick rope quickly and easily.
– Small Camping Axes
Smaller camping axes such as the Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe, have a compact size that is ideal for smaller tasks such as chopping up firewood or kindling. You can even use this type of axe with one hand. One of the best features of a smaller camping axe is that is so easy to pack away in your backpack or camping gear.
Overall Design
– Handle
Camping axe handles are made out of smooth wood (usually hickory), fiberglass, or metal.
- Wood
Wood is the traditional material for an axe and its smooth finish and curved solid design feels comfortable in your hand. The only problem with wood is that it can be slippery in wet conditions.
- Steel
Steel is rust-resistant and durable but it can produce a lot of vibrations.
- Fiberglass
Fiberglass is more lightweight and weatherproof which is ideal for working in wet weather conditions. One of the best features of a fiberglass axe is that it produces fewer vibrations than wood or metal or no vibrations at all!
Whether you prefer wood, metal, or fiberglass, the most important thing is that the material is strong and sturdy and the handle stays securely attached to the head of the axe.
– Head
The head or blade is the most important feature of the axe as it is the part that will bite into and chop through the wood.
The head will be made out of stainless steel or carbon steel. While stainless steel is strong and rust-resistant, carbon steel offers unparalleled cutting and chopping performance. In particular, a head that has been made out of a single piece of forged steel with a high carbon cutting edge will be extra strong and maintain its edge over the long term.
7 Best Camping Axes – Reviews
1. Fiskars 378841-1002 X27 Super Splitting Axe
Whatever your choice of outdoor adventure, the Fiskars 378841-1002 X27 Super Splitting Axe is the ultimate cutting and chopping tool for any camping enthusiast.
Need a tough tool for rough outdoor conditions? Fiskars axe is the perfect tool. It has a lot of power and can be used for splitting medium to large-sized logs.
Its perfected balance and power-to-weight ratio increases swing speed to multiply power, much like an aluminum baseball bat. You will be able to chop wood efficiently as it takes less time and needs less strain and effort.
Fiskars’ superior design includes a hardened forged carbon steel head that stays sharp over the long term. A proprietary grinding technique provides a sharper edge for better contact and cleaner cuts. Advanced bevel convex blade geometry and the black non-stick coating makes the blade easier to remove from wood.
The redesigned fiberglass handle is lightweight but stronger than steel and virtually unbreakable. It feels comfortable and does not produce any vibrations while you chop and split wood.
Over time loosening axe heads can be dangerous but not with the Fiskars’ axe. The insert-molded design securely locks the blade in place so it will not ever unhitch itself from the handle.
Although the longer 36-inches length will not fit in a backpack you can strap it to your camping gear.
Fiskars include a hard black plastic sheath for extra safe storage transportation, and the axe is covered by a lifetime warranty.
Pros
- Excellent quality
- Very affordable price
- Ideal for chopping large logs and felling trees
- Great performance
- Hardened drop-forged medium carbon steel
- Thin blade edge chops deeper with each swing
- Fast and effective chopping tool
- Advanced bevel convex blade geometry and an ultra-sharp edge
- Friction-reducing, non-stick coating
- Perfected balance and power-to-weight ratio
- Easy to swing
- Lightweight shock-absorbing FiberComp handle
- Handle does not produce vibrations
- Virtually unbreakable design
- Ideal for felling small trees and chopping wood
- Insert-molded design locks the blade in place
- Sturdy hard plastic sheath
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Expensive
- Can lose its edge quickly
- Not ideal for heavy-duty chopping
2. 1800 Helko Werk Germany Bavarian Woodworker Axe
Made in Germany, the 1800 Helko Werk Germany Bavarian Woodworker Axe is a great choice for camping.
The rugged hand-forged, heat-treated, C50 high-grade carbon steel head has a super tensile strength that can withstand challenging cutting tasks.
Its sharp, slim, and wide-bit blade combined with a 53-56 HRC (Rockwell Hardness) delivers a powerful striking force, which is capable of felling large trees, splitting large logs, and cutting heavy firewood.
This monster of an axe demands a degree of controlled strength from its operator, due to its extra-long size, so it can take some getting used to. However, if you have a lot of tough wood chopping tasks, there is no better axe than the Bavarian Woodworker.
Its beautifully crafted smooth handle is made from sustainably sourced Grade A American hickory, which has been individually selected for its strength, grain orientation, and density. To give you a comfortable grip as you chop wood, the handle has an ergonomic curved design and a boiled linseed oil finish.
For safe storage and to protect the blade, the axe comes with a full-grain vegetable-tanned leather sheath.
1844 Helko Werk Germany also includes a 1-ounce bottle of Axe-Guard protective oil to stop the axe head from rusting over time.
Pros
- Fantastic quality
- Made in Germany
- Rugged high-grade high carbon steelhead
- Drop forged and heat-treated
- Specially designed for heavy-duty work
- Sustainably sourced Grade A American hickory
- Handle has a boiled linseed finish
- Comfortable ergonomically designed handle
- Full-grain vegetable tanned cow leather sheath
- 1-ounce bottle of Axe-Guard protective oil is included
Cons
- Expensive
- Bit cumbersome for smaller cutting jobs
3. Estwing Special Edition Camper’s Axe
Designed for outdoor versatility, the all-steel Estwing Special Edition Camper’s Axe is the choice of outdoorsmen and women everywhere. It is perfect for chopping small logs and splitting firewood and kindling.
Built to last, the 4-inches full tang blade is crafted from the finest tool-grade American forged steel, which has undergone a special tempering process. It is honed for maximum performance, strength and a lifetime of easy cutting and chopping.
Stunningly beautiful, the Estwing Camper’s Axe stands out from the crowd with its hand polished and lacquered head and neck and smart black powered coated finish.
For extra comfortability, the handle features Estwing’s patented rugged shock reduction grip which is bonded to the handle so it will never slip and is proven to reduce impact vibration by as much as 70%.
The longer handle means you have greater leverage and swinging power for chopping into thick pieces of wood. As the axe has a longer handle and has some considerable weight at 4.25lbs, it is better suited for campers who have a vehicle and not ideal for wilderness hikers who want to travel light.
Estwing offers you 2 designs, blue, and special edition black.
Pros
- Excellent quality
- Great value for money
- Perfect for chopping logs or splitting firewood and kindling
- Forged using the finest tool grade steel
- Hand sharpened and polished
- Strong and durable
- Large blade
- Tempered for high strength and durable performance
- Made in the US
- Stylish hand-polished head and neck
- Smart black powered coated finish
- Great leverage and swinging power
- Full tang blade
- Hand sanded and lacquered handle for a comfortable finish
- Patented rugged shock reduction grip is bonded to the handle
- Shock reduction grip reduces impact vibration by as much as 70%
- Available in black and blue
Cons
- Difficult to fit into a backpack or bug out bag
- Can cause some vibrations when chopping hardwood
4. Cold Steel All-Purpose Axe
Planning on blazing a trail through the unknown wilderness? Remember to pack the Cold Steel All-Purpose Axe.
Chopping down small trees, splitting kindle, or clearing a road or trail, the 26-inches Trail Boss can do it all.
Built for hard work, the Cold Steel axe features a European style head with a large 4-inches drop-forged 1055 high carbon steel blade and a 4½-inches cutting edge, which allows it to take big bites with every swing.
The beautiful straight-grained American hickory handle is easy to grip and strong, sturdy and durable. Cold Steel has extensively field-tested the Trail Boss in the wildest place on earth, the Australian outback, so it is guaranteed to withstand tough outdoor conditions.
The Trail Boss is lightweight at 2.6-ounces so you can strap it to your backpack while you hike along the trail and it will not weigh you down.
Pros
- High quality
- Extremely affordable price
- Very good value for money
- Ideal for chopping down small trees, chopping kindle or clearing a trail
- Solid and study design
- Large 4-inches head and 4½-inches cutting edge
- Extra strong and durable drop-forged 1055 high carbon steel
- Good sharpness
- Maintains its edge over the long-term
- Powerful
- Genuine straight-grained American hickory handle
- Lightweight
- Compact
Cons
- Blade is not razor-sharp
- No sheath is included
- Not ideal for heavy-duty chopping
5. Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe
Whether you need to clear a trail or chop firewood, the 19-inches Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe is perfectly balanced and holds its edge very well.
Made in Sweden, the 19-inches Gransfors Bruks axe has a larger rugged steel blade which is strong and unbelievably sharp right out of the box, to give you unstoppable chopping power.
The smooth hickory handle is strong and flexible and feels comfortable to hold. Even though it is one of the smaller axes, it has a good-sized handle which still allows you to get a good swing for that much need striking force when you are chopping firewood.
The Gransfors Bruks axe has a compact design so you can strap it to a pack, and as it weighs just a mere 2lbs, it will not weigh you down as you hike along the trail.
To keep your axe protected in harsh weather conditions, Gransfor Bruks includes a quality vegetable-tanned leather sheath.
Pros
- Great quality
- High performance
- Beautiful smooth hickory handle
- Good-sized handle is strong and flexible
- Durable steel blade
- Larger blade provides extra chopping power
- Perfectly balanced and holds its edge very well
- Excellent sharpness
- Compact and lightweight
- Quality vegetable tanned leather sheath
Cons
- Expensive
- Sheath can make the axe hard to pack away in a backpack
- Not ideal for heavy-duty jobs
6. Council Tool Dayton Pattern Miners Axe
The Council Tool Dayton Pattern Miners Axe is ideal for cutting and splitting kindling for firewood or felling small trees.
Made in America, the hand-sharpened, forged carbon steel head is durable, has excellent sharpness and edge retention. The blade is coated in red enamel and the cutting edge with a clear lacquer to deter any rust.
Its straight American hickory handle is very strong and comfortable to hold as you cut or chop wood. For extra strength, the head is hydraulically seated onto the handle and secured with a serrated aluminum wedge.
Its smaller 20-inches length means you can use it one-handed while you split and chop logs.
Compact and lightweight, the Council Tool axe will not weigh you down and you can store it in your camping gear. Council Tool offers a lifetime warranty on the axe.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Good price
- Ideal for firewood or felling small trees
- Made in America
- Hand-sharpened forged 1055 carbon steel
- Excellent sharpness, durability, and corrosion resistance
- Straight American hickory handle is comfortable to hold
- Handle allows you to take a good hefty swing
- Can use the handle one-handed
- Compact and lightweight
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Not ideal for heavy-duty use
7. Husqvarna Wooden Splitting Axe
For quick firewood splitting at the campsite, the Husqvarna Wooden Splitting Axe is a very good choice.
Husqvarna has designed a classic axe with an excellent weight distribution which allows you to easily split small logs for firewood, but without having to apply too much force.
The medium-length polished hickory wood handle is well crafted and its curved shape fits comfortably in your hand. You even swing and chop wood one-handed.
Handmade and forged in Sweden, the blade has a fantastic quality and delivers a superb chopping performance. Chopping and stripping tree branches for firewood requires minimal effort as the head is designed to glide easily into the wood and to split the wood into 2 parts.
For long-term durability, the head is securely fastened to the hickory shaft using both a wooden and a solid steel wedge.
Its overall 19-inches length makes it easy to pack away in your camping gear. Husqvarna also includes a leather edge cover to protect the blade’s sharpness.
The Husqvarna 19-inches axe is not designed for heavy-duty chopping tasks, so if you need a tougher axe, Husqvarna also makes a range of larger sized axes.
Pros
- High quality
- Hand-made and forged in Sweden
- Lightweight
- Excellent weight distribution without applying much force
- Classic design
- Smooth hickory handle is comfortable to hold
- Well balanced
- Sturdy and solid build
- Ideal for chopping and splitting of smaller logs and lighter firewood
- Quality leather sheath
Cons
- Expensive
- Not ideal for heavy-duty tasks
- Wood can be slippery when wet
- Blade is not very sharp out of the box
Our Top Pick for the Best Camping Axe
Our top pick for the best camping axe is the Cold Steel All-Purpose Axe. Before you plan your next camping or wilderness trip, do not forget to pack the Cold Steel 26-inches Trail Boss camping axe.
With its solid and sharp head that delivers a reliable splitting and chopping action and an easy-gripping hickory handle, you will always be prepared for any outdoor adventure with this superb camping axe.
Check the price on Amazon
