If you’re looking to buy a hatchet for backpacking we’re assuming you have a perfectly legitimate (and legal) reason for doing so.

What is a backpacking hatchet?

A backpacking hatchet is a lightweight, compact axe designed specifically for backpackers who need a durable and efficient tool for wood chopping, kindling splitting, and other campsite tasks. Its design balances portability and functionality, featuring a sharp, sturdy blade and a comfortable handle. Ideal for wilderness survival and bushcraft, a camping hatchet is an essential tool for outdoor enthusiasts seeking to minimize gear weight while maximizing utility.

The reality is, it will likely be one of the heaviest pieces of equipment you put in your pack so there must be a good reason why some backpackers are willing to lug it along. Choosing the best backpacking hatchet or axe is based on many factors.

While a good pocket knife will be equal to most tasks there are times when an axe will do a much better, and quicker, job. Chopping firewood or making kindling are the most obvious uses.

Where its value really becomes apparent is when you need to hammer in tent pegs, build an emergency shelter in a hurry, or even in a self-defense situation.

The amount of value you’re going to get for carrying that extra weight depends a lot on the quality control of the camping axe you buy. We’ve reviewed the top backpacking hatchet options that are worth the extra weight in your pack.

Quick Answer:

• Best Quality Axe, serious cool-factor: Gransfors Bruks Wildlife hatchet
• Best Camping Axe: Hults Bruk Almike Axe
• Best multifunction hatchet: SOG Survival Hawk SK1001-CP
• Best lightweight, little axe: Gerber 9-Inch Hatchet 
• Best for budget, well made: 12
• Best for heavier tasks, all around: Council Tool Flying Fox Woodsman Hatchet

Backpacking Hatchets Reviews

Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet

At a Glance:

If you’ve seen any show featuring Vikings then you know that the Scandinavians are passionate about steel blades.

Gransfors Bruks is a Swedish company that employs master blacksmiths to produce some of the highest-quality axes in the world. These are not mass-produced hatchets. The Gränsfors Bruks Hand Hatchet is an excellent tool for both splitting kindling for campfires and clearing brush.

As part of the hand-grinding production process, the steel is struck multiple times. This process both increases the density and durability of the hatchet blade.

Each axe is signed with the initials of the smith as his personal quality guarantee. The blade’s high-quality steel and a nicely angled hickory shaft create an excellent balance. What’s more, the hatchet head is hand-forged Swedish axe steel and made in a foundry that has been in operation since 1697.

We’d like to point out that the wood grain is tight and straight with a blade is razor-sharp out of the box. The short shaft and light weight make it ideal for backpacking.

Although it has a high price tag that may make you a little skeptical, the quality of construction, materials, and performance makes this a worthwhile investment.

It’s basically the Rolls-Royce of axes.

Or Volvo I suppose, seeing as it’s made in Sweden. The point is, this is an awesome camp axe that will be up to any chopping you’re likely to do on your next trip. It also has a 20-year guarantee so your grandkids will probably still be using it years from now.

Amazon price $174.45)

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Gerber 9-Inch Hatchet 

At a Glance:

If you want a camp axe that is really small but still gets the job done, then this Gerber 9-inch hatchet is a great option.

The forged steel axe head has a razor-sharp blade that stays sharp even after plenty of use.

We liked that the blade was PTFE coated. This reduces the friction between the blade and the wood, so you end up chopping deeper with less effort.

It also means that the blade won’t get stuck in the wood as some axes do. The composite handle is shock absorbent so it feels good in your hands even after a long chopping session.

That said, this Gerber axe for backpacking has impressive chopping action. Indeed, this is surprised us since this camping axe weighs just 1.21 lbs. However, the 9-inch length means it is single-hand use only. But if you are after packable and performance, then this compact camping axe more than makes up the length.

If you plan on chopping some thicker stuff you could go for the 14? the version which is still pretty light at 1.54 lbs.

Get in on Amazon for

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 Estwing Sportsman’s Axe – 12 in Camping Hatchet

At a Glance:

This attractive 12″ survival axe is beautifully made with its head and handle forged in a single piece of steel.

The hand-polished head and neck and genuine leather grip add to its good looks. Estwing Hatchet have been making hand tools in the USA for over 90 years and their attention to detail is clear to see in this model.

The blade is super sharp and this camp axe feels great the second you hold it. We liked the broad back of the head which is perfect for hammering in tent pegs.

The leather handle grip looks great out of the box, but the varnish on the grip makes it slippery when wet. Also, once the varnish wears off it starts to absorb moisture. However, the angle of the shaft makes it comfortable to use.

Filing the varnish off and treating the leather with oil will give you a comfy handle that grips well. That said, the camping axe is has a durable ballistic nylon sheath,to make sure the blade only cuts when you intend it to.

The steel isn’t the hardest we’ve seen but it will be up to most of the chopping you’ll be doing around the campsite. If you don’t mind taking a bit of time to treat the leather handle, then this hatchet for camping is a solid choice at the price.

Overall, the Estwing Sportsman is a well-balanced axe on Amazon for

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SOG FastHawk Polished Tomahawk – Tactical Axe

At a Glance:

You may not be the axe-throwing type but this tomahawk works really well as a camp axe.

It’s extremely light and the 2-inch blade is easily up to the kind of light to medium chopping you’ll be doing around your camp.

A very versatile camping axe with a chopping blade on one end, a pointed chisel end, and a flat hammering section on the side of the head.

The 420 stainless steel blade has a polished finish which looks great. What’s more, it has a ballistic polymer handle, which gives it a solid, heavy-duty feel. However, it might be tough to grip, when wet.

That said, this is not a full tang axe. Since the head is attached to the handle with two screws, the blade may loosen with time and some serious chopping.

Check that your multi-tool has a tool that fits the torx screws just in case.

You won’t be splitting thick logs with this backpack hatchet, but at this low price, it represents great value. We especially liked both the cool design and how well-balanced this felt.

Get in on Amazon for $44.44)

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Fiskars X7 Hatchet 14 Inch

At a Glance:

If you want something with a little more swing power but still want to keep things light then Fiskars Axes are a great option.

The 14-inch shaft easily accommodates two-handed use for thicker logs but it’s light enough and well balanced for single-handed use too. The blade is super sharp and the low-friction coating means you get a cleaner cut with less effort.

At 1.38 pounds this is one of the lightest 14″ axes. It’s perfectly balanced so that your swing delivers maximum power at the bottom of your stroke.

This is really well put together. There’s no way the axe head is separating from the shaft and the fiber composite handle is pretty much indestructible.

This axe for backpacking would have been perfect if the butt of the light head was a little wider.

You’re going to need good aim if you’re using it to hammer tent pegs in. At just over 16-inches overall length this isn’t the most compact camp axe but it is really lightweight.

You’ll have to find a spot on the outside of your pack to hang this lightweight backpacking hatchet, but you’ll hardly notice the extra weight.

Get it on Amazon for $34.00

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Gerber Pack Hatchet Camping Axe

At a Glance:

When a camping hatchet is too much and your knife isn’t quite enough then this survival axe will do nicely. A lightweight, full tang axe with a thick blade and rubber overmold handle. The Pack Hatchet comes in handy when chopping wood, splitting logs, or even clearing brush.

The Bear Grylls endorsement is pure marketing but the performance and construction of this compact, lightweight camp axe is impressive. It’s full tang with no welds or seams, so you’d have to try really hard to break this.

The Pack Hatchet features a full tang design that provides both strength and durability in all conditions. In addition, the choke-up handle allows for more control while chopping. The Pack Hatchet is perfect for camping, backpacking, and other outdoor activities where weight needs to be kept low.

We loved the rubberized grip and the finger cutouts just below the blade are great for more precise work when you want to use it as a knife.

It only weighs 20.8 ounces and has an overall length of 9.46 inches. What’s more, this ultralight backpacking hatchet makes it easy to pack without denting your weight budget too much.

Because of its lightweight nature, it does mean that you have to deliver most of the chopping power rather, than relying on a heavy ax head. But given the size of this lightweight hatchet, you still get an axe blade that’s super sharp and easily lops off and splits smaller branches.

All in all, keep in mind this is a survival hatchet. If you use it as intended, then you’ll be very pleased with the results. Just don’t try splitting any thicker logs because you’ll probably end up damaging the blade.

Get it on Amazon for ($36.34)

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Best Multifunction Axe: SOG Survival Hawk Hatchet

At a Glance:

This survival tomahawk has both a really cool design and solid performance to match. The tomahawk is not weighted for throwing. But if you want a solid camp tool, then this works great as a multifunction backpacking hatchet.

To start, the camp axe has a full tang design, with a glass-reinforced nylon handle secured by four heavy-duty bolts.

The 3-inch blade is razor sharp and makes light work of small to medium logs.

The versatility of this one is where it really shines. Besides the blade, the multifunction head has a nail puller and a hammering head.

There’s also a ferro rod fire starter concealed in the base of the handle. The fire rod is a little thin so take it easy and support it properly when you strike it along the blade.

The nylon handle has paracord wrapped around it to give you a decent grip but it can be a bit tricky to wrap if it comes loose.

It’s not the cheapest backpacking hatchet we’ve seen, but the solid construction and versatility make it worth the mid-end price tag.

Also, the edgy design will make you look pretty hardcore and will go great with your camo theme.

Get it on Amazon for $47.00

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Best Camping Hatchet Hults Bruk Almike Hatchet

There’s just something special about owning a tool you know can be handed down from generation to generation with minimal maintenance. Excellent all-purpose small hatchet for camping – very sharp!

From cutting small firewood to wood carving, and you can even count on it for small campsite tasks.

The Hults Bruk Almike Small All-Purpose Hatchet has a great temper. Perfect mix of toughness & hardness. Rarely needs a touch-up sharpening, doesn’t chip on knots. Nice sheath, beautiful axe & good, all-purpose handle, with even the woodgrain running in the correct direction.

Well worth buying the premium model. Better product than the Gransfors in my opinion, even though I did have a bit of an issue with the axe head. Notably, the grind was even on both sides, but very minimally so.

Overall, this is a very well-balanced camp hatchet and a must-have for camping trips. Not only is the craftsmanship of this axe outstanding, but the handle is flawless as well.

At a Glace:

Get it on Amazon for $145.26

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Council Tool Sport Unitlity Flying Fox Woodsman Camping Hatchet

At a Glance:

Get it on Amazon for $61.95

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Our Favorite- Best Backpacking Hatchet

If someone offered to buy us a hatchet then without hesitation we'd choose the Gransfors Bruks. The quality of the materials and workmanship isn't just easy on the eye.

When in use, it just has a feel about it that makes you begin to understand the high price tag. The idea of chopping wood in the wild with a blade that was hand-forged and stamped by a master smith in Sweden has a serious amount of cool factor to it.

Best Budget Axe

The 12" Estwing Sportsman's Axe offers the best bang for your buck if you're not looking to spend too much. This isn't a versatile hatchet, but because it really well made, it makes our best budget hatchet.

The full tang construction, excellent balance, and light weight make it an excellent hatchet at the price.

Best Backpacking Hatchet Buyer's Guide

Do I Need A Backpacking Hatchet?

If you prefer keeping your backpacking kit super-light, then it may be hard to justify carrying a hatchet. There are some good reasons that help to justify the extra weight though.

If you're going to be making a decent fire, then you'll need more than just kindling. Being able to chop up logs quickly at the end of a long day's hike means you get a fire and cooked food without too much hassle.

That's probably the main reason you'll need a camping hatchet but don't discount the tactical, or survival aspect, either. Having to defend yourself against a wild animal is something you hope you'll never have to do.

The reality is that it can happen and having a hatchet will give you an edge that your knife just won't.

Also, you may have packed a tent and a medical kit but things can, and often do, go wrong. In a survival situation, you may need to build a shelter in a hurry or fashion a splint, a crutch, or a spear.

A decent hatchet can make a bad day a whole lot better.

Components Of A Hatchet

In simple terms, a hatchet is made up of a head (the business end) and a handle. These are either cast in a single piece (full tang) or made with two separate pieces. The axe head and handle have a few key design elements.[1]

The axe head :

• Axe eye-opening at the top of the axe head where the handle sticks through
• Cutting edge - sharpened edge of the blade
• Axe blade / Bit - angled part of axe head starting from just behind the edge
• Poll / Butt - the flattened back end directly opposite the sharp edge

The axe handle consists:

• Shaft - the handle's length and you place your hands
• End knob / Swell knob - curved end at the base of the shaft that prevents hands from slipping from the shaft

Small differences in each of these key areas can have a marked effect on the performance of the hatchet.

Choosing The Best Backpacking Hatchet - What To Look For

Balance

Basically, a balanced hatchet will feel in your hand. It's the how head's weight combined with the handle's weight and length, will have a big effect on how good the hatchet feels in your hand.

More than that, a well-balanced hatchet will develop good speed through the air and deliver maximum force at the downward stroke. Having a curved shaft will often help to position your hands directly below the cutting edge for maximum effect.

Length

Size really does matter. A longer shaft means you'll be generating more speed at the axe head as you swing. This means increased chop with less exertion. Of course, more length means a heavier hatchet that's not so easy to pack.

Shorter, single-hand hatchets are fine for chopping small pieces of wood. If you're going to be chopping 4-inch logs or thicker then be prepared to carry something in the range of 12 to 14 inches.

Sharpness and Tempered

The sharper the edge, the easier it'll be to make its way through wood. Out-of-the-box sharp is good. But you also want a good quality steel blade that stays sharp.

A tempered blade should be evenly sharp on both sides. The best blades are hammered and grinded, in order to compress and sharpen the metal. If each of the blade sides are not even, you will notice how much harder chopping wood will be.

You also want the blade, or bit, of the ax head to go gradually wider. If it gets too wide near the cutting edge, then it's going to get stuck in the wood.

Weight / Size

While you want your hatchet to be fairly light, and easy to carry, that reduced weight does come at a cost. The lighter the head is, the more work you're going to have to do in order to deliver enough chopping power.

Also, reduced handle length means reduced axe head speed and power. Again, this means you'll be doing more of the work. A good compromise is to aim for a hatchet that's under 1.5 lbs and in the 9? to 12" range.

Multi-use

Some of the best hatchets are designed with more than just chopping in mind. Having a spiked end, a hammering surface or even a fire starter incorporated into your hatchet offers versatility that goes beyond just a novelty factor.

A sharp hatchet is great for more precise carving too. Some hatchets will have finger cutouts just below the head so you can choke up on the blade and use it as a big knife.

Cool design

With a hatchet, you want to aim for function over form but there's no reason you shouldn't look good while getting your chop on.

Some of the aesthetics of a hatchet can also have a more practical side to them.

A brightly colored handle makes it easier to find your hatchet when you drop it. Cross-hatching on the butt will give you a better purchase on those tent pegs when you strike them. Also, there's just something special about a polished shiny blade.

Price

When it comes to the best backpacking hatchets, once again you get what you pay for. High-quality steel that stays sharp and doesn't rust or chip comes at a price.

Design factors like being single cast full tang or having a solid straight grain wood handle are worth paying a little more for.

If you're looking for lifetime use and head out regularly then invest in a top-end hatchet like the one from Gransfors Bruks. If you're more of an occasional backpacker then one of the cheaper Gerber or SOG hatchets are good options.

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Different Types of Hatchets

Hatchets come in a variety of designs with different applications in mind. Broadly you'll be choosing between one of the following hatchet types:

Camping hatchet

These mid-sized hatchets are designed primarily for chopping and splitting wood for your campfire. The shaft is normally long enough for two-handed use and the butt is wide enough to hammer in tent pegs.

Survival Hatchet

This is your "just in case" hatchet. It's typically smaller than a regular camping hatchet with a shorter handle designed for single-handed use.

If you need to build a shelter in a hurry then these hatchets are great for cutting a few sturdy logs. The blade is normally big enough to handle some decent chopping but the shorter shaft means that cutting thicker stuff will be tough going.

This makes this it less suited for chopping and splitting a lot of firewood.

Tactical hatchet

If you're a fan of action movies and expect to have to defend yourself then this is the hatchet you'll be carrying.

These are normally tomahawk-style hatchets and are designed to be used as weapons.

Your tactical hatchet may help you survive a bear attack but you're more likely to be using it to lop off thinner branches and split some kindling.

Throwing hatchet

These are tomahawk-style hatchets that are specifically designed to be thrown and then embed themselves in whatever they hit.

They're typically balanced around the center of the hatchet. This makes them great for throwing but less effective for delivering a solid chop to the wood you're trying to split.

Not the best backpacking hatchet choice, in my opinion.

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Hatchet Safety Tips

Your hatchet may have been designed to chop wood but if you're careless you'll find that it's equally effective at cutting you.

If you're planning on keeping all your fingers and not breaking the seal on your first aid kit then these hatchet safety tips are worth paying attention to.

Caring For Your Hatchet - How To Keep It Sharp And In Good Shape

Your hatchet blade will eventually become dull and develop a few chips. The easiest way to take care of this damage is to use a fine-toothed flat file or heavy-duty sharpener.

An Axe To Grind

Just make sure that you retain the original shape of the bevel of the cutting edge. You can file it down on an emery wheel but make sure that you cool the steel blade often. If the metal overheats it can lose its temper and will become damaged a lot quicker.

Once you've filed away the chips and nicks it's time to sharpen the blade/edge. Carrying a small sharpening puck in your pack won't take up much space and is great for sharpening your hatchet in the field.

Here's a video that explains it further:

Handle Care & Rust Prevention

A hickory handle with straight grain lines running parallel to the handle is ideal if you want it to last.

To keep the wood in good shape you should oil it with a little linseed oil mixed with some beeswax to give it a good finish.

This will protect the wood from water damage. Using boiled linseed oil rather than regular linseed oil will have the wooden handle dry quicker and avoid a sticky, oily residue.

Your hatchet head will eventually develop a few rust spots but wiping it with a little machine oil or gun oil will protect it from the elements.

This is especially a good idea if you're storing it between trips. Using a gun oil designed to dry leaves a protective coating on the head and won't leave it with an oily finish.

The top-end camping axes use a steel blade that is better suited to heavy work and tend to avoid stainless steel. This makes them last a lot longer but does make them more susceptible to rust.

Is it Worth the Weight?

Whether you decide to pack a hatchet or not really depends on the kind of backpacking you're into. If you do decide to buy one, then make sure the extra pack weight is worth it by buying the best backpacking hatchet your budget allows for.

Avoid the gimmicky all-in-one Swiss Army-type camping hatchets. They may look fancy but in a real outdoors situation, these cheap hatchets just don't cut it.

A good quality hatchet will be safer to use, will last longer, and makes for a lot less frustration when you're trying to get that campfire going.

Frequently Asked Questions FAQs

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Last update on 2025-05-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API