10 Best Backpacking Axe 2020 [Buying Guide]

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Heather
Patton

Jennifer
Trimbee

Samantha
Dewitt

How to Pick Your Backpacking Axe

If you are planning on really roughing it in the great outdoors, you’ll need a great tent, some high-quality boots, lightweight cooking gear, and a backpacking axe. A great axe will help you to chop wood for starting fires, make kindling, or even set up a shelter. So we’ve researched and reviewed tons of them to make a list of our favorite top ten hiking axes. Here are some of the things we looked for when shopping for the perfect axe:

Size: How big is the whole axe? You’ll have to be carrying this thing around and chopping wood with it, so make sure it’s not too big or too small for your needs. Note: this is not blade size!

Full Tang: Is the axe full tang or is it not full tang? If it is full tang, the metal of the blade will extend through the full length of the handle. This means the handle is less likely to come off while in use.

Sheat: Make sure to protect yourself and those around you from having a loose blade without a protective sheath. If the axe doesn’t come with one, you should think about purchasing one.

Weight: How much does it weigh? If you will be using it for backpacking, you’ll want to get a lightweight version so it doesn’t weigh down your pack. Weight will always be in measured in ounces.

Grip Material: The grip is the part of the axe that you hold onto. The grip material is usually made of something grippy and textured to keep it from slipping out of your hands while you are using it.

Warranty: Does the axe come with a warranty? Most warranties cover defects in the materials or the manufacturing process. Warranties are usually measured in years, but some may be in days.

Top 10 Products

Now that you have an idea of the important stats for your new camping axe, we’ll get to those reviews. The top ten are all the best survival axes we could find, but the number one place is reserved for our Top Pick. The number two slot is for our favorite axe that was also a great price, making it our Budget Pick. Onto the reviews!

Estwing Leather Sportsman's Axe

Want an axe that’s something really and truly special? The Estwing Leather Sportsman's Axe is a hand-forged axe that is lovingly made in the USA. It’s forged from a single piece of 1055 carbon steel, making it nearly unbreakable and strong. It’s incredibly sharp and has a very grippy leather handle. This handmade axe is a piece of art! It comes with a heavy-duty sheath to keep you safe when it’s not in use. The polished look of this axe is only matched by its incredible balance and detailed construction. This blade comes in two colors, black and silver, and either are pieces that can last you a lifetime and beyond if well cared for. So if you want beautiful, lightweight, American-made excellence, look at the Estwing Leather Sportsman's Axe.

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Gerber Bear Grylls Hatchet

And what a Budget Pick it is! The Gerber Bear Grylls Hatchet is ready for nearly anything and is the best backpacking axe for an inexpensive price. The blade is 3.5 inches, giving you sharp, clean cuts with precision. It’s a full-tang blade and made from high carbon steel. The grip is made from a sticky rubber to help make sure you keep a firm hold while swinging. The sheath secures the hatchet, making it safe to carry with you even on the outside of your pack. It’s the survival axe you’ve been looking for! It’s 13 inches long and weighs about 20 ounces, making it small and lightweight without being too small. And that isn’t the best part; this axe has been survival tested and bears the name Bear Grylls! If anyone knows survival, it’s Bear!

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Fiskars X7 Hatchet

Need something a little bigger? The Fiskars X7 Hatchet is a large, lightweight alternative to the heavier models. The blade is not full tang, which helps reduce weight. They have a low-friction coating that helps the edge stay sharper for longer, giving you better use of your axe. This survival axe is built to help make deeper cuts with fewer swings, conserving your energy and time. With it, you can chop wood, make kindling, and even cut down branches to help build a shelter. The balance makes for powerful, easy swings, and the FiberComp grippy handle helps you to keep your hold. This thing is virtually unbreakable. And to prove it, the Fiskars X7 Hatchet comes with a lifetime warranty. We love durable blades that will be around for the long run, and we’re pretty sure you’ll love this one too!

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Gerber Gator Combo Axe II

If a clever, two-in-one survival axe is more your style, you’ll want to check out the Gerber Gator Combo Axe II. The blade is forged steel for durable and penetrative force. The Gator Grip handle helps you to hold on tight and prevents slipping. It has a longer handle than most camping blades, giving you the swinging power you need in almost any situation. The handle is filled with glass to make it lightweight while still giving it the sturdiness necessary for a backpacking axe. But the coolest part of this axe has to be what’s inside the handle! The handle of the axe hides another blade, perfect for trimming and sawing. This blade is serrated and about 10 inches in length. It’s held in place inside of the handle with magnets. The extra blade really makes this axe one of the coolest we’ve seen!

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MTech USA Camping Axe

Want to go a little bit smaller? If weight and space are a real issue inside of your pack, check out the MTech USA Camping Axe. At only 11 inches and about 14.5 ounces, it’s small and light enough for almost any hiker. But don’t think that means you don’t get quality! The three-inch blade is satin finished stainless steel with an edge that won’t quit. It features a durable, rubbery handle for grip. It’s made in the USA with campers in mind. The heavy-duty nylon sheath protects the blade while protecting you too. This axe also comes in a two-pack in case you have a camping buddy that could also use a sweet, lightweight blade. It comes sharpened for convenience. This axe is great for camping, hiking, survival, and even tactical use.

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Schrade SCAXE2L Survival Axe

The Schrade SCAXE2L Survival Axe is a titanium-coated blade with some useful features. The blade is 3Cr13 stainless steel, coated with titanium for strength and sharpness. The other end is a durable hammer pommel for hammering in tent stakes and crushing wood. The handle is glass-filled PA with an ergonomic rubber grip. The sheath is a polyester belt model, allowing you to hang this survival axe from your belt to save space in your pack. This axe is about 16 inches long and weighs about 2 pounds. It has a massive 4.2-inch blade that is ready for just about anything. And the handle hides a ferro rod to help you start fires anywhere you and your new survival axe end up. Although it is heavier than most of the other on this list, the SCAXE2L makes up for it in usefulness and a quality build.

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Helko Traditional Rheinland Axe

Want an axe that can get through almost anything? At 19 inches and 2 pounds, the Helko Traditional Rheinland Axe is heavy and long enough for almost any job. Handmade in Germany, the high-grade C50 carbon steel stays sharp and ready longer. It’s a very durable blade that has been heat-treated and oil hardened to keep it strong. The handle is made from hickory wood. It’s a cross between an axe and a hatchet, and it up for just about anything you need it for. The handle is long enough that you can use it one-handed or two-handed, making it versatile too. Along with the axe, you also get a vegetable-tanned leather sheath and a bottle of axe guard oil to keep your axe in tip top shape from day one.

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Fiskars X15 Chopping Axe

We wanted to include a big, heavy axe for all those sportsmen that don’t have to worry as much about weight. The Fiskars X15 Chopping Axe is 25 inches long and can be used two-handed or one-handed. It weighs a very heavy three-and-a-half pounds, but with all that weight comes the chopping power you need to get the job done. It can be used for felling trees (unlike most of the small axes), chopping wood, or even smaller tasks like making kindling. The perfect balance allows for more power in every swing, making getting your chores done even easier. The FiberComp handle is very grippy without adding a ton of extra weight. And, like all Fiskars axes, this one comes with a lifetime warranty that will keep you covered.

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WatchFire Camper's Hatchet

The WatchFire Camper's Hatchet is one of the smallest and lightest hatchets we’ve ever seen. And its tiny size comes with a tiny price tag, too. The WatchFire is ten inches in length with a super sharp blade. It is forged from stainless steel. The skid-proof handle helps you to get a grip and keep it. The solid black blade looks like a tactical blade, making it look as cool as it is useful. The sheath doesn’t quite seem to be up to holding the blade, so a better one might need to be purchased. But with all the money and weight you’ll save with this blade, you can go all out on a sheath! Although it’s small, the WatchFire is still great for all those little camping tasks that you will need a blade for.

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Yes4All H307 Camping Axe

And last but not least, a sweet all-in-one axe! If you want to be ready for just about anything, the Yes4All H307 Camping Axe is a great survival blade for you. It features a hidden saw blade in the handle and a flint rod for starting fires. The axe is stainless steel with a three-inch blade, painted black to help prevent rust. The hidden saw blade is 12 whole inches of serrated steel. Both are razor sharp and ready for almost anything. The plastic grip is textured to make sure you have the best grip possible. The axe also comes in a hard plastic sheath to protect you from any accidental injuries from carrying it. At 2 pounds, it is a little heavy, but it more than makes up for the weight will all its amazing features.

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About the Author

Heather Patton

Expert Researcher and Writer

Heather Patton is a lead researcher and writer at GeekWrapped. She has been creating high-quality content for over a decade and covers home, lifestyle, beauty, fashion products and more.

Best Backpacking Axe

Top 10 Buying Guide

Our Recommendations

Estwing Leather Sportsman's Axe

Gerber Bear Grylls Hatchet

How to Pick Your Backpacking Axe

Top 10 Products

Estwing Leather Sportsman's Axe

Gerber Bear Grylls Hatchet

Fiskars X7 Hatchet

Gerber Gator Combo Axe II

MTech USA Camping Axe

Schrade SCAXE2L Survival Axe

Helko Traditional Rheinland Axe

Fiskars X15 Chopping Axe

WatchFire Camper's Hatchet

Yes4All H307 Camping Axe

About the Author

TOP PICK

Estwing Leather Sportsman's Axe