Am I wasting my money on a small hatchet

Everyone on here talks bad about tops, but most don't actually own their products. I love my Wolf Pax, it works great, and it stays lashed to my backpack when i'm on long hikes or out camping. Don't listen to others unless they actually own one and have used it on many occasions. My best advice is to see if you can hold one, use one, demo one that a friend owns, and see for yourself. As far as my experience goes, it has been a good little hatchet, and the small knife does a good job for basic camp cutting.
 
tigercasual said:
Hello everyone,

Here's my dilemma, I am very interested in the Tops Wolf Pax 2.

I love the idea of having a small hatchet/hand axe to do my chopping. However, I have very little experience with small hatchets. So does a small hatchet out chop a big knife or are they pretty equal. In other words, is it really worth bothering with or should I just use a big knife and call it a day.

Thanks,
TC
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I do a lot of camping. These days it is mostly short backpacking trips. I have used and carried a hatchet, saw and large blade at various times.

For me, the hatchet only excels in pounding. Beyond that, batoning is faster and safer to split wood. I rarely truely chop wood at all. The hatchet now stays home, a decent larger blade and a Sven saw go with me for wood processing.

If I was car camping with no regard to weight, a true ax would go instead. Along with a much better saw or chainsaw if I expected to camp for extended periods where I could have a fire.

If I am running long and light, one medium and one small blade or multitool or sak go instead without a saw or a hatchet.

I have a couple of hatchets around the house, but none go camping any longer.
 
You wouldn't be wasting your money if you buy a real hatchet, but if you plan on buying that mickey mouse Tops hatchet, then yes you are wasting your money.

if you are a man and don't own a hatchet and axe, I would think something is wrong with you.
 
RemyKaze said:
Trust me, it's worth it. Has some weight to it, though. I like the curved handles of all the Wetterlings and Gransfors Bruks, but the design of the head on this axe is probably the most well thought out that I have ever seen. It's just thin enough to chop like a demon, but has enough of a wedge shape for easy splitting. Plus, it is so comfortable choking up on the handle behind the head, something that wouldn't apply to a curved handle. Strangely enough, it carves as well as something like a Mora. It compared favorably to a 510 anyway, for the size.
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I'm debating buying another Small Forrest or a Scandinavian, but a 22" is intriguing.
 
Fuori said:
I'm debating buying another Small Forrest or a Scandinavian, but a 22" is intriguing.
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Actually, I was thinking about getting one to cut down to 19". If I were to go 22", why not go 26" and just pick up the Husqvarna Forest Axe?
 
raindog101 said:
Actually, I was thinking about getting one to cut down to 19". If I were to go 22", why not go 26" and just pick up the Husqvarna Forest Axe?
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All about head weight. The haft doesn't weight much compared to the head. If you want multi purpose and a lot of power without the weight, you'd want a lighter head on a longer handle. Problem is, a lot of the larger handles accommodate heavy heads.
 
My friend has hiked the entire pacific crest trail, covering three week stretches at a time. I'm not sure if he ever carried a knife with him; if he did, it was a Swiss Army Knife. So, this whole blade vs axe thing boils down to what you want to do; with modern backpacking gear, you probably don't need either.
 
dogstar said:
My friend has hiked the entire pacific crest trail, covering three week stretches at a time. I'm not sure if he ever carried a knife with him; if he did, it was a Swiss Army Knife. So, this whole blade vs axe thing boils down to what you want to do; with modern backpacking gear, you probably don't need either.
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Yeeeah, I think it all applies to camping/bushcrafting. Backpacking, hiking, and trekking don't require a knife. Survival....is just a gimmick word that tries to mash all the above together in a fantasy SHTF "what if" scenario.
 
dogstar said:
My friend has hiked the entire pacific crest trail, covering three week stretches at a time. I'm not sure if he ever carried a knife with him; if he did, it was a Swiss Army Knife. So, this whole blade vs axe thing boils down to what you want to do; with modern backpacking gear, you probably don't need either.
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I hear ya. Back before I was a knife person, I thru-hiked the AT, and did about 800 miles of the PCT with a SAK. An Explorer to be exact. I just put some new nylon scales on it just last week. It would still be all I need if miles were what I was after.
 
RemyKaze said:
All about head weight. The haft doesn't weight much compared to the head. If you want multi purpose and a lot of power without the weight, you'd want a lighter head on a longer handle. Problem is, a lot of the larger handles accommodate heavy heads.
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You're right, of course. I was semi-kidding about cutting down the handle. It's just 22" is a bit more unwieldy for me to pack than something in the 15-19" range. What is the head weight on the Bushman? I can't seem to find that info online anywhere.

Edit: found the head weight on Garrett Wade website: 1.5#.
 
raindog101 said:
Actually, I was thinking about getting one to cut down to 19". If I were to go 22", why not go 26" and just pick up the Husqvarna Forest Axe?
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I had similar thoughts, but like RemyKaze said it would have a larger head. I'm a sucker for a new toy, so pretty much anything sounds interesting in the 14" to 26" range.

To answer the OP, I'm not sure anything is a waste of money if you get quality and learn how to use it. I forget which of your threads I said this, but there are times I use a small axe, large axe, saw, and a large knife. It all depends on the job, distance, and weather. The best advice I can give is to buy quality at the start. Buy a good name that has been suggested like Gransfors, Wetterlings, or Husqvarna and you will be happy.
 
raindog101 said:
You're right, of course. I was semi-kidding about cutting down the handle. It's just 22" is a bit more unwieldy for me to pack than something in the 15-19" range. What is the head weight on the Bushman? I can't seem to find that info online anywhere.

Edit: found the head weight on Garrett Wade website: 1.5#.
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1.5 seems to be typical for mid size axes. The Condor Greenland pattern with the Pathfinder(long) handle is a great example of a light head on a long arse haft. Been wanting to get one but it seems like the handle bumps the price up too much for me. Might be up your alley though.

Also, it seems like the typical boy's axe replacement handles in most hardware stores are a lot longer and of course fit most vintage axe heads. Most axe dudes recommend going vintage 9/10, lol. I'm more of a machete fellow, so anything above is personal observation and experience.
 
Fuori said:
I had similar thoughts, but like RemyKaze said it would have a larger head. I'm a sucker for a new toy, so pretty much anything sounds interesting in the 14" to 26" range.

To answer the OP, I'm not sure anything is a waste of money if you get quality and learn how to use it. I forget which of your threads I said this, but there are times I use a small axe, large axe, saw, and a large knife. It all depends on the job, distance, and weather. The best advice I can give is to buy quality at the start. Buy a good name that has been suggested like Gransfors, Wetterlings, or Husqvarna and you will be happy.
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Also Council Tool Velvicut, Snow and Neally, and Condor. Also Ben has some sweet Italian axes on his website, baryonyxknife.com.

Buying a Cold Steel hawk could give one a feel for a long handle with a light head. I still love mine even though I have better options.
 
I think you have a question about using a hatchet while camping and the only way to answer that question for yourself is to buy one and give it a try. I would not spend $100+ on something you know little about. Get a reasonable hatchet, use it, and judge for yourself.

I don't camp much any more. The only time I used a hatchet was when I was a kid and I used one a lot. As an adult car camping, I packed an axe, but I didn't need that either. Saws work better for most things. I have not tried the Tops and I really have no intention of trying one out. I do however get the urge to pick up a hatchet sometimes when I'm in a hardware store (usually Collins or Fiskars) and give one a try again. But I know what the result will be. I would get far more use out of one of my short heavy machetes, but I don't really want to carry one of these back packing any distance unless I have an actual need for it. Usually it is for fun, so I leave it home or in the truck. Out in the woods in my truck, I carry a chain saw with me. I have had the experience of a tree falling across the only road out and needing to cut it up partially to get through. Even a small chain saw does a lot of cutting.
 
Don't buy based on it's 'aesthetics': looks cool, looks bad as* etc.
Normal camping/hiking: "Travel light, pack light weight".
Unless you're a lumberjack.
 
I just watched a pretty informative video by Dave Canterbury on axe selection and use that may help you tigercasual.
 
chambelona59 said:
Don't buy based on it's 'aesthetics': looks cool, looks bad as* etc.
Normal camping/hiking: "Travel light, pack light weight".
Unless you're a lumberjack.
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Interesting points. I've been playing with the little Fiskars hatchet. It is feather light and has a lifetime warranty. This and an x25 lay in my trunk.
 
chambelona59 said:
@ tigercasual, how big a piece of tree wood do you want to be cutting while camping/hiking?
Take a look at what a Silky Gomboy is capable of:
I carry one when camping/hiking as opposed to a small axe/hatchet.
(Less energy/calories expended using it)

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=SILKY+GOMBOY
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Chambelona59,

The amount of wood that I cut depends on the trip. So it can vary. Typically, I've relied on a large knife for kindling etc. The Wolf Pax happened to catch my attention and made me wonder if I should be using a small axe for the the job. And, I've always wanted a Wolf Pup. So, I thought I would throw it out for opinions and see if it was worth my investment. I'm glad I did, I've gotten a lot of great feedback. I definitely intend to purchase a saw. The jury's still out on the small hatchet.

Cheers,
TC
 
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