axe/hatchet for canoe trip?

J

J1427

Joined
Sep 2, 2013
Messages
171
Hey guys. I was just wondering if bringing an axe or hatchet on a week long canoe trip would be worth the added weight. Is there a point to bringing one? Should I get a folding saw instead? Or would the saw on my swiss army knife be adequate in a pinch?
 
If you are going for a week I assume you will be camping on shore at night? If so, I would say that a small camp hatchet would be a very good idea, folding saw also.
 
Definitely worth bringing. I would bring a 3/4 axe. A saw would be good too but definitely an axe.
 
This guy was wondering what to take on kayak trips:

Concat said:
Hello all,

I really know nothing about axes, so bear with me. I need to find one for wood processing at camp, the trouble is that I kayak a lot so it simply must be as lightweight as possible because all my gear comes with me in the boat.

I've been thinking about getting a tomahawk, as those seem to be very lightweight, but I could care less about it's throwing capabilities or how tactical it is. I don't need a spike, but a hammer would be alright.

Any suggestions? Fiskars has a decent hatchet, but I thought I could do better by coming to the axe nerds :) Maybe something with a bit longer of a handle, without adding weight if possible? That and I kind of dig the look of a tomahawk, old school or modern. Just not sure if I'm sacrificing performance for aesthetics whenever I look at them online.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Concat said:
I ended up ordering a Hultafors Forest Axe. 20 inches long, 2lbs head. A bit heavier than I was hoping, but it should be a champ around camp.

788.jpg
Click to expand...

Concat said:
Well lads I got to use my axe this weekend. Went 100 km down the Athabasca river, camped 3 nights. Axe performed like a dream. I think I made the right choice. It's just long enough and heavy enough to make splitting wood worth it. I think if I had a small hatchet I'd process the wood less and just end up dragging large pieces of wood through the fire. That said, I did not find the size or the weight to be any issue. It's still quite small... it's practically a large hatchet really. I appreciated this as I cleared a space for my tent hammock.

Only took one pic... and it's pretty boring. Figured I'd share anyway. Axe on the right is my buddies (and is in terrible shape). It's about 4 inches longer than mine, and feels about a pound heavier too.

VaECjaw.jpg
Click to expand...

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1098662-Lightweight-hawk-for-wood-processing
 
I would bring one somewhere between a hudson bay pattern and a heavy boy's axe in the 2.5# range depending on the terrain you'll be passing through.

Light brush or willows and it'd be the Hudson. Choke up and they make a decent kindling hatchet. If you'll be passing through srub pine and the like then a light boys axe. If you're passing through real forest that sees heavy snow that rots a lot of what lays on the ground I'd bring the heaviest tool you can bear to lop branches off downed trees and the like.

Two weeks a ago we were doing a few jeep trails that were crisscrossed sporadically with bent and partially uprooted small pines 4-6" in diameter. I had a heavy boy's axe and was glad of it. You never know what you'll be faced with.
 
I agree that an axe would be very worth it to me. I would take something in the 2-2 1/5 pound range. It will do whatever tasks you need short of felling big stuff. A saw is always a good idea, but for me the axe would be a forgone conclusion.

Chris
 
What is a good brand or type of axe/hatchet to bring? Looking for something as light but as useful as possible
 
Yes, bring an axe. You won't regret it.

Post #4 shows my purchase. I think it's an ideal size. 20 inches, 2 lbs head. Just big enough to be able split wood and be used two handed, yet small and lightweight enough to justify bringing it. In my search I was partial towards the Swedish brands - Wetterlings, Hultafors and Gransfors Bruks.
 
One more vote for a boys axe here. For me personally, if I had to choose, I would ditch the saw in favour of a bigger axe. Unless its winter, then a saw can be useful.

I recently watched this and it has an important lesson [video=youtube;IveLLSphvxk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IveLLSphvxk[/video]

Dont bring a tool you cant use. Seriously, it doesnt take much work to get proficient with it, just spend a couple of hours using it for stuff you think you might need it for under circumstances you think you might encounter.
 
I just picked up this Wetterlings little under 20 long little under 2 Lbs loving it so far and I think a little cheaper than a Gransfors .
 
Council Boys axe - about $33 - can't be beat.

My review of the one I just got coming after this weekend.
 
+1 on the boys axe style, or any approximately 2-pound head with a medium-length handle. Big enough to do the work you want to do, small enough to pack and portage well -- and also big enough to tackle a job bigger than you expected if you have to.

I have a no-name head I bought years ago as a "cruiser" axe (so the label said) but it's a single-bit. The old handle was getting a little ratty from being 1) crappy wood and 2) riding around in the backs of the last six pickups I've owned in the last 30 years. The head's only 1 3/4 pounds but I'm hanging it on a Link boys axe handle because I like that size handle for it. It's also light enough my wife can use it easily with bad shoulders.

Skiv
 
Here's another option, bring a claw hatchet and good folding saw like a Silky or Tajima. My current camp hatchet is a 1-3/4 pound TT claw on a 19" riggers handle. It does everything well for it size. I like to keep a couple duplex nails in my camping kit for hanging things and securing lines. The claw hatchet drives and pulls them well.

3.jpg



These Tajima saws are quite good and considerably cheaper than Silkys.

Tajima G-240
 
Hey I got back from a weeklong canoe trip last week. Did the Bowron lakes circuit, tons of fun. I brought a tomahawk (RMJ Tactical Loggerhead) and and a bahco folding saw along with a couple knives. Someone else in the group brought a 7 dollar hatchet, these tools helped guarantee us a fire every night. I really recommend that you take a hatchet/tomahawk/axe on your trip. These things are worth their weight, might not seem like it when you're portaging but once you get to shore and need a fire they're your best friend.
 
Operator1975 said:
Council Boys axe - about $33 - can't be beat.

My review of the one I just got coming after this weekend.
Click to expand...

This has got to be hands down the best value for a quality tool. I have the FSS version but they're not really different and it's been fantastic. Works like it should and not so nice your afraid to really use it. You won't regret it.

Looking forward to seeing that review Operator1975
 
I've been bush whacking for 40 years and no longer carry a traditional axe nor a hatchet. A sharp Swede saw is light, takes up very little space, and will generate firewood for you faster and easier than any striking tool and the business of making kindling etc is all a question of what size branches you start with anyway. Having said that I usually do carry a fixed blade knife (great for shavings and kindling) and always a Victorinox pocket knife. It bugs me no end to go to my favourite Crown land sites and find random patches of what look like beaver-gnawed stumps of trees all done with axes and hatchets. A saw is clean and makes no waste and will turn 12 inch dia. trees into firewood no sweat.
These days (I ain't no spring chicken anymore) I mostly travel by canoe and have a Pulaski and a Swede saw on board. You cannot beat that combination for grubbing roots, rocks and stones out of the way and for roughing tent pads and the axe blade (don't ever sharpen it too much) is perfect for splitting firewood generated by the Swede saw.

By the way BRAVO2ZERO when I did the Bowron Lakes circuit in 1980 the GD bears got all our food first day out (thank God there are lots of trout in the lakes) and it rained during most of that trip.
 
300Six said:
I've been bush whacking for 40 years and no longer carry a traditional axe nor a hatchet. A sharp Swede saw is light, takes up very little space, and will generate firewood for you faster and easier than any striking tool and the business of making kindling etc is all a question of what size branches you start with anyway. Having said that I usually do carry a fixed blade knife (great for shavings and kindling) and always a Victorinox pocket knife. It bugs me no end to go to my favourite Crown land sites and find random patches of what look like beaver-gnawed stumps of trees all done with axes and hatchets. A saw is clean and makes no waste and will turn 12 inch dia. trees into firewood no sweat.
These days (I ain't no spring chicken anymore) I mostly travel by canoe and have a Pulaski and a Swede saw on board. You cannot beat that combination for grubbing roots, rocks and stones out of the way and for roughing tent pads and the axe blade (don't ever sharpen it too much) is perfect for splitting firewood generated by the Swede saw.

By the way BRAVO2ZERO when I did the Bowron Lakes circuit in 1980 the GD bears got all our food first day out (thank God there are lots of trout in the lakes) and it rained during most of that trip.
Click to expand...

All valid points as far as Im concerned, but none of it has to do with the tool. A 12" log is quickly turned to firewood with an axe, with no sweat and less waste than a saw. If you know how to use it.
 
300Six said:
I've been bush whacking for 40 years and no longer carry a traditional axe nor a hatchet. A sharp Swede saw is light, takes up very little space, and will generate firewood for you faster and easier than any striking tool and the business of making kindling etc is all a question of what size branches you start with anyway. Having said that I usually do carry a fixed blade knife (great for shavings and kindling) and always a Victorinox pocket knife. It bugs me no end to go to my favourite Crown land sites and find random patches of what look like beaver-gnawed stumps of trees all done with axes and hatchets. A saw is clean and makes no waste and will turn 12 inch dia. trees into firewood no sweat.
These days (I ain't no spring chicken anymore) I mostly travel by canoe and have a Pulaski and a Swede saw on board. You cannot beat that combination for grubbing roots, rocks and stones out of the way and for roughing tent pads and the axe blade (don't ever sharpen it too much) is perfect for splitting firewood generated by the Swede saw.

By the way BRAVO2ZERO when I did the Bowron Lakes circuit in 1980 the GD bears got all our food first day out (thank God there are lots of trout in the lakes) and it rained during most of that trip.
Click to expand...

Oh man, sorry to hear that. They have bear lockers at every campsite nowadays that are mandatory to use. I tried fishing too... Good thing we didn't have to rely on my fishing skills. It rained on and off the first day and then it was sunny for the next four days and then there was a whole day of rain, thunder and lightning. Do you plan on doing the circuit again someday?
 
if you want a cheap and great camp axe for a canoe trip get a condor greenlands pattern axe 50% and bomb proof plez check it out its way worth it also comes with a great leather sheath check out the review dave canturbury did on wilderness outfitters for the axe
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top