Best Backpacking Axe??

Price? tasks? I personally use either a modified cold steel trail hawk (with a proper hammer face) or a GB Scandinavian Forest Axe. Or both, if the carrying capacity is there.
 
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I don't think ya can beat the Fiskars for price, weight and durability !
 
Thanks for the great ideas! I'm not too concerned with the weight issue and it needs to be under 100.

Thanks again!!
 
collins boys axe is a bit big for backpacking, maybe. depends. you could adjust the handle. there are a few 'boys' axes out, in the 2.25 pound weight range, for under $50. They may not have the GB or wetterling name, but we've got one of the collins' company ones here at home and it does a lot of work.

Fiskars also makes a 23 inch chopping axe, but I've never know anyone who uses it. you could that, a stone, AND the 14 inch hatchet for about $80
 
DirtDiver said:
Thanks for the great ideas! I'm not too concerned with the weight issue and it needs to be under 100.

Thanks again!!
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I would recommend the Gransfors Bruks Scandinavian Forest Axe. The head weighs 2lbs, another pound or so for the haft. They run around $115, which is a little over your maximum, but it's worth it. Has a 25 inch haft which gives you enough reach for limbing or even felling small trees. The GB Small Forest Axe is a little smaller and lighter, but not terribly so, but its only $10 cheaper than the Scandi so you might as well buy the Scandi. Or both, as some do. But if I only owned one axe, it would be the Scandi Forest Axe.
 
koyote said:
collins boys axe is a bit big for backpacking, maybe. depends. you could adjust the handle. there are a few 'boys' axes out, in the 2.25 pound weight range, for under $50. They may not have the GB or wetterling name, but we've got one of the collins' company ones here at home and it does a lot of work.

Fiskars also makes a 23 inch chopping axe, but I've never know anyone who uses it. you could that, a stone, AND the 14 inch hatchet for about $80
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I have on and have used on wood and my foot :o it chops very well i should make a review.
 
Just curious, what do you need axes for when camping? I hope not chopping down living trees and trashing a campsite with your bushcraft skills. If it's chopping and splitting downwood that's one thing and a small GB or Wetterling will do the trick nicely but I tend to build small fires where those tasks are not required so my hatchets (Wetterlings) usually stay in the truck and van.

Of course, most of my camping is high desert and there's little need for axes and hatchets.

BTW, a much safer alternative IMO is a Gerber's pruning saw. Weighs a few ounces, it's precise, and it's real hard to hurt yourself.
But then that's not very *bush*, is it? ;)
 
Don't do what I did! I bought a Gransfors WH and then a fiskars 14"... poor Gransfors, barely sees the light of day, lol. But seriously, the Gransfors are great looking tools, but performance wise their hatchets are the same IMO. You'll be happy with a fiskars and that $70.00 in your pocket.

Fiskars also has a heavier (I think) 17" model sold through Gerber, that might be something for you too.
 
CSG said:
Just curious, what do you need axes for when camping? I hope not chopping down living trees and trashing a campsite with your bushcraft skills. If it's chopping and splitting downwood that's one thing and a small GB or Wetterling will do the trick nicely but I tend to build small fires where those tasks are not required so my hatchets (Wetterlings) usually stay in the truck and van.

Of course, most of my camping is high desert and there's little need for axes and hatchets.

BTW, a much safer alternative IMO is a Gerber's pruning saw. Weighs a few ounces, it's precise, and it's real hard to hurt yourself.
But then that's not very *bush*, is it? ;)
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Cutting down living trees? it depends on the setting! I've been up places where cutting down trees was a favor to the landowner.

Trashing? Does it automatically follow that building figure 4s or debris shelters or whatnot means I have ot leave the trash around after?

A pruning saw is great for some things, and preferable for some things. But for splitting logs, or cutting down standing dead trees? I'll take an axe.
 
CSG,

On our winter camping trip next weekend, a hatchet would make collecting firewood an all day affair. A hand and a half or full-size axe is what is needed for collecting dead and dry wood in large enough quantities for winter fires.
 
pitdog said:
I don't think ya can beat the Fiskars for price, weight and durability !
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I agree...And as for being sharp, after a touch-up with a little wet/dry tacked to a piece of wood, my fiskars is easily sharp enough to shave leg hair...and it still has this edge after some decent use. Great deal! :thumbup:
 
I've gotten in trouble here in the past for raising issues like this but all I'm getting at is we all need to respect the environment we're and do our best to leave no trace so the next guy can have that experience we all cherish.

As I said, I've got a couple of hatchets but I try not to make fires most of the places I go favoring a little alcohol stove for cooking needs. If you are truly in a survival situation or on private land, overgrown forest, etc. knock yourself out. All I'm really trying to emphasize is to be good stewards of the land by treading as lightly as you can.
 
I have a Fiskars 23" splitting axe, and it's a great compromise btw a fullsize axe and a lighter weight option...and it's damned near indestructible.

My usual haunts tend to have a lot of downed trees, especially in the spring from winter fall-downs. The axe makes short work of splitting thick rounds of wood.
 
Raskolnikov said:
I have a Fiskars 23" splitting axe, and it's a great compromise btw a fullsize axe and a lighter weight option...and it's damned near indestructible.

My usual haunts tend to have a lot of downed trees, especially in the spring from winter fall-downs. The axe makes short work of splitting thick rounds of wood.
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hahaha i like your username ...and your talking about axes to boot!
 
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