Biggest axe you would be willing to carry

H

Hinagea

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Nov 13, 2014
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I grew up using a small axe approximately 20-24 inches with what was probably a 2lb head. This is my only point of reference and it was a long time ago and I didn't get to use it all that often. I recently went on a trip with a family member and they had an axe with them and made easy work of splitting logs that we had brought with us. It has me wanting a version that I can use while backpacking. Their's didn't appear to be of any brand name and if I had to guess it was probably 30 inches with a 3lb head, and had a splitting axe geometry.

What is the biggest axe size and weight that you would be willing to strap to your pack for 10 mile hikes? Up here in the PNW there are often downed trees well into the 12"+ range as well as smaller in the 6-8" range. I would like the convenience of a hatchet and have used them in the past but am not confident in its ability to handle such size.

I had my eye on a 26" 2.5lb axe.
What are your opinions? Would a 14" 1.75lb hatchet suffice?

I rarely go on anything that is longer than 4-5 days. 3 days, 2 nights out being the most common.

Thanks,
H
 
Personally I'd go for a 2ish lb head with a 24" handle at most. A hatchet head isn't much lighter but you get a lot less handle length, the handle doesn't weight much so might as well carry a boy's axe.
 
Hinagea said:
I grew up using a small axe approximately 20-24 inches with what was probably a 2lb head. This is my only point of reference and it was a long time ago and I didn't get to use it all that often. I recently went on a trip with a family member and they had an axe with them and made easy work of splitting logs that we had brought with us. It has me wanting a version that I can use while backpacking. Their's didn't appear to be of any brand name and if I had to guess it was probably 30 inches with a 3lb head, and had a splitting axe geometry.

What is the biggest axe size and weight that you would be willing to strap to your pack for 10 mile hikes? Up here in the PNW there are often downed trees well into the 12"+ range as well as smaller in the 6-8" range. I would like the convenience of a hatchet and have used them in the past but am not confident in its ability to handle such size.

I had my eye on a 26" 2.5lb axe.
What are your opinions? Would a 14" 1.75lb hatchet suffice?

I rarely go on anything that is longer than 4-5 days. 3 days, 2 nights out being the most common.

Thanks,
H
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Depends on the topography of the terrain, water sources on the trip, planed cooking methods, and who is coming with. The more weight my pack has the the more elevation I will gain and or lose the less likely I would be to carry any ax.

I have the options ranging from my 13 oz mini hatchet to a 3 lbs boys ax. The boys ax I have only ever taken on car camping trips, and I now have a full sized DB. I think for any sort of backpacking a hatchet makes sense unless you plan to do a lot of wood processing. This will differ for everyone, a lot of folks won't even consider bringing any form of ax with them.
 
I would recommend a Boy's sized axe (2.25 lb. head and a 28" haft). I have carried such an axe on many, many hikes. Rarely is the axe strapped to my pack - I just carry it with me. It's certainly nice to have an axe that can handle splitting, bucking, limbing and light felling work. I have a 30+ year old Snow & Nealy that works nicely in this role.
 
As far as the "biggest" axe I would carry, I've got an old 4# Plumb narrow Michigan s.b. felling that's a joy to use and not too unwieldy, even at 36". I'd consider carrying that if I could pack very light, but I'd more likely pick my forge-welded Connie boy's axe on a 27" handle. A cruiser double-bit would be a solid choice if you're looking for a good little felling/limbing tool with no real need for splitting, and a boy's/cruiser-sized Pulaski would also be a viable choice for more versatility. As it has been said already, it's completely situational and personal preference, but I'd be tempted to take as much axe as possible - a 4# axe can do the job of a 2# hatchet, but not the other way around.
 
With modern backpacking techniques and gear you don't really need an axe. Even in tough environments you can get by without a fire.

So the question isn't so much how much axe you're willing to carry but how much axe you need. That depends entirely on the amount of chopping you plan on doing.

I have carried full size axes and saws into the woods. That was for midwinter group camping in a wood stove heated tent where we needed a lot of wood to see us through the night.

For just a lazy overnight or two I won't even carry an axe. I'll just carry a trangia alcohol stove. Saves on weight, wood processing, and washing up (soot is a pain). :D
 
I carry this one. It's 1 3/4 pounds. The handle is a Garant. They start off as clubs. I spent a bit of time shaping it. It fits nicely on my pack. It has been on a few winter walks just to see if it feels heavy after a few miles. So far, no issues. It'll get its work out this summer when we are camping.
 
I am simply a hobbyist and I do not have an extensive axe back ground. But from what I own and have used so far, I like these two. With the Hults Bruk first and the SFA second. Another contender for me is my Wetterlings Scandinavian. It just fits me\feels good, and the weight is ok.
 
It depends on where you are hiking imo. On a small camping trip/hike during spring/summer I usually pack my Hultafors hatchet, in the fall/winter I usually go with my Gränsfors Scandinavian because it's much more efficient to use when processing firewood. I live in lapland, sweden, and it can be pretty cold here, so I rather sweat like a pig carrying my GB than to freeze my ass off without it. :)


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If I feel like I actually need an axe im going with my collins conneticut 3.5# on its 30" handle or I have a 3# no name on a 28" that does good work.
 
well, I routinely carry a 4.5lb collins legitimus jersey on a 32" handle, 6lb chinese baileys racing axe on a 32" handle, 4lb vaughn chemical axe, swamper pattern double bit on a 36", or a 4" kelly vulcan, western pattern double bit on a 36 inch handle. Not trying to sound like a super cool macho dude, but my job tells me that i HAVE to remove every goddamned log I come across :) I find that the heavier heads make quick work of the pine and fir out in idaho, but i have moved to a much narrower 4lb hoosier pattern (also 32" handle) for the hardwoods of FL. even the pine down here is hard as a rock! that said, my fallers axe (2.5lb hudson bay pattern no-name on a 19" handle) is more than adequate for most things in camp; like killing elk for dinner, scalping, or raiding a settler's camp for provisions like salt, gunpowder, lead, whiskey, etc.

when i go backpacking for pleasure, however seldom, i won't carry an axe at all. i speak softly, and carry big stick after big stick into my campfire.
 
The only time I have ever "needed" an axe on trail was while I was on a trail crew clearing logs. I carried a 4 pound collins rafting pattern on a 36" haft. Bucked logs all day with her. We bonded. Now my favorite cutting axe.
 
Hinagea said:
I grew up using a small axe approximately 20-24 inches with what was probably a 2lb head. This is my only point of reference and it was a long time ago and I didn't get to use it all that often. I recently went on a trip with a family member and they had an axe with them and made easy work of splitting logs that we had brought with us. It has me wanting a version that I can use while backpacking. Their's didn't appear to be of any brand name and if I had to guess it was probably 30 inches with a 3lb head, and had a splitting axe geometry.

What is the biggest axe size and weight that you would be willing to strap to your pack for 10 mile hikes? Up here in the PNW there are often downed trees well into the 12"+ range as well as smaller in the 6-8" range. I would like the convenience of a hatchet and have used them in the past but am not confident in its ability to handle such size.

I had my eye on a 26" 2.5lb axe.
What are your opinions? Would a 14" 1.75lb hatchet suffice?

I rarely go on anything that is longer than 4-5 days. 3 days, 2 nights out being the most common.

Thanks,
H
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You have experience in this already. I would suggest you beg or borrow some ordinary versions of one-handed and two-handed implements for trial runs before committing, especially in advance of ordering any sort of expensive Euro 'boutique' like so many others on here willingly do.
In areas where I've canoe-in camped for the past 40 years it is quite obvious who uses tommys/hatchets in there (meagre saplings and branches look like they were gnawed off by beavers) VS practical campers who actually pack in an axe and can deal with trees and firewood-sized blowdowns. You can do alright with packing a heavy hatchet providing you also bring along a saw (bow saw, arborist saw) for cross cutting.
 
Hinagea said:
What is the biggest axe size and weight that you would be willing to strap to your pack for 10 mile hikes? Up here in the PNW there are often downed trees well into the 12"+ range as well as smaller in the 6-8" range. I would like the convenience of a hatchet and have used them in the past but am not confident in its ability to handle such size.
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First, thank you for wanting to clear downed trees from the trail. It's a continuing labor of love for those who do it.

How much axe I'm willing to carry into our steep NW mountains depends on what I'm doing and how large of group I'm in. If part of a trail crew I'll pack a 4 pound pulaski. But for pleasure hikes I lighten up or carry no axe at all.

In a group of 4 or more hikers who can spread out the weight of shared necessities a boy's axe is handy. By myself or in a small group I'll step down to a hatchet. I prefer a claw hatchet for its multiple functions. For a solo hike I'll lighten up even more and go with a small Fiskars hatchet into which I've cut a nail puller. For longer hikes or hikes where I need to cover more than 10 miles/day I'll go without unless I have a specific need for the tool.

If you're hiking to a single destination where you plan to spend several days and want to do some bushcraft to make camp more comfortable then you want at least a sturdy hatchet, maybe the boys axe. If you'll be constantly on the move then you're better off with the lightest hatchet or none at all. I like having options.
 
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