Packing a large axe

wardleather

wardleather

Joined
Mar 8, 2010
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Hi - does anyone pack a larger axe when backpacking/camping? We'll be out for 3 nights near Vail, CO at the end of the month and I'm thinking of taking a larger axe for firewood prep (i.e. GB felling axe). Are my eyes bigger than my stomach and this would be overkill? We're definitely a camp fire family and I don't want to spend hours scavenging for loose branches, etc. My slimmed down option is a GB SFA which is a couple of pounds lighter. I'll end up using either one when we go car camping as well.

Thanks in advance!:)
 
As for everything, it's a personal choice and u should feel free to carry even a chainsaw if u like that...still I'm throwing in my 2 cents.
Personally , I found that when I camp for a few nights, and I want to process some wood, a folding saw is the answer for me.
Does the job, and it's very light if compared to axes. And u can even get good ones for cheap.
:cool:
 
I begrudge carrying even a hatchet very far and will not even stretch that far outside of winter. Even then it has to be a “themed camp” on mild terrain or I'll curse the incumbrance after only a few hours. So, factor in my bias there when you evaluate my response:

I favour a saw to do the donkey work too. Mostly I use one of the folding saws but I do use a foot of bow saw as well. If I needed to make a lot of big firewood or if it didn't have to be man-portable I'd load up on an even bigger bow saw. Whatever wedge / ax shaped object I took it would be the minimum required to fracture that cut wood down. I can see no advantage to a big felling ax in that role. It might be that you find a standing dead tree and wish you had it but then you can make do. That has to be offset against the far more common scenario of finding good size fallen logs to saw up then crack. In sum, go with the smaller one and a big saw for best results.
 
for backpacking- no, for camping- yes (in addition to a saw); one involves me carrying everything, the other involves my 3/4 ton carrying everything :)

I've never had much trouble (in the west anyways) gathering enough wood for a decent fire and if I did I'd be wishing more for a saw than an axe; a 3.0 oz Gerber/Fiskars saw has no trouble processing 4-5" stuff- more than enough for even the most ambitious fires :D
 
I pack my 19in Wetterlings alot. Its really not all that heavy, and carries well lashed to the outside of a pack. Axemanship is a woods skill that to me is very important. The felling axe is overkill for this time of year, but the SFA works well in all seasons. I suggest looking at the Wetterlings line too. Mine came shaving sharp, with great allignment, a perfect haft, and a cheaper pricetag. Bensbackwoods.com will hand pick your axe if you ask him. Ben knows what a good axe is. He carries GB and Wett. http://www.bensbackwoods.com/servlet/StoreFront

A folding saw is the way to go if weight is an issue, but it needs to be a bigger saw. Hard to process large firewood with a folding saw, but for a summer campfire it will do the job. You can also split wood with a saw by cutting halfway through a piece and hitting it against a tree. Splits right on every time. Helpfull if its wet outside.

I still say Axe is king, and for the 1.5lb head, the total weight is around 2 lbs. Not much actually, and for the utility its worth it. Its a great axe that can handle even winter hardwoods. Ive put it to mine without mercy, and it has served very well. I do like a bigger axe(felling) for winter when the woods are frozen, but the 19in bushcraft axe or GB SFA does the job too.

If weight is a huge concern, for the summer months when wood processing isnt as big of a job as winter, a Tomahawk is lightweight and works well for me.

Hope ya find what you are looking for. Comparing an axe to a folding saw IMO is no contest. Axe wins every time. I would challenge any forumite with me and my axe vs. them and their small folding saw any day and I might lose a time or 2 to some of the more skilled members, but my money says Ill have wood and fire faster 9 times out of 10.
 
baldtaco-II said:
That has to be offset against the far more common scenario of finding good size fallen logs to saw up then crack. In sum, go with the smaller one and a big saw for best results.
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Well said. Look at the Sven saws, and the Trailblazer take down saws. Ive used em both and they are very nice. http://www.bushcraftoutfitters.com/Axes-and-Saws_c14.htm BCO is another great company that will hand pick you an axe if you email and ask. Their service is top notch, and they ship so fast it will make you scratch your head.
 
If you know what you are doing with an axe you can beat a folding saw most of the time. Naturally, a lot of this depends on the skill of the user. I have met some proficient axe men in my time that can do wonders with a fine tuned axe. The saw would be a safer choice if you don't have the training. And yes, for those of us that came up with an axe in the hand, Axe is still king. Like I have said a million times, use the right tool for the right job. Also, some inexpensive glasses can protect the eyes while the chopping is going on full force. If you get a chip in the eye in the middle of nowhere it would be too late to ponder the eye gear comment.
 
Well said stubai. An axe is a dangerous tool, and in a blink you can bury it in your shin. Axemanship is something that takes some time to perfect. Im still learning and have had a few puckering occasions. I suggest reading Mors book Bushcraft. He has a very good chapter on Axemanship. Also Ray Mears does some good videos on technique. Search the youtube. Be carefull.
 
Wow, fantastic responses. I debated the axe vs. saw scenario for awhile. Although I've not been through any formal training I have handled an axe a few times and have watched some of the Ray Meers clips on proper technique, etc. We don't do much distance backpacking. It's really more of a hike in (<10 miles) and set up a base camp. So, generally we will pack fairly heavy. We usually carry in a few shorter knives for misc. camp chores and an RTAK II for busting up branches and processing smaller pieces of deadfall. The gathering technique isn't really that fun (until you've got half a bottle of jack in 'ya and your wondering around in the middle of the night looking for more branches) and it's time consuming. Thus, we shall upgrade our firemaking tools. I think we'll get more use out of an axe since we do take shorter trips closer to home. I also considered the useful life of a saw blade. Any input from you guys on the life expectancy of these saw blades? I figured that over time, it's probably break even or maybe even favorable to the axe from a cost perspective.

I appreciate the links and recommendations on vendors. I think the winner here might be the SFA or another brand of similar size. If I can get similar results to a felling axe then I think that's the way to go. I don't plan on taking down anything living, mainly processing larger pieces of deadfall. I just thought the felling axe would be more efficient.

Thanks again for the responses.
 
In the long run, I assume the axe will last more than a saw if u use it properly, but I guess both will last enough time to make u buy another just for the fun of it, more than because ur old one is useless. Also, u can find good options for both items at a relatively cheap price.
I do feel the charm of the axe in the outdoors, but I favor lightweight and safety when I camp, and honestly I never felt "under equipped" with a folding saw.
It also depends on the kind of environment u will be in, in terms of wood availability.
If weight is not a problem for u, then u should just carry what u like most.
:cool:
 
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The felling axe will be more efficiant because of its heavier head and longer haft. If I could only own one, Id still go with the 19in Wett or SFA. It does all I need in an axe and is very pack friendly IMO. If you still want a bigger axe for winter use, Id score a used vintage axe off ebay and refurb it.
 
I picked up a 24" bowsaw from walmart years ago, it was very cheap, but it works well and only weighs 21.7 oz. I'd recommend taking a bowsaw and an axe (I like axes closer to 20"), this way you can do a head to head comparison.
 
Tyson Norris said:
I picked up a 24" bowsaw from walmart years ago, it was very cheap, but it works well and only weighs 21.7 oz. I'd recommend taking a bowsaw and an axe (I like axes closer to 20"), this way you can do a head to head comparison.
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The more I think about this today, the more inclined I am to take both. That way we can have two people processing wood and I don't have to worry so much about my wife swinging an axe.
 
if weight isn't an overriding concern (doesn't sound like it is) and your going to be base camped, then by all means bring a mid-sized axe and a saw. I'll second the recommendations on both the 19" Wetterlings- very nice sized axe (that as mentioned actually comes very sharp from the factory) and the Trailblazer saw- I own both (my Trailblazer is the 18" one) and with the two I can process a lot of wood in short order.

in regards to the longevity of the folding saws, my Fiskars/Gerber one won't last forever- I've taken in a couple of different outings and really put it through it's paces, it probably has another outing in it, but no more- however at $8 I don't see that as a big detractor :)
 
The 18' trailblazer takedown buck saw is a beast when it comes to firewood processing :thumbup:

TrailblazerBuckSaw.jpg
 
I picked up a 2.5# axe with a 26" handle a few months ago. Have used it a bunch this spring to split firewood/kindling and chop some logs. I bought it to take it backpacking like you, but have not had the chance to carry it yet. But when I do a practice run around the block with a loaded pack and it strapped to the side, it sure carries nicely.

Later in the summer I plan to backpack up the local canyon, make a base camp and spend a few days there playing around. The Axe and a Bow saw will be coming with me on that trip. :) IMO the Axe and saw combo is great!!
 
I do carry and use axes in the woods all the time.

If I take a full size axe into the field I carry it in hand, as I would with a full size shovel.

When packing an axe, I'll take one of my half axes (18"-20"); I find the longer handle on full size axe sticking out of my pack to be a real PITA on the trail.

Of course, I almost always carry a small folding saw.


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Big Mike
 
I think really it comes down to how far you are going and over what terrain??

I would have no problem lugging an axe in, for say a 5 mile in and out trip.

However if I'm doing say 8 or 10 miles a day with a lot of elevation gain/loss then I'm going to be really picky about what I'm carrying.
 
hollowdweller said:
I think really it comes down to how far you are going and over what terrain??

I would have no problem lugging an axe in, for say a 5 mile in and out trip.

However if I'm doing say 8 or 10 miles a day with a lot of elevation gain/loss then I'm going to be really picky about what I'm carrying.
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This man knows of what he speaks! Perfect advice.
I personally don't like humping an axe around the forest, however there is always one in the truck.
 
I'd think you could do as well with a 12 inch ax. You won't be cutting down trees for firewood, but will be harvesting blow downs and the like. The added weight and bulk won't pay off.
 
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