What's the longest axe/haft you'd backpack with?

Shotgun

Shotgun

Joined
Feb 3, 2006
Messages
8,250
Just curious. Looking to get a longer haft for my hawk and was wondering where other people are at on the subject. If you could, also include how you pack it and your stature.:D


Edit: As for backpacking I mean a lazy 3-5 mile hike to a campground. Not 20 miles a day for days on end type thing.
 
I realize that you are talking about a tomahawk, so weight does not factor in, honestly. Plus your not traveling very far.

I think your major problem, like all of ours, is finding the right haft length.

I generally strap my GB SFA to the side of my pack, if going for a short stroll to camp, and it does not bump on my leg or side.
25'', I say, would be the max haft length of any tool I would carry with me. I think it would just be to the point
where it would start to get annoying, bumping against your thigh or side depending on your height.

However, if I was backpacking and actually brought an axe, I think I would stick with my Lee Reeves double-bit.
weighs in around a pound, I think, and is only 15''.

I am 5'10'' and 135#. Hope this helps.
 
The reason for the long haft is to maximize the low weight of the hawk but it's also nice when limbing to not have to bend over to do it. I'm actually thinking somewhere in the 30 inch range. The question is more of packability. Thanks for your response. I'm 6 foot so not so far off. I have GB mini for any serious backpacking. :D
 
for long multi-day trips i generally leave the hatchet/axe at home and stick with a packable sven saw and save the weight. on a few mile hike/camping trip the max for me is my GB forest axe (25") that's all one really needs IMO.
 
Shotgun said:
The reason for the long haft is to maximize the low weight of the hawk but it's also nice when limbing to not have to bend over to do it. I'm actually thinking somewhere in the 30 inch range. The question is more of packability. Thanks for your response. I'm 6 foot so not so far off. I have GB mini for any serious backpacking. :D
Click to expand...

Hmm, 30", huh?

I am thinking that you could strap it to the side and if you have a water bottle holder large enough then you could stick the head in that,
but the handle would stick up in the air like a flag pole. If your water bottle holder is not large enough, highly likely, you could always
modify it. I am thinking if you cut both sides so it flapped down, then you could have the poll and bit sticking out of the sides.

You could secure it with a piece of paracord around the haft and through the water bottle holder, then tied off to whatever you could think of.

Hope that makes sense.
 
You should carry whatever handle length works for you. When I carry an axe I keep it in my pack. If the handle is longer than the pack, I let it protrude from the top. I have carried up to a 35 inch handle that way without much of a problem. I am 6 ft tall.

That being said, keep in mind that handles have a significant weight to them. A proper 35 inch handle for an axe will weigh close to two pounds. In my opinion, you are better off ditching the hawk and getting something like a GB Small Forest Axe. The overall weight will be the same, but you will get much better performance out of it. It will also be much easier to fit in a pack.

http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/
 
But there's a b ig difference between a regular axe and a tomahawk.

Most 35" axes are going to have 3.5# heads, maybe a 2.5# head if you hang it yourself. A topmahawk is still going to have a ~18-24 ounce head on a thinner, lighter haft.

The Small Forest Axe will perform better for a lot of tasks, but here's one that the long hawk helps with: moving foliage. By that I mean carrying the hawk in hand, using the head to hook and move foliage aside. You don't want to use a 35" axe for that. I think I've posted before about the head of my hawk getting struck by a snake after moving some concealing ferns away from it. My foot would have landed not 6" from it, so. . .

Now for carrying a full sized axe, yes, strapping it to the side of a pack (or put in a slip pocket for packs that have them) is the easiest way to carry them. I'll counterbalance it with a couple of 2 qt canteens on the opposite side.
 
rg598 said:
You should carry whatever handle length works for you. When I carry an axe I keep it in my pack. If the handle is longer than the pack, I let it protrude from the top. I have carried up to a 35 inch handle that way without much of a problem. I am 6 ft tall.

That being said, keep in mind that handles have a significant weight to them. A proper 35 inch handle for an axe will weigh close to two pounds. In my opinion, you are better off ditching the hawk and getting something like a GB Small Forest Axe. The overall weight will be the same, but you will get much better performance out of it. It will also be much easier to fit in a pack.

http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/
Click to expand...
Maybe I wasn't all that clear. The hawk I have has a 19 inch haft and it's too short. A small forest axe would be the same length and weigh a good 1/2 pound more.:confused:
 
Cpl Punishment said:
Longest I carried was a 28", more often a 24". I carry it in hand since it's a hawk and not heavy.
Click to expand...

I'm leaning more and more toward 24". That's the minimum length I feel comfy swinging two handed. I don't know how people swing shorter axes/hawks two handed. It feels awkward to me and I actually feel like I'm using more energy with less control then one handed. Maybe I'm just weird. :D
 
I carry the 20 inch Gransfors Small Forest Axe upside-down in my backpacks ice-axe loops. Its held securely against the pack and dosent flop around. The handle is held in place with the small bungee cords at the top of the pack.

Carrying it like this (provided your pack have these ice-axe loops) will also allow you to transport axes with a longer handle. So it might stick out on the top, but who cares? Only thing is that the loop must fit the axe-head. My packs loops, on the Osprey Stratos 34, fits the SFA head just accurately.I dont know how your hawks head compares to the SFA, but i suspect it is slimmer/thinner.

Heres a pic ive posted before with my setup:

5378314230_945a927906_b.jpg


Anyways, alot of packs have these loops, but alot of people dont use them for attaching stuff other than ice axes.

Osprey-Aether-85-Pack-21.jpg


Hope that helps abit.

ETA: Just for the record, im 6'1.
 
Last edited:
I've got to have a minimum haft length of 20".

22"-23" is ideal.

It's a tomahawk, not a bag axe.

I'm 6'5" / 230 lbs.
 
Shotgun said:
Maybe I wasn't all that clear. The hawk I have has a 19 inch haft and it's too short. A small forest axe would be the same length and weigh a good 1/2 pound more.:confused:
Click to expand...

The problem you may be experiencing is the fact that hawks are weapons with the potential of chopping. IMO.
An axe is a no thrills wood processing tool with the potential of being used as a weapon. IMO.
Hafting it with a longer handle will only give you slight advantages, but an axe of lesser length, such as an SFA,
will still out perform that long handled hawk. IMO.

However, you might just feel like doing this, or maybe you don't want to try a smaller axe. That is perfectly fine.
I will remind you to do what you want, and more importantly, to make sure you come back and tell us your thoughts on
the setup.
I don't even need to tell you to come back with plenty of pictures to validate your info. :D:D:D

Thanks for this thread, good luck on any adventure you forego.

( I just wanted to add that I am not short or skinny, just 15 years old, if you can believe it.)
 
When weight was critical such as being dropped off on a hunt by Piper Super Cub, 50 lbs total gear, or a very long pack, I used a Sawvivor with a wood blade and a meat or bone blade. When canoeing in or being flown in by larger plane, I opt for the Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe, 18 inches. Since you are looking for something with a longer handle, I would go with the Wetterlings Swedish Forest Axe at 25 inches.
 
I think PDE has it exactly right. I'm sorry if I didn't understand your original question. If it is just an issue of you wanting a longer handle because it is more comfortable for you, then get the length with which you feel most comfortable. For me it is about 25 inches, although the weight of the head also makes a big difference. For me, a long handle on a very light head also makes the swings feel strange. If on the other hand it is an issue of performance, for the same weight, I would go with a shorter axe.
 
rg598 said:
I think PDE has it exactly right. I'm sorry if I didn't understand your original question. If it is just an issue of you wanting a longer handle because it is more comfortable for you, then get the length with which you feel most comfortable. For me it is about 25 inches, although the weight of the head also makes a big difference. For me, a long handle on a very light head also makes the swings feel strange. If on the other hand it is an issue of performance, for the same weight, I would go with a shorter axe.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't you say the strangeness of the long haft with light head is do to you being accustomed to a heavier head? In any case I think maybe I wasn't as clear with my question. The hawk I have now does what I need a chopper to do. I just think that a longer haft would be more comfortable, more efficient, and allow for a greater reach for other tasks. So I know I want a longer hawk, just trying to get a feel for what length I should start experimenting with.
 
What hawk are you using?

If it's a Cold Steel, order their 30" War Hammer haft and cut it down an inch at a time until it feels right.
 
Seems Cpl Punishment has come up with the best answer. What is ideal for one is not ideal for another. Experiment until you have your ideal hawk.
 
I'm 58 and me and few other old timers backpack about 4 times per year with a one way distance of 1.5 - 2.0 miles and stay for 2 nights. We bring way too much including folding camp chairs and at least 1 axe to split up the pine, oak and juniper that we burn. We brought a 24" Estwing for years but of late we've been bringing in wood handles axes that I hafted. They work alot better and are cooler too. Last trip I brought a 36" TT Kelly Flint Edge that did a great job of splitting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top