Axes are ancient tools that come in very handy for the modern explorer. To the uninitiated, axes may all seem the same. There are several types and various constructions, some of which are better suited for off-roading, overlanding, and camping.
Below are our picks for the best axes for camping and overlanding, followed by what to consider when choosing one.
- #1Our Pick
Bushcraft Axe
Gerber Gear
The Bushcraft Axe is Gerber's compact all-around camp axe, with a forged high-carbon steel head and a plastic handle wrapped in rubber. Built-in features include a hammer face on the back of the head and an internal storage compartment for paracord or matches. Ships with a head sheath and Gerber's limited lifetime warranty.
Pros
- + Hammer face on the back doubles for tent pegs
- + Internal handle storage for cordage and matches
- + Lifetime warranty
Cons
- − Heaviest axe on this list at 4.5 lbs
- − Composite handle won't age like hickory
- Head
- Forged high-carbon steel
- Handle
- Plastic with rubber over-molding
- Weight Lbs
- 4.5
- Total Length In
- 26.25
- #2Best Value
Boy's Axe (2.25 lb Dayton)
Council Tool
The Boy's Axe is Council Tool's scaled-down Dayton-pattern axe, made in North Carolina by a company in continuous production since 1886. 2.25-pound forged-steel head on an American hickory handle, sized for camp work or fast trail clearing.
Pros
- + American-made by a company operating since 1886
- + Hickory handle, traditional Dayton pattern
- + Affordable for a forged-steel axe
Cons
- − Plainer finish than Nordic-made competitors
- − No leather sheath included
- Head
- Forged steel (2.25 lb Dayton)
- Handle
- American hickory
- Made In
- USA
- Weight Lbs
- 3.49
- Total Length In
- 24
- #3Best for Brush Clearing
Small Forest Axe
Gransfors Bruks
The Small Forest Axe is Gränsfors Bruk's compact forester's axe, hand-forged from a high-carbon steel alloy on an American hickory handle. The narrow head profile is cut for chopping trunks and branches rather than splitting. Ships with a leather sheath.
Pros
- + Hand-forged in Sweden
- + Narrow head cuts deeply into wood
- + Leather sheath included
Cons
- − Premium pricing
- − No metal collar on the handle for splitting
- Head
- High-carbon steel alloy, hand-forged
- Handle
- American hickory
- Made In
- Sweden
- Weight Lbs
- 2
- Total Length In
- 19.7
- #4Best Pack Axe
Classic Journeyman Pack Axe
Helko Werk
The Journeyman is Helko Werk's hybrid pack axe, sized between a hatchet and a full felling axe. Drop-forged steel head on an American hickory handle, made in Germany by a company that has been forging axes since 1844. Designed to swing comfortably one or two-handed.
Pros
- + Hatchet-sized for backpack carry
- + Forged in Germany by a 180+ year old maker
- + Comfortable one- or two-handed grip
Cons
- − Light for splitting heavy rounds
- − Mid-tier finish for the price
- Head
- Drop forged steel
- Handle
- American hickory
- Made In
- Germany
- Weight Lbs
- 2
- Total Length In
- 19
- #5Lightest
Outdoor Axe
Gransfors Bruks
The Outdoor Axe is Gränsfors Bruk's hatchet-sized hybrid, sitting between a true hatchet and the brand's Small Forest Axe. 1 lb on an American hickory handle with a protective steel collar near the head for occasional splitting. Ships with a leather sheath.
Pros
- + Just 1 lb — easiest to stow
- + Steel collar protects the handle on splitting strikes
- + Leather sheath included
Cons
- − Short handle limits chopping leverage
- − Premium price for a hatchet-sized tool
- Head
- High-carbon steel alloy, hand-forged
- Handle
- American hickory
- Made In
- Sweden
- Weight Lbs
- 1
- Total Length In
- 14.6
- #6Most Versatile
Pulaski Axe
Barebones
The Barebones Pulaski combines a felling-axe head with an adze, the wildland-firefighter design that lets one tool both chop wood and break up hard ground. High-carbon steel head, beechwood handle with a solid steel core. Heavier than the other picks, but the versatility pays off when digging or breaking through hardpack is part of the trip.
Pros
- + Adze handles digging and ice/bark work
- + Steel core through the beechwood handle
- + Genuine multi-tool for trail work
Cons
- − Heaviest pick at 5.55 lbs
- − Less efficient than a dedicated felling axe at pure chopping
- Head
- High-carbon steel alloy
- Style
- Pulaski (felling + adze)
- Handle
- Beechwood with solid steel core
- Weight Lbs
- 5.55
- Total Length In
- 24
How to Choose the Best Axe
An axe is a must for chopping firewood when camping. A hatchet is great for chopping small kindling, but larger rounds are much easier to split with a larger axe. They are also clutch for clearing trail obstructions when overlanding and off-roading. In heavily wooded areas, it''s not uncommon to come across tree limbs blocking in the trail, in which case an axe will help you to quickly clear the way and carry on.
Some axes, such as the Pulaski style integrate additional functionality that can come in handy for breaking hard ground when you need to dig a hole and for other tasks. Combined with an off-road shovel, an axe can help solve many problems on the trail.
There are several factors to keep in mind when choosing an axe, including the axe''s construction, style, size, and cost.
Some of the most sought-after axes on the market are made in Scandinavian countries that boast a long history of axe craftsmanship — think Vikings and big axes. That said, there are a number of American companies that make quality axes that are well worth considering.
Axe Construction
Most axe heads are made from various types of steel, with the most expensive being hand-forged versus cast. Forged steel is widely considered to result in a stronger product compared to casting, where molten metal is poured into a mold to harden. In the old days, this hammering was done manually, with a hammer, but companies that produce large quantities of axes nowadays typically use an automatic press that does the hammering. Some smaller, boutique axe manufacturers still bang out axe heads by hand.
For light use, the difference between forging and casting may never be an issue, while the difference in cost is significant. High-quality axe heads are typically made from a steel alloy that is high in carbon, which allows the head to be sharpened and hold an edge longer.
One thing you''ll see is the shape of an axes head as either Dayton style or Hudson style, particularly for axes made in America. The Dayton-style heads are more square, and good for general outdoor jobs. The Hudson-style heads fan out from the handle to form a wide cutting surface.
Axe handles are typically made of wood (hickory is a good choice) or a fiberglass or plastic composite. Sometimes the handle will incorporate a metal core to provide strength and balance the handle and the head.
Wooden handles axes will typically require more maintenance than those with composite handles. This is particularly true in desert regions where extremely dry air can cause wood to crack. However, they are also typically easier to repair than a composite handle, and the provenance of composite handles can be a bit difficult to discern sometimes (a.k.a., the head may be forged in the US or Europe, but the handle may be mass-produced in China).
Axe Length
A full-sized axe used by lumberjacks is around 36-inches long, but that''s unnecessarily large for off-roading and camping. Something smaller, around 24-inches long, will be more versatile and easier to transport. There are also axes, like the Gränsfors Outdoor Axe in our picks above, which fall somewhere between a hatchet and a full-size axe. This gives you a nice mix of compact size with a bit more swinging power than a hatchet.
Axe Style
Axes can be divided into three broad categories: splitting axes, felling axes and generalist axes used for a variety of tasks.
Splitting axes
Splitting axes are intended for just what it sounds like — splitting rounds of wood into smaller pieces of wood. To accomplish this, the head of a splitting axe tapers from the blade to become relatively wide at its thickest point.
This wedge shape splits the wood into two or more pieces as it is chopped. Dedicated splitting axes will often have a metal collar around the top of the handle to protect it as the head moves through a round of wood.
Splitting axes feature wide tapers for breaking apart rounds of wood.
Splitting mauls are a particularly wide-headed style of axe used for splitting large rounds of wood, and too specialized for use as all-around camping axes. Splitting axes can be used to cut down trees and branches, but the going will be slow as you''ll need to remove more to fit the larger head through the trunk or branch.
Felling axes
Felling axes have narrowly tapered heads and sharp blades for cutting into tree trunks and branches.
Felling axes, sometimes called forest axes, are used to chop down trees or chop off branches. These axes feature heads that are sharp and relatively thin as they taper from the head. They are designed to cut deeply crosswise into the grain of a tree or branch. They can be used to split wood but will get stuck in the wood more often.
Unlike splitting axes, felling axes don''t typically have a collar protecting the upper portion of the handle, as the axe isn''t usually wedged tightly into a cut. This is another limitation on their use for splitting rounds, as the handle may become damaged by repeated strikes of wood on wood while splitting.
Pulaski axes
Pulaski Axe.
Named for the US park ranger who developed this axe design, Pulaski-style axes, also known as cutter matlock, combine a felling axe head with an adze (narrow hoe-like tool) that can be used for digging in hard ground or chipping away at bark. Pulaski axes are quite versatile and, in our opinion, a great option for camping, off-roading and overlanding.
Some axes, labeled "boy''s axes" (yes, we know, outdated sexist term), are smaller versions of splitting axes and forestry axes. These can be good options for overlanding, off-roading and camping as they are still functional but are lighter and easier to stow.
How to choose?
The style of axe that is best for you depends to a large extent on how you anticipate using it most. If you''ll mostly be chopping wood in camp, you''ll probably lean more towards a splitting axe. If you''ll be clearing a lot of trees off of trails, a felling axe will come in handy. If you anticipate needing to break hard ground as well as deal with wood, the Pulaski axe will provide you with that versatility.
While most axes are designed toward a specific use, they can generally still be used for splitting and felling. So don''t get too hung up on what style you buy, with axes such as splitting mauls that have a very specific purpose being the exception. Generally speaking, for camping and overlanding it''s a good idea to choose a relatively compact and lightweight axe that can withstand the elements.
As a word of caution, as with many products, there are many cheap knockoffs on the market nowadays. The old saying "you get what you pay for" doesn''t even hold up with some of these products. Sometimes you get far less than you pay for. The axes we highlight above are high-quality products from reputable manufacturers.