Backpacking axe? Yes, I'll be splitting quite a bit of wood.

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The title kind of says it all. I'm looking for a nice axe that I can take backpacking. I'll be splitting quite a bit of wood, and a lot of it will be moist, hard, and knotty, so I need an axe that can split fairly well.

I'm going to have my Bravo-1/ESEE-4 with me, so carving and fine work isn't an issue.
I just need something that can split and chop decently, while still being light enough for me to backpack it around.

As for how long my trips are? Nothing too arduous, but a good 5 miles, I'd say, so I'd like to keep the weight down, but if it's good enough, I'll just take it anyway. :D

I also have a budget of around $50. I know that Condor is coming out with some axes, has anyone seen anything they like in that series? And would they be good? Also, Husqvarna seems good, as does S&N. Which models, though?
 
I'd say your best bet for the money is the Gerber Camp Axe II. It is a rebadged Fiskars X-series made in Finland and have wedge shaped heads that split better than most axes, plus it'll chop like a Gransfors. You can get them on Amazon for a bit cheaper than what Gerber has them listed for.
 
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Take a look at the Condor Double Bit Belt Hatchet. One side is for chopping in softer woods and the other is for splitting or cutting very hard or knotty wood. Sells for high $50s. If I was going to carry a larger camp axe, I would buy the Cold Steel Trail Boss.
 
I had the handle of a Gerber axe shatter on me while in use... That hollow plastic handle just won't hold up, plus the handle is so light the balance of the axe suffers. Badly. But I love the Cold Steel Trail Boss. Does a great job, bigger than a hawk or hatchet, smaller than a full axe. Head widens up enough to split well and the edge does good chopping work if you sharpen it up a bit when you get it. It's a little heavy for what I call backpacking... (10-12 days, 9-12 miles per day walking, carrying 45-55 lbs.) But for a 5 or 6 mile hike it's no problem.
 
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I was going to recommend the Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe for backpacking, but it's designed more for chopping and limbing than splitting... too bad, because the weight and size are just right for a pack axe. Regardless, you'll want to find something about 20" long -- your back will thank you. I've packed my ~25" Husqvarna axe before, and it's far too heavy / bulky for me to enjoy carrying. I only take it 4x4ing and car camping now, my 19" Gransfors comes with me in my backpack for hiking instead.

One of the Gerber or Fiskars axes might be what you want. They have a very effective shape for splitting and the plastic handle isn't as heavy as wood. I'm not sure if they make one in the right size, however.
 
The Wetterlings SAW9020H Splitting Axe is 20 inches long, weights 3 lbs., and is cheaper than the Grandfors. You should take a look at it.
 
HandAxeProMan said:
The Wetterlings SAW9020H Splitting Axe is 20 inches long, weights 3 lbs., and is cheaper than the Grandfors. You should take a look at it.
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I picked up a wetterlings large hunting axe. I will vouch for the quality of wetterlings -- I probably won't ever buy another brand of axe unless I want to go for the more expensive gransfors bruks.

It is quite a bit lighter than the splitting axe. The same dimensions -- the 20 '' handle is definitely worth its weight. I think the hunting axe is probably quite a bit better than the splitting axe as an all-around axe. But I came across this post because I have decided that I should pick up a maul or splitting axe for all of the log splitting I do when I am camping. Don't get me wrong -- I just used the hunting axe to chop up many logs and an entire pallet, but a maul or splitting axe would be a lot better for splitting the big tough and gnarley logs. I feel like heavy log splitting is a little outside the hunting axe's design.

If I were you, I would choose between the 20'' splitting axe and the large hunting axe. The former will be better for splitting; the latter will be lighter and more all-purpose. More than what you want to spend, but they are great products.
 
coloradowildman said:
I'd say your best bet for the money is the Gerber Camp Axe II. It is a rebadged Fiskars X-series made in Finland and have wedge shaped heads that split better than most axes, plus it'll chop like a Gransfors. You can get them on Amazon for a bit cheaper than what Gerber has them listed for.
Click to expand...

I think that model corresponds to the Fiskars X11. 17 inches, 2.43 lbs. The X17 is 23.5 inches and 3.7lbs. I've done a lot of splitting with their full size splitters and have had no problems with durability. The Fiskars sharpener is effective and fast, and very light compared to most sharpening systems.
 
ive got a wetterlings 10" 16" 26" and a full size felling axe. i take my 16" camping and hiking all the time. its the only axe you will ever need! the 20" is a great one too.
 
go to home deopt or lowes or whatever and get an estwing campers hatchet

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I've got a GB Small Forest Axe for this kind of thing but considering your comment "I'll be splitting quite a bit of wood, and a lot of it will be moist, hard, and knotty, so I need an axe that can split fairly well." I'd get a decent 3 1/2 pound axe with a 30" handle and put up with carrying it to camp.
 
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