Estwing Sportsman vs Camper axe

[y53p]

Going to get my first full tang camp hatchet. One is 18.75 inches (camper), the other is 14 inches. Which one of these two is the better performer/which one would you suggest?

 

[Square_peg]

Estwings are good tough tools but since you asked about performance I’ll steer you in a different direction. The Estwings have very thin cheeks which makes them poor performers when it comes to chopping and splitting. They don’t pop the chip well when chopping and they are sticky when splitting.

I think you’d be better off with a wood handled hatchet from Vaughan or Council. These have fuller cheeks.

 

[DocJD]

I only have the 26" Camp Axe . Extra length really helps .

I've used it a lot over many years . Effective , sturdy and trouble free .

Mine has the old leather sheath, which was great . Can't speak for the newer ones .

 

[EngrSorenson]

I've used an Estwing quite a bit and then I've used other hatchets/axes quite a bit, and I would also encourage you to look elsewhere, like Square_peg.

The only reasons I'd get an Estwing over another offering is
1) if you weren't going to use it much and wanted to keep it in your truck.
2) If you know you're not going to maintain/repair/replace a wooden haft

The benefits Estwing gets in ease of maintenance are overshadowed by how relatively unwieldy they are.
For the same amount of chopping, I get tired faster with the heavier Estwing.

I went for Council tools and found them not only to be reasonably priced, but excellent performers.
My personal favorite is the Flying Fox hatchet.

If you're deadset on Estwing, I'd want to know what you're going to use it for.
The bigger version obviously gets you a little more capability, but not much, and it's probably no longer a one handed ax.

 

[littleknife]

Listen to Square_peg and EngrSorenson!
Estwing’s only saving grace is that you won’t break the handle. You can lend it to people who abuse tools. but beyond that it’s not a good axe or hatchet.
For a hatchet I would go with the Vaughan 1 1/4 lb camp hatchet with wooden handle or the Council Tools Flying Fox, now available also with a 22” handle, if you want something longer.

 

[Blue Sky]

There is a significant weight difference between the two, you might want to keep that in mind if that is a concern. I think they perform better than most reviews I read. You will need to put a proper edge on them. Not the best splitters with rounds vertical, but I’ve found my Camper does very well thru the side. I used it all last winter that way and was pleasantly surprised.

Estwings are one of those love/hate things. You either like them or you don’t, not much middle ground it seems. There are always “better” tools out there but for me they get it done and I like the durability factor. Handles always choose to break at the most inconvenient times.

 

[EngrSorenson]

You will need to put a proper edge on them.

My experience has been that the bevels are just kinda zipped on there- my E24 required a bunch of filing to get it right.

Estwings are one of those love/hate things. You either like them or you don’t, not much middle ground it seems.

I loved my E24 right up until the day I tried the flying fox.
I still like my E24- it's my emergency back up to the emergency back up to my regular hatchet.

If I could only have one though? I would not pick the E24.

 

[DocJD]

I'm hard on wood handles and don't enjoy worrying about or repairing them .

Or failing at inconvenient times .

I use chainsaws , Silky saws etc for felling / large cutting and have other tools for splitting .

Use my Estwing mostly for saplings , limbing small branches , and keeping trails cleared .

Works great for my uses .

But , I'm not really an axe aficionado , so consider the advise of others more expert here .

 

[Hickory n steel]

I'd go with a V&B camp hatchet, Council tool camp hatchet, or Council tool boys axe.

th my opinion/ experience the estwings do not perform very well.

 

[y53p]

If you're deadset on Estwing, I'd want to know what you're going to use it for.

I’d be pairing it with a large fixed blade (not full tang though, Buck 120 pro, 7 3/4 inch blade). Wouldn’t wanna do anything more than light chopping and batoning with the knife in terms of “hard” tasks, so I’d like a very sturdy/nearly indestructible axe to compensate for the knife and do any kind of hard task from heavy chopping to splitting, without worrying about the handle snapping and stuff. I’d be more inclined towards the Camper’s but there’s not too much on it out there except for a coupe vids, while the Sportsman seems to be Estwing’s poster child and the best advertised full tang axe for the price. The edge geometry seems a little different, but I’d like to know if the Camper’s is really worth the (slightly) extra price or if the two perform about/the same regardless of the differences or if one is straight up better than the other.

 

[w]

I like all the estwings.View attachment 2210953

 

[littleknife]

y53p,
The Vaughan or the Flying Fox wooden handles won’t snap easily, unless you are constantly overstriking. The advantage in performance way overweighs the indestructability of the Estwings.
For light chopping or delimbing the Estwings will be OK, for splitting they will perform rather poorly.
The Vaughan and the Flying Fox will be superior for chopping and splitting.
If you insist on the Estwing, I suggest the shorter one, I think it is better balanced than the longer ones.
Besides the poor head profile, the longer Estwings have poor balance too. For occasional use or for severe misuse they are OK, but fine performing axes they are definitely not.

 

[Alone]

Y y53p ,


I have several Estwings, and prefer the "Camper's Axe with Tent Stake Puller", with is the third one down in @w's above pic.

Every time I use it, I'm kinda' shocked at how well it performs.