A camping hatchet may seem like a poor cousin to a full-sized camp axe, and it certainly can’t match the power and utility of larger tools, but when it comes to processing firewood for backcountry backpacking it’s still more than capable. While a hatchet’s lighter weight and smaller size mean it requires fewer swings to cut through wood than a heavier axe, it’s also more maneuverable, making it better for working in tight spaces where a full-sized axe can’t fit. In an era when ultralight backpacking is all the rage, it’s easy to see why a lightweight hatchet would be appealing and there’s no doubt that a great hatchet can easily fulfill the needs of any backcountry camper.
In our tests we saw that even the smallest hatchets were well-suited to cutting and splitting firewood while most excelled at tasks like delimbing and chopping. Many were also engineered with multiple functions built in, such as a flat edge that can function as a hammer. And of course, the fact that they’re less expensive than their bigger axe counterparts helps make them an attractive option for backpackers.
Our favorite hatchet was the Toor Knives F13 Tommy, a short and compact tomahawk-style tool that offers both the chopping prowess of a camp axe and the nimbleness of a carving knife. It has a thinner bit with a shorter beard, meaning it’s better for splitting smaller branches and clearing shooting lanes, but it’s also a solid tool for any other campsite chores that you can think of. It’s also quite lightweight, and it can be carried in a small KYDEX sheath while you’re trekking into the backcountry.
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