Backpacking Smart: Why You Should Take an Axe

I always carry a compact hatchet when I go backpacking.

Although I’m not an ultra-light hiker, I make a conscious effort to pack light and efficiently. For a long time I only brought a knife, but after learning about the benefits of carrying a small hatchet, I switched to using one. In fact, the hatchets I carry now, including their sheaths, weigh less than the large knife I used to carry.

When backpacking, a compact axe or hatchet should be packed in case of emergencies. If you become lost or injured they can be used to build fires, shelter, or signal for help. But, they are also handy once you have made camp for kindling or camp crafts.

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Campsite Tasks are Easier but not the Point

A small hatchet can be convenient for tasks like splitting wood on campsites. It’s nice to have in these scenarios, but a medium-large knife can baton through a few pieces of kindling to get a fire started if needed. And a knife is often better for shaving tinder.

Plus you often don’t have fires when backpacking anyway – you cook with a stove. So this is not the main you should carry an axe.

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Carrying an Axe Can Save Your Life on the Trail

While backpacking isn’t a dangerous activity – accidents happen, people get lost and the seriousness is compounded by how far you are from help.

An axe or hatchet is an incredibly useful tool in backwood emergencies as it can be used to process wood for a fire, carve or shape make-shift tools, build shelter, clear canopy, or blaze a trail to improve your chances of being found.

Build Robust Fires that Last

This one is obvious, but fire is a big deal in a survival scenario – it can be used for heat, comfort/morale, cooking, or as a signal for help to find you. Whether someone is hurt and in shock, or you get stuck somewhere unexpected you may need to make an unplanned fire quickly – and the ability to efficiently gather fuel is key.

You usually don’t get to choose when these things happen, so you may be stuck with limited options for dry wood.

You want to be able to use larger pieces of wood to keep the fire going while you work on other things or try and get some sleep. If you can only use sticks from the ground you will be constantly feeding the fire, and be unable to get any rest or get anything else done. Making your situation worse.

Axes Can Build Shelter or Craft Other Tools

The nice thing about backpacking is you likely have your shelter on your back, but you still may need to use deadwood, branches, or small trees in an emergency. Whether it’s to make a split, stretcher, or even a makeshift stretcher.

This may sound extreme (and hopefully it never happens) but if an accident happens you don’t want to waste time or energy.

Axes Can Help You Get Rescued

I already mentioned fire being used for signalling, but it can also help you find your way and lead others to you.

An axe can be used to blaze a trail by slashing segments of bark off trees as you walk. This leaves a marked trail of “breadcrumbs” for you to follow, but will also lead any rescue parties that come across it right to you.

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The Fiskars X5 is made for backpacking

The X5 is the axe I have carried most while backpacking the last couple of years despite owning much more expensive options.

The Fiskars X5 checks every box for what makes a good backpacking axe. It has an efficient 1lb wedge-shaped head, but still only weighs a total of 1.35 lbs (21.5oz | 613g) with a sheath. So most of the weight is smart “working weight”. And this means it performs surprisingly well at both chopping and splitting tasks despite its small size.

Plus it’s affordable to top it all off. I bought an aftermarket leather sheath, which reduces the footprint and weight even more.

I have a lot more info about Fiskars on the site if you want to do more research.

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The Gerber 9 is just a Black Fiskars X5

Fun fact – Gerber is owned by Fiskars. So, if you don’t like orange this axe is also sold as the Gerber 9, and it’s all black with a green sheath. It can sometimes be a few bucks cheaper than the Fiskars version, but they are identical other than color – here is the Gerber 9 on amazon.

Gerber makes ANOTHER very similar-looking axe called the “Gerber Gator” which is made in Thailand and of lower quality.

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The Lexivon V9 is a budget X5

I like this axe WAY more than I was expecting to. The compact Lexivon V9 is essentially a knock-off Fiskars X5 that is around half the price (see on amazon).

I was expecting it to be trash like most of the other axes at this price point – but it performs pretty darn well. It has a similar head shape and actually manages to weigh slightly less. I don’t think the steel is as good as Fiskars, and the finish is noticeably lower quality – but it works well.

The larger models of Lexivon have issues – and I wouldn’t recommend them. But in this size and role, I think it could be considered (Although I would still take the Fiskars first).

It comes with a little “bag-clip” style plastic sheath that is odd – but really light and compact.

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The Gransfors Bruk Outdoor Axe Does it Differently

This is a very interesting option but at $200+ it’s not for everyone.

Unlike the other options that use a full-size hatchet head on a compact handle, the Outdoor Axe is unique and puts a lighter 0.75lb (approx) head on a full-size 14″ handle. This longer handle compensates for the lighter head by allowing you to whip it much more quickly.

The weight reduction in the head does still impact performance when chopping through a 5-6″ log, but it’s still very capable of it – and the long handle makes it much more comfortable and pleasant to do.

The smaller sharp head is better than either of the others for small carving and detail work, and the design really lends to being a “belt axe” that can be used interchangeably like a knife.

Here is the Outdoor Axe on Amazon, but they also have a hand-hatchet model that is much more like the Fiskars model here.

I have more details and pictures of the outdoor axe in this comparison with another Gransfors Bruk axe.