Camp Axe Suggestions

LittleBlueSubaru · 06-30-09, 02:10 PM

I camp a fair bit during the summer months. Always have been tent people but just picked up myself a pop up. So it isn't going into a pack. Anyway, I am looking for a good camp axe for splitting wood. I have a 12-13" Gerber maybe a pound. It is too small for the large pieces. I think a maul is overkill. All of the following axes are in the $25-75 range.

I am looking at
Estwing 26" campers axe
Estwing Fireside Friend 13" maul type axe
Gerber 17" camp axe
Fiskar 28" Power axe

Any suggestions that are on the list or others would be most appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Anthony

cody c · 07-01-09, 04:28 AM

little axes suck. sorry but they do. they look cool but once you have to cut something big you realize they are a tool whos only real job is kindling. The fiskars and gerber are cool axes, the look kick ass and cut great and would probally be great backup for zombie killing

. However I find im usually chopping wood withoout a chopping block or in a situation where I could easily hit something other than wood, like rocks and dirt.

Long story short i would go with the big estwing or something big and cheap as steel is easy to sharpen and wont chip as bad. If you are mostly getting it "in case" and want a kick ass looking setup then i would buy the Fiskars or Gerber.

bigndn · 07-01-09, 06:57 AM

If you can find a timber falling axe, they're perfect for that stuff.

knoll0351 · 07-01-09, 12:30 PM

I have a Fiskars splitting axe and LOVE it. Not sure the size, but it is the standard they sell at Home Depot for to split your fire would with

When light camping I use my Ka-Bar it's a great multi tasker! Hope this helps.

Edit:
Okay so I've got the 28" Pro Splitting and for car camping it's perfect. It does the work I used to use a splitting maul for...not quite as affective, but does the job.

VanGo · 07-01-09, 12:49 PM

LBS,

Estwing Camper's Ax - 26 : Cabela's

This is what I have in the rig. Good all around performance.

grizzlygibbs · 07-02-09, 01:20 PM

I like the gerber!

Devilmans Hand · 07-02-09, 02:42 PM

I've been using my fiskar splitter for five years and love it for splitting seasoned oak

D'Animal · 07-02-09, 02:48 PM

Has anybody mentioned a 3lb Collins pole axe yet?

You can step up and get the 6lb as well.

Mace · 07-02-09, 03:26 PM

WTF is a pole Axe??

D'Animal · 07-02-09, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mace

WTF is a pole Axe??

A loggers term for a single bit axe.

97cruiser · 07-02-09, 06:23 PM

I have the Eastwing 26" Campers axe and it's great for chopping but not splitting

SOCALFJ · 07-03-09, 06:09 PM

I don't know a whole lot about axes, but we have the Fiskar axe and its damn sharp and light. My friends that have chopped and split a helluva lot more wood than me... they say its one of the best axes they've used. Wish i could give you more insight, but i can't. All i know is i would not hesitate going with the Fiskar brand.

Sea Knight · 07-04-09, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SOCALFJ

I don't know a whole lot about axes, but we have the Fiskar axe and its damn sharp and light. My friends that have chopped and split a helluva lot more wood than me... they say its one of the best axes they've used. Wish i could give you more insight, but i can't. All i know is i would not hesitate going with the Fiskar brand.

x2 on the 28" Fiskar axe. I saw them on sale at the local Sears yesterday for $36.99, cheaper than I've seen on the net.

tradarcher · 07-04-09, 10:07 PM

The Gransfors, is a great. Very traditional handmade axe...I have the "hunters" axe, great for all around camp and for big game breakdown.

Canoe Packs and camping gear

The Axe Book Everything you need to know about axes.
http://www.gransfors.us/TheAxeBook.pdf

cody c · 07-04-09, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SOCALFJ

I don't know a whole lot about axes, but we have the Fiskar axe and its damn sharp and light. My friends that have chopped and split a helluva lot more wood than me... they say its one of the best axes they've used. Wish i could give you more insight, but i can't. All i know is i would not hesitate going with the Fiskar brand.

these are a really nice axe for cutting wood, nothing you would want to hammer on with a sledge, i know your not supposed to on this type of axe but i have given a steel axe a smack once or twice in notted wood. I would use this at home with a good chopping block, but in the woods i find there is usually rocky ground and often nothing that constitutes a chopping block around. So i suggest the "beater" axe for my vehicle. If I wanted the cool looking axe the fiskars takes the cake though.

D'Animal · 07-05-09, 05:46 PM

The camp Axe you describe that you have now is what I call a hatchet.

The requirement to get a camp Axe used for splitting wood depends greatly on the type of wood you will be splitting. The fiskars and eastwing are very good axes but suck at splitting hardwood with knots. I will give anybody on this form 20 minutes to split a piece of Oak from a crotch ot with a knot in it with one of those axes. Don't mean to be negative but we heat with wood now and ever since I was a youngster in Iowa. Didn't get a gasoline powered log splitter until 1984.

Nack on toppic, if you a popping Tamarack apart, a double bit axe will do just fine.

Here is my current line up.

D'Animal · 07-05-09, 05:50 PM

Here are my favorite two depending on what I'm doing.

The blue one is a Collin 6lb. I pin the head on all of my axes. I use this for pounding wedges when felling trees.

The Orange headed one is european design and works great for splitting or pounding wedges. What I don't like about it is the unegue handle design. It is easy to replace the hickory handle but it has round ringed wedges that you drive in. i generally replace all of my handles with Nupla handles and I cannot do it easily on this one with the handle style I like.

dogcatch'n · 07-06-09, 12:30 PM

Fiskars has a bunch of differant sizes....super axe...love them....unbreakable.well balanced...i would highy recommend one....A long time ago, you could get get one at sears...I don't know if they are still available their or not...the site is a little flowery, but they have good products...I think the axes are under gardening/cuttingtools/axes...

www.fiskars.com

mwalls54 · 07-07-09, 01:12 PM

I have the 17.5" gerber and its been a great axe to take camping. I havn't had to spilt wood with it cause I have usually taken wood with me that was split. but if i had to split with it i would try to use it normally but if not i would get it started and then hit it with my small 4lb sledge to drive it thru.

67azcruizr · 07-12-09, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D'Animal

Here are my favorite two depending on what I'm doing.

The blue one is a Collin 6lb. I pin the head on all of my axes. I use this for pounding wedges when felling trees.

Collins makes a damn good axe, they've been around forever.

That being said I never camp with a axe. Instead I pack a Corona pruning saw.

http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/Im...2_81269_p1.jpg

initially I used these for back country camping because of their light weight, but them started packing it for regular outings as well. It's unbelievably sharp and can cut through logs nearly twice it's length in no time at all.

If I'm Cadillac camping I generally split all my wood at home and save the camping trip for disposing of cold liquid livations.

lingo · 07-18-09, 10:20 PM

This is what I want.Gransfors Bruks Splitting axe

perk · 07-22-09, 06:37 PM

From your choices, it sounds like large pieces of knotted hardwood are not a consideration. I have found my estwing to be very useful. It has enough size and weight to swing with force, then can be pounded with a sledge if necessary. It can also be well sharpened.

Mace · 07-22-09, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lingo

This is what I want.Gransfors Bruks Splitting axe

What makes an axe worth $120??

hawkeye · 07-22-09, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D'Animal

The camp Axe you describe that you have now is what I call a hatchet.

The requirement to get a camp Axe used for splitting wood depends greatly on the type of wood you will be splitting. The fiskars and eastwing are very good axes but suck at splitting hardwood with knots. I will give anybody on this form 20 minutes to split a piece of Oak from a crotch ot with a knot in it with one of those axes. Don't mean to be negative but we heat with wood now and ever since I was a youngster in Iowa. Didn't get a gasoline powered log splitter until 1984.

Nack on toppic, if you a popping Tamarack apart, a double bit axe will do just fine.

Here is my current line up.

Damn.. I always say "You can tell alot about a guy by his Axe collection" well maybe not always, but when I see a collection like that we have a real man on our hands.

I use the Eastwing 26" it works well as an all around Axe, but is not a "splitting Axe" by any means.

lingo · 07-22-09, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mace

What makes an axe worth $120??

That is why I said I want one. I don't own one. I have been to the shop and held one. It is a work of art. That is one of their cheaper axes too.

Mace · 07-23-09, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lingo

That is why I said I want one. I don't own one. I have been to the shop and held one. It is a work of art. That is one of their cheaper axes too.

I don't understand the need for a work of art to turn big pieces of wood into small pieces of wood.

And, you can't even hit the flat end with a mallet..

firetruck41 · 07-23-09, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mace

I don't understand the need for a work of art to turn big pieces of wood into small pieces of wood.

And, you can't even hit the flat end with a mallet..

Some people don't understand why someone needs a Corvette ZO6, when a Aveo, will get you around just fine.

And the Vette won't even carry four people...

Mace · 07-23-09, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by firetruck41

Some people don't understand why someone needs a Corvette ZO6, when a Aveo, will get you around just fine.

And the Vette won't even carry four people...

Not exactly an apples to oranges comparison...

There are serious performance upgrades between the two..

Are the $120 axes that much "better" at turning big wood into small wood.

firetruck41 · 07-23-09, 12:17 PM

OK, how about we substitute Camry and Lexus ES? Or an IKEA kitchen cabinet, versus a custom made hardwood cabinet with dovetail joints, and finished by hand. Both may have the exact same functionality, durability, and similar look. The point is, some people value one thing, others value something else...

Mace · 07-23-09, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by firetruck41

OK, how about we substitute Camry and Lexus ES? Or an IKEA kitchen cabinet, versus a custom made hardwood cabinet with dovetail joints, and finished by hand. Both may have the exact same functionality, durability, and similar look.

None of your comparisons have the exact same functionality, durability and look. In order to pay more for something you need to get something more out of it. Even if that "more" is just a name. Otherwise you are pretty much dumping your money into the trash.

Quote:

Originally Posted by firetruck41

The point is, some people value one thing, others value something else...

And that is my question. What makes these axes worth $120 to a person. Lingo apparently does not feel they are worth it to him (at least not yet). So what makes these axes really nice? Do they hold an edge longer than others? Is the balance while cutting that much better?

Any excuse works really.

"Cause I want the most expensive axe I can find" works.

As does.
"Paul Bunyon had one, I like Paul Bunyon.."

Or even
"Cause it's cool"