Hello all,

Just wondering people's opinions on whether a camp axe is worth taking for a short, 2 night trip? Thinking a saw might be adequate for a couple fires worth of wood. Interested to hear all opinions.

Thanks.

Your question will generate a lot of response.

An axe is not worth the weight IMO no matter the length of the trip.

Remember you are going to take a trip in September. The campsites will be long ago picked clean of easy firewood laying about. September also can get a lot of rain. Splitting wood will get you into the dry wood for fires. The nights also come sooner, sun sets early, air and water are cooler. You will need to process firewood and an axe or hatchet is needed. No way I would be without one this time of year. Also bring a good saw.

Easy to split and break wood without hatchet or axe. Just smack it down on a large rock with a sharp edge.

I've been taking multiple trips/year for 40 years. The only times I've carried a hatchet or axe is when I've found them at campsites and have packed them out.

I never take one, but that's me. I rarely build a fire, am frequently solo, and consider it a danger in my hands. Others are different.

I agree that for splitting wood or regular camp chores, you can get by with other tools.

That said, I always carry an axe and saw and it's especially handy in the shoulder season as SavageV mentioned. And if you've ever talked with someone that's been out in a blowdown (I personally have not) it might inform your decision to always have an axe and saw in the pack.

Mnbowyer: "Hello all,

Just wondering people's opinions on whether a camp axe is worth taking for a short, 2 night trip? ."

How important is having a fire during your trip? I'm not good enough at firecraft to split wood with rocks to get at dry wood in a 48 hour rain storm in Sep or October. Outdoor axe in August and light distance trips, Wilderness axe for October slower moving trips where the fire is the tv.
Outdoor Axe

Wilderness Axe

Do we debate this more, or less, than footwear??

My vote is 'yes' and my choice is the Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet.

Savage Voyageur: "Remember you are going to take a trip in September. The campsites will be long ago picked clean of easy firewood laying about. September also can get a lot of rain. Splitting wood will get you into the dry wood for fires. The nights also come sooner, sun sets early, air and water are cooler. You will need to process firewood and an axe or hatchet is needed. No way I would be without one this time of year. Also bring a good saw. "

+1

unshavenman: "

Savage Voyageur: "Remember you are going to take a trip in September. The campsites will be long ago picked clean of easy firewood laying about. September also can get a lot of rain. Splitting wood will get you into the dry wood for fires. The nights also come sooner, sun sets early, air and water are cooler. You will need to process firewood and an axe or hatchet is needed. No way I would be without one this time of year. Also bring a good saw. "

+1
"

+2

Paddle 200 yards away from camp with your saw and then go into the woods. You’ll find tons more and better wood. Cut into 5 foot lengths, then process back in camp.

It's amazing what you can split with Knife batoning. It was my choice during an October trip.

No.

The suggestion of gathering wood in the canoe a 3 minute paddle from camp is a good one - I find it's all stuff I can handle with a folding saw or even a sharp kick.

A saw and maybe a small hatchet for splitting are all you need. Particularly prefer a saw over an axe for cutting wood.

Just one more opinion here...
Years ago I only took a good saw and a knife for batoning. Most of the wood that I processed was 3 inches in diameter or smaller. With the smaller wood, full rounds burn a little longer than split (IMO) so I didn't even split most of it, just cut to length.
With that said, I have taken a small hatchet with me the last two trips to help me with the splitting.
The other part to consider is how much of a minimalist do you want to be?
For just two nights, I personally would be traveling very light.

No. Fires aren't worth the effort either, in my opinion.

Not to me, at least not in the spring through fall. The only time I pack a saw and axe is in the winter.

On the other hand you might like fires more than I do and you might find an axe very useful on most/every trip. As someone else mentioned this is a personal choice.

Mnbowyer: "Hello all,

Just wondering people's opinions on whether a camp axe is worth taking for a short, 2 night trip? Thinking a saw might be adequate for a couple fires worth of wood. Interested to hear all opinions.

Thanks."

Whenever I see this question asked on the forum, my first question back to the person would be "what do you need the fire for?" If you are planning on cooking all your meals over a fire, breakfast, lunch and dinner, then you will be depending on good firewood for the whole process. If that is the case and if there is a lot of rain that week, an axe or at the very least a hatchet will be very useful.

However, if all you want from a fire is a little ambiance at night and a bit of warmth, then no, I don't see an axe being needed.

If you do want to bring an axe, then my followup question is "how experienced are you with it?" A slip with an axe is a quick way to having a problematic trip.

I go on solo trips mostly and don't bring an axe or hatchet, except for my winter solo trips. In winter the axe and hatchet are needed. I am also not cooking over a fire for my solo trips.

OldTripper: "Just one more opinion here...
Years ago I only took a good saw and a knife for batoning. Most of the wood that I processed was 3 inches in diameter or smaller. With the smaller wood, full rounds burn a little longer than split (IMO) so I didn't even split most of it, just cut to length.
With that said, I have taken a small hatchet with me the last two trips to help me with the splitting.
The other part to consider is how much of a minimalist do you want to be?
For just two nights, I personally would be traveling very light."

I take a saw and batoning knife.

I've never needed an axe. On short or long trips.
A good saw and one of these below has always taken care of my needs.

KarlBAndersen1: "I've never needed an axe. On short or long trips.
A good saw and one of these below has always taken care of my needs.
"

Where does a person get one of those?

Yes, if you're competent and plan to use it.
No, if you never use one and are just bringing one because you think you should.

I like fires for cooking, trip a lot in shoulder seasons, and enjoy a fire when I'm in camp so I always bring one. In 11 years I've only once not.... and wished I had.
That said, and like many others have stated, it's not needed if you don't mind breaking sticks and/or sawing up little stuff.

pamonster: "Yes, if you're competent and plan to use it.
No, if you never use one and are just bringing one because you think you should.


I like fires for cooking, trip a lot in shoulder seasons, and enjoy a fire when I'm in camp so I always bring one. In 11 years I've only once not.... and wished I had.
That said, and like many others have stated, it's not needed if you don't mind breaking sticks and/or sawing up little stuff.
"

Good answer. Twice I've read stories about people getting hauled out of the BW due to injuries caused by an axe (both leg injuries). I enjoy a good fire and I have never needed one on a canoe trip, but I'm sure that it could be an asset if you are determined to make use of one.

No, an axe is not necessary. We only carry a Silky Saw and it is more than enough and I don't want the weight.

All of our food is fresh, and we cook all meals with wood so a camp axe gets a lot of use. If you never have a fire you don’t need one. I’m sure more people are injured and have to leave the BWCA When carrying canoes across portages than injured with an axe but everybody still takes a canoe.

Mnbowyer: "Hello all,

Just wondering people's opinions on whether a camp axe is worth taking for a short, 2 night trip? Thinking a saw might be adequate for a couple fires worth of wood. Interested to hear all opinions.

Thanks."

The only opinion that matters is the guy's who will carry the axe. Everything else is just noise.

I agree. Bring anything you are willing to carry. For me, as I get older I lean towards the ultralight equipment and leaving behind "luxury" items. That said, I like a good fire each night and I will bring a saw and hatchet on every trip.

I have a collection of log working tools, but often bring no axe or saw. I just put the end of a log in the fire and push it Indian style.

An axe is good to make a paddle is you have to. I bring one for longer trips or rougher water. When people start drinking I hide it.

Thanks for all the replies. After careful thought I ended up bringing it and was glad to have had it. Split some bigger stuff to get to the drier inside as someone had pointed out. Safe travels everyone.