| Author |
Message Text |
|
MidwestFirecraft
|
Outdoor axe vs. Wildlife hatchet: Outdoor axe wins in splitting, limbing, and weight. Go to summer and backpacking axe. I sold the wildlife hatchet shortly after acquiring the Outdoor axe. I pair my Outdoor axe with a Gomboy.
Small Forest axe vs. Wilderness axe: The Wilderness axe is my favorite axe. I find the handle length, head weight, and shape to be ideal for splitting and felling. This is my go to canoe tripping axe. You won't find me without it in the spring, fall, or winter. It's a half pound heavier than the SFA, but well worth the weight for added splitting performance in my opinion. The SFA just hangs and gets oiled now. I pair my Wilderness axe with a Katanboy or boreal.
|
|
MidwestFirecraft
|
Great choice!
|
|
butthead
|
Long as your looking consider SA Wetterlings bought out by Gansfors a while ago, not quite as expensive and a bit more wedge to the head that works better with harder woods as good on soft. They are not in production now but may be found.
There are other quality small axes available, I just am not fond of the Gansfors head profile (it's too narrow, can bite deep but sticks).
butthead
|
|
OCDave
|
I got Wildlife Hatchets for each of my sons (I like that it is an heirloom tool they'll take camping long after I'm dust). It is a really nice sized tool for solo or small group use. The weight/size advantage of the hatchet over the other options you are considering make it more likely you'll bring it more often. I also like that it fits easily inside my portage pack rather than strapped outside. I pair mine with a small folding Silky saw as the perfect wood processing combo.
If your trips are typically with groups larger than 4, the Small Forest Axe might be worth the weight/size penalty but, will you pack the larger tool for a quick 3 day solo? I have considered the Small Forest Axe but, have had some difficulty justifying the extra cost of the axes over the hatchet.
I disagree that a hatchet poses any more risk than the longer handled options but, clearly a one-hand tool will be used differently than the two-hand tools.
Which ever you choose, I am certain you will be pleased with your Granfors Bruk tool.
|
|
walllee
|
The wildlife hatchet has served me well. Just the perfect size for packing, and handles all my camp chore needs.
|
|
TipsyPaddler
|
Of those four I own and have used the Small Forest Axe (SFA) and Wildlife Hatchet.
If I had to pick one it would be the SFA. The mechanical advantage of the longer handle and a “heavy enough but not too heavy” head make it the perfect packable axe for my camping preferences. It stores easily down the side of a medium sized pack like a CCS Hybrid Pioneer.
I use the Wildlife Hatchet on solo trips when my needs for firewood are much less. I often leave it at home and just use a small saw and bushcraft knife for firewood processing.
I tend to use fires more for relaxation in the evenings for an hour or two or as morale boosters on cold, rainy days. I do not cook much over open fires. If the weather forecast is particularly wet I may bring the hatchet or axe as splitting wood to get dry fuel becomes more necessary. If I cooked on the fire grate more often I would definitely have the SFA in my pack.
|
|
nooneuno
|
Over-swing or miss with an axe and the blade ends up in the dirt, Over-swing or miss with a hatchet and the blade ends up in your shin. Sure your always careful with your hatchet but what about the other guys.......
|
|
timatkn
|
I have the outdoor axe and love it. It is about as light as a hatchet with a little more length. Really good multi-purpose tool—-I just like to hold it.
T
|
|
schweady
|
MidwestFirecraft: "That's a lot of splitting with a hatchet!"
Part of one afternoon.
Cooking with cedar is a pleasure when you have lots of sizes to choose from to adjust the temperature just so.
|
|
huntfun2
|
After reading all of the responses I decided to pick up the Small Forest Axe this weekend at CanoeCopia. Sure is a sweet little axe. Cant wait to put it into action. I've run into too many pine trees with large trunks laying across the portage trail and that's quite a job for the saw. With the axe I can just limb off the limbs on the top side and go over.
Thanks for all the help!!
|
|
huntfun2
|
I've changed my mind from being a "no axe needed" to a "we would be better with the axe" for limbing and splitting wood. Batoning with the knife has gotten old and isn't always the most efficient method (for me anyways). Decided I would like a nice tool and the Gransfor Bruk axes seem to fit the bill. Need help deciding which one to get. I'm considering the Wildlife Hatchet, the Outdoor Axe, the Hunter's Axe and the Small Forest Axe.
What are your thoughts, experiences and suggestions?
|
|
Arcola
|
Ooh, you're gonna like that! I have one and am still a bit jealous.
|
|
clrdoguy68
|
I have the SFA. I primarily use it on my elk hunts. We usually pack in on horses and it's a necessity. Comes in real handy for lopping branches off a blow down that's blocking the trail. And of course if the weather's bad and we have the wood stove fired up, it's great for splitting small logs. I brought it on the first canoe trip I did a few years ago, but since then I leave it at home. Seems like the folding pack saw is good enough for cutting wood for the small camp fires I occasionally build. The only thing I used the ax for was hammering a few tent stakes. It's a great ax and really holds an edge. I used few cheap axes before breaking down and buying this one and I do not regret spending the extra money. I would recommend putting some fluorescent tape on the handle because it's one those things you can easily lose track of and leave behind.
|
|
schweady
|
The GB Wildlife Hatchet will accomplish the task well. I wouldn't go smaller, however.
|
|
huntfun2
|
Wow - great advice from everyone. Sure seems like a lot of preference for the Small Forest Axe with the Outdoor and Wildlife right behind.
|
|
WonderMonkey
|
I also have the outdoors axe. My only critique is you have to care for the edge during a trip more than you would the small forest axe. That's no problem as the outdoors axe is not meant for the heavier use that the forest axe is. Part of your decision should be "What do you want to do with it" and "Are you planning on backpacking with it in addition to canoe camping?" I'll carry the outdoors axe in a backpack but I might not carry the small forest axe. Not much difference but that's how I am.
When I get back from a weekend backpack trip I take care of the axe edge. It may need just a few strokes from my stone and then the strop, or the strop may handle it by itself. Either way the factory edge is thin, which means very useful and sharp, but you should know it to factor into your decision.
|
|
Jaywalker
|
I've used a Scandanavian Forest Ax for winter trips for several years and sometimes brought it along on early spring or late fall, but felt it was too long for canoeing. A couple months back I got the Small Forest Ax for canoeing and am happy with that choice. I did like the rounded poll of the Hunter, but did not as much care for the shape of the knob - just didn't feel as secure in my hand - so went with the SFA.
|
|
em8260
|
Had the hatchet, didnt really care for it, I DO also have the forest axe which I think is just right. In all honesty I rarely bring any axe, I baton with a mora or bk16 . Never felt I needed more. I always felt that hatchets were an accidental miss/glance injury waiting to happen.
|
|
NoFishNoDinner
|
I would go with the longer handle. As another person mentioned, it’s better for safety reasons since it generally hits the ground after a miss. An axe injury in Bwca is a trip killer. Def make sure your first aid kit can handle a laceration wound if your bring an axe. Even using proper technique and equipment it possible to have an accident.
|
|
unshavenman
|
Definitely the Small Forest Axe. The extra handle length and minimal weight difference compared to a hatchet makes it more useful. As stated before, it rides very well in the side pocket of the CCS Pioneer pack. Anything larger and someone besides me will be carrying it.
|
|
RTurner
|
I love mine!
|
|
MidwestFirecraft
|
That's a lot of splitting with a hatchet!
|
|
flynn
|
I've got the Mini Hatchet and Wildlife Hatchet. Both are awesome. However I use a Fiskars X17 23.5" axe for splitting and it has worked great. For your use case, I'd totally get the Small Forest Axe for sure. I want one and will probably get one at some point and forego the Fiskars. The hatchets are great for limbing and splitting small logs (which you'd saw into pieces with a folding saw like a Silky Gomboy which I have and is excellent) but you can easily one-hand the SFA for limbing so you don't need to bring a hatchet as well.
Instead of swinging a hatchet like an axe (asking for an injury), hold the round in your left hand, hatchet in your right, and put the blade against the log. Then swing the whole thing down onto a big log so as to drive the hatchet through the log you're splitting. It's sort of like, side batoning. It works really well and is so much safer than swinging it like an axe. I do it with rounds under 6" generally and it takes no more time than conventional splitting while standing. A safer way to do that is to lean the round against a large log, and swing down on the side of the round, so the blade will deflect to the left or right into the large log (of course standing with a wide stance). If you don't have a tall stump to split rounds top-down, the side methods are the safest and are still very energy-efficient and effective.
|
|
Moonpath
|
I own the outdoor axe and small forest axe. I also have their small splitting maul. I agree with most who suggest that for greatest versatility that the outdoor axe may be the best. Only problem is that these are pricey. The SFA may less expensive. One other insight is that I still use my east wing like boyscout axe that is over 50 years old and still going strong. Using an axe at camp for various purposes (such as pounding in tent pegs) will test the durability of your axe. If you only use your axe for chopping and s
splitting wood not a problem. Both BG axes are very nice and would work.
|
|
Arcola
|
While most are sticking to the options you're asking about, I shall deviate a bit.
I bought the Small Forest. Thought I had died and gone to heaven, then I acquired the Small Splitter. Splitting is the job I need done and a hatchet, being lighter, seems the best choice; however, Most if not all the wood left at or near camp sites is larger than a hatchet may be able to deal with. With a saw/splitter combo more possibilities opened up for me in the wood processing realm. The small splitter kept sharp can amazingly do light chopping and weighs 1.5 lbs. more than the Small Forest axe. I am willing to carry an extra pound and one half to meet my safety and splitting needs.
Chopping can be just asking for trouble in many cases as has been mentioned above.
|
|
DeanL
|
I also have and love the small forest axe and love it. I cannot comment on any of your other options as I have no experience with them. I know there are plenty that will disagree but a small axe / hatchet is a must have item on my trips.
|
|
cowdoc
|
I have 3.... a GFB small forest axe, a Snow and Neally Hudson Bay axe, and a Wetterlings unknown model (small forest axe). I bought 3 over the years to give to each of my kids. The GFB small forest axe is superior to the other 3 in quality, function and packability for its size. The Wetterlings comes in 2nd.
|