Into the Woods: The 7 Best Survival Hatchets

Perhaps one of the most striking survival books of all time is Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet. In it, he chronicles a young man enduring in the wilderness for 54 days using little more than his wits and a survival hatchet. Though a work of fiction, it accurately portrays why a simple hatchet might very well be the ultimate survival tool. These simple items serve many of the same purposes as a fixed-blade knife and a few others that even survival knives can’t quite touch. So that you never need to be caught out there alone, we found the best survival hatchets to keep you company.

What Is a Hatchet?

Hatchets built for thriving in the great outdoors are part hammer, part weapon, part fire starter, part hunting knife, and having one gives you a range of subsistence options in the wilderness that you wouldn’t otherwise have. They are small survival axes and should come with more utility than just a standard hatchet or camp axe because you’ll need it to be more than a woodcutter. When looking to buy one, search for one that is dependable, retains an edge for a long time, and is the right weight for your pack or bug-out bag.

What to Look For

Blade Material: When it comes to blade material, steel and carbon steel are your best bet for sharpness, as well as sharpness retention.

Handle: While blades are almost always steel, handles can range from wood to rubber to an extension of the blade steel (usually wrapped in something else like leather for ergonomics). The handle material will affect the hatchet’s comfort within your hand, as well as the power you’ll get with each swing.

Size: Since a hatchet is made to be an all-in-one survival tool, you’ll want one that you can take along with you on just about any adventure. This means that it will need to fit inside your backpack and be light enough that it won’t bog you down along the way.

Balance: When it comes to cutting, wood, balance is of supreme importance so that you don’t waste any energy and you can get cleaner, more thorough swings every time. Optimizing the weight of the head and the handle help to achieve better balance, and thus accuracy with your hatchet.

Fiskars X7

Best Budget Hatchet: Tipping the scales at a scant 1lb 6oz, this weighs less than some of the beefier tactical knives we’ve encountered. The key to its slender heft is also part of what makes it such a strong piece of hardware: the FiberComp handle. The carbon steel head chops again and again without needing to have the edge re-honed, so it shan’t fail when you need it most. Add in a rubberized grip that reduces impact and cutting fatigue and you’ll look for an excuse to get lost with the X7.

Estwing E24A Sportsman’s Hatchet

Best Fully-Forged: Forged out of a single piece of 1055 carbon steel, the body, head, and handle of the E24A cannot break apart and are nigh impossible to damage. The grip is made of leather which does a fair job of reducing impact, though there’s still more jolt than with wooden handles. With no eye on the head, there’s a slim, concave look all down the head to the poll. You’ll find a nice grip from the stag leather rings that adds comfort whether being used with work gloves or barehanded.

Schrade SCAXE2

Best for Backpacking: At just under a foot in length, this isn’t going to be winning any big and beautiful contests, but the abbreviated length lets Schrade add in a little more bulk where it counts. The head is broad with a textured hammer on the back that handles smooth camping tent stakes with ease. Our biggest problem was actually the sheath which limited carrying thanks to an integrated belt loop.

Husqvarna Hatchet

Best for the Price: Not the cheapest product you can get, but if you want a lot of chop for your buck, this shall provide. Swedish steel and American hickory combine to make a traditional hatchet that is the perfect accessory to go with your bushcraft knife. The straight grain of each handle is superb and prevents breaks and splits from over-striking. We found that this had a special knack for wood splitting that rivaled many of our favorite axes for sheer chopping capability.

CRKT RMJ Woods Chogan T-Hawk

Best Tomahawk: We recognize that not everyone is looking for a traditional survival hatchet for their wilderness needs. Perhaps you’re seeking something with a tactical tomahawk vibe that can also work for all your woodsy requirements. The chopping surface is abbreviated, but that allows for faster movement. Able to take a longer handle than many of its contemporaries, you can get extra leverage using the T-Hawk for digging or self-defense. Still able to pound stakes and make short work of timber, the ability to more easily change out the handle gives the head a customizable feel.

Fremont Farson Hatchet

Most Unorthodox: The Farson hatchet goes way off the reservation and breaks all the rules when it comes to axes of any kind, tomahawks, and camping knives, but still manages to be a stunning addition to whatever group you put it in. It has a full tang handle wrapped in paracord that makes the overall length 9.5″. Small for a standard survival hatchet, but you’ll hardly miss the extra girth when the weight is a mere 9.6 ounces. Tough 1095 carbon steel coated in titanium nitride, this can go the distance and get back in time for dinner.

Gransfors Bruk Wildlife Hatchet

Best High-End: For a timeless creation that sets a high bar for hatchets – as well as axes of all kinds – there’s little that can compare to this item from Gransfors Bruk. Handcrafted in Sweden, each blade is carbon steel of unique makeup, but they all hold an edge like a dream and won’t dull or blunt after hacking through green trees or animals’ joints. Each handle is true, down-home, Lincoln-would-be-proud American hickory, and the straightness is unparalleled. Money well spent.

The Best Survival Knives

If you’re thinking about living off the grid for any duration of time, head over to our guide to the best survival knives to buy right now.