Whether you’re a camper or an adventurer, anyone who loves spending time in the outdoors can appreciate the value of a good axe. From splitting firewood to hunting, an axe can be the most powerful tool you bring with you. But not all axes are made alike—some are better suited to certain tasks than others. We’ll go over each size of the axes to help you decide which one is the best for your needs.
If you’re looking for an axe you can take with you on a multiple-day camping trip, you’re going to need something small and light enough that it won’t weigh you down. A hatchet is the smallest axe on the market, weighing around 2 pounds with a length of about 18 inches. They’re usually much cheaper than bigger axes, although these one-handed axes are best used for small quantities of chopping or splitting rather than trying to take down large trees.
Tomahawks
A tomahawk is a Native American hatchet with a length of around 14 to20 inches. Whereas a regular hatchet would help with wood splitting and chopping small trees, a tomahawk is primarily used as a weapon for hunting. Elite adventurers looking to hunt and sustain themselves in the wilderness will find a tomahawk to be a handy and lightweight tool for the job.
Limbing Axes
Limbing axes are true to their namesake in that they hack off the limbs of felled trees. With a length of 24 inches and a weight of 2 pounds, this medium-sized axe is light enough to use with either one hand or two. Its size gives you the power you need to chop through the wood while also being light enough to not weigh you down. Whether you’re splitting firewood at home or limbing trees in the forest, a limbing axe is versatile enough to get the job done.
Felling Axes
The larger the axe, the bigger the job. Felling axes are made for chopping down large trees or splitting large pieces of wood. These axes have a length in the range of 32 to 36 inches and usually weigh at least 3 pounds, giving you the necessary energy to cut through thick wood without tiring. If you’re looking to tap into your inner lumberjack, a felling axe will do the job right.
Mauls
A maul is set apart from other axes because of its dull blade edge, which allows it to split wood via using force rather than cutting into it. A maul is longer and heavier than a felling axe, but the two have different purposes. Whereas a felling axe is meant for large trees and may get stuck trying to split firewood, a maul’s dull edge will split right through the wood.
Whether you choose a small hatchet for a camping trip or a hefty maul for wood splitting, taking time to find the right axe will make it worth every penny.
Want to see more articles like this? Check out How To Use An Axe Like A Pro
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