axes for backpacking and car camping

[mickb]

Hi guys more for car camping or short walks would an axe with a 1.5lb (680-700gram) head and 50cm shaft be okay for decent camp/firewood tasks?

The Europeans and yanks are big on this size with their high grade 'forest axes' eg the gransfors http://www.gransforsbruk.com/en/product ... orest-axe/

I am pretty keen on one of these just as a nice to have, but wondered once camping faced with an aussie hardwood log over 8" diameter I would have wished I brought a longer 2.5lb axe!

[wildbird]

If you only need it for firewood, a small handsaw like this (http://www.bunnings.com.au/lennox-trifo ... w_p5710123) would be much effective, axes would cost 10 times energy to cut the same wood to my experience. If you do car camping, a small chainsaw is your best friend. Without a chainsaw, better to find some thinner branches rather than the 8" log, I've cut similar thick well-dried redgum and yellowbox with even big handsaw, mate it's harder than gyms.

[Travis22]

Wildbird hit the nail on the head.

Cheap and quiet = go with bow saw.

If your comfortable using a chainsaw, then certainly this is going to be the 'easiest' tool to collect fire wood with if you are car camping, also depending on the location of your trips i think a chainsaw is a necessary piece of recovery equipment should you need to clear tracks etc.

As for axes, sure they are a treat to use, especially if you are interested in bushcraft etc. but I couldnt justify the expense of a Gransfors bruk's or the like. I have the Fiskers X7 and X15 and highly recommend both of them.

Travis.

[mickb]

a bit like asking what the best steak is on the menu and being told no you actually want chicken
regards axe to elaborate, for bashing tent pegs, splitting wood, maybe some skinning when I hunt, yep Daniel boone stuff as an 'option' So I am set on that the question is more size . The fiskers x15 is technically next size up from the gransfors mentioned, more of a limbing axe. Maybe that size is a better idea.

[GPSGuided]

This is best. Tested for thousands of years on the Nth American plain.

[Travis22]

I looked at the Gransfors axes (before buying the X7 and X15) and i was very dissapointed by their smaller axes /hatchets. It just didnt meet the expectations id developed given their reputation.

The X15 is a fantastic small axe, the chopping power is exceptional, well well above what i was expecting and it really feels great in hand. Its still small enough to use for more detailed work without feeling cumbersome.

Travis.

[Travis22]

With regards to the steak and chicken reality is 95% of the bushwalkers / hikers in Aus wouldnt consider an axe these days.

If your car camping its a different story (and a question that would get a lot more replies on a 4wd forum then a bushwalking forum), in that case you'd use a chain saw for the wood (forget using an axe on our hard woods when a chain saw is an option). An axe or ideally a proper splitter for splitting firewood. A hammer for driving in tent pegs and a set of knives for skinning and butchering game.

Travis.

[Moondog55]

I've always thought that if you need an axe you need a real axe; 2.2 kg or bigger [ Mine is a Plumb 5.5 lb because I like the balance]
I have however considered buying an old fashioned box makers tomahawk but haven't found one at a price I'm prepared to pay

http://www.vaughanmfg.com/shopping/Prod ... t__RB.aspx

[vicrev]

This is best. Tested for thousands of years on the Nth American plain.

Does it come with a full headress ?.....

[veekay]

The 50cm axe will be handy in the car. Get the bush saw for cutting the wood, and the axe/tomahawk for splitting it. Chainsaws are great, but you can leave an axe and a saw under a seat and they will always be ready to go, and no fuel smell or leaking bar oil.

[Franco]

This is best. Tested for thousands of years on the Nth American plain.

iron axes heads were introduced to the Native Americans by the European invaders...
not sure the previous stone head version would be all that useful now.
(Native Americans never used iron , before European contact, just bronze and copper in some places.)

[GPSGuided]

Enough to crack skulls.

[Franco]

I thought we were talking chopping trees here.
Try cutting down a tree with a baseball bat.

[Gadgetgeek]

I prefer a mid sized ax, but that might be because I'm a mid-sized guy. the fit is just as important as any other tool. Its a fairly personal feel I think. But then again, I've never had much to do with hard-woods and axes, just nice easy to spit canadian woods. My next step up from a mid-size would be either to a full size faller, or splitter, not a heavy "standard" ax. And the type would depend on the useage, The fiskars splitter is a pretty mean beast. A lot of that is that I don't have the power to make up for a poor ax choice, its gotta do most of the work. I do like the look of the slightly heavy wilderness ax (the ray mears designed one) but I'd be just as happy with the small forest sized ax. Full sized axes are for production level work, and I'm not a cabin builder.

[Franco]

Going back to the OP's comments, I would also go for a saw, in my case the Bahco pruning saw.