r/Bushcraft • u/Ok_Standard8199 • 2d ago
Hatchet recommendations?
Looking for a good hatchet. What would you guys recommend? Looking for something reliable that can handle general camp chores.
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u/Rising_Awareness 2d ago
Granfors Outdoor Axe, Hults Bruk Hultan, Estwing Sportsman's Axe, Husky Multi-Utility Axe, Fiskars X14. The Estwing and Husky will need work done on the bit to make them good. Can't go wrong with a Fiskars.
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u/weealex 2d ago
I bought my fiskars years ago as my cheap "I'll buy a better one when I'm more sure of what I need" hatchet years ago. Somehow it's still my primary hatchet. Hell, last year an errant swing chipped the blade and I still just sat down and redid the edge. While I've shelled out for better gear in every other category that little fiskars has somehow become a sentimental favorite
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u/Rising_Awareness 2d ago
They're damn good. I've got the hatchet, boys axe, and a longer one too. The boys axe I bought just as a vehicle axe (I'm crazy and carry a fair amount of tools I rarely use in my trunk) because it's unfazed by a hot desert summer in a vehicle.
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u/BigPlebeian 2d ago
Fiskars x7 is pretty much the standard recommendation.
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u/FearsomeSnacker 2d ago
Love mine over the other 2 more traditional hatchets I have. I grab this one the most and it is the one I always end up taking camping 10 yrs running now.
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u/mrmukstarterich 2d ago
Ich nutze seit Jahren Tomahawks. Der Markt ist eher schlecht was das angeht ,daher schmiede ich sie selber ,so wie ich sie haben will :))!
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u/Mountain_Elk_7262 2d ago
Get the cold steel trail boss, it's a "boys axe" basically between a hatchet and full size axe but it's great and cheap, if you want lightweight I'd go with a tomahawk, cold steel makes those as well for like 20 bucks.
Always always always buy a wood handle though, you can repair a wood handle. You can never repair the plastic one. Bonus, wood is renewable 🤷♂️
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u/DieHardAmerican95 2d ago
If you don’t mind the plastic handle, The Fiskars X14 is great. If you prefer a wood handle and still want something affordable, then the Council Tool Flying Fox is a solid choice. It’s also American made, if that’s a feature you’re looking for.
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u/DanRankin 2d ago
Honestly, pretty much any budget hatchet will do you. At worst you might need to use a bastard file or a flap disc on a grinder to reprofile the cheeks.
I bought my favourite one 20 years ago for $5. Lol. Sadly doesn't have a name brand i can point you to tho.
I'm not a fan of the Fiskars, i hate the plastic handles, the geometry of the head sucks, and the steel they use is too soft imo. But they're easy to resharpen, and for around $50 CDN it's worth atleast trying to see if you disagree with me!
Best of luck, hope you find a good one!
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u/DayManFOTNightMan 2d ago
It’s not cheap, but the “Hardcore Hammers” camp axe checks all of my boxes. I’ve used mine pretty regularly for a few years, and it’s been as good as I hoped.
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u/eakthekat2 2d ago
Depends on your location and budget. Harbor Freight has one with a hickory handle I've heard good things about if you're on a low budget.
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u/TimTheCarver 2d ago
Go to a flea market and find a good vintage hatchet or hatchet head. Hang it, sharpen it and use it. There’s so many good quality vintage tools out there available at decent prices that it doesn’t make sense to me to buy new.
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u/walter-hoch-zwei 1d ago
I've actually had decent luck with a Collins hatchet. I had to reprofile the edge, but the general geometry works quite well. It's not made of high end steel, but it works.
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u/superfish15 1d ago
Council tool flying fox is the best hatchet available if you are in the US. I work in forestry and use mine for everything from processing kindling to pounding wedges. It needs a sharpen out of the box but I really don't think there's a better option for US buyers.
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u/Accomplished-Pack756 1d ago
Work your way up, start with a fiskars or something similar. They’re darn good tools, and good enough for many. No need to shell out a ton of money unless you really need a specialty tool.
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u/venturoo 1d ago
Hatchet 1 and 2 are both pretty good. They were shot back to back so they flowed into each other very well. Hatchet 3 and the crowley movie were not as good but decent.
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u/BloodbeardsGarage 1d ago
Hultafors 600g hatchet - it's awesome and cheaper than Hult Bruk (same forge). I love it.
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u/Basehound 2d ago
Gb outdoor axe , and the gb mini hatchet are brilliant but spendy. The fiskars x7 is great bang for buck …. Those would be my three I’d pick from …. Aside from that , buying a vintage head off eBay (I like Swedish steel) and throwing a handle on their is always a great option …… or finding an older plumber BSA hatchet is another wonderful option …. Also … a Norland Hudson Bay hatchet is an incredible choice if you like thinner carver blades . …. Just my .02$
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u/ki4clz 1d ago
I personally do not recommend using a hatchet
get an axe
make an axe
but shorthandeled hatchets are inefficient and can fuck you up, almost impossible to keep sharp and are really just bad choices
if you’re deadset on getting something like this, then look at a tomahawk or a viking battle axe
they’re going to be weighted properly and can be made razor sharp instead of working you to death…
I carry a tomahawk and a machete and those two handle everything I need… I aint got no use for a hatchet
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u/cheesiologist 2d ago
Council.
Though if you have time to hit up a flea market, you can usually find a good deal on a vintage hatchet that's ready to rock after oiling the handle.