Best Survival Axes & Hatchets in 2023

Estwing Camper's Axe

The Estwing Camper’s Axe is a popular choice amongst fellow survivalists and outdoorsmen. It’s a versatile, easy to use, and well-made survival axe.

The axe head is made from forged steel and arrives sharpened out of the box. The forging process the steel goes through makes the blade durable and resistant to all environments. You can count on this blade to last with only minimal maintenance.

The handle is comfortable thanks to the hand sanded and lacquered leather grip. The axe has also been designed to reduce shock and reduce vibrations by up to 70%. This is a valued addition and makes a big difference when using the axe over a long period of time.

Another great thing about this camping axe is that its really light and weighs just 7oz. This makes it perfect for carrying around in the outdoors. It’s great for cutting firewood, splitting kindly and carving but because it’s so light, it’s not the best for any heavy-duty work.

Iunio Camping Axe

The Iunio Camping Axe is not just a survival axe but a multi-tool as well. Awesome for a survival situation, this axe gives you seven tools in one and the length is adjustable.

The axe head is made from high-quality carbon steel, one of the strongest forms of steel around. It’s perfect for splitting wood, kindling, carving, and more. The handle length is adjustable, making it great for tight situations or intricate work.

As well as being an axe, it also has a compass, whistle, flint, hammer, glass hammer, and a pull rope. You’re getting a lot of useful tools in one here and some great space-saving in your backpack as you can store extra items in the handle tube, like fishing gear.

Overall, this is a very handy survival axe multi-tool to have. However, it’s not for heavy use and the head can come loose if it’s abused too much.

Designed from high-carbon steel and aluminum alloy, it is a durable axe that could withstand harsh conditions and tough terrain. However, some customers have found that the overall quality of the axe isn’t great, with the head coming loose after more intense chopping.

Estwing Sportsman's Axe

The Estwing Sportsman’s Axe is one of the most durable survival axes available thanks to its single-piece construction. Made from one piece of carbon steel, the metal runs from the axe head down through the body to the tip of the handle. This is known as a full tang.

A full tang makes the axe unbreakable and you’ll never suffer issues such as a wobbly axe head or the metal coming away from the body or handle. This makes it the perfect candidate for heavy-duty work as well as cutting firewood and splitting kindling.

This survival axe features a leather grip that absorbs a good amount of shock and is comfortable to use, even without gloves. The axe also comes with a heavy-duty sheath to keep it secure while you’re not using it.

This is an excellent survival axe that if looked after will be with you for life. It’s a bit heavier than others but well worth it for the quality and robustness.

Off Grid Tools Survival Axe

The Off Grid Tools Survival Axe is another axe that’s also a multi-tool. It boasts up to 32 different functions, some of which are a little unnecessary but are handy to have nonetheless.

The first thing you’ll notice about this survival axe is how light and compact it is. It’s perfect for carrying around and the relatively small, lightweight design doesn’t compromise its functionality, it’s still a great axe.

The head is made of 420 stainless steel which is very solid and the handle/grip from shock-absorbing nylon. It’s comfortable, easy, and effective to use.

One of the best additions to this axe is the inbuilt saw blade that closes into the handle. This is a very useful tool in the outdoors and the best thing is that it’s easily replaceable.

Outside of the saw, there’s also a can opener, glass hammer, bottle opener, hex sizes, and more. This is a little overkill but it doesn’t impair the function of the axe then why not have the tools available.

Schrade SC AXE 2

Schrade has been in the blade business for a while and if you’re looking for a modern survival axe, that’s just an axe, the SC-AXE-2 might be what you’re looking for.

The steal head is coated with titanium and will stand up to all environments without corroding. The steel is strong and this axe head is great for splitting logs, trimming brush, and cutting kindling. It’s not the best for heavy-duty work as the axe head can chip.

On the back of the blade is a hammer with a relatively large, textured head. It’s the perfect size for plugging your tent pegs into the ground and any other hammer work you might need in the outdoors. As well as a hammer, there is also a ferro rod stored in the shaft to help you light fires.

The axe is short and light for easy storage and portability. The grip is made of TPR rubber which ensures it won’t slip out of your hand mid-use. It also absorbs shock nicely to stop those painful vibrations run up your arm.

Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet

Now we begin our survival hatchet (short-axe) section of the review and we start with one of the most reliable brands in the marketplace. Gransfors Bruks has been around the block several times and the Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet is made with a quality of the note.

If you’re looking for a hatchet that you can rely on in any situation, this is the one for you. There is quite a high price tag that comes with this survival hatchet but you’re getting a lot of bags for a lot of bucks, plus a 20-year warranty.

The head is made of stainless steel and arrives exceptionally sharp compared to most axes or hatchets, it’s even been said that you can shave with it.

The sharp blade combined with a relatively long handle will give you an amazing chop, perfect for quick light work, or getting through heavy duty logs without damaging your axe/hatchet.

The handle is made from wood, a particularly good shock absorber, and the extra length also adds to your swing and momentum. Overall, it’s a little long and not very light, which is something to consider if you don’t want to add this to an already heavy load. It’s only heavy due to the quality though.

SOG Outdoor Survival Hatchet

If you’re looking for a hatchet that meets the ideal quality v’s affordability balance then look no further than the SOG Outdoor Survival Hatchet. Also called a tomahawk, this is hatchet is exceptionally versatile and strong for a great price.

The head is made from 420 stainless steel that is exceptionally strong and durable. The blade is sharp and even though it’s pretty light, it’ll get through. most chopping situations with ease.

The head also features a hammer and a spike, perfect for digging, piercing, and slotting in tent pegs in hard ground. In addition to this, it also comes with an inbuilt fire starter that’s stored in the handle.

The handle is made from fiberglass nylon and added paracord to make it more grippy. The grip is sufficient but it can slip at the base, particularly with sweaty hands.

Overall it’s an exceptionally light, high quality, and versatile axe that is perfect for carrying around in the outdoors.

Fiskars X7 Hatchet

The Fiskars X7 Hatchet gives you a lot of bang for your buck. It’s made from quality ingredients and comes in at under $30, which is pretty hard to beat.

The head is made from carbon steel, one of the toughest and most durable forms of steel. It has a great blade on it that doesn’t need re-honing after use, so it’ll just keep on chopping without any maintenance. The blade comes with a low-friction coating to help get through wood and stop the hatchet from getting stuck.

This survival hatchet is light and this isn’t thanks to the head but the FiberComp handle, making it ideal for carrying around in the wild. The FiberComp handle is not only light but also makes the hatchet almost impossible to break. It also comes with a lifetime warranty just in case you do manage to break it.

The light handle combined with the heavier head makes for excellent momentum and high power to weight ratio. Along with the rubberized grip, you can chop effectively for longer and in comfort with the Fiskars X7.

This survival hatchet is ideal for chopping kindling and small- to medium-sized logs but it’s not the best for heavy-duty work. Overall, you won’t find a better hatchet for the price.

Gerber 9 Inch Survival Hatchet

The Gerber 9 Inch Survival Hatchet is an awesome little survival hatchet. Gerber put a lot of thought into making sure it functions well while being portable and has done a great job.

The Gerber survival axe is made from quality high carbon steel covered with a PTFE coating to make it sharp out of the box. The hatchet is quite short and great for intricate and light work but it’s not the best for chopping logs.

The handle is made of a shock-absorbing material helping protect you from the impact of every strike. The grip is also very grippy and won’t slip under any conditions, wet, dry, or bloody.

Overall this is a great little survival hatchet and valued addition to anyone’s survival gear.

Husqvarna 13" Wooden Hatchet

The Husqvarna 13″ Wooden Hatchet is the best axe when it comes to splitting wood and surpasses most other axes/survival hatchets in this field. If your primary use is splitting wood, this is one to pay attention to.

Husqvarna is a Swedish company and is known to produce excellent hatchets/axes but they do have some quality control issues, so check your hatchet/axe on arrival if you decide to buy one.

The head is made from Swedish steel, is exceptionally high-quality and the blade is sharp. The head is attached to the handle using a wooden and steel wedge to ensure it does not loosen.

The handle is made from hickory and while looking beautiful, is also an excellent shock absorber. The straight grain in the handle also ensures that it won’t split or break during heavy work.