Seamlessly Cut and Chop Wood With the Best Hatchets
Whether woodcutting is your daily profession or not, if you live in cold states, then a hatchet can serve you as a magic sword. You must not have forgotten last winter’s painful arms and complete exhaustion after collecting wood for your home bonfire. Moreover, in the cold weather, your arms might get a lot more cramps than usual. To prevent such painful conditions, we suggest you use one of these best hatchets in 2023. They are sharp enough to swiftly chop dense wooden logs without putting much effort. Besides, they are highly admired by professional woodcutters due to their unique high momentum swing design. They also allow you to make deep cuts with each strike and put no to extremely less strain on your arms.
Best Hatchets Buying Guide
A good hatchet is designed in such a manner that it will help you to cut wood rapidly without pain. There are many factors that play a vital role in making a good ax. Hence, to help you hold the most suitable tool in your hands, we are here with a complete guide on how to purchase a hatchet.
What Are the Key Factors To Consider While Buying a Hatchet?
Size
The blade size is a crucial factor to consider while buying a hatchet. You should look for a larger axe head size if you use the tool for cutting sturdy tree branches or thick kindling wood. On the other hand, purchasing a small blade ax is a wise decision if you are going for a camping or hiking adventure. You can use it for splitting wood with small and thin branches or twigs of the trees in the bushy forest. We found that most blade sizes are constructed in the range of 3.6 to 5 ¼ inches.
Handle
You can use an excellent quality hatchet to its maximum potential when it is reinforced by a good design handle. It should be made up of grippy material that allows a secure hold on the ax. In case you invest your bucks in a hatchet with a flimsy handle, it might break while splitting wood, and you may end up hurting yourself. Hence, make sure to check the handle strength and design.
We found that materials like rubber and fiberglass serve as the best substances for construction of handles as they not only give a firm grip but also resist abrupt shocks directly impacting your arms.
Material
Another crucial factor to look for in a hatchet is the material of the blade. Our research concluded that substances like carbon steel, stainless steel, and American steel are used for building blades that are sturdy, sharp, and long-lasting. Besides, you can easily sharpen the blades built by these substances with the help of standard sharpening tools.
We suggest you buy a rust-resistant tool if you live in a heavy rain receiving environment. However, no ax is made from entirely corrosion-resistive material. You need to properly maintain the tools to save them from rusting. We will discuss some relevant tips for storage of the tools in the later part of this article.
Weight
What is the advantage of using an ax that is heavy and tedious to even lift for an extended period? A heavy hatchet will not allow you to make easy strikes on the wood, leading to shallow cuts. You also have to spend more time splitting wood on a single branch. Therefore, it is very crucial to purchase a lightweight hatchet that is easy to carry and convenient to use. After reviewing the various products in the market, we found that an ax should ideally weigh in the range of 2 to 5 pounds.
Structural Design
The next factor is the structural design of the hatchet. By design, we do not mean the appearance but the construction of the tool. Hatchets that have a decent ratio of blade length to handle length function more effectively than other axes. The mechanism of functioning in a hatchet is based on the swing momentum. Hence, a perfect blade to handle ratio allows a good momentum force before making the strike which leads to deep cuts in the wood.
Reviews
Reviews serve as a goldmine for checking the productivity and credibility of the product. You can get in-depth information on the suitable thickness of the wood for cutting using the hatchet, some tips for storing the tool, and more from the actual customers of the tool. Hence, do not miss reading the reviews of the product so that you can make a well examined purchasing decision.
What Is the Importance of the Forging Process in a Hatchet?
Forging is the process of heating the metal at extremely high temperatures and giving it the shape of a blade. Some hatchets are constructed by two separately forged parts. On the other hand, you can also find some axes that are made by a one-piece forging process. The latter one is more sturdy, durable, and absorbs high impact while making hard strikes on the wood.
How To Store a Hatchet
- Most hatchets come with a blade covering sheath. They are made from durable rubber or plastic material. Therefore, for safe storage, you are instructed to protect the edge with the sheath after use.
- The next tip or suggestion is to apply lubricant on the blade before storing the hatchet to avoid corrosion. Besides, if the plastic cover melts due to high temperature, it will not stick to the blade of the tool.
- It is advised not to store hatchets in high temperature or high moisture level areas as it can damage the sharpness and durability of the tools.
How Much Does a Hatchet Usually Cost?
A successful purchase is made when you buy a product that meets your 100% requirement at a pocket-friendly price. However, sometimes due to a large number of different products available in the market, we end up investing a greater amount than required in a poor quality product which later leads to regret. Our research concluded that a decent quality hatchet costs in the range of 27 USD to 36 USD.
Hatchet Tip
Watch this video from Coalcracker Bushcraft to learn one trick that everyone who carries a hatchet should know:
Comparing the Best Hatchet of 2023
Fiskars Hatchet
– Best Overall
This hatchet is perfect for chopping firewood from the forest. You can cut small to medium size logs and branches using this tool. Its unique design and an ideal ratio of the blade to handle allow deep cutting with each strike. Furthermore, this ax is made from premium quality forged carbon steel that makes it sharp and prevents it from breaking or bending.
However, you must not keep it in a high moisture environment to prevent it from corrosion. Its handle is made from grippy material that allows you to conveniently hold it without creating tension on your arms. On top of everything, this hatchet is backed by a lifetime warranty period, so you can definitely invest your bucks without any doubt.
- Forged blade is durable for years
- Blade coating allows friction-less cutting and prevents the hatchet from getting stuck in the wood
- Some customers received damaged tool
WilFiks Outdoor Chopping Axe
– Runner Up
Cut and split wood for firewood by using this 15 inches long hatchet. You can also chop extended tree branches of your garden using this tool. Besides, it is a great piece of equipment to carry while hiking, camping, and traveling through a bushy forest. Since it is built from forged carbon steel material, it is durable and does not bend or break while chopping the wood. Moreover, its blade is heat-treated for extra sharpness and effortless cutting.
In case the sharpness of this tool diminishes after using it for a few months, you can easily file its polished surface and regain the powerful cutting hatchet. Furthermore, this ax is reinforced with an ergonomically designed handle which is made from fiberglass material. So, you can seamlessly cut wood without putting much effort. For protective storage after use, it comes with a rubber covering sheath.
- Make deep cuts in every strike so you can chop thick logs quickly
- Ideal for cutting kindling wood for a bonfire
- Shock absorbing anti-slip handle allows convenient cutting
- Might rust if you store or use the tool in a moist weather
Schrade Full Tang Hatchet
– Honorable Mention
This hatchet will help you to cut all types of thick and thin wood. Made from top-quality powder-coated stainless steel, it is durable, sharp, and does not bend while chopping sturdy wood. With a blade size of 3.6 inches and an overall length of 11.1 inches, it gives sufficient momentum and makes deep cuts with each strike. Moreover, its light weight of 0.62 kilograms makes it highly portable and easy to use.
In addition, the black thermoplastic belt sheet will help you to carry the tool wherever you go. Thanks to the ergonomic TPR rubber-made black handle, this tool will not slip from your hand and protect your arms from painful cramps by resisting abrupt shocks. It also has a pommel with string which can be used for conveniently storing the hatchet.
- Lightweight and portable with compact size
- Ideal for cutting all branches and twigs
- Grippy TPR rubber handle allows secure hold on the tool
- Some customers find it too small in size
Edward Camping Hatchet With Sheath
– Also Consider
Swiftly cut small to medium size logs with the help of this ax. It is an ideal tool for camping, hiking, gardening, and more. This hatchet is designed with a unique balance ratio that allows adequate swinging momentum. Furthermore, it has sharp blades that make deep cuts on every strike and gives an effortless and quick wood-chopping experience.
Since this hatchet is built from heavy-duty carbon steel material, it is durable and does not bend after consistent use. For safety purposes, it comes with a rubber sheath that easily covers the full blade. A grippy rubber-made non-slip handle also reinforces this equipment to give you a safer hold while smashing the woods. On top of everything, the company provides you a lifetime guarantee on this premium quality hatchet.
- Lightweight hatchet of 5 pounds which is easy to carry
- Decent results at a highly affordable price
- Ideal for performing all kinds of small and medium-size wood cutting activities
- Not suitable for cutting heavy and dense logs
You can trim garden branches and cut small trees, logs, firewood, and more using this 14 inches ax. Due to its one-piece construction, it is robust and bent-resistant. To elevate the strength of the tool, it is made from American steel using the hand polishing process.
In addition, this hatchet comes with a ballistic nylon sheath that protects the hand-sharpened edge of the tool and guards against injurious accidents. It also has a hand sanded and lacquered handle that gives you a grippy hold on the ax and prevents arm fatigue. Besides, the light weight of 2 pounds of this hatchet makes it convenient to carry while traveling.
- Suitable for cutting all sizes of wood log
- 14 inches hatchet provides sufficient momentum while chopping
- Built by using specialized American steel that makes it durable
- Come with a safety sheet for covering the blade after use
- Its blade might rust if kept in contact with water or a moist environment
People Also Asked
A: The pommel is a bulged end of the handle that usually has an attached string. It can be used for storing the hatchet and also helps in giving a good grip on the tool.
A: A hatchet is used for cutting different sizes of logs. Some are used for chopping small to medium-sized branches, while a few axes are ideal for smashing large-sized tree wood.
A: Materials like carbon steel and stainless steel are considered ideal for making high-quality and durable hatchets. They also increase the sharpness and effectiveness of the tool.
