The 12 Best Lightweight hatchets (2023 reviews)

We know from years of feedback from readers, customers and amazon sellers, what most people want in a hatchet. The sog lightweight hatchet is exactly that - it's a simple hatchet that hits all the right notes. It is made for chopping wood, it's for chopping people. The cold steel's handle is actually flexible and it bends somewhat when you retrieve it from a log or a wood target. The pick on the opposite side of the blade is great for gripping a log to drag to the chopping area. The handle/grip is also well crafted and it isn't too heavy to carry.

This axe has a good size and weight, and the piercing tip is very useful. It is light, and compact. It has a great design and is easy to hold as it is very light. The blade is very sharp out of the box and holds its edge quite well. It is also well balanced and a very useful tactical tool.

Why We Like This:

Perfect for camping and bug out
Very good construction and has a good feel in the hand
Decent addition for hunting and camping
Makes a great weapon and great for chopping wood

Best For killing zombies: Promithi Lightweight Hatchet

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We would, of course, be remiss if we didn't mention promithi lightweight hatchet for daily purpose. It is a functional axe with the beauty of a display only piece. An even better choice would be an adjustable stainless steel "bracelet" using metal similar to the hatchet itself. It feels very sturdy and useable. It comes in doesnt come off easily. The etched wolf is a nice touch. It is quite sharp so be careful taking it out of the sheath as you could easily cut yourself. It is also very difficult to take in and out of this sheath.

Why We Like This:

Great craftsmanship even though the wood handle doesn't feel too sturdy
Beautiful and well made, very happy
Delivers what they promise

Best For Chopping fire Wood: Wakeman Lightweight Hatchet

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The wakeman lightweight hatchet is suitable and reliable and fits well with your daily usage. It is an exclusive product of wakeman and only hatchets for camping and survival by wakeman are guaranteed to be genuine. The ITS SHARP is lightweight and very sturdy. The blade of both the axe and saw are made of steel to stand up to repeated outdoor use. The included sheath has both a belt clip and hand loop to make this axe convenient to carry no matter what your situation.

It is great for building fires with down timber. The composite plastic handle is molded to fit around the axe head for strength and stability while chopping. The back side of this survival hatchet can be used as a hammer and also features a hole for removing nails or tent stakes. It makes it a great tool to bring on hunting, camping or hiking trips.

Why We Like This:

Comes very sharp, the saw cuts great as does the axe
Has a couple of extras, a fire starter in the handle
Good investment for long term

Best For bushcraft: 7th science gear Lightweight Hatchet

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The 7th science gear lightweight hatchet should be able to handle its purpose and duties with ease. It is lightweight and durable seeming to be well made with quality construction and versatile. It offers a free sharpening stone. The feel of the handle is nice and the weight is good. It is perfectly weighted and durable. It is perfect for driving stakes and on wildlife game. It has a solid balanced weight to it and the grip is fantastic, even if your hands or the grip are wet so it won't slip.

Why We Like This:

Stickers peel off with no issue or residue left behind
Perfect size, excellent sheath with belt loop
Very sharp, awesome blade cover and grip made it easy to hold

Best For Any car kit: Camillus Lightweight Hatchet

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Not everyone likes to purchase hatchet for their daily usage, but the camillus lightweight hatchet would be an anomoly. It is a great tool around camp for fueling a hobo stove or small fire. It is made of carbonitride titanium cutlery-grade steel and are through-hardened to hold an edge. The feel of this ax is light, and lively. There is a heavy duty nylon strap that snaps it securely over the axe head. It includes a reversible belt clip for carrying in the field.

The saw locks in and out to prevent accidents. It's not that heavy and the saw locks open and closed and has its own liner. There is a hard plastic cover for the axe head only.

Why We Like This:

Very light weight and great choppy
Solidly made and great for an emergency, camping kit
One of the new comers and featured product

Best For inflicting Much damage: SZCO supplies Lightweight Hatchet

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If you often find yourself scrambling for convenient and suitable hatchet, szco supplies lightweight hatchet is your end point. It is perfect small hatchet for getting the fire started. It cuts small branches and makes cutting wood for small fire a treat. It is made of 1/8" steel with a full tang through the handle. It is good for chopping small to medium size wood, and can take the hits, even if you have to hit it from behind to split tougher pieces of wood. It is small and compact, which makes it easy to pack.

It is designed for comfort and effectiveness, and this hatchet is dependable through any adventure. It is definitely useful for the hardwoods that are up to an inch to an inch and a half diameter, although it still takes a few strikes to cut through the branches.

Why We Like This:

Excellent little hatchet,perfect for "bug out bag
Works great for small twigs and branches
Great for small jobs like cutting limps for a fire
Very compact, perfect for light pack

Best For standard Chopping: Ares Lightweight Hatchet

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Best part: ares lightweight hatchet costs comparatively low and it is available to ship in 24 hours. This is a great axe to keep in your vehicle. It’s a perfect campfire wood splitter or young boys splitter, not going to handle big oak rounds well but would still get the job done going around outside. It includes a 1-piece patented carrying cover and 1-piece slim compact blade cover. The axe head is powder coated, making it somewhat resistant to rust and the handle is fiberglass, making it completely impervious to the elements. It is good for standard chopping and the blade is sharp enough to cut through deeply with every impact.

This camping hatchet is just 9 inches long, making it a compact but powerful addition to any outdoorsman or adventure tool kit. The handle feel and control is great, good for flick chopping.

Why We Like This:

Good size and weight for packing in a backpack
Nice swing, heavy enough to take care of serious business
Very sharp edge for splitting and after 15 minutes of cutting the edge held
Excellent balance, handle is wide so not small as fiskars

Best For Very refined Work: Hults Bruk Lightweight Hatchet

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The hults bruk lightweight hatchet gives the top-tier hatchet a run for their money by offering flagship specs at a much more affordable price. It is a small hand axe. It cuts wood like butter and very small logs / sticks. The head is hammered to finish with what looks like a ground polish down to a sharpened edge. The quality is excellent and the edge comes razor sharp and with an excellent bevel for carving. It is good for carving as well for it is quite small. It is a great axe for camping or chopping kindling wood. The sheath is much higher quality over the competition.

Why We Like This:

Edge retention is better and feels better in the hand
Good overall tool for wood carving
Love the look, feel and balance, sharpness, construction, quality

Best Little Camp Hatchet: Adler Axe Lightweight Hatchet

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The adler axe lightweight hatchet's superior materials makes sure that it ages well with use. The leather sheath is high-quality. It comes with a nice sheathe. There is a snap on the lower part of the blade edge cover that secures the hatchet into its sheath. The handle is hung properly with no gaps at the eye. It's decently sharp.

The metal head is solid and does a great job pounding in tent stakes. It will last long enough to not have to.

Why We Like This:

Hickory handle with unique anti-slip paint for better grip
An all-purpose companion in the wilderness or for managing tasks closer to home
Good investment for long term

Best For Chopping logs: NEDFOSS Lightweight Hatchet

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We know from years of feedback from readers, customers and amazon sellers, what most people want in a convenient and appropriate hatchet. The nedfoss lightweight hatchet is exactly that - it's a simple hatchet that hits all the right notes. This hatchet is a great weight and size for backpacking. It includes a hexagon wrench, and nail puller. It can be used in the back yard to chop some wood for an outdoor fireplace. The Hatchet leather sheath is full-grain leather, and this hatchet sheath is sure to withstand the test of time, as well as stay vigilantly protective against sharp edges durable and long lasting, rivets with caps for safety, perfect for protecting the sharp edge of your hatchet.

The slight bow of the handle makes for a comfortable grip and the craftsmanship is impressive as the tang is full and runs all the way through that turns into a nifty nail puller at the other end. It could be best used when accompanied by three other essentials,a folding saw, a good bushcraft knife, and a multitool. It’s a nice size for a pack.

Why We Like This:

, offers excellent balance and leverage
Good investment for long term

Best Little Hatchet: Geermolan Lightweight Hatchet

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The geermolan lightweight hatchet is suitable and reliable and fits well with your daily usage. This hatchet is small, light weight. It is more durable than most kinds of wood, which makes it prefect for outdoor tasks. It is used for hunting, fire rescue, military training and even home tasks like chopping bones and garden work. It is precision forged from a single piece high quality steel, ensuring an ultra sharp edge with excellent durability and anti corrosion. It comes with a blade cover with a small snap strap that holds it on.

The hardness of this hiking hatchet is reach to 56 hrc, which makes it prefect for outdoor tasks. It provides great grip comfort and maneuverability. The hatchet will slip out of the sheath when walking if you are not careful.

Why We Like This:

Full tang structure for maximum robustness and stability
Good brand reputation

Best With Saw: Kings County tools Lightweight Hatchet

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Kings County Tools has been making great hatchet for years, thanks to a combination of clever design and appropriate materials. This versatile hatchet has a strikingly broad curved head with a rear poll for driving wedges, hammering nails or tent stakes. It’s put together nice and tight. The head, steel and heat treat are great. It is made with hickory wood for long-lasting durability while measuring 15” in length. It is ideal to prepare kindling, clear branches and only weighs 2-pounds making it well-balanced too for hikes or making camp stakes.

The head has a nice weight and the handle is smooth and polymer coated at the end of the grip to give it some more life. The top of the blade is thicker than the bottom which leads for an inconsistent angle for sharpness.

Why We Like This:

Light and balanced well to throw
Sharp and really easy to use
Feels good, cuts good, finish could be better

The 12 Best Lightweight hatchets (2023 reviews)

Our Top Picks:

Best Overall: SOG Lightweight Hatchet

Best For killing zombies: Promithi Lightweight Hatchet

Best For Chopping fire Wood: Wakeman Lightweight Hatchet

Best For bushcraft: 7th science gear Lightweight Hatchet

Best For Any car kit: Camillus Lightweight Hatchet

Best For inflicting Much damage: SZCO supplies Lightweight Hatchet

Best For standard Chopping: Ares Lightweight Hatchet

Best For Very refined Work: Hults Bruk Lightweight Hatchet

Best Little Camp Hatchet: Adler Axe Lightweight Hatchet

Best For Chopping logs: NEDFOSS Lightweight Hatchet

Best Little Hatchet: Geermolan Lightweight Hatchet

Best With Saw: Kings County tools Lightweight Hatchet

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