The 8 Best utility hatchets (2023 reviews)

If you want nothing short of the best possible hatchet for your daily usage, this sog good weight is certainly a right investment. This small backpacking hatchet and survival axe with firestarter is a superb outdoor tool with a glass. It features a checkered hammer edge, claw for prying and wire cutting, and an in-handle ferrocerium firestarter rod for fire starters and camping tasks. It is well balanced and a very useful tactical tool.

It is designed with an ultra-sharp 3” blade that bites deep with every swing. The cold steel's handle is actually flexible and it bends somewhat when you retrieve it from a log or a wood target. It will make a great camping/hunting companion as a kindling maker or stand self-defense, personal and up close weapon. It is great for mild to moderate work while camping or around the home. The grip is appropriate and allows comfort without a sense of any slippage.

Why We Like This:

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
Would be sufficient in camping situations like tent spikes or a few nails

Best For bushcraft: Estwing utility Hatchet

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Not everyone likes to purchase hatchet for their daily purpose, but the estwing utility hatchet would be an anomoly. This is a top quality hatchet, the head/handle is completely one piece tempered steel, so there's no concern about the head flying off. It has a rubber coated handle to look like leather. It's very easy to sharpen, and practically indestructible. It's genuine leather handle is sanded and lacquered for a durable yet comfortable feel. It comes quite well pre-sharpened, with a very nice 1000 denier cordura cover to keep the edge safe and keep the rest of your gear from getting cut.

The steel is hardened and tempered as it should be, so that it's at least functional and long lasting. The sheath is nice and easy to store the hatchet safely while still being able to use the other side as a hammer for tent stakes or whatever. The leather handle is also plenty good to grip with.

Why We Like This:

Very good size for carrying in backpack for hiking
Balance is very good, the edge is super sharp
Lot of satisfied buyers

Best For trees branches: Columbia river Knife Tool utility Hatchet

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The columbia river knife tool utility hatchet is suitable and reliable and fits well with your daily usage. This is perfect for backpacking, it's heavier than the average hawk, but works well. It is fairly lightweight and has a really nice hickory handle. The hammer head feels good and the balance between hammer and axe is almost perfect. The ring that the handle fits through stops the hatchet from cleanly cutting through the entire length of the wood, stopping at the ring. It provides durability and edge retention.

The hammerhead back makes it great for camping or general yard work. It is perfectly formed to the handle to keep water and debris out. It is perfect for camping/gathering firewood/tacking down tent stakes.

Why We Like This:

Excellent, heavy duty hawk for chopping wood, hammering nails and splitting
A staple for camping and deer hunting
Great backcountry tool and light enough and versatile enough to bring along backpacking
Great balance and easy to learn how to throw

Best For Any hunter: Gerber gear utility Hatchet

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We would, of course, be remiss if we didn't mention gerber gear utility hatchet for regular usage. This is a perfect tool for chopping kindling, hammering or pulling tent stakes, breaching locked buildings to search for supplies or take shelter, fighting zombies or what have you. The "hammer" is a separate piece welded on to the rest of the head which is a thin piece of steel. The handle grip in the head would make this a fantastic close quarter or hand to hand combat weapon.

The axe head cuts through walls and rope while the hammer head is the perfect size for smashing through obstacles like hinges, door knobs and locking devices. It has its design is nice and sleek and light enough to include with your bug out bag but weighty enough to process sizable campfire wood. Due to it's design it has effective but blunt cutting surfaces to achieve the tasks it is created for. It is full tang and is very sturdy in your hands. The tool it's self is pretty awesome.

Why We Like This:

Good tool for light weight transport
Excellent than for use in urban and wilderness environment
Great construction and design, compact carry
Feels nice and solid, sharp blade

Best For reenactments: SOG utility 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 sog utility hatchet is exactly that - it's a simple hatchet that hits all the right notes. This lightweight hawk is great for camping, hiking and small jobs around the home. It is designed with an ultra-sharp 2.5” blade that bites deep on every throw. It features a stainless steel pommel for hammering and a spike opposite the mini axe head for piercing. It is safe and has a great grip on the handle that makes the odds of danger very low. It can definitely be used for survival or self-defense.

This emergency axe, throwing hatchet and hiking hatchet includes a ballistic nylon sheath that can be slung from your belt or gear for easy access. It is perfect for throwing and for use as an all purpose hatchet. It takes sharpening well and is easy to grip. It is useful for chopping small pieces of wood to start a campfire, but you will have to sharpen the edge, first.

Why We Like This:

Functional and nice enough to be a wall hanger
Nice and sturdy even for throwing
Good investment for long term

Best For daily Camp Use: Marbles utility Hatchet

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Marbles line of hatchet come in a pretty wide variety of styles, so you can definitely find one that suits your individual preferences and needs. The handle is well constructed, grain running properly and the axe-head is well and firmly attached. It takes and holds an edge well, and is sized for adults. The handle wood is perfect grainwise but somewhat light for hickery. The circle wedge is very nice and the head is hung with a nice mushroom of wood above the head. The handle's initial finish is decent and doesn't require any sanding.

It is great for camping, occasional yard chores, and to keep in the truck. It is a budget priced working tool.

Why We Like This:

Fits in places a full size ax won't and is lighter too
Holds a great edge and you will love the balance
Very sharp, easy to hold onto handle
High carbon steel head with 4" cutting edge

Best For starters: SOG Specialty knives utility Hatchet

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Not everyone likes to purchase hatchet for their daily purpose, but the sog specialty knives utility hatchet would be an anomoly. It is good for a starter set of throwing hawks, which would make a good gift. It comes with a belt loop + velcro closure. Each has a handle wrapped with quite a bit of paracord, which is super useful. It's heavy enough so that you can far it a super long way, and it's also light enough that you can throw it far, too.

It is good for cutting open cans of coors for shotgunning. The grip is just a para cord so obviously as you're throwing if another hawk hits the grip it cuts the para cord. It is easy to learn, and they are a lot easier to play with and easy on the arms.

Why We Like This:

Easy to throw and stick, even for kids
Easier to stick than knives and not as prone to ricochet
Great mininhatchets, good for cutting open cans of coors

Best For splitting: Coleman utility 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 coleman utility hatchet is exactly that - it's a simple hatchet that hits all the right notes. It works really well on the camping trip. It can be sharpened easily and is a very dependable little axe. The steel retains an edge surprisingly well for being lower in carbon, and is easy to sharpen with a file or whetstone. It works alright if you have very dry wood with no knots. It comes in with a very slight edge.

It is easy to swing, sharp enough to cut brush well. They are the perfect size and very, very well made.

Why We Like This: