Camp hatchet/axe
 

This:
Woodsmans Pal

or something like this:

Gerber Gator Axe

I'd go with a lighter machete than the pal. We used machetes surveying and nobody liked the heavy ones. A light folding saw might be a good way to go. I wouldn't carry a hatchet on a bike tour, too heavy.

eather one looks like they would get you busted for a weapon , BUT eather one would work as a weapon as well

How much actual backcountry camping are you planning on?

I'm with Griff...folding saw is probably more utilitarian than an axe overall, but then again, if you're driving a lot of tent pegs...the axe is the clear winner.

get one of these:


http://microtorches.ayay.com/Pencil%20Torch%20pack.jpg

and one of these:

http://www.orchardsedge.com/images/p...050/medium.jpg

That torch looks neat. We might have to get one of those. I guess they probably sell there over here too.

absolute life saver for starting fires in the damp. refillable with canned butane. i recently replaced the one we had when we were on tour.

I don't like the new, light, hatchets... *old fart*

IMHO, you can't go wrong with a Gerber anything.

Although I'd recommend the Glock entrenching shovel if you were intending on taking one. Has a saw in the handle.

I carry a Fiskars hatchet when camping and love the thing. All the new stuff is light and comfortable enough that hacking up enough firewood for several nights doesn't result in exhaustion.

Make sure it has a sheath if you hike with it, as the Fiskars didn't come with one and the blade was razor sharp when left left the factory. I strapped it to the back of my pack and managed to slice my hand up pretty good by accident.

For starting wet firewood, I carry some Trioxane bars I get from the local army surplus store.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to run around tomorrow and see if I can find somewhere with a variety I can try on.

I just need something that I can cut a night or two's worth of wood occasionally.

I kind of want to avoid anything that could be easily construed as a weapon.

hammer = rock
hatchet = rock

... so simple even a caveman can do it.

My idea of a hatchet... I hate the light ones. I feel they are dangerous. I have spent a LOT of time with hatchets. I grew-up on a ranch and was an Eagle Scout.
NEVER buy a hatchet with a tubular (hollow) handle, no matter what model you buy, PLEASE!!!
My Fave.
Another.
If you want smaller.
Go to your local hardware store, not a camping store.

Personally, I get a converter, charged batteries for my cordless sawsall and used it the last few times I camped. I pre-cut wood and brought it with me.

Don't forget the hot buttered groat clusters...

Really? Why?

The Estwing, by the way, is a really nice looking hatchet, seeing that the base metal runs well into the handle. I've always considered the hatchets with an all-wood handle to be more dangerous than the new composite ones, as most of the ones I've owned in the past had the blade drop due to the wood shrinking. In one case, I even had a blade fly off mid-swing.

That's a good idea, but... that ain't camping. :headshake