Tourist axes: types and rating of the best manufacturers

An ax is a tool necessary for performing various professional and household tasks. It is often found in the arsenal of builders, carpenters, lumberjacks and home craftsmen. Often they take it with them on hikes, fishing and hunting, because bulky construction tools are not suitable for these purposes. For lovers of hiking, a tourist ax was created. It has its own design features.

Let's figure out what varieties of this hand tool manufacturers offer, and what to look for when choosing it.

A person who goes camping in nature with an overnight stay has to perform a number of tasks. To set up camp or cook food, you will need:

• chop pegs and sharpen them for setting up a tent;
• drive the prepared pegs into the ground;
• prepare firewood for a fire.

Ordinary axes are not suitable for solving these problems for one simple reason - they are too large and heavy. They will create an incredibly heavy burden for the tourist.Camping tools have a minimum weight, they do not create a large load and do not cause inconvenience to a person. Regardless of the model and manufacturer, such a tool must have certain features and meet a number of requirements.

• Have an optimal weightbecause the tool will have to be carried in a backpack on the back along with other accessories. Most models of modern tourist axes have a mass of 400 grams to 1.7 kg. The most popular are products that do not exceed 800 g.
• Have the correct handle length. Products that are too long will be difficult to move. Most camping axes can easily fit into a small backpack. Manufacturers most often paint the handles of products in bright, eye-catching colors. If such an ax is lost, it will be easier to find it.
• Be strong and reliable. Otherwise, the tool will break easily, and the tourist risks being left without an assistant in a difficult situation.
• Have blade protection and a thin cutting part.

There are several varieties of tourist axes. To choose the best model for yourself, it is important to familiarize yourself with the features, advantages and disadvantages of each type of tool before purchasing.

Forged products are especially popular. They are made by hand in blacksmith workshops. During the manufacturing process, the metal base is repeatedly forged and hardened, due to which it acquires reliability and strength. A forged ax is much more durable than cast or stamped models. However, not everyone can afford a handmade product due to its high cost.

Popular among tourists cast and stamped axes. They are much cheaper than forged because of the "in-line" production. Their disadvantages include the need for frequent sharpening and a shorter service life.

Axes can be equipped with various ax handles (handles).

• Metal. Metal is a strong, strong and durable material. Exclusive ax handles are often made from it, especially if the product is forged. Metal handles are not the best option. They do not dampen vibrations upon impact, which is why using such axes is not very comfortable.

• Plastic. Ax handles made of plastic are lightweight, so they do not add weight to the ax. However, the plastic handles are fragile and should be handled with care.

• Wooden. Wood is recognized as the best material for making an ax handle. For these purposes, birch, oak or other types of wood are most often used. Such ax handles perfectly dampen vibrations, making them easy to use.

Camping axes are different, but it is better that the product is functional and replaces several tools at once. For example, for a tourist, a solution designed to perform various tasks will be ideal. It can be a knife-axe or an ax-shovel. In addition, there are multitools on sale - tools that have a single handle and interchangeable nozzles:

• axe;
• knife;
• saw;
• shovel.

The choice of axes is extensive. Domestic and foreign manufacturers offer hundreds of models of these tools. Here is a rating of the best companies whose axes are included in the top sales.

• Husqvarna. Swiss manufacturer, famous for the production of household and professional electric and gas tools. The product range also includes tourist axes. They are divided into two subgroups: with wooden and composite ax handles.

• Fiskars. One of the first manufacturers who began to produce various types of axes. The company was founded in 1649. A manufacturer from Finland offers several models of compact tourist axes with polyamide handles with rubberized inserts. Despite the high cost, Finnish-made axes are in great demand in Russia and foreign countries.

• "Pathfinder". Instruments of domestic production. Camping axes are durable and reliable. They are made from high quality materials: durable plastic and steel. For safe transportation, the tools come with special protective cases.

• Trump. This is a Chinese manufacturer. Offers touring axes that combine compactness, light weight, and superior performance. The tools are reliable, but at the same time they are inexpensive. Due to their low cost, they are popular with lovers of hiking, fishing and hunting.

• stayer. The company is engaged in the production of manual petrol and power tools, as well as various measuring instruments. In the assortment of catalogs you can find both professional equipment and devices for domestic use. The same applies to axes.

• "Zubr". Another domestic manufacturer that deserves attention. The company is engaged in the manufacture of axes with ax handles made of wood or heavy-duty plastic. The blade is made from high grade stainless steel.

Choosing a quality ax is not difficult, for this you need to know a few important nuances. Do not neglect the advice of experienced tourists and travelers. Compliance with their recommendations guarantees the acquisition of a reliable assistant who will not let you down at a crucial moment.

The most important rule is the refusal to buy a tool in online stores. Do not chase the desire to save money and purchase products on online platforms. Choosing models on electronic showcases, the buyer will not have the opportunity to visually assess the quality of the ax. That is why tourists with experience are advised to go to a regular store. When choosing products, it is important to pay attention to several necessary parameters.

• Blade quality. The hardening of the metal part is very important - the overheated one will crumble upon impact, and the underheated one will be prone to deformation under mechanical stress. To check the quality of the blade, it is enough to touch it with any metal object: high-quality metal will make a clean and lingering ringing.
• Appearance. It is important to carefully inspect the tool for damage and various defects. On high-quality axes, there should not be such.
• Convenience. A tourist sometimes has to cut wood for a long time, drive in pegs or perform other tasks.If the tool is inconvenient, they will not be able to work for a long time. To ensure comfort, you need to hold the tool in your hand and make a few strokes with it. If you are tired during such actions, take a look at more lightweight models.
• Lever. It is best to refuse metal ax handles. The best options are wood and plastic (the handles must be rubberized).
• Durability and reliability. Tourist axes, like any other, must be made to last. A crooked and wobbly blade will tell the opposite. These products are not worth buying.

Buying a good quality tourist ax is only half the battle. In order for the product to serve for a long time and not break at the wrong time, it is important to observe the conditions for its operation and storage.

A camping hatchet is a universal thing. It can perform many types of work, but it is still best to protect such a tool from long loads. In severe frosts, work with an ax should be done with extreme caution - at negative ambient temperatures, the blade may burst or crumble. It is important to control the impact force.

To make the ax convenient to use, it should be sharpened regularly. If there are no skills in this matter, it is best to give the product to a workshop specializing in tool sharpening. If the ax is not needed, it should be stored in a dry place.

For an overview of tourist axes, see the following video.