Although they are similar in appearance and they can be used for similar purposes in situations that are just about the same, there are a few very real differences between an axe and the best survival hatchet.
Both tools can both be used to cut and chop wood, as well as other materials, with great effectiveness. However, while the axe is a two-handed tool that can maximize your striking power, the size of a survival hatchet is maxed out at about 18 inches, therefore the hatchet is clearly a one-handed tool.
A Difference in Structure
Axes and hatchets have a similar structure in that you have a wooden handle (in most cases!) attached to a metal cutting tool that is sharp and slightly elongated on one end, and dull on the other.
Although this structure seems similar, the survival hatchet actually has its handle start from a lower area than in the case of an axe. The “eye” of a hatchet (the part where the head thins and meets the handle) is made entirely from metal, which gives the hatchet less springiness when striking or cutting. The axe, on the other hand, typically has a wooden eye.
Due to this difference, hatchets actually experience much more force upon impact, so they can also be used to strike items in the same way as you’d use a hammer, obviously with the blunt end!
Differences in the Use of Hatchets and Axes
There are also a few important differences in the use of a hatchet as opposed to the use of an axe.
First, due to their smaller size, hatchets are more maneuverable, and you can use them with a single hand to chop branches and small pieces of firewood, even while holding something else in your other hand.
Axes, on the other hand, are longer and heavier, requiring the use of both hands. You can use an axe to chop up large and thick pieces of wood or even to cut down trees. Moreover, using an axe will require more of a back swing, so they are more practical in larger, more open areas, while hatchets are easier to maneuver in tighter spaces.
Multipurpose Hatchets
Hatchets are considered a type of axe. Despite this fact, and the fact that they are less powerful overall, hatchets are also remarkably easy to use. Also, they can be used for a variety of purposes that an axe simply can’t handle.
As mentioned, hatchets can be used as hammers, to strike items more effectively than if attempting to do the same with the dull side of an axe. You can also use them to carve, hew and split pieces of wood quite precisely, which can be an extremely helpful asset in certain situations.
Finally, hatchets can be used to chop wood almost as efficiently as an axe, except with less power but oftentimes with more accuracy.
Depending on what you need them for, both axes and hatchets can be extremely helpful in survival situations. It’s very important, however, to think ahead before deciding upon the type of tool you will want to buy, as well as its size and scope.
That way, you can be better prepared for the kinds of SHTF situations that you’re most likely to encounter.
In short, as effective as axes are for chopping up large logs and felling trees they are also big and heavy when compared to hatchets. That’s why a survival hatchet has to be the logical choice for preppers, backpackers, and campers, who will often be on foot and need a tool that is both lighter and smaller than an axe but which can do pretty much everything an axe can do.
It also helps if the tool you choose can be attached to a backpack or belt, which, of course, you can do far more easily with a hatchet.
If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of hatchets over axes then check out this post about the best way to select the perfect hatchet which also highlights some of the best hatchets currently available on the market.