VIDEO: Cougar vs a Black Bear- showdown over a dead deer

Viagra Commercial features Bushcraft

REVIEW: The Gerber Bear Grylls Survival Hatchet- Have hatchets gone wild?

Have hatchets gone wild? With the arrival of Gerber's new Bear Grylls Survival Hatchet, this just might be the case.

In a surprise turn in the market, hatchets are becoming hot again, after years of languishing in obscurity on dusty hardware store shelves and warehouse overstock sections.

Long passed over by the public who were more enamored of their flashier survival knife cousins, hatchets that used to be shunned as thick-edged and unhip are suddenly the hottest thing-- who da thunk it?

SPECS:

Overall length: 9.46“ (24cm)

Blade length: 3.5“ (8.9cm)

Weight without sheath: 18.6 ounces (as weighed on a digital postal scale)

Weight with sheath: 21.1 ounces (as weighed on a digital postal scale)

Steel Type: 3Cr13MoV

Handle Material: Polypropylene

Sheath Material: Cordura Nylon with velcro closure

Country of manufacture: China

The Hatchet

Milled from a solid bar of 3Cr13MoV Stainless Steel, reportedly in the same factory as the Bear Grylls Ultimate Survival Knife, the Survival Hatchet is designed to be a simple, compact, yet indestructible survival tool.

Its one piece construction, reminescent of Estwing Hatchets, sports a handle made from a hard rubber grip material that's nearly identical to that used on the original Bear Grylls Ultimate Survival Knife. There are finger grooves closer towards the head, which make for a more secure grip when choking up on it for detailed work.

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The Survival Hatchet next to its close cousin- the Bear Grylls Ultimate Survival Knife (upper left) and the new Ultimate Pro Survival Knife (lower left):

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Note the similarity in overall construction and appearance between the Survival Hatchet and the original Ultimate Knife:

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SHEATH

The Survival Hatchet comes with a belt-wearable Cordura Nylon sheath, reminiscent of the sheath that came with Gerber's now defunct Sport Axe.

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Comparison/Profile Shots

Bear Grylls Survival Hatchet next to the recently discontinued Fiskars X5 Mini-Hatchet:

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Profile Comparison (BG Survival Hatchet on the left):

The Bear Grylls Survival Hatchet next to Estwing's 12" all steel Hatchet:

Profile Comparison (Survival Hatchet on the left):

Factory Edge

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Survival Hatchet came with a razor-sharp edge right out of the box. This makes it the only production hatchet under $40 that comes with this kind of edge. You generally have to spend two to three times more in order to get this kind of edge on a production hatchet.

Here's a comparison of the edge next to Gerber's Ultimate Survival Knife. Though most production axes come with a rounded, convex edge, the Survival Hatchet's edge comes with a standard v-grind that is typically used on knives:

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Hammer Poll

Due to its slender profile, the Survival Hatchet has a very thin hammer poll. (Check out the field testing section below to see how it performed)

FIELD TESTING!

The testing battery was simple -- I wanted to see how well the Survival Hatchet would do while performing common tasks that any hatchet worth its mettle should be able to handle. Things like chopping and splitting kindling, pounding tent stakes, and bucking small sub-4" logs should be second nature for a good hatchet. Also, in a bushcraft and wilderness survival role, having a sharp hatchet that can carve like a knife is a great asset. 

Chopping down a small, dead Aspen tree, bucking out a log, and splitting it into kindling

While wandering around the woods at one of my favorite bushcraft spots, I ran across a couple of small, dead Aspen trees that turned out to be great candidates for testing the Survival Hatchet's chopping and splitting ability. The one on the right had more of a clear space in which to fall, so I turned my attention to it and used the Survival Hatchet to chop it down.

Since the Survival Hatchet is so small and lightweight, it took some extra swings to bring down the tree, but it did get the job done.

I then selected a relatively straight area of the tree to buck out a log to split into dry kindling.

The Survival Hatchet handled this task reasonably well, but once again it took a few more swings to get the job done due to it's light weight.

The log measured roughly 3 1/8" wide.

I then laid the bucked log in a notch chopped out of a deadfall tree, in order to split it.

First Swing:

A few swings later and I was able to split the Aspen log clean in half. The thin profile of the Survival Hatchet won't win any awards for splitting, but as long as the logs are kept under 4", it still gets the job done.

Success! Despite the log being rather twisted and difficult to split, I was able to reduce it into a nice pile of campfire-ready kindling.

Fine Carving Test #1- Making a Featherstick

Using one of the pieces split from the Aspen log, I created a tiny featherstick. The Survival Hatchet turned out to be a very competent hatchet for fine carving work, owing to its thin profile and knife-style edge.

Fine Carving Test #2- Tent Stake

For the second carving test, I found a dead Fir tree branch that was a good size for converting into a tent stake.

Using just the hatchet, I carved out a rough, but usable stake and then drove it into the ground with the hammer poll.

The Survival Hatchet did an excellent job with carving out the tent stake, but driving the stake into the ground without destroying the top of it (due to the thin poll) proved a bit more challenging. As long as I took it easy, the Survival Hatchet got the job done, but it definitely lacks in this department compared to most traditional hatchets.

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Chopping Test #1- The Bear Grylls Survival Hatchet vs the Fiskars X5 Mini-Hatchet

For the first chopping test, I pitted the Survival Hatchet against the recently discontinued, but highly effective Fiskars X5 Mini-Hatchet. Each hatchet was used to chop 30 times into a dead Aspen tree.

Though the weight of the hatchets varies by less than two ounces (the X5 comes in at 1.8 ounces lighter), the X5 carries much more of its weight in the head. This gave it a definite advantage over the Survival Hatchet  in the chopping test.

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Chopping Test #2- The Bear Grylls Survival Hatchet vs the 12" Estwing Hatchet

For this test, I obtained a 12" Estwing Hatchet, and spent a few minutes sharpening the edge to bring it up to par with the Survival Hatchet. Though the latest Estwing Hatchets come with thin, Gransfors Bruks' style edges, they still require some hand sharpening before doing any serious chopping.

After 30 chops into a dead Lodgepole Pine, it was apparent that the Estwing dominated this test even more than the Fiskars X5 did the previous test.

Like the X5, the Estwing has more weight towards the head than the Survival Hatchet. It also has a length and weight advantage, coming in at roughly 2" longer in overall length and about 3/4 of an ounce heavier. These features definitely gave the Estwing a significant advantage (look for our upcoming review of Estwing's thinner-profiled hatchets by mid-summer).

Chopping Test #3- The Bear Grylls Survival Hatchet vs the Ontario 10.5" Bladed RTAK II Survival Knife

Sorry NutNFancy, but the mighty Ontario RTAK II, 10.5" blade and all, got bested by the 3.8 ounce lighter Survival Hatchet in the chopping test, which consisted of 40 chops into a dead Lodgepole Pine tree.

Though big survival knives like the Ontario RTAK II are well constructed and make excellent survival tools, they just can't overcome the Law of Physics when it comes to chopping performance, which favors weight-forward axes and hatchets. 

(click to enlarge)

This is one of the reasons hatchets are making a comeback. People are rediscovering just how effective they are when properly sharpened and profiled, as evidenced by this test. Another reason is that unlike many survival knives, it's extremely rare to see a Youtube video where a hatchet "broke in half." 

This combination of superior chopping performance and durability has been catching the public's attention, even spreading to popular V-loggers who used to push survival knives exclusively, such as Equip2Endure, and many others.

Conclusion

Though it's not something I'd recommend to serious axe users, who would be better served with a more capable Estwing or traditional wood-handled hatchet, if you're new to the world of axes, and want to try a sharp, affordable, and easy to use hatchet to see why "hatchets have gone wild," the Gerber Bear Grylls Survival Hatchet just might be the ticket for your next wilderness adventure.

Pros

Factory-honed razor-sharp edge right out of the box. Unlike its competition, the Survival Hatchet doesn't require experience sharpening axes to make it optimal.

Great hatchet for fine carving, making it a good candidate for bushcrafting

Lightweight, easier for less experienced people to use.

Edge-holding is respectable for a soft steel. No edge degradation occurred during the tests, indicating good toughness and durability. 

One piece construction means no alignment issues or worrying about a wood handle breaking.

Comfortable, secure handle

Decent Cordura nylon belt carry sheath

Outchopped an RTAK II!

Cons

The thin hammer poll makes pounding in tent stakes a bit more challenging than with most hatchets

Handle is a bit short, could really benefit from an extra 1-2" in length

Weight not distributed towards the head as much as most hatchets, making it less effective as a chopper

Not drop-forged like most hatchets

Experienced axe enthusiasts will probably enjoy the feel and performance of a traditional hatchet or Estwing better.

Made in China (the Estwing is made in the USA and Fiskars is made in Finland)

Overall Rating- 3.75 out of 5 Stars (Recommended)

For more information, visit Gerber's website at: 

http://www.gerbergear.com/Survival/Gear/Survival-Hatchet_31-002070

Tips & Tricks: How to Clean your Water Bottles

(Article courtesy of REI)

Over time, reusable plastic water bottles occasionally develop unpleasant odors and/or tastes. This typically occurs when bottles are stored incorrectly or cleaned infrequently.

Most rigid water bottles are made out of either polyethylene plastic (which tends to be cloudy in appearance) polypropylene (which comes in medium to dark colors) or copolyester (which can be clear, frosted or colored). Most hydration system reservoirs have polyethylene linings, which retain tastes and odors more easily than polycarbonate. But all plastic bottles can develop unwanted tastes or odors if cared for incorrectly.

General Care

The best way to maintain any plastic water bottle or bladder bag is to rinse it out after each use and to let it air dry completely. Most odor and taste problems occur when bottles are stored in wet areas or kept sealed for long periods of time with liquid inside. Polyethylene bottles can also develop unpleasant tastes/odors when they're used to store a variety of acidic juices.

Cleaning

If your water bottle develops a funky taste or odor, try the following procedure:

• Put a teaspoon of bleach and a teaspoon of baking soda in the bottle and fill it with water.
• Let the bottle sit overnight.
• Rinse out the bottle completely the next day (or run it through the dishwasher).
• Let the bottle air dry completely.

When cleaning hydration reservoirs, rinse them thoroughly and let them completely air dry before using them again. Do not place in your dishwasher.

Tip: Some tastes and odors can be removed from plastic water bottles simply by rinsing them with anti-bacterial mouthwash.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A reader emailed us to share this cool trick, which recommends the use of Denture Cleaner tablets to clean hydration bladders:

"I always tell customers to clean their hydration bladder with an Efferdent (Denture Cleaner) Tablet. Follow the directions like cleaning dentures in a glass of water. It gets rid of any foul orders & is safe for human consumption.... Love your blog."

Thanks to the reader (who wished to remain anonymous) for sharing this! 

-RMB

Latest News/List of upcoming Articles and Reviews - May 4th, 2013

Dear readers,

As you may have noticed, post count is down lately. I apologize for this, but I have been busy preparing to travel to different parts of the Rockies. I'm going to spend the summer living in the bush and working on RMB. Can't wait! I'm preparing a whole boatload of new material that will be posted over the coming weeks and months.

I hope you'll continue to stop by for the further adventures of the RMB team!

Cheers!

Jason and Leah

Latest News

Our recent review of Gerber's new Bear Grylls Ultimate Pro Survival Knife is now the #1 Review on Google!

Also- a special thanks to the Ray Mears crew for posting our write-up of the Ray Mears Wilderness Axe on their Facebook page. It's a great honor, because as many of you know, I'm a big fan of Ray's books and documentaries!

Upcoming Articles and Reviews

REVIEWS

Benchmade Bushcrafter Knife- took some extra time with this one,  but it's WORTH the wait!.

Gerber Bear Grylls Survival Hatchet- Have Hatchets Gone Wild?

Henry AR-7 Wilderness Survival Rifle

Gransfors Bruks American Felling Axe VS the Wetterlings American Forest Axe

Vasque Taku GTX Ultralite Hiking/Bushcrafting Boots

Review of the Barco-Kelly "Kelly Perfect" Dayton Axe and Michigan Cruiser Axes

More "Made in the USA" gear reviews

ARTICLES

Rocky Mountain Tree Identification: The Pinyon Pine Tree

How I sharpen Knives and Axes

Thoughts on Prepping and the Prepper Movement

And many more!

Grizzly Cauldron: Return of the Gray Wolf | National Geographic Nature Documentary

This is one of the most fascinating documentaries I've seen regarding Grizzly Bears. I think you will enjoy this one!

"Made in the USA" Gear Review: AYG Men's Performance Sports/Hiking Briefs

I'm pretty sure this review isn't gonna fire up readers' imaginations the way a good bushcraft article or knife review will, but the reality is that a good pair of underwear really makes a difference in whether a long hike or backpacking trip is comfortable or not.

If you wear the wrong briefs, your thighs can become chafed, or even blistered. I'm sorry to say that I've had a few bad experiences in the past that nearly ruined my trips. This led me on a search to find a good pair of briefs that were comfortable, breathable and kept me chafe-free. I got lucky last year when our sponsor LifeView Outdoors suggested that I try a pair of AYG Performance Sports Briefs. I took them up on their offer, and it turned out to be a really smart decision.

The SPECS:

• Quick drying, wicking, breathable
• 4-way stretch for maximum agility
• Anti-microbial
• Athletic fit
• Odor resistant
• Fights bacteria
• Comfortable flat seams
• Weight- 4oz
• Made in North Carolina, USA
• Street Price- $19.95

To me, these briefs resemble those worn by runners and cyclists, and they do in fact share a similar design. They are made of a blend of 92% "Acclimate Dry Polyester" and 8% Spandex, and touted as "anti-microbial" and "odor-resistant." The Acclimate Dry Polyester, originally developed by PolarMax, also makes the claim "Feels like Cotton but wicks like polyester."

AYG's 4-way Stretch Boxer Brief 

After wearing these briefs on numerous hikes, backpacking trips, and field testing excursions, I quickly became a believer, as they turned out to be a major step up from conventional briefs, even those made of cotton. 

These AYG Performance Sports Briefs caused no chafing, are super comfortable, breathable, and have plenty of support for longer trips to my favorite bushcrafting spots. After many washings, they also held up well and seem to be durably constructed. 

Well-made and comfortable, these AYG Performance Briefs would be a great piece of gear to add to your backpacking/hiking arsenal. And they're made right here in the USA!

5 out of 5 Stars (Highly Recommended)

AYG Performance Briefs are available from LifeView Outdoors- http://www.lifeviewoutdoors.com/outdoor-clothing-and-technical-apparel/mens-outdoor-clothing/mens-ayg-underwear/ayg-mens-sports-brief-black.html

Battle of the Compact Bushcraft Axes!

Compact bushcraft axes have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, driven in part by a celebrity endorsement from famed UK bushcrafter/TV personality Ray Mears, and by strong word of mouth through various internet forums and bloggers. This has helped compact bushcraft axes become top sellers for major axe companies.

Why have these axes become so popular? Simple -- portability and versatility. A compact bushcraft axe is small enough to be used as a one handed hatchet, and large enough to swing as a two-handed axe for more serious chopping and splitting tasks.

Using a Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe as a one-handed hatchet to shape wood

As popular as compact bushcraft axes are, not everyone is a fan. One of their biggest critics is bushcrafting legend Mors Kochanski, who feels that carrying an axe with anything less than a 23" to 25" handle and a 2 to 2.5 pound head is too light for serious bush work.

Also, in a review of the Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe many years ago on the Old Jimbo website, they found it "to be neither fish nor fowl. It is too heavy for a backpacking or carry axe that you will always have with you and not versatile enough as an all around using axe. It is somewhat clumsy as a two handed axe and does not cut as well as either of the larger axes. I found it fatiguing to use for any length of time."

In general, I agree with these sentiments, but I still think compact axes have certain advantages over larger axes.

Why Carry a Compact Bushcraft Axe?

Since many consumers have limited budgets and are forced to choose between buying either an axe or a hatchet, but not both, a compact bushcraft axe represents a good compromise, since it can function reasonably well in both roles.

A compact bushcraft axe is also easier to handle than a larger axe, which means it will have a faster learning curve.

Finally, a compact axe is generally the largest axe you can carry inside a daypack, for instance. This is important if you want to carry an axe discreetly in your pack as a wilderness survival tool, or build a campfire on a day hike, without getting bogged down carrying a larger, heavier axe.

All three of the axes in this write-up easily fit inside this diminutive Kelty Redtail 30 Daypack.

What exactly defines a compact bushcraft axe? There have been many discussions on axe forums, but the general consensus is that it is an axe or a large hatchet with a 1.4 to 1.6 lb head and an overall length of between 17" to 21".

We would like to say a special thanks to Ben's Backwoods for providing the Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe, and to Gerber Gear for sending us the Gerber Camp Axe II used in this article.

The Contenders

Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe

The SPECS:

Overall Length: 19.5"

Weight: 34.8 Ounces without sheath, 36.3 with sheath

Head weight: 1.5 pounds

Handle type: American Grade "A" Hickory
Steel- Hand Forged, Swedish Carbon Steel (composition considered a trade secret)

Country of origin: Made in the Sweden

Warranty: 20 Years
Company website
Price- $120.00, available from Ben's Backwoods

The Small Forest Axe, made by Gransfors Bruks in Sweden, is the compact axe by which all others are judged. It was popularized in the UK by bushcraft expert, author and TV personality Ray Mears in the 1990s and early 2000s. When bushcraft gained popularity in the States during the last decade, the Small Forest Axe became popular here as well.

Hand forged, and constructed using classic 19th Century American axe-making techniques, the quality, finish, and durability of these axes is now legendary. You can see a more detailed history of Gransfors Bruks and their approach to axe-making by checking out our review of the Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet here.

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Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe

The SPECS:

Overall Length: 19.5"

Weight: 34.3 Ounces without sheath, 36.6 with sheath

Head weight: 1.5 pounds

Handle type: High grade American Hickory
Steel- Hand Forged, Swedish Carbon Steel (composition considered a trade secret)

Country of origin: Made in the Sweden

Warranty: Lifetime
Company Website
Price- $89.99, available from Bailey's Online

The Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe can probably best be described as the Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe's practical, budget-minded, cousin. Constructed using the same, traditional axe-making techniques as the Small Forest Axe, the primary differences between the two are fit and finish.

Gransfors Bruks' axes are constructed with greater attention to quality control and more expensive features, such as higher grade, beeswax-coated hickory handles, and more consistently forged heads. Wetterlings forgoes these subtleties and instead, focuses on creating an axe that is rough around the edges, but high on function.

This slightly lower standard of fit and finish usually means that a Wetterlings can be had for roughly $20 to $50 cheaper than an equivalent Gransfors axe, yet, performs as well as its more expensive cousin. This has led many to refer to Wetterlings as a "working man's Gransfors axe."

This cost to performance ratio has created a rabid following for Wetterlings, even in some cases rivaling the popularity of Gransfors Bruks.

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Gerber Camp Axe II

The SPECS:

Overall Length: 17.5"

Weight: 36.5 ounces without sheath, 39.0 ounces with sheath

Head weight: 1.6 pounds

Handle type: Glass-filled Nylon
Steel- Drop Forged, Medium Carbon Finnish Steel (composition considered a trade secret)

Country of origin: Made in Finland by Fiskars

Warranty: Lifetime
Company Website
Price- $35 to $45, available from Amazon.com

The Gerber Camp Axe II, or as I affectionately like to call it- the "Star Wars Axe," is the ultra-compact, synthetic-handled wonder axe of this group. I can seriously imagine Luke Skywalker climbing out of his X-Wing Fighter with one of these in hand, ready to chop up kindling on the Planet Dagobah to build a campfire. "Hey Yoda, campfire's ready! Bring some of that outrageously bad-tasting bat soup over here so we can heat it up!"

Don't let the synthetic handle fool you though. These "She blinded me with science!" axes are actually highly efficient choppers, splitters and fine carvers. The mad scientists at Fiskars certainly knew what they were doing when they designed these, as you'll see further down in the field review section.

For more information about Fiskars/Gerber X-Series axes, check out our reviews of the Fiskars X7 Hatchet and X15 Chopping Axe.

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Let the Battle Begin!

To judge the overall winner of these three competitors, I devised seven simple, yet reliable, tests that I've used many times to test axes in our previous reviews. These tests include: Chopping, Splitting, Limbing, Featherstick-making, Balance, Overall Comfort, and Quality.

TEST #1- CHOPPING 
(30 chops per axe on two separate logs)

WINNER- Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe

SECOND PLACE- Tied between the Gerber Camp Axe II and the Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe

All three of the axes chopped great for their size, but the Large Hunting Axe ended up taking the prize. It consistently outchopped the Camp Axe II and Small Forest Axe by about 10%.

The Camp Axe II and Small Forest Axe were so closely matched that they finished in a draw.

Chop Test #1 (from left to right- Wetterlings, Gerber, Gransfors Bruks)

(click to enlarge any photo)

Chop Test #2 (from left to right- Gransfors Bruks, Gerber, Wetterlings)

TEST #2 - SPLITTING

WINNER- Gerber Camp Axe II

SECOND PLACE- A draw between the Large Hunting Axe and Small Forest Axe

For the splitting test, I grabbed a few well seasoned Ponderosa Pine logs that had been bucked with a saw. Each axe was tested by splitting one of these logs into four quarters on top of a flat chopping block.

In spite of it's short handle, the Camp Axe II's wedge-shaped head clearly dominated this test, and was effective enough that it even made the log fly apart upon striking it! The Small Forest Axe and Large Hunting Axe, though not as effective as the Camp Axe, were still competent enough splitters to get the job done, albeit, with an extra swing or two. Neither the Large Hunting Axe or the Small Forest Axe felt like the better splitter, so they ended up in a draw.

Profile shot of the Gerber Camp Axe II (left) next to the Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe (right). The Gerber's wedge-shaped head gave it a clear advantage in this test.

TEST #3 - LIMBING A TREE

WINNER- Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe

SECOND PLACE- Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe

THIRD PLACE- Gerber Camp Axe II

A dead, blown-down Douglas Fir Tree was used as the "victim" for the limbing test. The longer handles of the traditional Swedish axes had a distinct reach advantage over the shorter Camp Axe and so came out on top in this test. The Wetterlings just edged out the Gransfors Bruks due to it's slightly better chopping ability, which pushed it into first place.

TEST #4 - FEATHERSTICKS

WINNER- Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe

SECOND PLACE- Gerber Camp Axe II

THIRD PLACE- Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe

In my experience using/testing lots of axes, I've found that an axe's ability to make a good featherstick is usually a good indicator of its ability to do other fine work and shaping tasks.

Out of the three, the Wetterlings really shined in this test, being the easiest to use to push-cut the wood into nice feathered curls. The Camp Axe II turned in a solid second place performance, and was nearly as easy to use, turning out a well-made featherstick.

The Small Forest Axe made the finest curls, but was the hardest to featherstick with, since it made push-cutting more difficult than the other two axes. This affected its ability to make larger feathers as well. I found this surprising, since my experiences with the Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet and Scandinavian Forest Axe have been the complete opposite.

TEST #5 - BALANCE

WINNERS- Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe and Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe

SECOND PLACE- Gerber Camp Axe II

Both the Small Forest Axe and Large Hunting Axe balanced perfectly in the hand, so they shared the winning spot.

The Camp Axe II, in comparison with the Large Hunting Axe and Small Forest Axe, balanced poorly. Just after the photo below was snapped, the heavy-headed/light handled Gerber nose-dived out of my hand towards the ground. Had I not "Used the Force" and caught the handle in mid-flight, the Camp Axe would have hit the snow with a big "ker-plunk!"

Gerber Camp Axe II

Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe

Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe

TEST #6 - OVERALL COMFORT

WINNER- Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe

SECOND PLACE- Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe

THIRD PLACE- Gerber Camp Axe II

In terms of overall comfort, the Small Forest Axe was the clear winner in this test. In my opinion, Gransfors Bruks makes some of the best production axe handles out there, rivaled only by Council Tool's excellent Velvicut handles. The design of the Small Forest Axe handle makes it feel very secure and comfortable in the hand.

The Wetterlings' handle, while also very comfortable, feels just a bit too thick by comparison. 

The Gerber's handle, though comfortable, feels a bit cramped when using it two-handed compared to its longer, wooden-handled rivals. However, using it one-handed feels nearly as comfortable as using the Small Forest Axe, since the overall shape of the handle makes for a comfortable grip.

(Left to right: Wetterlings, Gransfors Bruks, Gerber)

TEST #7 - QUALITY

WINNER- Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe

SECOND PLACE- Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe

THIRD PLACE- Gerber Camp Axe II

As mentioned in the Small Forest Axe's summary, it is the compact axe by which all others are judged, and this is not by accident. Gransfors Bruks simply makes the highest quality production axes in the world. These axes have been field tested by thousands of wilderness enthusiasts since the early 1990s. Without a doubt it is an axe built so well that you can stake your life on it. True to Gransfors Bruks' well deserved reputation, the Small Forest Axe used in the test was of impeccable quality, making it the easy winner of this category.

The Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe used in this test has been my personal bushcraft axe for several years. I'd rate its overall quality at maybe 85% of the Gransfors. I did have an issue with the edge rolling about a year into ownership, but after re-sharpening, the issue didn't return, and the axe has been a faithful companion since. The steel takes a very sharp edge, and holds the edge nearly as well as the Gransfors Small Forest Axe. The sheath is of high quality and made of heavy, reinforced leather. Sadly, in their latest models Wetterlings replaced these heavy leather sheaths with newer sheaths that use weaker button snaps. Wetterlings informed me that they are currently in the process of fixing this issue.

The Gerber Camp II (which is a Gerber-branded Fiskars X-Series Axe), is of excellent quality for such an affordable axe. Yes, the balance of a traditional wood-handled axe is lacking, but for the money, it's excellent at chopping, excels at splitting, and rivals the Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe in fine carving. The steel, once sharpened, takes a scalpel-like edge and holds it well.

The Gerber Camp Axe II in between fellow X-Series Axes, the Fiskars X7 and Fiskars X15

One issue that I've discovered with Fiskars axes is that they have to be sharpened BEFORE using them, or the edge will roll and dent when chopping initially. Why? Because there seems to be just a tiny bit of soft, extra metal leftover from the drop forging process that causes this issue, but once sharpened, the edges seem to hold up as well as my American, German and Swedish axes. 

Sheath comparison of the three axes (Left to right: Wetterlings, Gransfors Bruks, Gerber)

And the winner is.......

First Place- Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe

Winning or tying nearly every performance test, with excellent balance, and quality approaching the Gransfors Bruks, the Wetterlings Large Hunting Axe was the easy choice in this "battle of the compact bushcraft axes" competition. 

Yes, the handle is a little on the thick side, the quality is a notch down from a Gransfors Axe, and it doesn't split with the ferocity of the Gerber Camp Axe II. But it's negatives were relatively minor in comparison with it's awesome performance while performing various bushcraft chores. 

Second Place- Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe

Though it came in at second place, the Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe still comes out on top when it comes to quality and excellence in axe design.

In spite of its third place ranking in the Featherstick Test, it is still a superb compact bushcraft axe by any measure, and one that gets grabbed as often as my Wetterlings when I head off into the bush. What the Small Forest Axe gives up to the Wetterlings in pure chopping and feathersticking performance, it makes up for with all-day comfort, dead reliability, and probably the best overall steel quality of any production axe.

A few minutes spent with a file and sharpening stone would probably improve its push-cutting ability, making it a top choice for people who prefer the higher quality of a Gransfors' axe over a Wetterlings.

Third Place- Gerber Camp Axe II

Unfortunately, "The Force" just couldn't save the Gerber Camp Axe II from landing in the third spot. In spite of its excellent performance in the chopping, splitting and featherstick categories, it was ultimately hampered by poor balance, along with a shorter handle that's a bit cramped when using it two-handed, compared to its longer-handled rivals. Still, with a street price of roughly $40.00, it's hard to beat, especially considering its overall performance in the test.

CONCLUSION

The truth is, all three of these axes will perform well in the role of a compact bushcraft axe. Purists will, of course, prefer the balance and feel of a fine hickory axe handle over Gerber's synthetic handle. But bushcrafters on a budget, who can't afford the steep entry price of a Swedish axe, can still add the highly capable Camp Axe II to their bushcraft arsenal without breaking the bank. The choice, of course, will ultimately come down to your budget and personal preference.