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The tomahawk, a one-handed axe resembling a hatchet, holds a rich history dating back to the indigenous people of North America, who crafted it from stones, bones, or antlers. Today, the tomahawk serves as a versatile and handy survival tool in the wilderness, making it an essential companion for minimalistic campers with a focus on survival gear.
From its historical roots to its modern-day applications, the tomahawk continues to prove its worth in various scenarios. Native Americans, the Royal Navy, military personnel, and law enforcement have all relied on its multifunctionality. In recent times, the popularity of tomahawk competitions has surged, offering enthusiasts a chance to indulge in axe and knife throwing while enjoying a casual gathering.
In this post, we embark on a journey to explore the best tomahawks for survival this year. From traditional bushcraft axes to tactical designs with advanced features, we will uncover the diverse uses and advantages that these tomahawks offer. Whether you need a reliable tool for self-defense, wood gathering, chopping, or hammering, the right tomahawk will undoubtedly become your trusty companion in the great outdoors. Let’s delve into the world of tomahawks and discover the perfect survival tool to suit your needs.
Best Tomahawks For Survival - Top 10 Below:
1. SOG Tactical Survival Tomahawk
Features: Throwing, Versatile, Sheath, Spike, Checkered Hamming Surface, Glass Reinforced Handle
SOG puts out great outdoor gear such as knives, and hatchets and they have some of the toughest tomahawks available on the market. It’s a super high-quality tomahawk that was designed to be a lightweight yet heavy-duty axe.
For practical use cutting and chopping, to throwing at a target. Hammer tenting stakes down and secure it. Can be used for a number of things and is a self-defense weapon out in the wilderness to give you that assurance. Since not everyone can carry a firearm, tools like these give you a sense of safety when you are in the middle of nowhere with nobody to receive help from.
A SOG tactical tomahawk will be good for those who are wanting to switch from hatchets for a more practical way to handle the mentioned above usages. You are able to do more with these than with the traditional hatchet. For the backpacker, the camper, having the sheath, it’s able to attach to your belt, or backpack without the need for packing away.
2. CRKT Woods Chogan Lightweight Survival Axe
Features: Lightweight, Hammerhead, Forged Carbon Steel Blade, Hickory Wooden Handle
A modern tomahawk with a classic look. This CRKT Tomahawk was forged with tough 1055 carbon steel which gives it strength and allows for edge retention. The handle is made from hickory from Tennessee and it is a dense wood that holds up for axe handles giving it great durability.
Designed to be a multi-purpose axe, it has a hammerhead and can be easily taken apart to save on space when backpacking. It’s going to be most useful as a tool when out camping to prepare wood, a hammer to manage the things you need to set up during set up.
Overall, the head weight is a little heavier than some others, but it is not a heavy tomahawk at all. It works well and has a nice design to just be brought out into the woods and start using as a multi-tool.
3. CRKT Kangee Tomahawk
Features: T-Hawk With Spike, Carbon Blade, Checkered Handle, Molle Compatible
The next level up from CRKT, they are having the Kangee tactical which is a totally different design from the previous wooden handle axe by them. Coming with a sheath a lightweight option if you are looking for something that is just over 1 pound. This is one of the best tomahawks for survival you are able to get. The only downside with this tomahawk is that it is more on the higher-end axes.
But using this on a regular daily basis has stood the test of time. A lot of these T-Hawks are great tomahawks, especially by SOG or Cold Steel. But, I will say this, nothing beats this axe and if it had even more reviews it would be the first on the list. As time goes by though I am sure this is going to be the best tomahawk in 2023 but we will update of course when we come back to this post and see where it’s at.
I know for a lot of people searching for a rugged axe, the wooden ones just will not be good enough. It’ll be good on camping trips and lightweight, but when really using it as a daily axe you need something that will take a beating and will hold up. A lot of products these days aren’t made like they used to be but this one is a top-notch tomahawk. It is on my list of things to order as I am using quite an older tomahawk I got from Walmart many many years ago, yet it has held up over time but once I upgrade it’ll be to this tomahawk I am most certain of it.
4. Browning Shock N’ Awe Survival Tomahawk Knife
Features: High Quality, Lightweight, Razor Sharp, Sheath, Carbon 1055 Steel
For the price, it is a great little axe. It really is lightweight, barely over 1 pound, going to be comfortable to hold in one hand, has a wicked-looking design to it, and you can use it for multiple reasons, now with that being said, this is not really an EDC for self-defense, mainly cause it will not fit on your belt for a comfortable fit since its a little big, so hard to conceal, so this will cause a problem with that.
Another point here is that when it is in the sheath, it would be hard to get at it. It’s just not meant for that but in a survival situation for defense having it on hand would be a handy axe for self-defense purposes.
5. USMC Elite Tactical Survival Tomahawk Axe
Features: Tactical Design, Fibreglass Handle, Comes With Sheath
Not for most campers but when it comes to self-defense it is going to be one of your go-to tomahawks. Made from high-quality steel, excellently made coming as a top choice right out of the box. It is able to pierce and provides you with navigation as there is a compass built into the axe.
Usmc Elite Tomahawk has an overall length of 15 inches, a blade thickness is 7mm, and includes a fishing kit, nylon fiber material, compass, lanyard, and nylon sheath.
6. Cold Steel Survival Tomahawk
Features: Stunning Design, High Quality, Sharp Edge, Many Tactical Options, 19” Reach
This is one of the most popular tactical survival axes among most survivalists these days. It is getting a bit older now but it is one amazing axe that offers everything you look for in tomahawks.
Out of the box, it comes sharp, unlike most you will need to sharpen up, which is no big deal but nice it does come sharp enough to cut something.
The edges are very sharp, and the wedge-styled spike, which in a self-defense scenario it would be a true warrior’s weapon no matter if you are in the wilderness or protecting your home, is a good tomahawk to have for many different reasons.
Cold Steel Tomahawk is one of the better options to go with since still today many believe this to be one of the top tomahawks and it is by no surprise. It’s affordable, has a cool design, and can be used for self-defense or for camping chopping up logs for the fire.
7. NedFoss Viking 12.2” Survival Tomahawk
Features: Berserkers design, Full tang, 4.3” cutting edge, Genuine Leather Shealth
The Berserker Survival axe is one of the only tomahawks that were inspired by the Nordic Viking Axe, which is the style of a Viking warrior. The Berserkers were famous for their fighting style. These types of axes provided them with a great multi-tool for them. It has an extended curve, with its robust axe head, cutting age is very large for a tomahawk and gives you a low enough weight to be comfortably attached to a molle system.
Made from high-grade materials and comes with a genuine leather sheath which is a nice design too. Providing a way to store it and easy access when you need to pull it out quickly. With a textured grip that provides a solid but comfortable grip, it is a great choice to go with when picking out a tomahawk to add to your gear.
8. SOG Mini Vodoo Hawk Tactical Hatchet
Features: Stainless Steel, Survival Design, 12.5”Mini, Heavy Duty
Vodoo Mini Hawk is a tactical tomahawk that is a great option to do some chopping with or bring along backpacking. A fine hunting hatchet that has a steel blade of 2.75 inches providing a good clean cut when you need to strike.
As expected it is very lightweight but offers the support you need to be counted on for over the long haul. The piercing spike is very sharp and so are the edges of this axe. Going to be a good axe to be used as a hammer, hammering down things like your tent’s stakes, cutting up kindling, hardwood, and cutting odds and ends when on the go on the trail.
9. Cold Steel Pipe Hawk
Features: Hickory Handle, Wide Cutting Edge, Hammer Head, 22 Inch Reach
This is the longest reach for tomahawks that we have on our list and is Cold Steel’s other fantastic tomahawk. Not only is it long, but has an actual hammerhead that can be used really well. This axe is heavy enough to make chop up wood easily, and also the length is going to give it extra power.
Made from tough materials, the spike and stakes are going to be just like using an actual hammer. Forged out of 1055 carbon steel and the wood handle is from hickory in America which is supposed to be really durable.
10. SOG Throwing Tomahawks
Throwing hawks are kind of in between the traditional tomahawks and throwing knives, they are meant to have a short handle, not so wide axe edge, and often will have a spike on the axe head. This pack comes with 3 tomahawks for throwing. These are going to be good for those that are wanting to practice throwing axes and want a few as a backup. You can take one of these along with you camping or backpacking and they are going to be as effective as any of the other ones really when it comes down to a survival situation.
The main thing with these is they are a lot shorter so you do have not as far of a reach, which in some situations could mean a big difference.
Imagine a bear that is going to strike you, and you would have to be up close to it to even protect yourself against its long reach. With something that is only a foot away or two feet away, it makes a big difference. But, with a smaller game that could attack them, you could keep a lot of animals at bay or even attackers if they are not having a weapon such as a gun, the intimidation factor.
By having these will likely keep sketchy people away from you when you are keeping to yourself on the trails.
Conclusion
We have seen some of the best tomahawks for survival and when it comes down to it you are better off going with something that is cost more when it comes to the quality and breaking these when used for chopping wood.
Some of these axes are going to vary in quality but when picking the best brand it is wise to go with any tomahawk by SOG or my personal favorite, the cold steel survival tomahawk.
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