How to Choose a Camp Saw

A saw cuts across the grain, which is what firewood processing actually requires most of the time. Saws are also lighter, quieter, safer, and less tiring than an axe for the same work, which is why they have quietly taken over from hatchets in most packs.

1. 1

   Choose folding or bow

   Folding saws pack small, deploy instantly, and handle wood up to roughly 4-6 inches. Bow and buck saws like the Agawa Boreal21 or Sven-Saw have a rigid frame that tensions a longer blade, cutting much faster through larger wood at the cost of assembly time and pack space.

2. 2

   Match blade length to the wood

   A 130mm folding blade like the Silky Pocketboy handles branches up to about 3 inches. 240mm handles 4-6 inches comfortably. A 21-inch bow saw blade cuts 8-inch rounds without complaint. Undersizing the blade means the saw binds and you work far harder than necessary.

3. 3

   Understand tooth patterns

   Japanese-style pull saws like Silky cut on the pull stroke, which keeps the blade in tension and lets it be thinner and faster. Western push saws are more forgiving of technique and sturdier. Impulse-hardened teeth stay sharp far longer and cannot be resharpened — when they dull, you replace the blade.

4. 4

   Weight and packability for your trip type

   Backpacking favours a folding saw at 5-8oz. Car camping and basecamp favour a bow saw for cutting speed. Many people carry a Bahco Laplander at $26 and 7oz on backpacking trips and keep a bow saw in the car.

5. 5

   Compare it honestly against a hatchet

   For cutting wood to length, a saw wins on every axis — speed, effort, safety, weight, noise. For splitting rounds to reach dry inner wood, only an axe or batoning works. Most campers need cutting far more often than splitting.

   Saw vs hatchetWhich one your firewood actually needs

   Read Guide →

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