Treeline Outdoors Half Hatchet

Field Notes: If resetting tent stakes is required or firewood needs to be chopped and split, the Treeline Outdoors Half Hatchet takes a rip at it. More utility than Paul Bunyan’s double-bit monster, Half Hatchet’s 1.5lb forged steel head carries enough power to penetrate. The beautiful hickory handle provides control for smaller tasks, with a beefy leather sheath for safety during travel. Axe users with larger hands will appreciate the enlarged lower handle section, with a pre-drilled hole to secure a wrist loop if helpful. An integrated, beveled combo nail puller and wire cutter sits immediately behind the 3.5 inch cutting blade while the flat side of the head drives stakes and nails. Even though the brand resonates with the brew-loving and the bearded, Half Hatchet is a legitimate contribution to the rugged outdoor life.

Pros: Alluring look. Serious head weight. Quality wood handle. Superior sheath.

Cons: Its heavy head can be hard to control. Blade takes work to sharpen.

Tester Comments: “Getting used to the heavy head takes some practice, particularly with a hatchet-length handle. Cutting and driving control is easier with the flat-sided hickory handle in my palm, and the poll is more like a ball-peen hammer than simply an axe head. The green color is unexpected but does make it harder to find it if left on the ground.”

Key Attribute: Utility

Best For: Wide-ranging camp tasks