Forget Bulky Axes: This Compact, 2-Pound Camping Axe Is Built for Real Wilderness Adventures
Men's Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing.
Whether your summer plans include trips into the backcountry or just hangs around your backyard fire pit, you need a great axe to prep wood. While plenty of options will suffice for splitting wood at home, there's only one we'd recommend for all the demands of a camping trip. That's the Hults Bruk Spika, which won the title of best outdoor tool overall in the Men's Journal Tool Awards. Here's why it deserves a place in your outdoor tool kit.
Why the Hults Bruk Spika Is the Best Outdoor Tool of 2026
You need to have a solid hatchet or axe as your backcountry companion. Besides a good knife, no other tool is as important. Hults Bruk Spika strikes a sweet spot: It's not as big as a regular axe, but has the head of one of Hults' forester axes and a shorter handle, making it the perfect all-around tool in the woods.
The 17.5-inch handle is made from American hickory that's sanded and protected with linseed oil. It has a nice curve to it and is narrow enough for more precision bushcraft like carving or whittling. The big end knob ensures a solid grip when bigger swings are needed. The head is hand-forged from Swedish axe steel at historic Hults Bruk, a forge that's been operational since 1697. The head has a unique shape with a hand notch and semi-straight edge, plus it's thicker over the cheeks to make splitting a bit easier. All of those features make it a great choice for a whole passel of outdoor adventures, whether you need to make a shelter, chop firewood, clear a path, or split kindling. It comes with a leather sheath, but I would recommend splurging for the axe sling, which attaches to the sheath and wraps around the handle. It's a handy way to keep your axe on your back and ready to swing-and out of the way-at all times.
Hults Bruk Spika Specs
Axe Head
- Head Weight: 1.5 lbs.
- Head Material: High-quality Swedish axe steel
- Forging Process: Hand-forged at the historic Hults Bruk forge (operating since 1697)
- Head Finish: Blackened and hand-finished
- Edge: Razor-sharp polished edge
- Edge Hardness: Approximately 54–56 HRC
- Grind: Flat, wide grind with semi-straight cutting edge
- Cutting Edge Length: 3 inches
- Hand Notch: Yes, for choking up on the head for precision work
Handle
- Handle Length: 17.5 inches
- Handle Material: American hickory
- Handle Shape: Curved handle with pronounced end knob for grip security
- Handle Treatment: Sanded and treated with linseed oil
- Design Benefit: Compact size improves portability and allows closer, more controlled work
Weight & Dimensions
- Overall Length: 17.5 inches
- Total Weight: Approximately 2.2 lbs.
- Axe Head Weight: 1.5 lbs.
Performance Features
- Hand-forged Swedish steel construction
- Compact design optimized for field use
- Balanced for controlled swings and precision cuts
- Suitable for carving and detailed bushcraft work
- Capable of light splitting and chopping tasks
- Designed for portability during hunting and outdoor excursions
Included Accessories
- Leather Sheath: Vegetable-tanned full-grain leather head cover included
- User Manual: Included
Key Features
- 1.5-lb hand-forged Swedish steel axe head
- 17.5-inch American hickory handle
- Compact hunting and camping design
- Semi-straight edge for versatility
- Hand notch for precision control
- Leather protective sheath included
Why You Should Trust Me
I've been a gear editor, gear reviewer, and outdoor writer at multiple publications-print and digital-for over 20 years. I've tested and reviewed everything from coolers and grills to e-bikes and flashlights. My love of outdoor tools started with hatchets when I began buying rusty old vintage heads off of eBay. I ground them down and polished them up, hanging new handles on them and enjoying them in the woods attempting various bushcraft projects. That branched out into trying and using a whole manner of outdoor tools as I began overlanding.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the Home Living section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
2026 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 7:43 PM.