CAMPING sAWS
Now, you might be thinking, "Hey, why do I need a camping saw?" A camping saw is designed to cut through wood with precision and finesse, giving you clean cuts and saving your energy for more important things like paddling down the rapids or building a shelter to impress your fellow adventurers.
But not all camping saws are created equal. You've got to know what features to look for in a good camping saw. Here's the lowdown:
... Blade Type: Look for a saw with a sharp, aggressive tooth pattern. A crosscut or a combination of crosscut and rip teeth will give you versatility in cutting both across and along the grain. A high-quality carbon steel blade is your best choice here.
... Size Matters: Bigger isn't always better when it comes to camping saws. You want a size that's portable and fits comfortably in your gear. Folding saws are a smart choice—they're compact and can be stashed away without poking holes in your backpack.
... Handle Grip: A grip that feels solid in your hand is critical. Opt for one with a rubberized or textured handle for a secure hold, even when your palms are sweaty.
... Locking Mechanism: If you're going for a folding saw, make sure it has a reliable locking mechanism. The last thing you want is your blade folding shut on your fingers mid-slice.
... Durability: Look for a saw that's rust-resistant and built to take a beating.
... Weight: You're already carrying your survival gear, your tent, and maybe a bag of emergency jerky. A lightweight camping saw won't weigh you down but will still get the job done.
cAMPING sAW rEVIEWS
This sturdy folding saw cuts through wood and bone up to 6-inches (15 cm) without hanging up, with minimal effort, cleanly and smoothly.
Four cutting angles along the blade allow for rip-cutting, cross-cutting and slant cutting. An ergonomic handle provides a secure grip. It comes sharp out of the box and stays pretty sharp with use. Good for camping, backpacking, hunting, and gardening.
Designed for light to moderate cutting tasks, the Gomboy Outback Edition’s blade is made from high-quality steel. The non-set teeth are taper-ground and all teeth are impulse-hardened to last up to three times longer than non-hardened blade teeth.
The rustproof nickel/tin blend protective black coating is non-reflective. Blade length is 240mm (9.4 inches) with 6.8 teeth per inch (8 teeth per 30mm).
The arbor composite handle feels smooth and a bit light for an aggressive tool. But the rough surface texture and ergonomic design gives you excellent grip in wet, cold conditions or when processing game.
The folding saw comes with a case and fits into backpacks without taking up too much space. Dimensions are 19.7L x 3.3W x 1.8H (50L x 8W x 4.6H cm) with a pack weight of 10 ounces (288 grams).
The locking mechanism works well. In rare cases when the pivot comes undone, the part is difficult to replace.
The Silky Gomboy Outback Edition makes quick work of any wood smaller than the blade, folds to a compact size and has a sharp cutting edge. It’s a perfect compliment to an axe and knife when adventuring.
This budget-friendly, straight-blade, folding saw cuts through 2-5 inch (5-13 cm) diameter dead wood efficiently using both the pull and push strokes at about 60/40.
The 9-inch (23 cm) ergonomic handle is comfortable for every hand size and position. It’s great for cutting very small pieces of dry wood or “in case you might need a saw” when you don't want to carry a hatchet when camping.
The Bahco 396 Laplander is a general purpose folding saw. It’s styled as “cutting both green and dry wood, plastic, or bone.” Dry, dead, small wood or bone and plastic – yes. Green wood – no. The teeth gum up too fast.
An XT tooth design permits smooth and quick cutting, while the blade is specially coated for rust protection and low friction. Blade length is 7 inches (18 cm) with 7 teeth per inch (7 teeth per 25mm).
A two-component plastic handle has a comfortable grip. It’s not a great shape for extended use, but you can get both hands on it. The saw comes with a leather wrist strap that matches the forest floor perfectly. Switch it out for brightly colored paracord before you drop it!
Dimensions are 7.9L x 7.9W x 11.8H inches (20L x 20W x 30H cm). The saw weighs 7.1 ounces (200 grams).
You engage the locking mechanism both to open and close the blade. It’s plastic and wears out. You may end up storing the blade open, which isn’t ideal for backpacking.
This saw is lightweight. The plastic locking mechanism gives the impression the blade will fall out after a few uses. The straight blade means you can’t put as much pressure on it as a curved blade. Keep your steadying hand well clear of the blade. Because the saw is light, it will jump if it doesn’t bind.
Replacement blades can be difficult to obtain.
Bahco’s 396 Laplander folding saw is budget-friendly, has a long handle, and is a great replacement for a hatchet when you’re going backpacking and heavily dependent on wood fires from dead or dry wood.
This folding saw is compact, light and small enough to fit unnoticeably in any pack. The curved blade with large teeth is big and tough enough to handle small and medium-sized branches (3.4–8 inches / 8.6–20 cm). There are thinner, non-Professional clones out there so make sure your blade has the word Professional etched into it.
They’re extremely sharp out of the box and generally stay sharp.
Mirai-Me Technology boasts 4 cutting angles for smooth cuts, including rip-cuts, cross-cuts, and slant cuts. The teeth are taper ground to reduce resistance and impulse hardened to stay sharp. Hard chrome plating resists rust and resin.
The handle is comfortable for extended use. Each PocketBoy comes with a hard plastic carrying case and belt clip. The carrying case seems fairly useless and occasionally separates from the belt clip – bye bye Silky PocketBoy.
Total length is 15.3 inches (39 cm). Blade length is 6.7 inches (170mm) with 6.8 teeth per inch (8 teeth per 30mm). The saw weighs 0.62 pounds (281 grams).
This saw has an aggressive cut once you learn the trick. Apply slight pressure on the push stroke. Apply moderate pressure on the pull stroke, where all the serious sawing occurs. You learn to avoid pinching the blade with practice on the pull stroke. It bends easily once it gets pinched.
The screw holding the blade can loosen. In those rare cases, the part is difficult to replace.
The Silky Professional PocketBoy Folding Saw with large teeth fits in your largeish pocket, weighs little and is a very efficient saw. It’s great for small firewood, clearing brush, building a shelter, or clearing limbs for your tree stand.
GOT FEEDBACK?
If you've used one of the camping saws I reviewed and you have something to add, I'd love to hear it.
Same, if you have a saw you love (or hate) that's not reviewed here, tell me about it and I'll check it out.
