Kukri Vs Axe | Which Is Better For Camping?

When going camping, you will need the right equipment. It includes a camping tool that can assist you in different situations, such as chopping firewood or preparing kindling.

Also, the tool should not be too bulky for short trips, it should be of an optimal weight that allows you to carry it for all your adventures. For this, a kukri knife or an axe might be your best option.

In most situations, whether short day trips or longer trips that last several days or even a week, a kukri knife will be your best option. It is designed for chopping stuff, such as logs or bones, and it is also very easy to swing forward. Additionally, it can be used for a variety of other tasks, such as digging, butchering, etc. An axe, on the other hand, is easily the best tool for chopping wood, but it may have no additional use.

For a more detailed explanation, let’s dig deeper.

Kukri

A Kukri is a Nepalese knife that has historically been used by the Gurkhas (Nepalese Army) and is also referred to as a Gurkha knife. They have been used both to hunt for food and on battlefields.

It is also Nepal’s national weapon and is used in their wedding ceremonies to symbolize wealth, status, and prestige.

The best you to recognize these knives is by observing their spine. In contrast to other fixed blade knives that have a straight blade edge (e.g. bowie knives), these knives curve inwards toward the edge of the blade.

If you are interested, you can also check out this article on kukri vs bowie knife.

Furthermore, you will also notice that the spine is significantly thicker than other knives, ranging anywhere from 3/16 to 3/8 of an inch. This also increases the weight of the knife, making them one of the heavier fixed blade knives.

Having said that, its weight makes it one of the best outdoor chopping knives. As the weight distribution is concentrated mainly on the wider part of the blade, it is easier to swing the knife than straight-edge knives, which are fast to swing but have less power.

Furthermore, with the heavyweight of the spine, these knives are great for chopping logs into firewood or for clearing brush/shrubs.

These knives can vary in size between 5-18 inches. In addition, some of these knives are a cross between itself and a machete.

These hybrid blades are almost as thin and lightweight as a machete but have the distinct angular spine of a kukri (although less so than a regular kukri). They are great at slicing as well as chopping but are not exceptionally good at anything.

Further reading: Can You Use A Camping Knife For Splitting Wood?

In addition, Kukri knives lack a finger/handguard (for the most part), instead, they have a knob or bulge at the end of the handle to keep them from slipping out of your hand.

Given that these knives cannot be used for stabbing or spearing, the knob provides the maximum amount of protection for your hand as well as your surroundings.

Moreover, most kukri knives have an elevated ring around the handle for you to comfortably position your hand and prevent the knife from slipping from your hand.

Nevertheless, these knives aren’t all-purpose tools that can be used everywhere, sure, these knives are great for chopping and butchering meat, but for finer tasks like food preparation, they aren’t a good choice.

Rather, you should use a pocket knife or a folding knife with these knives. This way, you’ll be prepared for almost anything while outdoors.

Also further reading: How Many Knives Do You Need For Camping?

Uses Of A Kukri Knife

Here are some of the most common uses of a kukri knife:

Axe

The axe is by far the best tool for splitting wood for campfires as well as for felling trees (actually the best tool for bringing down trees is a saw, but let’s be real–no one brings a saw on their camping trips).

For cutting down trees, this is the best non-powered cutting tool (the best being a chainsaw). The axe used for outdoors comes in two varieties, a splitting axe, and a chopping axe.

Splitting axes are used to split logs into proportions that can be burned as firewood. The head of the axe is wider, and the blades are more wedge-shaped than a regular axe. Moreover, the edge of these axes is not very sharp, since their only purpose is to split wood.

In contrast, if the blade were too sharp, it would constantly stick to the cutting block, reducing efficiency and wasting time.

This is another reason why it is not recommended to use these axes for felling trees because the wedge-shaped blade and the less sharpened edge will make it take too long to bring a tree down.

A chopping axe, on the other hand, has a much sharper edge and a less tapered head, making it very easy to fell trees. It’s especially important if you’re planning on gathering firewood from within the forest rather than buying it from a store.

However, if you don’t intend to cut down trees, then you shouldn’t use this axe, since it can only do that and nothing else (almost).

Note: Before you fell trees near your campground, it is recommended that you consult with your local forest authority. Usually, you are not allowed to cut down any standing trees (dead or alive) without a permit, though you can easily obtain one by consulting with your forest officer. Better to be safe than sorry, right?

Additionally, axes come in a variety of sizes, ranging from a small hatchet that can be yielded with just one hand to a two-handed axe that may be needed for bringing down larger trees.

There is another type of axe known as a tomahawk, which is primarily used as a weapon but can also be used as a regular axe. Additionally, some axes come with a hammer on one side that can be used to rake tent stakes.

Instead of a two-handed axe, a small axe or hatchet will be more than enough for most kinds of outdoor adventures.

You can use them to split wood and shave kindling from a trunk, but, like a kukri, this blade is not designed for fine or delicate tasks, so it’s best to carry a pocket knife or a folding knife with you to be prepared for any situation.

Uses Of An Axe

The following are some of the most common uses of an axe:

Kukri Vs Axe

Although they may look different from a distance, both structurally and by design, if you look closely you may discover that they are actually very similar in terms of performance. In any case, here is a summary of their main differences:

Woodworking

As previously stated, the best tool for splitting wood is an axe; it only takes a few swings (if not just one) to cleanly divide a log.

However, a kukri knife isn’t too far away either, sure it takes a few more swings, but the handling makes up for it. You see, when you swing an axe you generate a lot of force, but to retract the axe requires a lot of energy as well.

In contrast, kukri knives have a design that allows you to swing much faster without consuming extra energy, otherwise known as getting exhausted.

Exploring

In this case, the kukri knife is much more efficient than the axe. When clearing vegetation, an axe has little to no flexibility; it can only cut through tough vines and that’s about it. With a kukri knife, you can swing around more easily and can clear anything from small shrubs all the way to small trees.

Butchering

Again, a kukri knife is better for butchering and skinning game. An axe is probably easier to use to cut/break bones, but when it comes to precision, it’s the worst, plus it takes hours to accomplish large cuts. With a kukri knife, however, you can cut through the carcass more easily and make more precise cuts.

Note: None of these are really good for making delicate cuts on meat that can be used straight away for cooking. It is best to use these tools to make large cuts and then a smaller knife to make finer slices.

Miscellaneous

There are many other uses for kukris, including digging with the tip or using it for fire starting. An axe’s usage is limited to those stated, sure, you can hammer tent pegs with it, but that’s about it.

Table Of Differences Between A Kukri And An Axe

Here’s a table listing all the major differences between a kukri knife and an axe:

Features/Functions	Kukri Knife	Axe
Handle accessory	Features a knob at the base to prevent it from slipping out of hand and a band to hold the knife steady	Has a hook-like structure at the base to prevent it from slipping off
Ease of use	Swings and retracts very easily	Easy to swing but hard to retract
Woodworking	Very efficient and can be used as a standalone tool; can take a few swings to split a wood	Best tool for it; takes only a few swings (if not one) to split the wood cleanly
Butchering	Much more convenient and easier to use than an axe	Possible, but very hard to use
Exploring	Easy to use and has fewer restrictions	Can clear tough vines, but that’s about it
Misc.	Digging, steel for flint, etc.	Hammering tent stakes
Cost	$	$$

Final Thoughts

The axe is without a doubt the best chopper when it comes to woodworking, but the kukri knife does not disappoint either. It may take a few more swings to split a log, but overall, it’s a more versatile tool.

A kukri is your best bet out of the two for any kind of outdoor trip that doesn’t require you to fell a tree. Not only is it easy to swing and use but it offers much more functions like being better at butchering meat, digging grounds, etc.

Anyways, as always, stay safe and happy adventuring!