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A good hatchet makes camp life easier in a way few tools can match. Splitting kindling, clearing small branches, knocking in tent stakes, shaping a stick for a pot hanger: all of it goes faster with a sharp, well balanced little axe. The Hults Bruk Hultan is one of the classic choices, a compact hand forged hatchet from a Swedish maker that has been making axes for more than three centuries.
What the Hultan hatchet is
Hults Bruk describes the Hultan hatchet as a classic outdoor hatchet designed for one handed use, suited to splitting kindling, building shelters, clearing branches and general camp chores. It has a curved American hickory handle about 375mm long, a head of about 500 grams and a total weight of roughly 750 grams. That makes it light enough to strap to a pack and heavy enough to bite into wood properly.
The head follows a traditional Swedish pattern with a small notch beneath the bit where your finger can rest when you choke up for fine work. Each head is hand forged and hand sharpened, then stamped with the Hults Bruk mark. A leather sheath protects the edge and is available with it.
Who makes it
Hults Bruk was founded in 1697 in the village of Hult in Sweden and is among the oldest axe makers in the world. For centuries the works made tools for Swedish farmers, foresters and craftsmen, and it still forges axes in the same region. According to the maker's European product page, the heads are made from Swedish steel through open die forging, then hardened and tempered to around 54 to 56 on the Rockwell hardness C scale (HRC). That is a deliberate choice. It is hard enough to hold a keen edge but soft enough to take a knock without chipping.
Why it is cool
- Hand forged: Each head is shaped by a smith, and small variations in finish are part of the character.
- Balance: The light head and curved handle make it easy to control with one hand, which matters for safe kindling work.
- Hickory handle: Hickory is tough, shock absorbing and easy to replace if it ever breaks.
- Edge: It arrives sharp enough for real work, with a profile suited to slicing and splitting small wood.
Hatchet vs a larger axe
A hatchet is not a felling axe. With a short handle, it trades power for control. It shines for kindling, light limbing and camp crafts, and it fits in a pack. For splitting rounds of firewood or felling small trees, a longer handled axe is safer and much more efficient. Our guide to types of axes explains the differences, and our look at the Gränsfors Small Forest Axe covers a popular step up in size from another Swedish maker.
Many campers pair a hatchet with a fixed blade knife. The hatchet handles chopping and splitting while the knife does carving, food prep and fine work. Our review of the Morakniv Companion covers an inexpensive partner that works well alongside it.
How to use it safely
- Split kindling on a solid chopping block, never on bare ground or rock.
- Keep your free hand well clear of the strike zone, or use a stick to hold small pieces.
- Kneel when splitting small wood so a missed swing goes into the ground rather than your leg.
- Always sheath the head when you are not using it.
Care and sharpening
Wipe the head dry after use and apply a light coat of oil to keep rust away. Treat the hickory handle with linseed oil a few times a year to keep it from drying out. Touch up the edge with a small puck shaped axe stone or a fine file, working in small circles along the bit. A sharp hatchet is safer than a dull one, because it bites rather than glancing off. If you want to understand edge shapes better, our guide to knife grinds covers the convex profiles common on axes.
Who it suits
The Hultan suits campers, canoe trippers, bushcraft fans and anyone with a wood stove or fire pit who wants a light, capable tool for kindling. It also makes a lasting gift for someone who spends time outdoors. If you need to process large amounts of firewood, look at a bigger axe instead.
Where to buy
For more knives, tools and carry gear, explore our everyday carry hub.
