I’m preparing for a week long trip to the Boundary Waters canoe area next summer. Last time around I brought in my pocket folder and a small Gerber “pack hatchet”. While it got the job done, I gotta imagine there’s easier ways of preparing fire wood. When you guys have to pack it in yourself, what do you bring for all things cutting and lumber?

I believe most all the Alaska guys use a chainsaw, because they don't have the retarded wilderness rules prohibiting it. I know when I worked for an outfitter in the Selway bitterroot wilderness he would have grunts come in in the summer and cut firewood with crosscut saws for camp, because chainsaws were prohibited. You might check into a good quality hand saw. It also will make a big difference whether you are cutting would to fit in a stove or just for a camp fire. If just using it for a campfire you simply need to get it into small enough chunks to handle, then you can burn it into smaller pieces.

A sheathed Arborist saw with a straight blade and a boy's axe. Both high quality.

I would say this also. I have a Silky saw and love it. Stays sharp and cuts fast and easy

This sums it up nicely.....!

Pete

Check out the Sven saw...very lightweight and very effective for firewood! Decent job on both green and dead without needing to change blades.Not good for clearing real small or grassy stuff (think bowsaw)


https://www.amazon.com/SVEN-SAW-Sven-Saw/dp/B07BV938BH

(currently unavailable on Amazon but there are many other vendors)


From my experience, go with the 21" version. Been using this while backpacking/hiking for a while now.

Some sort of saw and a boys ax. Forget the hatchet ! They are too light to be of much use but light enough to glance off something and into your leg

If not a power saw some sort of folding saw and a Hudson bay style axe 2 lb head with 22" handel.

Bob Dustrude quick buck saw for bow saw type. Or a Silky for a folder. Those Silky saws are ridiculously sharp and efficient. A good axe is an investment.

3 fingers your supposed to be out in the middle of nowhere!

I used a boys axe for years surveying, wore out several heads just filed down to nothing. I prefered the 2 1/4# or 2 1/2# over the the Hudson Bay style head myself, but the lighter Hudson Bay style will work. Remember the thinner and more knife-like the blade the better it will cut, while the more wedge shaped the blade the better it will split wood. I like a thin knifelike blade because I use it for cutting stuff down and chopping stuff out of the way, but it sucks for splitting firewood.
I carry a cruisers axe on snowmachine at all times and one in the pickup (atv has an old boys axe) great for cutting stuff out of the road if the chainsaw doesn't start or you didn't bring it, but as a camp tool I would recommend a single bladed axe with a flat hammer back