As reviewed by Nick LaFort and John Beye in Gear Junkie: There are many traditional hatchets out there, which makes the title of best overall the hardest one to pick. So, why did the Hardcore Hammers Camp Companion ($200) receive the honor? The simple answer is that it’s the total package, but there’s a lot that goes into that.
First and foremost is how utilitarian it is. The Camp Companion is a well-balanced hatchet, hammer, and demolition tool. In fact, aside from the Flying Fox we tested, it’s the only other traditionally styled hatchet on this list that is rated for its poll to be used as a hammer. If there’s one thing we’ve learned in testing out hatchets, it’s that some heads do not have a poll that has been properly heat-treated to be used as a hammer.
Another boon for the Camp Companion is its 4140 FNC-coated 1-pound 10-ounce head. In terms of steel, 4140 is some of the toughest around. With the 3.75” bit, it dominates the competition by being a long-lasting brute. 4140 is carbon steel, so it’s susceptible to rust, but the FNC coating eliminates that issue. It also allows the head to slide in and out of wet and sappy wood without sticking.
Considering the list as a whole, the Camp Companion is most similar to the Hults Bruk Almike. In weight, length, bit size, and even price, the two hatchets are very similar in what they offer. However, it’s hard to beat black FNC-coated 4140 steel. The average user might not notice the difference, but over time, as you realize how little maintenance the head on the Camp Companion needs, it edges out ahead of the Almike.
Overall, through testing, we benefited greatly from how well the Camp Companion swung into branches, logs, and stumps, as well as its rugged hammer poll. It came in handy in breaking up knots in woods when splitting, hammering tent stakes, and tenderizing meat and poultry. In fact, we enjoyed the hatchet so much that we demoed an entire deck with it.
This is one versatile tool, and if you can only have one, we think the Camp Companion is the one to snag. The price is just about our only complaint about it, but we think it’s worth it.