Fiskars X13 Ultralight Hiking Axe Review: How Light Is Too Light for a Hatchet?

I refuse to go backpacking without a hatchet. I want a fire when I’m camping, and I want to be able to process wood properly.

Yes, I can baton with a survival knife. Yes, it can technically be done. But when you’re actually backpacking and actually covering miles, a good hatchet is a mainstay in my kit, not a luxury. My original Fiskars pack hatchet has been with me since 2001 or 2002 (I honestly don’t remember the exact model name it went by back then), and it’s been on probably 90% of my backpacking trips since. If you’ve read my other camping gear reviews, you already know how much I love that thing.

So when the Fiskars X13 Ultralight Hiking Axe started showing up in my YouTube feed, I almost scrolled right past it. I figured it was just an updated version of my old hatchet, same brand, same general shape, nothing new to see.

Then it kept showing up. More thumbnails, more mentions, then it started popping up in my Amazon feed too. So I bought one to actually test it, and I’ve got to say: it did not disappoint. It’s superbly made, high quality, clearly well thought out. My only real hesitation going in was the obvious question: how light do you actually want your hatchet to be?

The Specs

• Overall length: 33.2 cm (about 13″)
• Weight: 0.48 kg (a little over a pound)
• Head weight: approximately 325g
• Blade: Double-hardened, forged steel
• Handle: Lightweight FiberComp™ shaft, bright orange
• Coating: Friction-reducing coating for smoother cuts and rust protection
• Sheath: Included, with belt loop and locking mechanism
• Made in: Billnäs, Finland
• Warranty: 25-year limited
• Recognition: Winner of the Red Dot “Best of the Best” design award in 2023
• Price: I paid just under $30 for mine on Amazon

Worth clearing up some lineage here, because it surprised me too: the X13 isn’t actually the direct successor to my old hatchet. That title belongs to the X14, which replaced the X7. The X13 is a separate line entirely. It’s the successor to the old X5 hand axe, meaning it was always meant to be the smallest, lightest option in the X-series, not a slimmed-down version of the mainstream hatchet I’ve carried for over two decades.

The Hole in the Head

The most visually striking thing about the X13, other than the bright orange color, is the hole cut straight through the axe head. My first thought seeing it in photos was that it looked almost gimmicky, like a styling choice more than a functional one.

In hand, it doesn’t feel that way at all. It’s part of how Fiskars shaved weight off the head without sacrificing the balance of the tool, and it also happens to double as a bottle opener, which is a fun little bonus after a day of splitting wood at camp.

There’s real engineering behind that cutout too, not just weight savings. The plastic sheath actually clicks directly into that hole to lock the axe securely in place for transport. It’s not just resting in a sleeve, it’s mechanically locked through the head itself.

And because the sheath fully covers the blade while leaving the flat back poll exposed, you can keep the sheath locked on and still use the poll to drive tent stakes without ever unsheathing the edge. That’s a smart, deliberate piece of utility design, not an afterthought.

The Handle: Where the “Half” Comes In

Here’s my one real critique, and it comes down to reach. When I first handled the X13, my note was that it doesn’t quite have the full haft, the full handle length, that my original Fiskars hatchet does.

At 13″ overall, it’s genuinely shorter than the 14″ length you get on the X7 or X14 line, and that difference is noticeable the moment you start swinging it. Less handle length means less leverage on each swing. You’re trading some of that reach and power for the lighter, more compact package.

It’s not a dealbreaker, and the balance is still well thought out for what it is, but if you’ve spent years with a longer-hafted hatchet like I have, you’ll feel the shorter reach right away.

Putting It to Work

I didn’t trust this thing in the woods right away. It felt less hefty than what I’m used to, so I actually ran it around the house first, general chopping and splitting tasks, just to get a feel for whether I wanted to commit to bringing it out on the trail.

Once I was comfortable with it, I took it out for two nights as my sole axe, and I can tell you straight: it gets the job done. It splits, it processes kindling, it handles what you actually need a hatchet to handle on a backpacking trip.

That said, I’ll be honest about where I land personally. I’ll probably still carry my original Fiskars hatchet most of the time, not because the X13 can’t perform, but because that old hatchet has genuine sentimental value at this point.

Over two decades of trips together will do that. But if you’re looking for a legitimately lightweight axe to bring camping, the X13 absolutely needs to be on your list. It’s not the prettiest thing out there. It’s bright orange, it’s got a hole in the head, and if you’re someone who likes a more traditional-looking hatchet, the whole vibe might take some getting used to.

But it’s solid, and it does exactly what it claims to do.

Is It Worth the Extra Weight of the X14?

The real question comes down to this: do you need the extra weight and length of something like the X14 for a little more leverage, or does the X13’s lighter, more compact build make more sense for how you actually camp and hike?

That’s a personal call, and it depends on how many miles you’re covering and how much you value shaving ounces versus having a little more chopping authority behind each swing. Let’s talk real numbers, though: street price on the X13 typically runs $50 to $60, with a baseline MSRP around $55. I got lucky and paid just under $30 for mine on Amazon, which is a genuine steal, but you should weigh the true cost against an X14 or a traditional pack hatchet using that $55 baseline, not my discount price.

Either way, with that 25-year warranty behind it, it’s a solid value even at full retail.

Where It Lands

If you’re an ounce-counter, or if you’re building out a lightweight backpacking kit and a full-size hatchet feels like overkill, the Fiskars X13 is an excellent, well-built option that backs up its ultralight billing with real performance.

It won’t replace the sentimental pull of a hatchet you’ve carried for twenty years, but as a genuinely capable, purpose-built ultralight axe, it earns its spot on the shortlist.