Determining the best backpacking saw doesn’t have to be a hassle, so we’ve compiled a Top 10 list to make the process easier, helpful, and insightful for you!
Whether you’re looking for a folding saw, pocket saw, chain saw, a 17” saw, or a saw that can cut 6” logs and 4” diameter stumps – we’re certain that you’ll find the perfect tool for the job here!
Backpackers, survivalists, and DIY’s alike will all benefit from the various hand saws, pocket, folding, and other unique saws below to meet their needs. No matter how big or small the job may be, rain or shine. We know what will make the most sense in terms of weight, size of the blade, the difference between a bow saw and a bucksaw, and how many teeth or what teeth per inch (TPI) you require – so read on to find your perfect fit!
Best Backpacking Saw
The Friendly Swede Folding Hand Saw
The Friendly Swede Folding Hand Saw comes with an ergonomic handle and is a top pick among backpackers and survivalists for its very sharp teeth and fine, effortless cuts.
It’s no secret that Swedes are trusted for their craftsmanship of knives and saw blades, and many customers that purchased this hand saw have been relying on Friendly Swede products for decades as their trusted seller of saws.
The Friendly Swede Folding Hand Saw will work like new, decades later, and is one of the most efficient solutions for camping and surviving the outdoors. Whether it’s chopping away brush, chopping up logs, or cutting the perfect emergency shelter, it’ll hold up to the job.
This company’s customer service is unmatched, has a reputation for providing free replacements, and also being extremely responsive to customers!
If you’re looking for a saw that cuts through hardwood like butter, comes with a useful lock-on-open feature, is easy to fold away, then this is a perfect choice. It’s also easy to use in tougher climates, when your hands are wet or if you’re wearing thick, outdoor gloves.
Effective and efficient – what more could you ask for in a saw?
F-180 Folding Saw
For trail maintenance and backpacking, the F-180 is a great choice, as it cuts branches easily, has a thumb-groove blade which makes it better to avoid bending, and is touted by customers as being “like a pocket-size chainsaw.”
The F-180 Folding Saw is easy to operate, and its Japanese build means it cuts on the pull which makes it better to avoid pinching or cutting yourself during use, especially when you’re in a rush or dealing with difficult weather while backpacking.
There is no need to apply downward force with this folding saw which means it is easier to use, convenient, flexible, and beginner-friendly.
Best of all, Silky is a trusted brand, and this saw is rated the best choice for the quality you get for the price paid. It is made of excellent quality materials but is also easy to bend and put away quickly. It’s also lightweight, which makes it perfect and practical for your gear bag!
Called the “1LB SAW” by customers, this light, yet “HEAVY DUTY” solution is a must-have and is trusted by coffee farmers and experienced trekkers alike. It will also cut through green or fresh branches and twigs and will cut like a hot knife through butter.
If you’re seeking delivery of consistent force and performance, then this “tiny but mighty” saw is the perfect (and FUN to use) solution!
Silky 270-33 Zubat PROFESSIONAL Series Curved Blade Hand Saw
A powerful saw, the Silky 270-33 Zubat handsaw is a solid investment that is a little bigger but backs it up by being effective and more powerful with less effort. This saw will easily cut through 1” saplings with one slide and is the preferred saw for chopping down tall weed and grasses.
Customers have also reported great success cutting 6” lumber to build a bridge, as well as for cutting rope and twine which makes this an all-around ultimate survival tool and saw.
If you’re looking to take out oak limbs, clear greenwood, or chop up fallen trees like a pine tree on the trail to build an emergency shelter or more tools, then this is a perfect choice. It’s also easy to clean, will take down hollies’ and is great for cutting edges due to its power. This hand saw really cuts clean and smooth – and is ergonomically designed so that it’s able to cut more, with more power, while using less effort or energy to preserve yours!
As a bonus, the Silky Zubat also includes a high-quality sheath which is helpful, making it rainproof and safe from the elements, and a trusted hand saw for sticking out tough rains, storms, or other disasters. A definite must-have emergency tool, and a top choice among DIY’ers and backpackers alike!
Silky Professional Series BIGBOY 2000
If you’re looking for a top of the line, trusted, and high-performance folding saw with extra-large teeth then the Silky BIGBOY 2000 is perfect for you.
Customers reported a great experience with this saw on the trails and backpacking and said that it cut faster than any other saw used before. It’s also a trusted product by volunteer park service members.
This is an amazingly sharp folding saw, and its lightweight design makes it easy to carry around and get the most out of your BIGBOY 2000! It’s even been compared to as being like “having a chainsaw in your pocket” by customers and will easily cut through 4” timber like butter – which means you can impress your fellow backpackers while having a greater variety to what you can make firewood or shelters from. Best of all, its ergonomic handle design means it gives you more reach than a conventional, fixed-handle design.
With great precision and ideal for small to medium size blow down on trails for clearing, this is the perfect choice for tough weather or winter hiking and backpacking, it is silent, compact, and short enough to fit right in your backpack!
Folding Saw 15 inch Blade
Perfect for backpacking and overnight camping, the SVEN Folding Saw 15-inch blade cuts smooth and sure and will fit the bill nicely for all of your full hacksaw needs, and functions great in any weather!
If you’re looking for an effortless backpacking saw, then this is a good choice and investment. Very light at 10.5 ounces, this saw is easy to throw in your pack and take anywhere. The Folding Saw 15” also folds down to a manageable size, but when opened can cut logs up to 6” with no problem.
Customers rate the SVEN backpacking saw for as being the most desirable for the price paid. It also comes with a bolt and “nylock” locking nut which were both extremely desirable upgrades for customers. It’s also much lighter than a hatchet, hailed by customers as being “worth every penny and more” this backpacking saw is essential to any backpacker or outdoorsman’s fire-making kit.
A “Gold Standard” for compact wood saws, the SVEN is a simple, effective, affordable, and powerful solution to portable, lightweight backpacking.
Corona RazorTOOTH Folding Pruning Saw
Corona is a trusted brand with a long history of manufacturing reliable, efficient, and long-lasting tools, and the RazorTOOTH is no exception!
For those looking to cut through multiple trees (25” or more) with no problem and 6” bases this is the perfect solution for that backpacking on long trails, in the woods, and other outdoor or internationally bound excursions.
An ultra-light backpacking saw for its capabilities, the Corona RazorTOOTH comes highly recommended by customers who have gone on to purchase two or three and with great satisfaction.
This backpacking tax cuts as efficiently as a sharp bowsaw has excellent control and cuts very clean and flat. Working on the pull strokes, it does not cut slower or jam up on wood like other saws and will hold up against rough use and unintentional abuse. Customers even reported their kids dropping it, leaving it out in bad weather, and still working just fine.
With twice the power, this backpacking saw gets the job done in half the time. It has a solid, water-resistant design.
It’s also been used successfully for cutting down banana trees, customers found it easy to cut through a small sapling and even grapevines.
REXBETI Folding Saw
If you’re a backpacker looking for the best, portable, lifetime guaranteed folding saw that’s both heavy-duty and light, then the REXBETI Folding Saw is a great investment.
Both DIYers and professional yardman alike enjoy, respect, and appreciate the flexibility, effectiveness, and sturdy, impressive design of this folding saw. It makes work easier by requiring less pressure than competing saws.
The REXBETI backpacking saw is built with heavy-duty power and efficiency in mind, and each tooth has two bevels which help to reduce friction and improve speed – both being critical requirements for the serious outdoorsman or backpacker.
With a lifetime warranty, the REXBETI Folding Saw is unmatched. Make quick work of whatever you’re looking to slice up into pieces, and is very well built.
Sven Saw
Compared to the other 15” SVEN saw, this is the 21” blade which is also compact and easy to take on the go! This 21 Inch SVEN SAW is highly preferred thanks to its triangular shape, flexibility, and durable, sharp blade.
The 15” SVEN Saw will cut through 4” dry cedar like butter and is excellent for taking into the mountains and dealing with strong trees. The shape and handle of this backpacking saw are similar to a bow saw, and its easy to strap on top your backpack.
Customers tout this Sven Saw as being “worth its weight in gold.” Homeowners with trees, car campers, and those seeking a few creature comfort zones on their backpacking trips loved this backpacking saw. The SVEN Saw is perfect for ripping through thick hardwood and will hold up to regular use over time.
30 seconds to put together, strong, and solid enough to take on 10” logs, this saw weighs next to nothing but offers you everything in power and precision for all of your backpacking adventures.
Cut trees faster than you can burn them, and checkout a Sven Saw for your needs!
Corona RS 7245 Razor Tooth Folding Saw
For flush-cut pieces, and easy, one-handed flexible use, the Corona RS 7245 Razor Tooth Folding Saw is a good choice! Perfect for cutting green up to 4” in diameter, this is a must-have for the woodsman and those backpacking long distances on trails and cross-country.
A great saw for the money and highly recommended this backpacking saw is compact and practical, good for pruners, reliable, and nicely designed. This folding saw cuts effortlessly is nicely designed and comes with an excellent handle and curve design.
The limb will be on the ground before you can think about whether you were pushing or pulling, and customers have successfully cut 60-70 trees or more, 2-3” in diameter and report that it still works like its new. It’s also great for camping and bushcraft tasks – together with a bushcraft backpack – , this is a trusted and comfortable solution for making the most of your adventure.
The Corona RS 7245 is also great for camping, fishing, and clearing down branches from canoe routes, is reasonably light, and folds up nicely.
Bahco 396-LAP Laplander Folding Saw
The Bahco Backpacking Saw is an excellent folding saw that can used with one hand, works like a breeze, is comfortable in the hand, and is razor-sharp.
If you’re looking for dependable backpacking saw that will fly through the wood, cut down small trees, stay sharp, and designed with both safety and efficiency in mind, then the Bahco is the perfect choice!
Highly recommended by trekkers, DIYers, and survivalists, the Bahco 396-LAP Laplander Folding Saw has been reported to be superior to competing products and having a more ‘natural feel’ to it. It also will not bend or feel dull while sawing, has an extremely well-made handle for stability, and a must-have for any backcountry and camping trips. It’s also an ideal and trusted saw for cutting deadwood off pine and oak trees, making it the perfect “Firestarter” tool.
The Bahco folding saw is very compact when folded, has solid safety features, ideal for shelter building, is versatile, efficient, and stands out from the competition! It even includes a high-quality knife, and the bevel quality, as well as Swedish craftsmanship combined for both the folding saw and knife included, are unmatched! A great starter tool, reliable, trusted saw from an excellent company with a solid reputation in outdoor saws and tools.
Buying the Best Backpacking Saw
Determining most likely climates, terrains, distance, and length of backpacking travel are all excellent ways to decide the best backpacking saw for your trip.
Some backpacking saws can serve multiple purposes, such as cutting down brush, chopping up logs, trees, or more, while others may be smaller, lighter, and of a simpler or merely single design.
There are numerous types of saws, from pocket chain saws to folding saws, hack saws and bow saws, or even buck saws. The saws we have provided here will support and provide all you need to survive in the wilderness, make an emergency shelter, and whack or cut down brush, trees, and any other obstacles on the trail.
Another important variable to consider is the safety features and functionality, trusted reviews, reputation, or guarantee of a manufacturer. For example:
• How quickly can you open your saw, and how far can you carry it based on weight?
• How quickly can it be opened and closed speed-wise?
These are very important questions to consider, as well as the length of the saw if its foldable, and flexibility as well as portability.
Other areas of consideration may be:
• Safety and comfort of the handle
• Materials used to manufacture the handle between plastic, metal, or wood
• Light duty or heavy-duty needs and saw build?
• Triangle v. other shapes and designs
• Good for big or small trees, and what diameter?
• How many teeth per inch (TPI?)
• Curvature, shape, and design of the blade
• Cuts on the pull or push stroke?
• Size of teeth?
• Manufacturer and warranty or guarantee?
• Stability and comfort design ratings
• Curved or straight blade
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best backpacking bow saw?
The Sven Saw mentioned is the best, closest match to a bow saw style, efficiency, and design.
What does “TPI” mean in backpacking saws?
TPI stands for “Teeth Per Inch” and along with distance and space between each tooth on your saw, size also all play a role on which backpacking saw may be best for you.
What is the best backpacking folding saw?
The No products found. is a great choice for folding saw, is called the “pocket-size chainsaw” by customers. Most importantly, the SILKY brand is a highly trusted, reputable brand.
What’s the difference between a straight or curved edge saw?
Whether chopping trees and branches, or cutting bushes and pruning work, a straight or curved edge may work better than the other. A curved blade however is most recommended for beginners – as they are easiest to use.
We hope you’ve found this information useful and informative.
Happy backpacking!
Leave a Reply