6 Best Folding Saws For Backpacking for Effortless Wood Processing
A folding saw is key for backpacking. We review the 6 best models for effortless wood processing, comparing weight, packability, and cutting performance.
The rain has stopped, but a damp chill hangs in the air as dusk settles over your campsite. A small, hot fire would transform the evening, but all the available wood is thick, damp, and daunting. This is the moment a reliable backpacking saw proves its worth, turning a challenging task into a simple, satisfying process.
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Why a Saw Beats an Axe for Backpacking Safety
In the age-old debate of saw versus axe, safety in the backcountry is the deciding factor. An axe or hatchet is a powerful tool, but it requires significant skill, a wide, clear swinging area, and perfect concentration. A moment’s inattention or a glancing blow can lead to a severe injury miles from any help.
A saw, by contrast, is an inherently safer tool. The cutting action is controlled, linear, and predictable. There are no wild swings or flying wood chips, just a steady, efficient motion that keeps your hands and legs out of the danger zone. When you’re tired, cold, or working in low light, this built-in safety margin is invaluable.
Beyond safety, a quality saw is often more efficient. It removes wood with a thin kerf (the width of the cut), wasting less energy turning solid wood into sawdust. This means you can process fuel for a fire or clear a fallen branch from the trail faster and with less fatigue, saving your energy for the hike ahead.
Bahco Laplander: The Gold Standard for Value
If you’ve ever asked a seasoned backpacker for a saw recommendation, you’ve probably heard of the Bahco Laplander. This Swedish-made folding saw is a legend for a reason. It’s the rugged, no-nonsense workhorse that hits the absolute sweet spot between performance, durability, and price.
The Laplander features a 7.5-inch blade with a special coating for rust protection and low friction. Its 7 TPI (teeth per inch) blade is a brilliant compromise, capable of biting into both dry, dead hardwood and wet, green softwoods without getting gummed up. The push-button locking mechanism is simple and secure, and the handle, while not fancy, provides a solid grip.
This is the perfect saw for the weekend warrior, the scout group, or anyone building their first backpacking kit. It’s not the fastest cutting or the lightest saw on the market, but its sheer reliability and exceptional value make it a benchmark against which all other backpacking saws are measured. It’s a tool you can trust, trip after trip.
Silky Gomboy 240: Unmatched Professional Power
Imagine you’re deep in a Pacific Northwest forest in late fall, and you need to process a substantial amount of damp wood to create a warming, morale-boosting fire. This is not a job for a small, timid saw. This is where the professional-grade power of the Silky Gomboy 240 makes all the difference.
Silky saws are in a class of their own, utilizing razor-sharp Japanese steel and a highly efficient pull-stroke cutting action. Instead of wasting energy on the push, all your power is focused on the pull, allowing the blade to glide through wood with astonishing speed. The Gomboy’s 240mm (9.5-inch) blade, with its impulse-hardened teeth, can tackle logs up to five inches in diameter, making serious firewood processing fast and easy.
This level of performance comes at a higher price and a slight weight penalty. The Gomboy is for the serious backcountry user—the winter camper, the group leader, or the trail worker—who regularly needs to process larger quantities of wood. If your trips demand uncompromising cutting speed and efficiency, the investment in a Silky is easily justified.
Silky Pocketboy 170: The Ultralight Choice
For the thru-hiker counting every gram or the minimalist overnighter, carrying a saw can seem like an unnecessary luxury. But the ability to make a few quick cuts for a small twig fire or clear a minor trail obstacle can be a huge benefit. The Silky Pocketboy 170 delivers that capability in an incredibly small and lightweight package.
The Pocketboy is the Gomboy’s smaller, more portable sibling, packing the same legendary Silky sharpness and pull-cut efficiency into a frame that fits in your hip belt pocket. The 170mm (6.7-inch) blade is more than adequate for limbs up to three inches thick, perfect for the small-scale needs of a lightweight backpacker. It’s available with different tooth configurations, allowing you to optimize for cutting dry hardwood or green wood.
This is not the tool for processing a winter’s worth of firewood. It’s a precision instrument for strategic cuts. Its small size and minimal weight make it a fantastic addition to a lightweight kit without a significant penalty. For the ounce-conscious adventurer who still values the utility of a high-performance saw, the Pocketboy is the undisputed champion.
Sven-Saw 21": Timeless and Efficient Bow Saw
Sometimes, the old ways are the best ways. The classic triangular bow saw design has been a favorite of woodsmen for generations, and the American-made Sven-Saw has been a backcountry staple since 1961. It offers a different approach to wood processing, trading instant deployment for raw cutting power on larger logs.
The genius of the Sven-Saw is its packability. The entire saw—blade and frame—folds down into a single, slim aluminum handle, making it easy to slide into the side pocket of a backpack. When assembled, the tensioned, thin blade can rip through logs six inches or more in diameter far faster than a folding saw of a similar weight could manage.
The trade-off is assembly. It takes a minute to set up, which can be a minor annoyance with cold fingers or in a hurry. The frame also limits the maximum diameter of the log you can cut. But for canoe trips, winter camping, or any adventure where you anticipate needing to process larger firewood, the timeless efficiency of the Sven-Saw is hard to beat.
Agawa BOREAL21: The Best Modern Bow Saw Design
What if you could have the formidable cutting power of a 21-inch bow saw without the fussy assembly of traditional designs? The Agawa BOREAL21 is the brilliant answer. This Canadian-designed saw represents a major evolution in portable bow saw technology, blending power with incredible convenience.
The BOREAL21’s magic is its patented, automatic tensioning system. The saw unfolds from a compact rectangle into a rigid, high-tension cutting frame in a single, fluid motion. There are no loose wingnuts or parts to drop in the snow. It deploys in seconds, giving you the immediate readiness of a folding saw with the superior cutting ability of a full-frame bow saw.
This innovative design comes with a higher price tag and more weight than a Sven-Saw. It’s a premium tool for the dedicated backcountry enthusiast, overlander, or property owner who wants the absolute best in portable wood processing. For those who frequently need to cut large-diameter wood quickly and easily, the BOREAL21’s blend of speed, power, and ingenious design is unmatched.
Fiskars PowerTooth: Ergonomic and Affordable
You don’t always need a specialized, high-dollar saw to get the job done. Sometimes, you just need a reliable, comfortable, and affordable tool you can grab from the local hardware store. The Fiskars PowerTooth folding saw is a fantastic option that delivers excellent performance without breaking the bank.
Fiskars is well-known for its comfortable and ergonomic handles, and this saw is no exception. It feels great in the hand, reducing fatigue during extended use. The triple-ground PowerTooth blade is surprisingly aggressive and cuts efficiently on both the push and pull strokes, while the locking mechanism is robust and easy to use.
Think of the Fiskars as a worthy competitor to the Bahco Laplander, often at an even more accessible price point. It’s an excellent choice for car camping, casual backpacking trips, or for stashing in a vehicle for unexpected needs. For anyone seeking a dependable, comfortable, and budget-friendly saw, the Fiskars is a smart and practical choice.
Choosing Your Saw: Blade Type and Portability
Ultimately, the best saw is the one that matches your specific needs. Don’t get caught up in finding the single "best" tool; instead, focus on what’s right for the trips you take. The decision boils down to a few key factors: cutting needs, weight, and packability.
First, consider the blade. Most backpacking saws are cross-cut saws, designed to cut across the wood grain. The TPI (teeth per inch) tells you how aggressive the cut will be; a lower TPI (like 7-8) is great for quickly ripping through softer or green wood, while a higher TPI (10+) provides a smoother, finer cut on very hard, dry wood. Also, consider the action—a traditional saw cuts on both push and pull, while Japanese-style saws like Silky models cut only on the more efficient pull-stroke.
Finally, look at portability. A compact folding saw like the Silky Pocketboy is ideal for ultralight kits where space and weight are paramount. A larger folding saw like the Gomboy offers more power but takes up more room. A bow saw like the Sven-Saw or BOREAL21 packs down long and thin, which might fit better in a canoe or on the outside of a pack. Your choice should reflect a realistic assessment of the wood you’ll cut and the space you’re willing to dedicate in your pack.
A saw is a tool that enables better experiences, from a warm fire on a cold night to a clear trail for the hikers behind you. Choose the one that fits your adventure, learn to use it safely, and then get back to what really matters: enjoying your time outside. The best gear is the gear that gets you out the door.
