One of the most useful items to have in a backpacking trip is a backpacking folding saw. Foldable saws can cut wood rather well. This is great for people who want an easy way to create a campfire. The logs or branches can be used as firewood. There are lots of folding saws in the Internet which is why I have listed some of the best that you can get. These folding saws are my top choices and I frequently tend to recommend them simply because they are incredible. I am certain that you will be happy with one of the items below.
Best Backpacking Folding Saws – Quick Chart
| Backpacking Folding Saws | Weight | Material | Blade Length | Lightweight |
| 1. Bahco 396-LAP Laplander Folding Saw | 14.1 oz | Carbon steel blade | 7 1/2″ | Yes |
| 2. Coghlan’s Sierra Saw | 5 1/2 oz | Steel | 7″ | Yes |
| 3. Silky New Professional Series KatanaBoy Folding Saw | 2 lbs | Japanese steel | 19.7″ | Yes |
| 4. Corona RazorTOOTH Folding Pruning Saw | 12.8 oz | SK5 Steel Blade | 10″ | Yes |
| 5. Gerber Freescape Camp Saw | 1.1 lbs | Steel | 12″ | Yes |
| 6. EverSaw Folding Hand Saw All-Purpose | 10 oz | Carbon Steel | 8″ | Yes |
| 7. Sven Saw | 1 lbs | Swedish steel | 23″ | Yes |
| 8. Fiskars 390470-1002 Power Tooth Soft Grip Folding Saw | 12.8 oz | Steel | 10″ | Yes |
| 9. Sportsman Industries Folding Hand Saw | 11 oz | Carbon Steel | 10″ | Yes |
| 10. SE PS185 10.5-Inch Folding Mini Camping/Pruning Saw | 5.6 oz | 65mn Carbon Steel | 5″ | Yes |
| 11. coher Folding Hand Saw | 9.6 oz | Carbon Steel | 6.7″ | Yes |
| 12. Coghlan’s Folding Saw | 13.6 oz | Steel | 21″ | Yes |
| 13. Amazon Basics Folding Pruning Saw | 10.4 oz | Carbon Steel | 7″ | Yes |
| 14. SOG Folding Saw | 11.2 oz | Carbon Steel | 8.25″ | Yes |
| 15. Silky New Professional Series Folding Landscaping Hand Saw | 0.35 lbs | Japanese Steel | 5″ | Yes |
How To Choose A Folding Saw
Types Of Materials Used For The Blade
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is a great material for a wire saw. A lot of knives and sharp objects are made out of stainless steel. This material is very rust resistant and corrosion resistant so expect your folding saw to last for a long time.
Titanium
Titanium is also a great material. It has all the qualities and benefits of stainless steel but this material is also lighter in weight. Titanium is more expensive than stainless steel though so folding saws made out of titanium are more expensive.
Steel
There are many kinds of steel. There are carbon steel, galvanized steel, and so on. Steel is a great material for a saw since this metal is very durable and strong. It is easy to create sharp saw teeth with steel.
Types Of Folding Saws For Backpacking
Long Folding Saws
Long folding saws are for professional landscapers. These saws are often very long and very sharp. They are meant to cut branches, twigs and other items a lot faster than smaller folding saws. The handle is big also to give the user more control and more power.
Small Folding Saws
Small folding saws are great for a lot of things. This is a multipurpose tool that can fit inside a pocket. These saws are great for pruning, hunting, cutting twigs, cutting small firewood and so on. These are great for camping as well.
Bow Saw
This is a saw with a triangular or somewhat rectangular shape. This type of saw is very good for camping and backpacking since it can cut small branches and big logs. This is very easy to use, and very compact. Highly recommended for a lot of outdoor trips and adventures.
Different Types Of Handle Material
Wood
Wood is the standard material for a handle for a lot of tools. A wooden handle can be found in an axe, hammer and so on. This handle material is durable and can withstand shocks. Unfortunately, not a lot of handles for folding saws are made out of wood.
Rubber
A lot of folding saws have handles made out of rubber. Rubber can absorb shocks, and this material can provide a very comfortable grip or traction to the hand. Rubber has been used for a handle material for a long time now. You can find them in pliers and other similar tools.
EVA Foam
EVA foam can also be used as a handle material. EVA foam provides a good grip to the folding saw. EVA can also provide a little bit of warmth and insulation. This is very durable and provides a lot of traction.
Backpacking Considerations
Lightweight
The weight of the saw has to be very light. It is because we are also brining tents, hammocks and so on. We have a lot to bring just so that we can be more comfortable in the outdoors or at least survive it. There is just a limited amount of weight that we can carry. It is better if we budget the weight that we are going to bring. So having a lightweight saw is very advantageous for us.
Sharpness
The sharpness of the saw matters a lot. There are lots of saws that are not sharp or become dull after a few uses. You should make sure that the item you are getting is sharp because it is just going to be a whole lot easier cutting branches and collecting firewood for backpacking if the item is sharp. After a long hike with lots of elevation gain, the last thing that is in your mind is to put more effort and waste more energy cutting branches to get firewood.
Compact
Folding saws are often very compact. Not always though. You need to plan and budget the space that you have in your backpack. Our backpacks have a limited amount of room. We have to bring hammock, tents, sleeping bags, cookware and so on. We need to budget the space that we have. The best way to do that is to get items that are very small, foldable or compact.
Durability
There are lots of saws that are not durable. It is our job to make sure that what we are getting is durable. We don’t want to waste money on items that break apart easily. I was using this saw after one month. While I was using it, it broke in the middle. Too much friction or force. But it broke apart and I was really annoyed. You don’t want something like that to happen to you while in the outdoors.
Ease Of Use
The folding saw should be easy to use. The handle should be comfortable and the blade should be sharp. Like I said before, you don’t want to put a lot of energy or effort into cutting branches. You are already going to be too tired hiking for miles. The last thing you want to do is use up more energy and put more effort. A good saw that is very easy to use can help you conserve energy.
Best Backpacking Folding Saws
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1. Bahco 396-LAP Laplander Folding Saw
Weight: 14.1 oz
Material: Carbon steel blade
Blade Length: 7 1/2in.
Lightweight: Yes
Feature Summary: Blade is specially coated for rust protection and low friction, two-component plastic handle for perfect grip, with leather strap, safety lock for both lock-in and lock-out
Short Review: I have been testing lots of backpacking folding saws, and this is incredible. Multi-purpose folding saw with an 7-1/2 -inch blade, 7 teeth per inch, for cutting both green and dry wood, plastic, or bone. This features two-component plastic handle for perfect grip, with leather strap and comes equipped with safety lock for both lock-in and lock-out. This extraordinary item has a lot of positive consumer feedback because a good amount of men and women are content with this. It is easy to tell that this is extremely effective and sharp simply because of the number of positive customer feedback.
2. Coghlan’s Sierra Saw
Weight: 5 1/2 oz
Material: Steel
Blade Length: 7in.
Lightweight: Yes
Feature Summary: Serrated saw blade with safe one-touch lock system, comfortable, ergonomic handle with a slip-resistant grip, inexpensive, great survival tool
Short Review: Simply by checking out the positive customer testimonials, I know that this foldable saw is remarkable. This is a folding knife with 4-inch serrated saw blade with safe one-touch lock system. This features a comfortable and ergonomic handle with a slip-resistant grip. This is designed conveniently, never requires sharpening and the One-Touch Lock System ensures the blade stays locked. One of the things I love in regards to this item is that the price is extraordinary. This is an incredible item with a very lovely design and it can cut branches and firewood. I love that the company made this item very light so that we can carry more items.
3. Silky New Professional Series KatanaBoy Folding Saw
Weight: 2 lbs
Material: Japanese steel
Blade Length: 19.7in.
Lightweight: Yes
Feature Summary: Very durable and well made, razor sharp edge cuts easily, beefy two-handed folding saw, mincemeat out of any firewood-sized limbs, non-slip rubberized grip handle
Short Review: The way I see it is that this foldable saw is a very good deal. This is constructed out of premium proprietary Japanese steel that resulted in ideal blend of tooth hardness and blade flexibility. This comes with a sturdy, nylon shoulder bag with Velcro fastening & pocket for replacement blades. The long, well-balanced, taper-ground blade with an impulse-hardened, non-set tooth design provides extended working reach. This is very high quality, well balanced, and easy to clean. This is a little bit expensive but this works well and very sharp. Great for professionals and for tasks that are very time consuming.
4. Corona RazorTOOTH Folding Pruning Saw
Weight: 12.8 oz
Material: SK5 Steel Blade
Blade Length: 10″
Lightweight: Yes
Feature Summary: Ergonomically designed, comfortable, co-molded handle, easy to latch blade prevents injury, curved blade design for faster cutting, small to medium branches
Short Review: I can safely claim that this is really exceptional foldable saw. This is constructed out of 10″ blade is ideal for cutting 5″ – 6″ diameter, small to medium, branches. The company said that each razor tooth saw blade goes through 4 manufacturing processes for maximum durability, hardness & friction reduction. This comes with a folding blade is curved, taper-ground, and replaceable and has a comfortable grip for extended use. It is a good thing that this is made out of lightweight material, which makes this outdoor friendly. This item is manufactured by an amazing company and this company consistently develop awesome items such as this one. This is among the finest items that has an extremely wonderful design.
5. Gerber Freescape Camp Saw
Weight: 1.1 lbs
Material: Steel
Blade Length: 12in.
Lightweight: Yes
Feature Summary: Designed to save space, amazing company specializes in lots of items, folds down flat without removal of parts, rubber overmold grip, utilizes 4 pivot points to effectively cut larger diameter wood
Short Review: This lightweight saw that I have listed is amazing. This features an innovative design that allows the saw to fold up flat while remaining completely assembled and without threat of lost parts. This is very safe when folded up since the blade is protected and can be stowed safely in a gear kit or camp bin. Features a grippy rubber Freescape textured handle stays firmly in the hand. It is easy to see that this item has a great deal of positive consumer feedback which should be a very good indication on how superior this item is. The impressive things relating to this are that it has a lot of capabilities and extremely inexpensive. This just makes backpacking a lot easier and this is very versatile as well.
| Check Out My Other Reviews – backpacking stainless steel cookware – backpacking sleeping mattresses – backpacking trekking poles – backpacking coffee pots – backpacking pots |
6. EverSaw Folding Hand Saw All-Purpose
Weight: 10 oz
Material: Carbon Steel
Blade Length: 8in.
Lightweight: Yes
Feature Summary: One of the best and high quality item out there, great item for outdoor activities and very durable, compact space saving design
Short Review: You need to check out this backpacking folding saw before this is sold out. This is hardened to stay sharp as this small saw can easily cut through branches, bone and even PVC plastic up to 4 inches in diameter. This comes with a ribbed rubber handle of our small hand saw thanks to an ergonomic and non-slip design. This compact folding saw as a folding camp saw, backpack saw, folding tree saw and more. The durability of this item is really good and that’s why I am recommending it. This is among the highest quality items that I am aware of. The company did an excellent job designing this item.
7. Sven Saw
Weight: 1 lbs
Material: Swedish steel
Blade Length: 23in.
Lightweight: Yes
Feature Summary: Designed to be compact to not take much room, made for the outdoors, items with intuitive designs come from this company
Short Review: If you do your homework, you can easily notice that a lot of people really like this light saw. This features hardened, anodized aluminum handle and backbar work in any weather or temperature, and won’t corrode or rust. This is very safe and compact since it can fold into a smaller item that does not bare its teeth outside. This awesome item will provide years of usefulness since this is very durable In the beginning, I wasn’t terribly positive about how well this will work. I am shocked this works extremely well.
8. Fiskars 390470-1002 Power Tooth Soft Grip Folding Saw
Weight: 12.8 oz
Material: Steel
Blade Length: 10in.
Lightweight: Yes
Feature Summary: Great for saving space, company continues to surprise me with amazing items, amazing company with lots of customers returning
Short Review: This is one of the best backpacking folding saws. This features a power Tooth blade with razor sharp, triple ground teeth powers through wood faster. The blade locks in two different positions, optimized for overhand cuts and under cuts and fully hardened, precision ground steel blade stays sharp, even through heavy use. The design is awesome its no wonder that this item has a great deal of positive consumer reviews. This is a pretty good item for the outdoors. This is very useful. The volume of positive consumer feedback that this item has is impressive that there is no reason to do a whole lot of research.
9. FLORA GUARD Folding Hand Saw
Weight: 11 oz
Material: Carbon Steel
Blade Length: 10in.
Lightweight: Yes
Feature Summary: Sharp and very durable, easy to use folding saw, high quality item because of the high quality materials, sharp edges
Short Review: I am rather satisfied that I bought this considering that this is a pretty outstanding backpacking saw. This is constructed out of high-carbon steel and have a 7″ razor tooth blade cuts through branches up to 4″ in diameter. This has an ergonomic and comfortable handle of the small saw fits the hand naturally and is designed to prevent dropping when loosely held. This is very safe since this is easy to open & close with a lock. If you look at the item description, this has a great deal of capabilities and this is rather budget friendly too. The positive customer reviews that this item has are always useful especially when purchasing online.
10. SE PS185 10.5-Inch Folding Mini Camping/Pruning Saw
Weight: 5.6 oz
Material: 65mn Carbon Steel
Blade Length: 5in.
Lightweight: Yes
Feature Summary: Company is amazing and they construct amazing items, amazing and durable item that will last for many years, edges are extremely sharp
Short Review: This backpacking saw is one of the best that I truly love. This comes with triple teeth saw blade design provides a super sharp and effective cutting edge. This features a safety release button on the handle to safely close and lock the blade and a durable knurled rubberized plastic handle for a no-slip grip. This has a lot of positive customer reviews which should be sufficient to put people in a great position to either acquire this item or not. Amazing item for the outdoors and this works well too. A useful item to have that has an amazing design.
| Check Out My Other Reviews – backpacking water filters – backpacking air mattress – camping coffee pot – hiking ponchos – travel soap cases |
11. coher Folding Hand Saw
Weight: 9.6 oz
Material: Carbon Steel
Blade Length: 6.7in.
Lightweight: Yes
Feature Summary: Sharp and very easy to use, designed to be outdoor friendly, this is very high quality
Short Review: By simply going through the positive customer testimonials, I am aware that this backpacking folding saw is outstanding. This item is great for cutting wood comes with an ergonomic non-slip handle supported by a leather strap, providing stability and enhancing maneuverability. This features a 2-angle adjustable blade, folding design and secure blocking system. If you want a pretty low-priced item, you can start with this. Multi-purpose item that makes backpacking a lot easier and this provides lots of usefulness. This item has numerous capabilities and it looks terrific simply because of the structure and design.
12. Coghlan’s Folding Saw
Weight: 13.6 oz
Material: Steel
Blade Length: 21in.
Lightweight: Yes
Feature Summary: Very high quality and durable, great for saving space, outdoor friendly, compact, lightweight and very easy to carry
Short Review: This outdoor saw is superb and I realize you will definitely like it. This features a 21-inch serrated saw blade; rugged anodized aluminum can hold extra blades and this folds down compactly. This is also very lightweight since this weighs just 16 ounces. A very versatile item that gives lots of usefulness while in the outdoors which is why I highly recommend this. Coghlan is a great company that makes decently quality items for a very low price. A very good saw that is affordable and an essential gear for camping, backpacking, backcountry treks, and more.
13. Amazon Basics Folding Pruning Saw
Weight: 10.4 oz
Material: Carbon Steel
Blade Length: 7in.
Lightweight: Yes
Feature Summary: Durable construction that will last for many years to come, one of the best items for the outdoors, great for cutting branches and wood
Short Review: I’m sure that you will love this light saw simply because it is marvelous. This features triple-cut razor teeth and hardened steel blade easily cut small-to-medium sized branches. This folding design collapses blade into handle and locks in place for safety and comes with a comfortable, non-slip grip helps diminish hand fatigue. This is a whole lot better than many of the items I’ve come across which is why this has a lot of positive consumer reviews. This is impressive and this can cut branches and firewood.
14. SOG Folding Saw
Weight: 11.2 oz
Material: Carbon Steel
Blade Length: 8.25in.
Lightweight: Yes
Feature Summary: Very sharp and easily cuts wood, this is very high quality, lightweight design, compact which makes this very portable and easy to carry
Short Review: This outdoor saw is really inexpensive and it works well also. This high quality item is awesome. This is an amazing item that is great for trees and branches as the saw will tackle hard wood and green wood. This comes with a soft grip for cutting branches and logs. The folding pruning saw handles comfortably for longer tasks. You will really like this high quality item considering that this is incredible and works well. This pruning saw folds easy to fit into its nylon sheath, making it an easy carry camping saw to take to the wild.
15. Silky New Professional Series Folding Landscaping Hand Saw
Weight: 0.35 lbs
Material: Japanese Steel
Blade Length: 5in.
Lightweight: Yes
Feature Summary: Razor sharp edges for cutting wood easily, construction is very durable, clear plastic flip-lock carrying case with belt clip, folding landscaping hand saw
Short Review: I am lucky enough to have been able to try this outdoor saw considering the fact that it is amazing. Constructed with rust-resistant, hard chrome-plated, taper-ground blade with impulse-hardened, non-set teeth. This has extraordinary cutting capacity ideal for landscaping, pruning & trimming, camping, trail maintenance & general outdoors. This is compact and lightweight so this saw takes up very little room in your backpack. This is exceptionally well made. There are lots of men and women that love this item due to the fact this is exceptionally high quality and proven to work extremely well.