Best Chainsaw for Camping [2024 Review]

Chainsaws are important for a lot of different things. However, when it comes to camping, having a good chainsaw with you is necessary for making sure you have firewood when you need it. You might even be able to cut a log to use as a seat if you plan carefully.

When you go camping, you likely don’t need the biggest, baddest chainsaw around. You just need something to cover your basic needs for the campsite. I’ve searched the market to help you narrow down the options and figure out the best chainsaws for camping.

Camping Chainsaw Reviews

You don’t need a really powerful, huge 20″ chainsaw. For camping purposes, something simple to pack and carry around with you is best. However, you might not have a lot of electricity available so you may need to consider this too.

DeWalt 20V Max XR Chainsaw

The DeWalt 20V Max is a great chainsaw for camping, especially if you have other tools from DeWalt. Just be sure that your battery is charged before you head out so that you know you will have plenty of juice for your needs.

This could easily be one of the best options because it’s the perfect size when you travel. It doesn’t take up too much room but it’s large enough and powerful enough to cut a good variety of logs when you’re in the woods. It also has a pretty clean-cut, which is nice.

The chainsaw sports a 12-inch blade, which is on the smaller side. But, this makes sense given how convenient and portable the saw is.

Considering it’s battery-powered, the overall power is pretty great. This chainsaw offers high speed and low vibration. Measured by a chainsaw tachometer, the speed reaches up to 25 feet per second.

Some features that stand out to me the most are the anti-vibration technology, the clean cutting power, and the auto-oiling feature to keep your bar and chain maintained. It’s lightweight so it’s easy to handle and that brushless motor is a great addition too.

Highlights

• Power: 20V Max battery
• Speed: 25 FPS
• Blade Length: 12 inches
• Weight: 8.8 pounds
• Warranty: 3 years

Thanks to the lightweight of the saw, you can easily pack it up and not worry about a struggle to cut wood as needed. A single charge should be able to cut up to 90 pieces, which is typically more than enough for a camping trip.

The anti-kickback chain will help keep you safe while you’re working. The chain that comes with the saw is pretty nice, but you can always change it out or sharpen it if you have other preferences too.

What I Like:

• Powerful operation
• Good speed for most cutting needs
• The cut is smooth and consistent
• Lightweight and easy to manage

What I Don’t Like:

• The small bar length might limit some of your cutting capability

Greenworks 24V 10″ Inch Chainsaw Package

If you’re looking to spend a little bit less, check out this Greenworks chainsaw. It’s a small and simple chainsaw powered by a battery. It comes with the battery and the charger, so you just have to be proactive to make sure you have a charge before you head out camping.

This budget-friendly saw has a 10″ inch blade, so it won’t take up a bunch of packing room. You might find the 10″ bar too small – you won’t be able to cut much down with this size, but you can cut already felled trees into firewood.

The Greenworks is easy to handle and the compact size makes it perfect for chopping up small logs for the fire. You really don’t need anything huge for camping purposes, right?

You will find that this saw is lightweight and comfortable to handle. The grip is solid, and you have plenty of safety features as well. The battery is 24 volts and should last just fine for a camping trip.

Highlights

• Power: 24V battery
• Speed: undefined
• Blade Length: 10 inches
• Weight: 7.85 pounds
• Warranty: 4 years

This saw can be useful for DIY projects as well as your camping trip needs. It is small at 10 inches so you will have to make sure you aren’t trying to cut things that just don’t work for that bar length.

What I Like:

• Small and portable design
• Good speed, even if I don’t know the exact measurement
• Lightweight makes easy functionality
• Electric start functionality
• Up to 35 cuts per charge

What I Don’t Like:

• While it has an automatic oiler, many users recommend still getting bar oil

Husqvarna 120 Mark II 16″ Inch Gas Chainsaw

If you’re looking for something that is perhaps a little bit larger, the

Since this is gas, it’s a pretty powerful machine. At the same time, it’s not overly heavy which is really nice. Your blade is 16 inches long, so it gives you just a little bit more capability overall. You can easily use it for your camping trips or for use at home as well.

At 16″ inches, the Husqvarna can actually cut down trees while you’re out camping. If you’re staying in a traditional campground, you probably won’t be allowed to fall trees. But, if off-grid, this might be the perfect option for you.

The Husqvarna brand uses an X-Torq design on the engine that is exclusive to the brand. This design does help to reduce emissions slightly and also helps reduce the overall fuel consumption.

Highlights

• Power: 1.88 HP gas
• Speed: 73 FPS
• Blade Length: 16 inches
• Weight: 4.22 pounds
• Warranty: 2 years

This chainsaw gives you just the right mix of power and size. It’s slightly larger than the others that I shared here but it gives you more capability. Even with the larger size, this is still the lightest weight option you will find on the list.

The entire design from Husqvarna is created for optimal performance. Of course, this is gas so you will need to perform some routine maintenance as well. It’s easy to handle and the handles and grips are all made to be ergonomic for comfortable use.

What I Like:

• Lightweight and comfortable design
• A 16-inch blade gives you just a bit more capability
• The engine design reduces emission
• Lubricates the chain naturally with an automatic oiler
• Built for safety with features like anti-kickback and a safety break

What I Don’t Like:

• This chainsaw can be more challenging to start, which is fairly normal with gas saws

Factors to Consider While Shopping for a Camping Chainsaw

There are some things that you should keep in mind when you plan to buy a chainsaw for camping. While you might want to consider if you will use this at home too, you need to keep in mind elements of camping and packing that will be important for your overall decision.

Take a look at some of these factors to help you choose the best saw for your needs.

How Will You Use It?

The first thing is to consider how you will use it. My guess is your camping needs are primarily to have firewood available. However, you might also want to consider whether you want something that will work for some DIY needs at home too.

This is all about making sure you don’t have to purchase multiple chainsaws unless you just really want to. Don’t limit yourself too much but don’t buy excessive features or power that you just won’t really need in the end.

Power

The power really does matter. In this case, you also want to consider how it’s powered. Battery operation is great, as long as you know your charge will be sufficient. You don’t need something extremely mighty to work for the campground.

At the same time, you still want enough power that you’re going to be able to cut as needed without having to worry about it being a huge chore to do so.

Beyond that, batteries need to be charged, and this can be a challenge while out camping. If you’re camping for an extended period of time, you might not be able to recharge and continue using a battery-operated chainsaw.

Gas chainsaws, on the other hand, are loud. While they will last and not need recharging, they might disturb other campers.

Size

Finally, don’t forget to consider the size of the blade. This will define what you are able to cut and could potentially limit your ability. You don’t need a huge blade for a camping chainsaw, but you still want to make sure that the blade you do have will be able to accomplish the cuts that you need.

We wouldn’t recommend going much smaller than a 10″ inch blade, but I also think it’s important to say you probably don’t need much larger than a 16″ inch blade either.

Wrap Up

Finding a chainsaw for camping shouldn’t be too hard. There are quite a few options out there. You just need to remember to consider that you are packing for the camping trip and how you’re going to accommodate your needs to use the chainsaw while you’re there.

When you do get everything packed, just be sure you have everything you need. It’s a good idea to cover the blade to avoid injury or perhaps mishap with other packed belongings as well. Any of these will do well for camping. Enjoy your camping trip!