Choose a pocket chainsaw for camp and storm cleanup
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Quick answer
A pocket chainsaw is a length of toothed chain with a handle or strap at each end that you pull back and forth to cut wood. Nordic Pocket Saw's 25.6 in Original has 33 bi-directional teeth on heat-treated high carbon steel and weighs 4.7 oz; Nordic says it works best on logs around 3 in thick and handles 1 to 18 in. Its 36 in X-Long has 50 teeth for thicker logs and two people. Coghlan's Pocket Chainsaw has 26 teeth and wrist straps, and Coghlan's wire Pocket Saw is an 8-strand stainless steel cable for small jobs.
- Nordic Pocket Saw Original, 25.6 in, 33 teeth. Best for: One-person log cutting at camp. See options on Amazon
- Nordic Pocket Saw X-Long, 36 in, 50 teeth. Best for: Thicker logs with two people. See options on Amazon
- Coghlan's Pocket Chainsaw (2227). Best for: A simple chain saw with wrist straps. See options on Amazon
- Coghlan's Pocket Saw, wire (8304). Best for: The smallest emergency saw. See options on Amazon
What a pocket chainsaw is good for
Nordic Pocket Saw describes its hand chainsaw for cutting firewood, clearing paths and removing fallen trees while camping, hiking and biking. It says the Original works best on logs about 10 cm (3 in) thick, can handle 3 cm to 45 cm (1 to 18 in), and that for sticks under 3 cm (1 in) a folding saw is the better tool.
For small branches, see our folding saw guide. For splitting, see our splitting axe guide.
Four pocket saws compared
| Saw | Length | Teeth | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nordic Original | 25.6 in (65 cm) | 33 bi-directional | 4.7 oz |
| Nordic X-Long | 36 in (93 cm) | 50 bi-directional | 6.1 oz |
| Coghlan's Pocket Chainsaw | 37 in per Amazon listing | 26 | Not listed |
| Coghlan's Pocket Saw (wire) | Not listed | 8-strand wire | Not listed |
Nordic figures are the maker's. Coghlan's product pages list neither length nor weight, so the Pocket Chainsaw length comes from its Amazon listing.
Chain length and teeth
Longer chains reach around thicker logs. Nordic lists a 65 cm (25.6 in) chain with 33 bi-directional teeth on the Original and a 93 cm (36 in) chain with 50 bi-directional teeth on the X-Long, which it sells as a saw for two people. Coghlan's lists 26 teeth on its Pocket Chainsaw.
Bi-directional teeth cut on both the push and the pull, so you saw back and forth without flipping the chain.
Chain or wire
Coghlan's sells two styles. Its Pocket Chainsaw uses a steel chain-link blade with 26 teeth and polyester wrist straps. Its Pocket Saw is a wire saw: an 8-strand stainless steel blade with nylon wrist straps that Coghlan's says cuts wood, plastic and bone.
Coghlan's calls the wire saw compact and lightweight.
Weight and handles
Nordic lists 132 g (4.7 oz) for the Original without its case and 173 g (6.1 oz) for the X-Long, with extra-large nylon handles it says give a secure grip even when wet. Coghlan's uses wrist straps on both of its saws.
Which one to pack
For a single person cutting firewood-size logs, Nordic's 25.6 in Original is the lighter Nordic saw at 4.7 oz. If two people will saw together, or the logs are thicker, the 36 in X-Long adds reach and 17 more teeth for 1.4 oz more weight.
If you want the smallest possible backup for a pack or vehicle kit, Coghlan's wire Pocket Saw is the one Coghlan's calls compact and lightweight, and its Pocket Chainsaw adds 26 chain teeth.
Care and sharpening
Nordic says to keep the chain clean, lubricate it with chainsaw oil and sharpen it with a 4 mm round file.
Cutting safely
Plan the cut so the log or branch cannot pinch the chain or fall toward you. Keep your legs and free hand out of the chain's path, wear gloves, and get help or a powered saw for large trees under tension. Our felling axe guide covers bigger wood.
What to look for when you buy
Nordic Pocket Saw Original, 25.6 in, 33 teeth
Best for: One-person log cutting at camp
Nordic lists a 65 cm heat-treated high carbon steel chain with 33 bi-directional teeth, extra-large nylon handles and 132 g without the case; it says it works best on logs around 3 in and handles 1 to 18 in.
Watch out: Nordic suggests a folding saw for sticks under 1 in.
See options on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)Nordic Pocket Saw X-Long, 36 in, 50 teeth
Best for: Thicker logs with two people
Nordic lists a 93 cm chain with 50 bi-directional teeth and 173 g, otherwise the same as the Original, for thicker logs and branches.
Watch out: Longer to pack; Nordic sells it as a two-person saw.
See options on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)Coghlan's Pocket Chainsaw (2227)
Best for: A simple chain saw with wrist straps
Coghlan's lists a durable steel chain-link blade with 26 sharp teeth that cut with a back-and-forth motion and polyester wrist straps for larger logs.
Watch out: Coghlan's page does not list chain length; the Amazon listing gives 37 in.
See options on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)Coghlan's Pocket Saw, wire (8304)
Best for: The smallest emergency saw
Coghlan's lists an 8-strand stainless steel wire blade with nylon wrist straps that cuts wood, plastic and bone.
Watch out: A wire saw, not a chain; best for small jobs.
See options on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)Questions people ask
- How thick a log can a pocket chainsaw cut?
- Nordic says its 25.6 in Original handles about 1 to 18 in and works best near 3 in. Its 36 in X-Long is for thicker logs.
- Is a pocket chainsaw better than a folding saw?
- For logs, Nordic recommends its chain; for sticks under 1 in, it suggests a folding saw.
- How do I sharpen a pocket chainsaw?
- Nordic says to use a 4 mm round file and to keep the chain clean and oiled with chainsaw oil.
- What is the difference between a chain and a wire pocket saw?
- Coghlan's Pocket Chainsaw is a toothed chain for logs; its Pocket Saw is an 8-strand stainless wire for small cuts.
Sources
- Nordic Pocket Saw Original (Orange) (nordicpocketsaw.com), Nordic Pocket Saw
- Nordic Pocket Saw X-Long (nordicpocketsaw.com), Nordic Pocket Saw
- Pocket Chainsaw (2227) (coghlans.com), Coghlan's
- Pocket Saw (8304) (coghlans.com), Coghlan's