Whether you are off trekking, camping, or simply a good survivalist, the best folding saw should be tucked in your arsenal for easy chopping, sawing, and conquering different outdoor tasks.
Folding saws should be portable, flexible, and sharp, rather than big and cumbersome. But many folding saws available in the market are of poor quality. We learned this the hard way after buying several folding saws only for them to fail in a few weeks.
This post is our comprehensive review of the top folding saws on the market. We evaluated their design and features such as blade length, cutting capacity, and ergonomics. Keep reading to discover the indefatigable folding saws on the market and select the ideal piece for your situation.
The 7 Best Folding Saws Are…
| Product | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Agawa Canyon BOREAL21 |  Top Pick |
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| 2.Bahco 396-LAP Laplander Folding Saw |  |
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| 3.EverSaw Hand Folding Saw |  |
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| 4.Primos Folding Saw |  |
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| 5.Silky New Professional Series KatanaBoy |  |
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| 6.Silky Professional Series PocketBoy |  |
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| 7.Tervol Folding Hand Saw |  |
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1. Agawa Canyon BOREAL21 (Best Folding Saw for Backpacking)
The Agawa Canyon BOREAL21 is our top choice because of its versatile design and tough blade. Its unique design makes deploying super-fast, carrying around easy, and slicing even large logs simple. These attributes make it the perfect option for backpacking, canoeing, clearing trails, and hunting.
We can only describe the design of the BOREAL21 as revolutionary. At 21 inches, the stainless steel blade is long and firm enough for powerful strokes to rip even big logs. Besides, its trapezoidal-shape with three hinges makes it the perfect pick for diameter cuts.
Another selling point of this folding saw is how easy and fast it is to put together. The moment you take it out, it automatically unfolds and snaps into position to give you a sturdy hand saw in seconds. This makes it an ideal piece to use even in a hurry, like when trekking in a thicket.
A closer look at the blade reveals it has a corrosion-resistant coating and aggressively angled teeth. These features, coupled with a high-grade anodized aluminum frame and all-stainless steel hardware, guarantee you two things: durability and high value for money.
Notably, it is difficult to point out any shortcomings of this folding saw, which is one of the reasons why we rated it the best overall. But, we need to mention that after prolonged use, the saw feels a little uncomfortable.
Specs
- 1.2 pounds
- 24 x 4 x 4 inches
- Aluminum frame, glass-reinforced nylon handle
- 21″ blade, 21.5″ closed, 22″ tip to tip open
Pros
- You don’t need to tension the blade manually.
- It is light, yet very powerful to cut all types of logs.
- The saw is designed to last and guarantee high-value for money
Cons
- While the 21.5″ blade-closed size is appealing, people looking for shorter-bladed folding knives might need to look elsewhere.
2. Bahco 396-LAP Laplander Folding Saw (Best Folding Saw for Camping)
This dazzling folding hand saw is our top pick for camping and runner-up in the entire list. The saw is not only durable but also comfortable and is unlikely to let you down. It is not too big, and although you might struggle with heavy-duty cutting that survivalists encounter, it is a remarkable all-rounder.
The 396-LAP Laplander has a 7.5-inch stainless steel blade with seven teeth per inch (TPI), which makes the right piece for cutting dry and green wood, bone, and plastic. The blade is also coated with an anti-corrosion material to prevent rust.
To provide you with a firm grip, the Bahco 396-LAP’s handle is designed with two-component plastic. Therefore, you can easily cut dry and green materials without losing your grip. Further, the folding saw comes with a leather strap that makes it easy to carry around.
One downside of this tool is, even though it is meant for outdoor use, the blade was pretty thin. This makes it feel flimsy, especially when cutting tough material.
Specs
- 7 ounces
- 7.9 x 7.9 x 11.8 inches
- Stainless steel
- 7 inches
Pros
- Equipped with a safety lock to prevent unintended opening.
- Its small design makes it easy to carry around using its case or in your pocket.
- The saw’s spare parts are readily available in the market.
Cons
- The saw is not suitable for cutting large chunks of wood.
- The plastic handle makes the saw feel cheap.
3. EverSaw Hand Folding Saw (Best Survival Folding Saw)
If you are headed to the woods for camping or hunting, the EverSaw folding hand saw will come in handy to help you survive in different situations. The saw has a heavy-duty blade designed using carbon steel for extra durability. Carbon steel further helps the saw’s triple-cut teeth stay sharp for longer, reduce friction, and cut through most materials with ease.
When working for survival in the woods, comfort is crucial. This is why the EverSaw Folding Hand Saw was designed with a slip-resistant comfortable grip. When not in use, the blade snaps into the handle so that you can easily toss it into a pocket or backpack.
One thing that was disappointing about the saw is that when it locks in place, the blade does not hold straight. Instead, it bends back more than it should.
Specs
- 10.1 ounces
- 9.5 x 2.2 x 0.8 inches
- Slip-resistant comfort grip
- 8 inches
Pros
- The folding saw is sold with a guarantee for customer satisfaction. If you are unsatisfied, simply return the saw for a full refund.
- The teeth are hardened to maintain sharpness and make cutting easy.
- You can adjust the blade to the desired length.
Cons
- The saw is heavy.
- The locking mechanism is relatively poor.
4. Primos Folding Saw (Best Budget Folding Saw)
If you are looking for a high-quality folding saw but do not want to spend a lot of money, we recommend the Primos Folding Saw. It offers the perfect balance between quality, durability, and price with its compact yet functional design. We consider this an ideal piece for a casual camper who only needs a saw to use occasionally.
We did not just pick this folding saw because it is inexpensive, but its outstanding features that can qualify it for a pricier tag.
The Primos Folding Saw is designed with a compact design that makes carrying around easy. Also, it deploys very fast. Whether you are camping in the woods or working on the lawn, you can deploy the saw in seconds to cut twigs, branches, or bones.
The saw’s handle is made with light-weight nylon and a sure-grip rubber coating that makes it easy to use even on challenging tasks. Further, the teeth have an offset design that makes cutting through wood stress-free.
Although it is affordable, this folding saw comes with some limits. For instance, you might struggle using the saw to cut through thicker bones and tough logs.
Specs
- 7.2 ounces
- 11.2 x 4.2 x 1.5 inches
- Light-weight nylon molded with a sure-grip rubber coating
- 6 inches
Pros
- Easy to unfold when working and fold into a compact piece for easy storage.
- Using the ready-to-use casing, you can easily carry the saw outdoors.
- Its strong blade and teeth make cutting tasks fun.
Cons
- The folding saw is not suitable for cutting big logs of wood.
5. Silky New Professional Series KatanaBoy
Are you in the market for a special bushcraft folding saw? The Silky New Professional Series KatanaBoy Folding Saw could be your answer because of its amazing features such as the tough blade.
The main selling point of the Silky New Professional Series KatanaBoy is its long and tough blade of 19.7 inches. It is well-balanced with a non-set tooth design for extended reach. This design makes the folding saw a serious competitor to the legendary Japanese Samurai.
The saw is also carefully crafted to make it easy to use both hands for more cutting power. We found this very useful when working on big tree trunks or clearing tough bushes.
While we liked every aspect of this folding saw, its long size was a concern because of portability. But again, Silky Saws did a good job by designing a fancy pouch allowing you to hang the saw on the shoulder when working outdoors.
Specs
- 2 pounds
- 49 x 6.5 x 1.8 inches
- Non-slip rubberized grip
- 19.7 inch
Pros
- The saw allows you to work with either one or two hands.
- The long blade is perfect for tough tasks in the bush.
- The handle of the folding saw is rubberized for a comfortable grip when working in the field.
Cons
- The folding saw is bulkier than most folding saws we have reviewed in this list.
6. Silky Professional Series PocketBoy
This folding saw is the shorter version of the Silky New Professional Series KatanaBoy Folding Saw. It comes with smart features and is incredibly small to fit in your pocket. This implies you can easily carry it around to accomplish different tasks in the bush.
We liked this folding saw because it is designed with hardened materials for top performance. Its stainless steel blade of 5.1 inches offers an extraordinary cutting capacity of 2.6 inches. Further, the blade is hard chrome plated to prevent corrosion when working in the field.
When you set off camping, hiking, or hunting, safety is one of the top priorities, right? This Silky Professional Series PocketBoy is designed with two open locking positions, one for line cutting and another for flash cutting. It also locks the blade firmly when not in use to prevent accidents.
Further, we liked the non-slip rubberized handle that provides a firm grip no matter the nature of the task at hand. Whether you are clearing a camping site or creating a trekking path, this saw is a sure bet.
Specs
- 6.02 ounces
- 5.8 x 2.8 x 1 inches
- Non-slip and rubberized
- 5.1 inches
- Synthetic
- 2.6 inches
Pros
- Petite yet effective to work with even in challenging tasks.
- The blade features a rust-resistant coating for extra durability.
- It is straightforward to use on different types of tasks.
Cons
- The folding saw is poor for cutting big branches and trunks.
7. Tarvol Folding Hand Saw
Whether you want a folding hand saw designed for tough tasks when trekking in the bush or simpler jobs around your home, Tervol folding hand saw is one of the best options. It is a compact cutting tool that is easy to carry around and use for most cutting tasks.
One of the main selling points is its straight 7-inch blade made with a corrosion-resistant coating to prevent rust development. The blade features 1.2mm teeth that make it enjoyable to use for bush-based activities and DIY (do-it-yourself) projects around the home. A bow saw is a good alternative.
The Tervol folding hand saw has become a trusted option for campers because of its impressive safety features. Its pistol-style grip helps to provide a comfortable and sturdy feel when cutting materials in the field. Also, the saw folds to only 8.5 inches long, which can easily fit in its case, backpack, or pocket.
One thing that we did not fancy about the saw is that you can only use one hand. This limits your working power and speed, especially when cutting tough materials.
Specs
- 8.2 ounces
- 12.9 x 3 x 0.2 inches
- Pistol Style Grip
- 7 inches
Pros
- Its compact design when folded makes it easy to carry around.
- Both the blade and frame are designed to last. Tarvol also guarantees you top performance and commits to refund your money if unsatisfied.
- The stainless steel blade is designed to hold the sharpness for long so that you can enjoy every cutting task.
Cons
- Cutting big or tough pieces of wood/ bone using the saw is a challenge.
Hand Saw Buying Guide: Important Features to Consider
There are dozens of reasons why you would want to purchase a folding saw. Most people buy folding saws for outdoor pursuits such as hunting, DIY butchering, and clearing paths. So, how do you go about selecting a good folding saw?
The features we have outlined here formed the main criteria that we used when picking the best folding saws in this post.
Blade Length and Thickness
The blade of any folding saw is a crucial determinant of its length. The best blade should be long enough for your cutting tasks and easily retract into a protective sheath. Most of them retract to a groove on the handle for enhanced portability.
When it comes to thickness, saws with thicker blades are preferred for heavy-duty cutting. However, they are heavier to carry and harder to operate. As such, it is advisable to think about what your saw will be used for.
Cutting Capacity
The cutting capacity is the thickness of an item, (take the examples of a tree branch) that the saw can cut. If a blade’s ripping capacity is 8 inches, it means that anything with a diameter of less than ten inches can be cut using the saw.
The Tooth Configuration
When you look at a saw, the core difference with a knife or axe is the serrated blade. The folding saw’s teeth configuration defines whether it is best for cutting dry materials such as dry wood or wet material such as fresh wood. The higher the number of teeth/inch in folding saw, the finer the cut.
Materials Used in Designing the Saw
Notably, all folding saws are not designed using the same materials. You should look for saws with blades made using hard materials like stainless steel for extra durability.
Handle
To effectively use a folding saw, it is prudent to go for the design with an impressive grip-resistant material. Such a grip makes it easy to use the saw even when working on challenging situations such as cutting big logs.
Other Important Considerations
In addition to the features of the folding saw, you also need to include these factors when selecting a folding saw.
Budget
First, you need to factor how much you want to spend. The good thing about folding saws is that they are available in a wide range of prices. From about $20 to $300, you are sure of getting a good saw for your outdoor tasks.
Replacement Parts
What about replacement parts? When people invest in folding saws, they are looking forward to pieces that will last for years. Therefore, you should go for saws with replacements parts readily available in the market. For example, you can extend the utility of a saw by replacing the damaged blade or handle instead of disposing of.
The Brand
One of the sure ways of buying a high-quality folding saw is going for the pieces designed by top brands. These are companies that have been in the market for many years, and their products proved to be of high-quality. Prime examples include Bahco, Silky Saws and Fiskars.
Final Thoughts
In the above folding saw reviews, we have highlighted the best seven pieces on the market today. They have the best features, come with inspiring designs, and are made by top brands. Therefore, if you are looking forward to buying a great folding saw for backpacking, camping, pruning, or clearing paths, among other outdoor tasks, you will no doubt get it in the list. Remember that the type of saw to buy depends on how you will be using it.
Although we stand with the seven folding saws reviewed in this post (they are remarkable), we must indicate that the Agawa Canyon BOREAL21 was the best of them all. The folding saw has a huge cutting capacity, it is durable, easy to fold, and secure to use. This folding saw has no equal!
