If you spend enough time outside you will most likely end up buying yourself an axe of some size, then a small foldable saw and more than likely a fire steel for when you run out of lighter fluid.

You could buy them all separately and chance losing or leaving them somewhere, or you could buy the Robens Multi Axe that has them all included.

That’s right, secure in the axe handle you’ll find a saw that has a decent 18cm saw blade. It feels good to hold, even when wet, and it doesn’t flex as much as other small and portable saws that I’ve used, either.

Attached to the nylon sheath, which incidentally has an integrated carry handle and adjustable and removable belt loop, sits the fire steel. With a handle of just over 3cm and shaft (stop giggling at the back) of 4cm, it isn’t the largest (I’m not warning you again!), but when using the axe head as the striker it doesn’t half throw off a good size spark.

Weighing in at just 872g and measuring 35 x 22 x 14.5cm (LxWxH), the axe itself it isn’t the heaviest or longest to achieve a good swing for chopping big lumps of firewood, but it’s good enough. The stainless steel blade has so far kept in sharpness, and the polyamide handle is light and quite resilient to shocks. Speaking of shocks, with the axe head on one side it also incorporates a hammer on the rear, ideal for knocking in tent pegs on hard and stoney ground.