Are you planning to go on a camping trip? If you are, then a trusty folding saw will be very vital. Whether you are going to cut your path through a thorny path or cut firewood for a flame, a saw bow saw is an excellent option for you to use.
So, if you are wondering what type of bow saw you should be using, we have the proper selection of the best folding bow saw in 2021. Bow saws can be used as survival saws for camping as well. So, if you’re looking for the best folding bow saw for camping, then you’re at the right place! Keep reading, and you will find your best fit.
10 Best Folding Bow Saw in 2022
If you buy a bow saw, we have compiled a list of 10 of the best bow saws. While more of these saws you can buy from, the ones present here are based on our opinion. These are as follows:
1. BOREAL21 Folding Survival Saw By Agawa Canyon
The BOREAL21 is a modern-looking bow saw engineered for maximum efficiency. While it may look any other bow saw, it is sharp enough to cut through any large timber much more quickly than ordinary saws while ensuring that the lumber’s tear is consistent and the wood is not damaged. This makes it a great option to cut wood for DIY projects. It’s also the best survival saw in terms of usability.
The handles are made from fiberglass and reinforced with nylon which gives it maximum durability while ensuring the safety of the wielder. In addition, the tool can be folded down to a very compact form so that you can carry it anywhere along with you without any problem.
The folding protector provides full cover to the blade. This means that you can store the saw down your bag without putting the bag or its content.
As the saw comes in an affordable price range as well, it’s surely one of the best folding bow saws in the market.
Key Features:
- The saw only weighs 170 oz.
- It offers versatile usage
- Stainless steel blade
- It comes with Nylon reinforcement to ensure durability
- Dimension of 21.5 x 1 x 2 inches
- Blade length of 21 Inches
- 6063 aluminum has been used in the manufacture
Question: What are the best uses of a bow saw?
The best uses of a bow saw is cutting firewood or tree joints. They’re excellent for gardening and also for camping. The best folding bow saw for camping will make your survival much easier in the wild. Some bow saws can also be used for cutting metals and thick wood if they come with strong blade and offers firm grip.
What We Like:
- It comes with a durable blade and handle
- The saw won’t not rust easily
- It’s compact and foldable
- The saw has an aesthetic design with modern outlook
What We Dislike:
- It’s slightly more expensive than most other saws
2. Sven-Saw Folding Saw
The Sven brand’s saw is one of the oldest and best folding bow saws in the industry. It has been one of the pioneers in the industry for more than 60 years. It has been equipped with a super sharp blade made of Swedish steel. Two different blade lengths are available at 15 inches and 21 inches. It has been researched that it can cut through wood of diameter 4.5 inches in 35 seconds, if not less.
The bow saw is extremely lightweight, weighing less than 14 oz. This means that it can be easily used and stored irrespective of space. The handles have been made with aluminum for durability and weightlessness.
The handle can be pulled to fold the blade quite quickly so that you can slide it inside your backpack without any hassle. The cover will protect your backpack and other contents from the sharp blade. You can unfold the blade just as quickly as you fold it. The blades, when unfolded, take the appearance of a triangle with a rigid frame. The wingnut in the side allows tightening the blade to increase the tension to use the saw more efficiently using both of your hands.
However, do note that it comes unassembled when you buy the saw. You are supposed to screw it down and assemble all the parts to make the saw usable. The assembling takes a long time and might make you frustrated if you have never assembled anything before.
Key Features:
- Blade length comes in two different sizes: 15 inches and 21 inches
- The saw weighs around 14 oz.
- Dimension of the saw is 23 x 1.5 x 0.6 inches
- Its handle is made of aluminum
- It has a stainless steel blade
- It comes with a controllable wingnut
- The saw can cut through the wood in a minimal time
- High visibility red in color
What We Like:
- It comes with a sharp blade
- The saw comes with a firm grip on the handle
- The blade doesn't rust very easily
- The structure and framing are very compact and rigid
What We Dislike:
- It takes time to assemble
- The wingnut can break easily
3. Coghlan's Folding Saw
The Coghlan’s folding saw is made with an anodized aluminum frame with plastic hinges that support the folding mechanism while ensuring the hinges last a long time. They also contribute to decreasing the friction between two segments. The blade is made from stainless steel and is about 21 inches in size.
The blade is designed to work like a well-crafted Danish wood cutting blade. The frame has been designed so that the massive influx in tension is kept to a bare minimum when it is unfolded. This increases the efficiency while decreasing the cutting time required for cutting a normal-sized timber.
You can easily call it the best folding bow saw for camping because of its compact size and easy-to-use features. It’s a wise pick for a survival saw if you love wandering in the wild.
Additionally, the bow can be assembled very easily. Even if you have no assembling experience, as long as you follow the accompanying manual, you will quickly assemble the saw. If you run on a low budget but still want the best experience, this bow is definitely for you.
Key Features:
- Item dimension is about 1 x 1 x 1 inches
- 21 inched stainless steel blade
- It comes with an aluminum handle
- The hinges are made of plastic
- It weighs 16 oz. and can be folded down easily
- The saw comes with a sharp blade
- It’s available in many different colors
- Simple design but darkly colored, so it will be hard to lose
Question: Are bow saws good for cutting trees?
Bow saws can definitely be used for cutting small to medium trees, considering the sturdiness of the blade. But, to cut trees, you need to find the best folding bow saw that comes with long blades with high durability. The saw also needs to have a firm grip on the handle. Otherwise, you may hurt yourself while trying to cut a tree.
What We Like:
- It’s quite easy to assemble
- The saw is reasonably priced
- It offers a rust-resistance feature and less friction
- The price is quite affordable considering the features
What We Dislike:
- The blade chips after some time
- Its rivets are in plastic
4. Truper 30255 Steel Handle Bow Saw
Truper Steel handle has been engineered to help you cut through any tricky corners or sides that are incredibly hard to cut through under normal circumstances. While this model might be slightly heavy at 1.33 Pounds, its mechanism allows it to be cleaned quickly when it becomes dirty.
The blades of the Truper come in massive sizes, including 21, 24, and 30 inches. This means that it can cut through the timber very quickly. However, this large blade also means that it doesn’t have much stability to cut through smaller items. It is also hard to keep a hold of in your hand without proper support.
It’s one of the best folding bow saws, and quite popular among professional gardeners. It’s convenient to cut through wood and other shrubs that block the garden while growing like a weed. As long as you clean the saw and maintain it properly, it will last for a very long time.
Note that it is vulnerable to break at 36 degrees Fahrenheit since the plastic lever used to manufacture this item was not meant to withstand such low temperatures.
Key Features:
- Item dimension is 1 x 9.12 x 24.75 inches
- The blade comes in 21, 24, and 30 inches of different sizes
- It comes with a plastic lever
- The saw has a sturdy stainless steel blade
- The handle is made of aluminum
What We Like:
- It’s quite easy to clean
- It comes with a big blade which offers fast-cutting
- The blade reduces friction
- Simple design to increase user user-friendliness
What We Dislike:
- It’s slightly heavy to hold without any support
- The cutting is often inconsistent
5. Bahco 10-30-23 30-Inch Ergo Bow Saw
Bahco is a widely popular name among the best folding bow saws. It’s a very classy-looking bow saw designed to cut through green wood mainly. Of course, that doesn’t mean that it has been restricted to clip other types of timber. It is fit to cut through any different timber types and firewood.
The saw’s blade is about 30 inches and has been incorporated with a tension mechanism that increases the amount of tension it can handle. This means it can apply more force to sturdy timber and cut through them quickly. This helps keep the blade tight and reduces the binding needed to cut through.
The ergonomic design is fused with the knuckle holder, increasing friction between your fingers and the saw handle. This means that the saw can offer more grip and support to ensure consistent cutting of timber.
The oval tube frame is mainly used to absorb most of the stress that the bow feels whenever it is used. This helps make the bow more durable while protecting it against any snapping actions beyond its elastic limit. Additionally, the lump is also great if you use it to cut through any fragile item without damaging the rest of the parts.
Key Features:
- It has a dimension of 1.18 x 34.84 x 10.24 inches
- The blade is about 30 Inches
- It comes with an orange-colored handle
- The saw has a lightweight steel tubing
- The mechanism reduces tension
- It comes with a stress absorbing tube
- Perfect for both aggressive and gentle cut
Question: How can bright-colored saw handles be helpful?
There are cases where the blade’s metal has refracted the light so that your visuals completely miss out on identifying a saw. This can be avoided if the saw handle is brightly colored since you will quickly determine your saw.
What We Like:
- It’s a multi-purpose and heavy-duty bow saw
- The saw is moderately priced considering its quality
- It can handle high pressure and stress
- The saw comes with a firm grip
What We Dislike:
- The blade could rust quickly
- The handle could start to show damage if used in temperatures other than room temperature
6. REXBETI Folding Saw
REXBETI is well-known for producing high-quality and durable tools. The most amazing aspect of the this 8-inch blade saw is that it comes in an affordable pricing without compromising the overall quality. As far as bow saws go, the REXBETI folding saw is quite efficient as a survival saw.
Made with SK-5 steel, the blade is quite durable and perfect for camping. You can easily cut branches of 4-5 inches of diameter with this saw. Its teeth are staggered and quite aggressive that ensures precise cutting.
The handle is made with rubber that provides extra grip. The triple cut design is perfect for woodworks. With everything this folding bow saw offers, it’s safe to say that it’s a worthy inclusion in this list.
Key Features:
- It comes with a 8-inch blade
- The saw has a dimension of 10.79 x 3.86 x 1.38 inches
- It comes with a rubber-coated handle
- The blade has a TPI of 7 (7 teeth per inch)
- It’s also available in a size of 11 inches
What We Like:
- The saw provides a clean and nice cut
- It has a durable blade made of SK-5 steel
- Lightweight and compact build quality
- It’s perfect for camping and woodworking
- The saw comes with a comfortable grip
What We Dislike:
- It might feel a bit bulkier comparing to other folding bow saws
7. Irwin 218HP300 12-Inch Combi-Saw
If you are a fan of the smaller blade saws, then this could be the right fit for you. The blade is only 12 inches, which means it can carry even in your bag. The blade might look thin, but it has been designed to be very sturdy and robust.
The handle has an excellent ergonomic design with a built-in tensioner to provide support while using the saw. In addition, to add to the standard blades that come in the package, it also features a hacksaw along with the regular blade. You can use the one that you prefer whenever you want to.
The handle has been welded with a specific frequency to give the frame of the saw high stability while ensuring that you get to cut through any time with consistent sawing. The built-in knuckle handle helps increase the grip you can have when using the saw so that you can produce more pressure when sawing through any large item.
Key Features:
- Item dimension is about 16.4 x 7.5 x 1.1 inches
- The weight of the saw is around 12 inches
- Uses a 3-teeth system of the blade
- The saw comes with a knob to control the grip of the blade
- It has knuckle handles to increase the grip
- The blades are replaceable
What We Like:
- The saw doesn’t cost much considering its heavy-duty performance
- It comes with extra Hacksaw blade
- It has an ergonomic handle for easy grip
- The blades are easy to replace
- It’s lightweight and easy to store
What We Dislike:
- The blade is not rust-resistant
8. Bond BS21 Gardener's Choice 21-Inch Bow Saw
This 21-inch bow saw is yet another perfect and one of the best folding bow saws for gardeners. It is very thin and bare so that even someone who has never used it before will be able to use it. Since it is meant to be sued for a very long time, it has been made using very durable materials that do not break easily.
The triangle heavy-duty tubular steel frame has a handgrip explicitly made to produce a firm grip when needed to cut throw shrubs that are thicker than usual. While it might not have many features, it takes care of all these problems by giving a good quality 21-inch blade. The steel used to make the blade has been tempered twice before being designed into the blade operated through the saw.
Its overall features make it the best folding bow saw for camping in terms of durability and sturdy quality. While the saw can be sued by a single hand, you can also use both hands to support the handle and saw through the sturdy body that needs to be sawed. The grip comes together with a tensioning lever used to increase the tension that the saw can withstand before breaking. Additionally, the package comes together with blade replacements that you can use when the old one chips.
Key Function:
- The saw has a heavy-duty tubular steel frame
- It comes with a double tempered steel blade
- The blade is 21 inches in length
- Item dimension is about 23.5 x 8 x 0.75 inches
- Good tensioning mechanism
- It comes with extra replacement blade
- It can be used by both single and both hands
What We Like:
- It’s durable and lightweight
- The saw comes with a simple and basic triangular design with sturdy steel frame
- It can handle an extended amount of tension
- The blade can be replaced anytime
What We Dislike:
- There is no protector for blades
9. CRAFTSMAN Hand Saw, 12-Inch Hacksaw
If you are running on a tiny budget but still need the best folding bow saw, then Craftsman’s got your back! This saw will be able to help you out in your camping trip to cut firewood and even cut your path through thorny shrubs and branches.
This hand saw is an excellent and sturdy tool that everyone should keep by their sides. It has a sturdy blade of about 12 Inches which can cut through with a depth of 4.375 inches. This means that it can cut through a wood segment in less time than what a standard saw would take.
In addition, the tool is equipped with a knob on the side of the blade, with which you can control the amount of pressure that the blade needs to exert on the object being sawed. This is incredibly useful when sewing through thick pieces of lumber.
The blade can be covered with a blade protector whenever you are not using it. This helps keep the blade from causing any accidents when it is not being used.
The handle is made from nylon and aluminum, which can be used to provide a firm grip by maximizing the amount of friction that you experience when using it. The handle is designed to not hurt your hand when holding it.
Key Features:
- The saw has a dimension of 15.7 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
- The blade is about 12 inches in length
- It comes with good cushioning in the handles
- There’s a knob to control the amount of tension that needs to be applied
Question: Can you cut in both directions using a bow saw?
While you can indeed cut in both directions, it is recommended not to do so since this could cause damage to the wood that you are sawing. You should always make consistent cuts in a single direction towards the grain instead of multi-directions.
What We Like:
- The saw is quite durable and lightweight
- It’s compact and easy to store
- The saw comes with a blade cover for easy storage
- It has a sturdy and durable blade
- The saw comes with an affordable pricing
What We Dislike:
- The blade is not rust-resistant at all
10. Stanley Garden FATMAX Bow Saw
This is another bow saw in the list of best folding bow saws that is perfect for garden purposes. This bow is made by Stanley, an American saw producing company known to guarantee saws that will satisfy everyone. This saw, just like all other bows, can withstand a lot of abuse and is durable against any weather condition.
The handle has an excellent ergonomic design with a built-in tensioner to provide support while using the saw. In addition to the standard blade, the saw comes with many different blades that you can use to your preference. With absolute ease and a consistent sawing track, you can use these blades to tear through wood, laminate, braches, etc.
There is a knob on the side of the blade of the saw with which you can use to control the amount of tension that the blade can produce. The blade has been coated with a special coating to increase its life usage while making it resistant to rust.
Key Features:
- Blade length of 24 inches
- The dimension of the product is about 27.95 x 2.76 x 9.65 inches
- It is manufactured by Stanley Gardens
- The saw can last for a very long time
- It offers comfortable grips to reduce the stress on your hands
What We Like:
- The saw offers a durable and long shelf life
- The tension of the blade can be controlled by the knob
- The grip is very comfortable
- It’s moderately priced
What We Dislike:
- The saw doesn't come with a blade cover
- It cannot be folded for compactness
How to Choose the Best Folding Bow Saw
While we have given you a list of ten best folding bow saw, you need to know the factors you have to consider for choosing the best one. These factors determine how good the bow is and whether it will cover the purpose you are buying it for.
Length
The blade length is essential since it determines the reach of the item you will be sawing. Smaller blades can be as small as 12 inches, while larger ones can be as big as 30 inches. Average blades tend to be around 17-20 inches in size. When you’re camping or trying to survive in the wild, you need the best survival saw with long blades.
You should decide on the length of the blade that you want to use before buying a saw of that blade length. This way, you will would aware of whether the length of a specific saw would fit your need and preference.
Tension Adjuster
Not all bow saws have a tension adjuster attached to them. These types of saws tend to have a fixed tension rating. For instance, if the tension rating is about 300 pounds, then it can only give out a certain force centered around the 300 pounds of tension. It will snap if it exerts a force greater than that tension since this goes beyond its elastic limit.
For the saws with a tension adjuster, the tension exerted by the saw can be controlled. It is better that you buy best folding bow saw since you can exert tension of your choice without worrying about the saw snapping.
Protector
The best folding bow saw must come together with a protector or blade guard. All saws are incredibly sharp. If they are stored along with fragile items, they could damage them in an accident.
With this guard, you can stay assured that the saw will not cause any damage to the fragile item. In addition, it helps slow down the oxidation of the metal used to make the blade in case the blade isn’t rust-resistant.
While most saws come together with a blade protector, if the one you are thinking of buying doesn’t have one, you can buy the protector separately based on the length of your blade.
Replaceable Blades
While it is essential that you properly maintain and oil your blades, it is unavoidable that these blades could also chip and break eventually. It is in these cases that the extra blade can come in handy. All you need to do is unscrew the old blade and remove it. Then you can screw in the new blade.
While most saws come with their complimentary replaceable blade, you can also buy more separately from the brand of the saw you are using or from an external local hardware store.
Pricing
Different saws tend to have different sizes. For instance, a saw with more functions or a better blade quality will have a greater price than a simple and basic saw without any rust resistance or ergonomic handles that increase the grip between the fingers and the saw’s handle.
Still, you don’t need to burn a hole in your pocket to buy the best folding bow saw for camping. A lot of the good folding bow saws are available within an affordable pricing. You’ll surely find your best pick among our list.
Conclusion
We have presented to you 10 of the best folding bow saws in the Industry. Make sure to go through the factors that you need to consider when buying a good bow saw, with which you can buy a good saw of your own preference.
You can expect to have a great camping experience with the right saw. Just pick the one you love, and have fun with it, safely!
You can also check: Best Cordless Mini Circular Saw in 2021 – Pick The Best One!