Fell Branches and Trees on the Fly With the 7 Best Pocket Chainsaws of 2026

If you’re clearing a fallen tree along a mountain-biking trail or cutting up a log for firewood during a backwoods camping trip, you’re going to need a pocket chainsaw. A handy survival tool to keep in your workshop, the pocket chainsaw consists of chainsaw blades up to 36 inches long with two large nylon handles that allow the operator to cut through branches and medium-sized trees. Unlike their much heavier gas and battery-powered cousins, a pocket chainsaw weighs less than ½ pound (6 or 7 ounces) and fits in a small case that can easily be transported in a pack or on a belt. 

To compile this list, we tested several of the top pocket chainsaws for their comfort, ability to cut, and more. When the sawdust cleared, the Campndoor 36-Inch Pocket Chainsaw, with its impressive cutting ability, emerged as the top pick

This guide examines the factors to consider when shopping for the best pocket chainsaw and reviews some of the best models available. To make sure they were really up to the challenge, we put these saws through real-life hands-on testing. Keep reading to learn more about what we found.

1. BEST OVERALL: Campndoor 36-Inch Pocket Chainsaw
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2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Vikrom Pocket Chainsaw
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3. BEST UPGRADE: Nordic 25.6-Inch Pocket Chainsaw
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4. BEST FOR HIGH LIMBS: Kutir High Limb Hand Chainsaw
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5. BEST CUTTING POWER: Roadfare Pocket Chainsaw
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6. MOST COMFORTABLE: Skyocean Pocket Chainsaw With Paracord Handle
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7. BEST COMPACT: Yokepo Pocket Chainsaw Survival Kit
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Pocket Chainsaws Comparison

Our Top Picks

The list below includes some of the best pocket chainsaws on the market. Considerations such as the number of teeth on the blade, the saw’s length, and how sturdy the handles felt during testing all factored into our selections. Any of the products below can cut through branches and medium-sized trees. 

Our Ratings

The Campndoor 36-inch pocket chainsaw might be the right choice for folks looking to blend quality and affordability. This saw features a chain that Campndoor claims can withstand 4,000 Newtons of force, which equates to about 900 pounds-force. The blades are made from 65 manganese carbon-fired steel to improve durability. The saw also features 48 teeth, which allows it to cut both quickly and smoothly. 

The Campndoor has two nylon handles for comfort and strength. It comes with a thick, heavy-duty carrying case with a hook-and-loop closure and a belt loop to keep it secure and safe while backpacking or working. 

When we decided to test the Campndoor, we weren’t sure what to expect. Its product description includes terms such as Tiger Claw and Bulldozer teeth. But we’re glad we tried it, since this saw had a noticeably thicker chain than some of the less-expensive models, and it cut very well while the teeth remained sharp. The handles were also much thicker than the other models, which we weren’t expecting based on the product description. 

The saw didn’t come with any additional accessories, but the carrying case was one of the nicest in the bunch. Between its fast cutting, comfortable handles, and quality case, we feel it would make a great addition to anyone’s tool box, camping backpack, or survival kit. 

Get the Campndoor pocket chainsaw at Amazon.

Our Ratings

Vikrom’s pocket chainsaw is lightweight and offers an affordable solution for clearing hiking trails or cutting up firewood while camping. The high-carbon stainless steel blade is 24 inches long and has 11 cutting links. Not surprisingly, that made it one of the slower cutting pocket chainsaws we tested. Still, we were able to cut through smaller 4-inch to 5-inch branches. It just took more time to do it. 

There were some advantages to its 11-tooth design. With fewer cutting teeth, it slid more easily over wood, so it didn’t require as much force to use as the pocket chainsaws we tested with twice as many teeth. The nylon straps have a durable feel and can be held comfortably in the hands or around the wrists. With its short length and limited cutting ability, the Vikrom pocket chainsaw is only suitable for limbs up to about 4 inches in diameter.

With its short blade, the Vikrom pocket chainsaw is one of the lightest and most compact models we tested, making it an excellent survival pocket chainsaw. When packed into its storage pouch, it’s easy to tote along while camping or mountain biking. If you don’t mind the longer cutting time, it’s a great portable budget option. 

Get the Vikrom pocket chainsaw at Amazon.

Our Ratings

Nordic’s 25.6-inch pocket chainsaw is short but mighty, sporting 33 teeth that cut in both directions. This made for quick cutting. During testing, we rapidly tore through a 2×4, then moved to the woods where we used it to chew through 5 and 7-inch-thick branches and logs. It removed large chunks of wood with each pull and slides through wood easily. The only time we got stuck was when cutting larger limbs that would pinch the chain under the weight of the log. We were even able to cut through a thicker 9-inch downed limb in under a minute. The large straps are comfortable to grip or wear around the wrist, allowing you to generate more power with your pulls. Our only complaint is that its short length forces you to crouch to cut logs on the ground. 

The Nordic pock chainsaw is also very light and compact. It weighs just 4.6 ounces and fits in a small carrying case, so you can easily tote it along on a backpacking or mountain biking excursion. 

While the Nordic pocket saw is pricey for its size compared to other pocket chainsaws, it’s worth splurging on thanks to its excellent performance. It’s a great all-around pocket chainsaw for backwoods excursions of all kinds. 

What our tester says: “With its impressive blade, this pocket chainsaw chews through wood quickly.”—Tony Carrick, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Nordic pocket saw at Amazon.

Our Ratings

With its long length and control ropes, Kutir’s hand chainsaw allows you to cut limbs more than 40 feet in the air while keeping your feet firmly on the ground. Along with an extra-long 48-inch cutting chain, it also comes with two 25-foot control ropes, extending its range, a collection of carabiners for attaching the ropes, and throw weights for reaching higher limbs. 

With its 37 teeth, the Kutir is one of the fastest cutting pocket chainsaws we tested. The blade cuts aggressively through the wood, removing large chunks of wood with each pull. We were able to cut through an 8-inch log in under a minute. 

We loved the foam handle, which made it comfortable to grip, especially over longer cutting efforts and when using the extension lines to cut higher limbs. While the chain length may be designed for cutting through higher limbs, it also makes it easier to cut through larger fallen trees by allowing you to work the saw from a more upright position. We were able to stand while bucking one fallen tree, which allowed us to get better leverage and cut faster with less back strain. We will note that the length does make it a little harder to keep the chain from getting tangled. It’s also more awkward to use on smaller limbs that are low to the ground. 

Get the Kutir High Limb Hand Chainsaw at Amazon. 

Our Ratings

Roadfare’s 36-inch manual chainsaw’s many teeth make it a powerful cutting tool. The saw packs in a whopping 48 heat-treated steel-cutting links into its 36-inch length, providing ample cutting power. With that number of blades, this pocket chainsaw cuts quickly through trees and branches. We were able to slice through an 8-inch-thick fallen tree in well under a minute. 

There is a tradeoff for all that cutting power. With a blade on every link, the pocket chainsaw requires more force to pull the chain through the wood, which may make it too difficult for some to use. Its 36-inch length does make it long enough for two-person cutting efforts, and it did move more easily once we got the cut started. 

We also appreciated its longer length, which allowed us to reach higher branches and stand more upright when cutting up fallen trees.

The nylon straps can be hard on the hands. We found the most comfortable position is to wrap the straps around the wrists. The blade also stayed sharp even after numerous cuttings thanks to its manganese steel blade. At just 6 ounces and with a storage pouch, the Roadfare pocket chainsaw is easy to carry. 

Get the Roadfare pocket chainsaw at Amazon.

Our Ratings

Skyocean’s innovative chainsaw eschews the nylon handle that most pocket chainsaws have. Instead, it has a paracord handle that doubles as an emergency rope. The handles are stylish and comfortable to hold, and help make this one of the more versatile pocket chainsaws on the market. This product is unique because the handle can be untied and unraveled into a 23-foot emergency rope—one that is strong enough to hold up to 220 pounds. 

This tactical chainsaw has 36 inches of cutting length and 16 heat-treated steel cutting links that cut in both directions. A nylon carrying case keeps the tool secure during transport. At just over 5 ounces (? pound), this lightweight chainsaw is easy to stow in a backpack or even in a cargo pocket. 

We’re not huge fans of paracord, which went out of fashion about 15 years ago. However, we’re not going to argue that these handles were among the most comfortable to use in the group. They’re thick and rounded, preventing uncomfortable pressure points or fabric folding. The biggest downside to this saw is that it has only 16 teeth, so although it is smooth, it takes a while to complete a cut. Plus, the survival aspect of this saw is legitimate, since paracord can be used for first aid, making tools, and many other purposes.

Get the Skyocean pocket chainsaw at Amazon.

Our Ratings

At just 24 inches long, this small chainsaw from Yokepo might be shorter than most of its competitors, but it packs a lot of bite. It has 33 large serrated cutting teeth, which is more than twice the number of cutting teeth that most longer models have. Plus, those teeth are strong; they are made of 65Mn high-carbon steel. This means the teeth are sharp and able to hold their edges. 

You can wrap the saw’s wide nylon handles around your wrists for added leverage or hold them in your hands for more control. This pocket chainsaw, which weighs about 7 ounces (less than ½ pound), comes with a paracord bracelet that has a built-in fire starter and an emergency whistle. These features make it a great camping pocket chainsaw. A convenient front-strap carrying case holds the pocket chainsaw secure until it’s needed. 

We did not think we were going to like the Yokepo pocket chainsaw. It just looked too short to be of any use. However, we’re glad we tested this little saw because it’s worth carrying. First, the 33 teeth allow it to cut aggressively. Also, since it’s so short, it rolls up into a significantly smaller pouch than other saws (and it’s lighter, too). You will have to bend over slightly more to use this saw than the others, but with as many teeth as it has, you won’t have to stay bent over for long. We will complain a bit about the handles, however, as they’re quite thin and not very comfortable.

Get the Yokepo pocket chainsaw at Amazon.

Jump to Our Top Picks

How We Tested the Best Pocket Chainsaws

Pocket chainsaws aren’t huge investments, but it’s still frustrating to purchase one and have it turn out to be a dud. For that reason, we put all of the saws on our list through hands-on testing to ensure that they had what it took to make the list. First, we leaned on all of our experience with chainsaws, woodcutting, and even camping to come up with a list of the most important features a pocket chainsaw must have. Then, we performed hours of intense research to create a list of products we felt might fit the criteria.

Once we had a pile of pocket-sized chainsaws to test, it was time to put them to work. We used each saw to cut through branches and logs ranging in diameter from just a couple of inches up to 8 inches thick. We were able to test these saws’ cutting ability, comfort, and quality on the fallen branches. Saws that could “cut it” while also providing value were given awards based on their strengths. Those that couldn’t were ultimately removed.

What to Consider When Choosing a Pocket Chainsaw

Blade length, the number of teeth in the blade, and the type of steel the teeth are made of—these are important factors to consider when selecting a pocket chainsaw. Ahead, learn more about these and other important attributes of these miniature tools. 

Intended Use

Pocket chainsaws, like a foldable handsaw, are intended to go places where traditional chainsaws can’t. Their small size and lightweight make them ideal for clearing trees on backwoods hiking trails or mountain biking paths. Many chainsaws come with pouches that allow you to wear them on a belt or store them easily and safely inside a small backpack. 

Material

Although all pocket chainsaw blades are made from high-carbon steel, not all carbon steel is equal. High-carbon steel is a mix of carbon and steel. The higher the carbon content in the mix, the harder the blade. A blade with a high carbon content will have a sharper edge and hold that edge longer than a softer blade. 

Like kitchen knives and other types of blades, a chainsaw blade’s hardness is measured using the Rockwell scale. Softer blades register between 45 and 55 on the scale, while harder steel blades measure between 55 and 65. Premium chainsaw blades will measure around 65 on the hardness scale. 

Keep in mind that although a harder blade will cut more efficiently than a softer blade and require sharpening less often, it’s also more brittle. Brittle blades are more susceptible to chipping or even breaking. This is why cutting tools such as axes and hatchets are made from softer metal that is less likely to chip on impact. 

Teeth

True to their name, pocket chainsaws have blades that link together to form a chain. Some pocket chainsaws function like a typical saw, cutting when they move in one direction. Higher-quality double-sided pocket chainsaws have teeth that are bidirectional, which means they cut in both directions. Bidirectional teeth will cut more quickly through a tree’s limbs, making them the preferred style of the two teeth options. 

It’s important to understand that not all of the links on a pocket chainsaw have blades. Some chainsaws have smooth links interspersed between the blade links. Unlike a gas or electric chainsaw, a pocket chainsaw operator supplies all the power to carry the edge through the wood. Chainsaws with alternating cutting and smooth links allow the blade to glide through the wood with less effort, requiring less strength. On some chainsaws, only 16 of 35 or so links may have cutting edges. While this may make it easier to use, it will also take more passes to cut through the wood. 

Some pocket chainsaws have cutting edges on all of their links. While this type of chainsaw will cut through more wood with each pass, it requires more force to make each cutting stroke. 

Length

Most pocket chainsaws are between 24 and 36 inches long. A 36-inch chainsaw allows for a longer pull stroke; because the chainsaw operator can make longer passes with each stroke, it’s easier to cut through thicker wood. Longer strokes also enable the operator to create more momentum with each pull, making it easier to cut. 

A longer chain, however, does not equate to more cutting power. Many 36-inch hand chainsaws may only have 15 cutting links. In comparison, a 24-inch chainsaw can have twice as many cutting links, allowing it to cut more deeply with each pass than a longer model. While this makes the shorter model more efficient, it doesn’t require more strength to use than a longer model with fewer teeth to create friction. 

Weight

Pocket chainsaws are designed to be brought into the backwoods on hiking trips, primitive camping expeditions, mountain biking, and other activities in which carrying a standard power chainsaw would be impractical. With that in mind, a pocket chainsaw needs to be lightweight. Most pocket chainsaws weigh around 6 or 7 ounces, including their carrying case. This light weight makes them ideal for carrying in a pack or even on a belt. 

Handles

Handles are key components of a pocket chainsaw because they are the means for creating the sawing action through wood. These handles need to be strong enough to endure the tension placed on them during cutting, large enough to allow for a good grip, and comfortable enough that they won’t leave blisters on your hands. 

Most pocket chainsaw handles consist of large nylon loops that can slip over the hands and secure to the wrists. This design allows the operator to gain leverage by leaning back to apply tension on the chain as they pull it back and forth over the tree or branch. Pocket chainsaws usually have brightly colored handles, and for good reason: Bright handles make the operator more visible and clearly differentiate the handle from the blade to prevent accidental cuts. 

Additional Features

Some pocket chainsaws have features that improve their portability and make them even more useful survival tools. Most pocket chainsaws come with rugged nylon storage pouches that keep the chain compact and protected during transport. These pouches are small enough to throw in the side pocket of a pack. Many have loops that allow you to carry them on your belt. 

Select pocket chainsaws also integrate other survival tools into their design. Some include fire-starter kits that allow you to build a fire out of the wood once the cutting is done. Others have parachute-cord handles that can be unraveled and double as emergency rope. 

Maintenance

Maintaining a pocket chainsaw is straightforward. Clean the chainsaw after each use to remove sap, wood chips, and debris. You should also periodically sharpen the teeth using a chainsaw sharpener. Many pocket chainsaws come with their own sharpener. Apply paraffin wax or a light oil to the chainsaw blade after every couple of uses to prevent rust. When not in use, keep it in a cool, dry place inside its case to protect the blade. 

Safety

While picket chainsaws don’t present the danger of a traditional gas or electric chainsaw, it’s important to take safety precautions when using one. Wear safety glasses and work gloves when using a pocket chainsaw. If using a pocket chainsaw to fell a tree, be mindful of cutting using proper technique such that the tree so it falls in a safe direction. 

FAQs 

For more about how a portable pocket chainsaw stacks up to other woodcutting tools or how to care for one of these survival tools, read on for answers to these and other common questions. 

Q. How does a pocket chainsaw compare to a camping axe or hatchet?

Each has its pros and cons. A pocket chainsaw is much lighter than a hatchet or axe, and it cuts through trees and branches more quickly. Hatchets and axes, however, are more versatile. They can turn on their sides and hammer in tent stakes, for example. They can also split large tree stumps, turning them into useful firewood. 

Q. How long should a good pocket chainsaw be?

A pocket chainsaw should be at least 24 inches long to be easy to use. Shorter models can offer more cutting power by having more cutting blades per inch; longer 36-inch models with fewer cutting blades require less strength to use. 

Q. How do I sharpen a pocket chainsaw?

Use a round file to sharpen a pocket chainsaw. Extend the chainsaw over a hard surface, such as a metal vice, and sharpen each blade individually by running the file against the blade perpendicular to the chain and at a 45-degree angle to each tooth. Run the file over each side of the tooth to create a sharp edge.

What is a pocket chainsaw used for??

A pocket chainsaw is used to cut through branches and logs. Since a pocket chainsaw is lightweight and compact, it’s often used for camping and clearing trails. Some pocket chainsaws come with extension ropes that allow them to be used to cut limbs up to 40 feet off the ground. 

Can I use a pocket chainsaw as a beginner?

Yes. Pocket chainsaws are easy to use and much safer than using a traditional gas or electric chainsaw. Make sure to wear the proper safety gear when using a pocket chainsaw, including gloves and safety glasses. 

Meet the Tester

Tom Scalisi has been in the trades for more than two decades. He loves to share his knowledge of construction, home improvement, tools, techniques, and products with the readers of leading DIY sites, including Bob Vila, This Old House, and Family Handyman.

Tony Carrick has contributed to BobVila.com since 2020. He writes how-to articles and product reviews in the areas of lawn and garden, home maintenance, home improvement, auto maintenance, housewares, and technology.

 

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