Carried one many times. I had a Fiskars hatchet. I think it weighed a pound. What a handy, handy item to have. I would chop small logs length wise down one side then flip it over and chop down the other - theen it would split. I would split it again, then stand one on end and make small chops to get kindling. It nver mattered how hard or long it had been raining - I would have a fire going in no time. I also offset the weight in a couple of ways - I used it to make stakes for my tarp, I left the fire starter (cotton balls and vaseline) at home.