I’ve been really excited to give the CRKT Nobo Tomahawk a shot since it originally released. Some design choices CRKT made on this tomahawk really caught my eye, which we’ll go over soon. I’m so glad Columbia River was able to send one of these my way to test and share my experiences with you all. So, without further ado, let’s just into my full CRKT Nobo Tomahawk Review.
* This review features my initial first impressions from August 2017. As well as my updated and final thoughts in June 2018 after months of hard use & testing.
CRKT Nobo Tomahawk First Impressions
August 2017: I recently stumbled upon the CRKT Nobo Tomahawk, as well as the Woods Chogan by CRKT. I was initially impressed and intrigued by the weight of these tomahawks. They are around a pound heavier than the Cold Steel Trail Hawks. Which made me excited to try one.
For most backpackers, the extra weight would be a negative thing. However, for me, I have used the Cold Steel Frontier Hawks and Trail Hawks extensively. And while they are excellent tomahawks, they simply don’t have enough weight behind them to be great choppers. I believe the CRKT Nobo Tomahawk is going to remedy that.
CRKT Nobo Tomahawk Quality
August 2017: I was very happy with my initial inspection of the Nobo Tomahawk. The handle looks excellent and the grain orientation is spot-on as well. The head to handle fit is fantastic with no wiggle.
The tomahawk head has an excellent finish on it as well. In fact, it’s very close to the finish of CRKT’s Birler Axe (shown below). I love that the Nobo Tomahawk head has pits and a worn look to its finish. It adds character. The Nobo hawk came very sharp as well, which is uncommon for store-bought tomahawks in my experience.
CRKT Tomahawk vs Cold Steel
August 2017: Of all the ‘off-the-shelf’ Tomahawks (specifically speaking to Cold Steel), I would say the CRKT Nobo Tomahawk is easily the best-looking one. The Cold Steel hawks are good performers – But they need some TLC, paint stripping and refinishing upon purchasing.
I will do a follow-up performance review once I’ve put the CRKT Nobo Tomahawk through the ringer to see if it out-performs the Cold Steel Frontier Hawk or TrailHawk. Again I do have a feeling the Nobo Tomahawk is going to chop better, simply due to its increased weight. We shall see though. So stay tuned.
June 2018 Update – Performance Review
The CRKT Nobo Tomahawk has outperformed my Cold Steel TrailHawk in all my testing. The added weight made the difference that I thought it would. It still doesn’t perform like a dedicated ax or large hatchet…Because, well, tomahawks and an axes/hatchets are two totally different tools, designed for different purposes.
With that said though, I have had zero trouble chopping small 3-4″ logs down the center for firewood. And it is nimble enough to do bushcraft tasks such as carving out shapes for camp-cookware, tent stakes, etc. I couldn’t ask for more from the Nobo Tomahawk in terms of performance.
CRKT Nobo Tomahawk Sheath
August 2017: I was able to get ahold of the Nobo Tomahawk leather sheath for my testing as well. It is an interesting design because of how the belt loop + tomahawk hanger are built into the sheath…meaning everything is in one unit together. I look forward to giving this a thorough test to see how it fairs in the field and how practical this design choice is.
CRKT Nobo Tomahawk Sheath Update
June 2018: While the sheath is excellent quality, the combined sheath and belt loop is not my favourite design choice. The mask that covers the blade edge is fantastic and provides a perfect fit. However, the belt loop is a bit too tight and doesn’t stick out far enough for you to quickly and easily re-sheath the hawk after use. Lastly, if you choose to paracord wrap your Nobo Tomahawk handle, you will have to stretch the button snap to make room. Which isn’t a big deal, but it’s something I wanted to mention.
I would have personally preferred CRKT separating the mask and belt loop as two separate accessories. Perhaps provide the mask with the tomahawk upon purchasing it, since not everyone will carry it on their person. And then sell an optional large circle loop that you could wear on your belt for the tomahawk to easily slip into.
Initial Value Assessment
August 2017: The Nobo Tomahawk by CRKT comes in around $45 and an extra $20-25 for the sheath. I think the price is on point for what you’re getting. Sure you can find cheaper tomahawks, but they will not be finished as well as the CRKT.
June 2018: When looking at the performance of the Nobo Tomahawk it is priced very well at $40-45 (at the time of this June 2018 update). I wouldn’t mind if CRKT made a sheath update and raised the price by $10 or so to include the sheath with the hawk…Then offer an optional and dedicated belt loop for it.
I can also now say the CRKT Nobo Tomahawk has replaced my Cold Steel TrailHawk when I reach for this type of tool to bring outdoors. Both are excellent hawks, but I prefer the CRKT Nobo Tomahawk more based on my usage.
CRKT Nobo Tomahawk Review (9 out of a 10)
I give the CRKT Nobo Tomahawk a solid 9 out of a 10. The Tomahawks quality and performance has been fantastic. It has held up to a lot of hard work, the blade has never chipped, it has withstood a wide variety of weather conditions, never rusted, and always sharpened back up to my liking.
The Nobo Tomahawk is a tool that I have really enjoyed picking up and always look forward to using around camp. When comparing this to its closest rival, the Cold Steel Trailhawk or Frontier Hawk, this is the better option if you don’t mind the added cost. I’d love to see the sheath updated as I mentioned earlier. I believe if they did that, we’d have a 10 out of a 10 winner on our hands when considering the Nobo Tomahawk as a complete package.
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* Ethics Statement: CRKT sent the Nobo Tomahawk to me for honest testing and evaluation with no further compensation or expectations. All opinions, statements, and content are my own.
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Q&A: If you have any questions about the CRKT Nobo Tomahawk or anything else please drop me a comment below – I’d be more than happy to help!
Comments: What’s your favorite tomahawk or camp tool? Or are you looking to buy a Nobo Tomahawk of your own? Let me know in the comments below!
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