Pack saws are a great option if you need a serious wood-processing device in a small package. A new model, the Boreal 21, raises the bar for simplicity and bomber construction.
I’ve tested this saw, made by Agawa Canyon, for a few weeks, including using it side by side with cheap hardware store saws. I have been impressed with its construction and engineering.
The saw folds into itself, hiding all sharp edges and resulting in a slender stick that can slide into a pack or stow in the trunk of a car without a worry. It weighs 18.2 ounces on my postal scale.
To put it together, you unfold the saw and use a clever snapping system to tension the blade. It takes just seconds and results in the proper tension every time. Assembly is very easy, but do be careful not to pinch your fingers in the leveraging system.
Used head to head with a steel hardware store saw (above), the Agawa Canyon was at least as good, if not better, at cutting. It wins hands down in portability.
I tested a model with the company’s “all purpose” blade, and I found it very effective and fast cutting with little downward pressure needed.
The blade comes pre-drilled with four attachment holes, so you should be able to adjust for blade stretch easily by re-attaching the blade to the saw at a narrower hole.
Conclusions
Compared with the perennial favorite Sven Saw , the Agawa Canyon is similarly easy to assemble and has a larger opening inside the handle frame, allowing for larger cuts with a full stroke of the blade.
Tensioning is automatic, unlike the Sven Saw, which relies on a wing-nut to tighten the blade.
The only downfall of the Agawa Canyon Boreal 21 is cost — it rings in at a hefty $65-$70, depending on blade. That’s several times a cheap hardware store saw and twice the cost of a Sven Saw.
But for portability and ease of use in a tool that should serve you for years, many campers will find the Agawa worth the investment.
