I agree with everyone who has said that it depends on where you live and what situation you are preparing for. If I lived in a rural area down south, I would probably go with a machete or woodman's pal. If I lived in a more forested area, I would pick a small axe along the line of the fiskars that was mentioned. Being a high desert urban dweller myself, I carry a tomahawk. There are some keys things to remember when using a tomahawk. You won't have the weight that an axe would have so you need a little longer handle for similar cutting ability. If you plan on using it as a hand to hand fighting implement, traditionally here in the United States, the tomahawk has been paired with a medium to large sized knife in the off hand. I think the advantages that a tomahawk offer for those us who would need to transition from an urban environment to a rural environment can't be overstated. One thing that no one has mentioned that I think is very important is to pair whatever option you choose with an entrenching tool of some kind. I use the fiskars\gerber folding tool myself and I love them. I have one on my BOB and one in each of our families vehicles. During the great blizzard of '03 in Denver, I was the only one of my friends who could dig their own car out of the snow. Just my two cents.