I use axes almost every day. Love using them, but you really have to focus on what you are doing. With an axe, all sorts of factors (e.g., inexperience, exhaustion) can make a situation much worse with a single sloppy swing.

If I'm packing stuff on my back, I lean toward a good saw rather than an axe. Lighter, safer, and faster.

IMO the only hatchet worth considering is really a small axe: about 24" long with a somewhat heavier head than the average hatchet. A large Estwing with the tubular handle cut short is a good example of what I consider a minimum useful size (and you can slide it in your belt easily, sheathed of course).

I'm hesitant to buy a super-high-end axe. I'd be scared to take it out of the vault. And since winter is my high-use season, I pale at the thought of keeping it warm to avoid damage.