the reason to baton/split is if the outside of the deadwood is soaked, the inside might be dry.

I'm not sure on the need for an axe. Do you really need to cut down anything bigger than 4-5" in diameter for a survival shelter?

That's why I like the cheap tramontina machette... bend the 4-5" tree over, find the weak spot, baton the machette at that spot and the tree will snap. Beaver-chew the rest of the tree.

I'll amend my earlier post with the machette, knife, and saw... I really like Silky, but you can probably save $10 on a bahco saw and it'll work just as well.

An axe is way heavier than a tramontina. Keep in mind, this is for a newer user and an axe is more dangerous to the ignorant than a machette... and easier to use as a defensive tool.