In winter, when everyone wants to heat his body and enjoy the glowing ambience of a wood-burning fireplace, that time is priceless to their families because they have time to spend. But it would be best if you had woods for this and buying firewood has a cost. If you can save this money, you are fortunate enough to have access to a stand of oak and maple and the know-how to harvest and split your firewood. But for this, you need to know how to select the right tool for cutting. If you are looking for the best splitting axes for firewood, then you are in the right place.
We provide you with all the information you need to make the right decision when buying the best axe for splitting firewood for your needs. Axes are specific in their work. Some of the best splitting axes are specific for certain jobs, while others offer multiple uses. These help narrow the field to the best for specific tasks. It is used to split rounds of cedar and cottonwood trees. Many of these axes use for multiple function tools, so we tried splitting, making tiny shards of wood used to start a fire, pruning, and general clearing.
These splitting axes work for you when you are enjoying your camping in your camping tent. Sometimes you do not want to use your camping stove and enjoy a woodfire outside your camp; these best splitting axes are an excellent option for you. These axes handle length and weight, influencing effectiveness and ease of use based on the user’s height. If you aim to split your firewood, you should note the blade’s sharpness, weight, axe’s overall balance, and material quality.
Type of axes
A splitting maul: The splitting axe is called a splitting maul. It is a little bit different. These axes typically have a wedge-shaped head with a backside that is the same as a sledgehammer. A splitting axe has different features, such as a large, heavy steel head with a sharp wedge-shaped blade that can split a log along the wood when struck entirely in the centre.
A felling axe: The felling axe type is also called a chopping or forest axe, and it has a lighter head than a splitting axe. These are designed to chip away at a standing tree using horizontal strokes.
A hatchet axe: These looks like an axe come with a shorter handle, usually 12 to 18 inches long. You can use these Hatchets for fine detail work, limbing, small splitting jobs, and sometimes felling small trees. They are not great for splitting but work for smaller pieces of wood if needed.
Fireside Friend Splitting Tool
Specifications
Crafted from the highest quality materials
Built for performance and durability
Made in the United States
Solid America Steel
Hand Sharpened Edge
Shock Reduction Grip
Nylon Sheath Included
A weighted axe designed explicitly for splitting
Pros
Shock Reduction Grip
Comfortable
Durable & reduces impact vibration
Cons
Nothing
Estwing’s world-famous Fireside Friend axe is the choice for splitting. Both the head and handle are polished to a beautiful finish. Classic axe offers you unsurpassed balance and temper. Its shock reduction grip reduces impact vibration. The Fireside Friend axe has a rugged ballistic nylon sheath for added safety and protection. Estwing Axes are proudly made in the USA using the finest American steel. A splitting maul is a giant sledge hammer with a pointed axe head. The axe has a more extended handle and duller blade edge; a maul bluntly splits wood through sheer force.
Hello Werk Germany Mini Spalter Compact Splitting Axes
Specifications
Brand 1844 Helko Werk Germany
Item Weight 3 Pounds
Item Dimensions LxWxH 20 x 6 x 1.5 inches
Head Type Hatchet
Pros
It works awesome for dry hardwoods
Quality is superb
Quality ax steel and a strong, balanced handle.
Excellent tool for splitting
Cons
Nothing
The Mini splitting axe is a small wood splitting axe designed for lighter small splitting work. The head’s wedge design offers highly effective strikes that increase splitting efficiency and prevent the head from becoming stuck pinched in logs. More the 2 ½ pound head and short 20-inch handle are perfect for camping as a firewood axe, splitting small firewood. The hand-forged axe head has crafted the use as a drop hammer on open dies with premium-grade C50 high carbon steel. All Helko Werk Axes include oil and vegetable-tanned premium leather axe sheath to protect your axes and hatchets.
Each double-bit axe head is fixed to the handle with a premium two-wedge system consisting of a wood wedge and steel ring for maximum axe head security. The miniaturized axe of the Spaltaxt delivers you surprising power. It is a compact German-style splitting axe designed primarily for lighter splitting work. The dual wedge head delivers highly effective strikes that increase splitting efficiency and prevent the head from becoming stuck or pinched in logs.
Fiskars IsoCore Maul
Specifications
Brand Fiskars
Color Black
Item Weight 10.4 Pounds
Item Dimensions LxWxH 3.25 x 7.75 x 36 inches
Style Maul
Pros
Nice swing
Good workout splitting and stacking
wood splits disturbingly easy
Cons
Nothing
The rugged, mighty axe allows you to take on intense wood splitting work while helping to reduce muscle fatigue and joint pain. Premium steel is optimal for splitting, helping to make every swing best for you. Fiskars patented Shock Control System absorbs strike shock and vibration, reducing the punishment of your body. More, it has a dual-layer handle that captures any lingering vibration.
Optimized blade geometry blasts tough logs apart, swinging with maximum force. A performance handle fits your hand securely and comfortably and features a pronounced handle flare for security. Further, the strategic handle texturing helps improve grip while reducing blisters. The design has been tested to exceed U.S. standards for exceptional tool durability to withstand the most challenging work environments.
Husqvarna 30″ Wooden Splitting Axe
Specifications
Brand Husqvarna
Item Weight 3.5 Pounds
Item Dimensions LxWxH 30 x 8.7 x 2 inches
Style 30″ Wooden Splitting Axe, Large
Pros
It looked nice and worked great
It came sharp, stayed sharp through chopping
Best for camping
The handle is beautiful; grain alignment is almost perfect
Cons
Not very influential on the hard knot
Husqvarna offers you a wide range of wooden axes for different kinds of work. These axes are copied in Sweden from Swedish axe steel with consistently high quality. Your axe will last long if you take care of it. Don’t store in too warm conditions since the handle might Shrink. Always dry of dirt and moist before putting the axe in the cover. The axe is greased to prevent rust. A Swedish forged axe that looked nice and worked great. It came sharp, stayed sharp through chopping, and was beautiful, especially for the price. The handle was perfect, with no coating.
X27 Super Splitting Axes
Specifications
Brand Fiskars
Color Black
Item Weight 5.85 Pounds
Item Dimensions LxWxH 1 x 1 x 1 inches
Style Axe
Pros
The axe is extremely effective
Its wedge shape of the blade is great
Split with one strike
You can swing it with some baby force
Cons
The blade is not so shape
The splitting axes come with maximum efficiency for more one-strike splits. Its stiff forged steel blade stays sharper longer than traditional axes, and its convex design splits efficiently, making the blade easier to remove from wood. Furthermore, the Shock-absorbing handle with a textured non-slip grip reduces hand strain, improves control, and prevents overstrike damage. More, it comes with sheath protection, perfect for splitting and chopping wood, yard work, lawn cleanup, and firewood.
Besides, the Fiskars ultra-sharp chopping axes chop deeper with every swing, making them ideal for feeling trees. If you want to prep firewood, choose Fiskars splitting axes because they are designed to help you easily split small- to medium-sized logs. These axes combine perfect weight distribution, advanced blade geometry, and an ultra-sharp edge to disperse wood more effectively.
Gransfors Bruk Splitting Maul Wood Splitting Axes
Specifications
Brand Gransfors Bruks
Color Brown and silver
Item Weight 7 Pounds
Item Dimensions LxWxH 32 x 11 x 3 inches
Head Type Splitting Maul
Pro
Beautiful maul
High quality
The fibreglass handle is the fibre
Convenient and smaller
Cons
Heavy for one-handed
You can use the Gransfors Splitting axe to split very thick and knotty wood chunks. It is made and ground to a concave, relatively thin blade. The axe cuts the wood quickly and efficiently into pieces and then effectively splits it from the broader area, pushing the wood apart. It is a weightless and sturdy poll with corners making the maul perfect for striking a wedge. The axe has the design of the Large Splitting Axe but with a slightly longer poll. Its handle has a protective steel collar below the axe head and circular grooves towards the end for an extra firm grip. The Splitting axe is the heaviest axe produced by Gränsfors Bruk.
Helko Werk Germany Traditional Spaltaxt German Splitting Axes
Specification
Brand 1844 Helko Werk Germany
Item Weight 6 Pounds
Item Dimensions LxWxH 27.5 x 7.5 x 2 inches
Style Traditional, German
Pors
Great for splitting
It works great for most
Good quality products
Nice weight, great ergonomics
Cuts great
Cons
Nothing
The Spaltaxt is a German-style splitting axe best for splitting rounds and heavy firewood. Its dual wedge head design delivers powerful, effective strikes that increase splitting efficiency and prevent the head from becoming stuck and pinched in logs. The splitter is a mid-weight 4 ½ pound head, and a comfortable 28-inch handle helps keep the wielder fresh during long splitting sessions.
Each axe head is hand-forged using a drop hammer method, individually by a blacksmith holding red-hot steel for a more robust axe head. American hickory handles are individually hand-finished, selected for grain orientation and density with a boiled linseed oil finish, and sanded to 150 grit for a comfortable and smooth finish on your axe handle. The Helko Werk Axes come with a vegetable-tanned premium leather axe sheath to protect your axes and hatchets.
WilFiks Chopping Axe Camping Outdoor Hatchet Wood Splitting
Specifications
Brand WilFiks
Colour 15″ Inch Camping Axe
Item Dimensions LxWxH 5 x 1 x 15 inches
Blade Length 4.5 Inches
Head Type Hatchet
Pros
The rubberized grip is solid and comfortable
These axes have a nice weigh
The axe is easy to use and perfect for camping
Lightweight and durable
Cons
The handle came unglued soon
The Wood Chopping Axe is designed for easy chopping Of Firewood, Logs, Kindling, and Branches. The Optimized blade geometry has more efficiency to offer you one-strike splits. The axe is ideal for campers, hikers, outdoor activities, preparing wood for bonfires, and garden work. The Forged Carbon Steel Heat Treated blade that improves its density and makes the axe more durable produces smooth, sharp, quick splits and stays sharp longer than traditional axes.
Its Hatched is Designed with a Shock Absorbing Anti Slip Grip, Cold Resistant Ergonomic Shaped Fiberglass Handle, which will reduce the strain on your hand, resists slipping, and increase comfort. The Weighted Wedge makes chopping logs and firewood a breeze. The excellent balance between head and shaft creates a superior Camping Axe for safe, comfortable, and efficient use. Its blade comes with a Rubber Protective Sheath, so very easy to store and transport.
Estwing E44A Camper’s Axe Hatchet
Specifications
Forged Precision
Tempered for Strength
Forged Using the Finest Tool Grade Steel
Hand Sharpened and Polished
Proudly Made in the USA
Pros
Steel is a durable medium carbon metal with a good heat treatment
Construction is nearly indestructible
This axe head configuration is a good compromise for a utility axe
Cons
Bit heavier
The most durable, longest-lasting striking tool is crafted from a single piece of solid steel. These axes are Perfect for chopping logs, small trees, and branches or splitting firewood and kindling. The hatchet is best for any camping backpack looking to stay warm. More, it has a ballistic nylon sheath to protect hand sharpened cutting edge. The moulded vinyl creates a dimpled handle that is comfortable, durable & reduces impact vibration by 70%. It has been made in the USA since 1923.
Husqvarna A2400 Axes
Specifications
Brand Husqvarna
Color Orange/Gray
Item Weight 5.5 Pounds
Item Dimensions LxWxH 28.5 x 8.7 x 2 inches
Style 27″ Composite Multi-Purpose Axe A2400
Pros
The steel holds an edge wonderfully
The handle is beautiful; grain alignment is almost perfect
Its handle is comfortable and works great
Great axe
Cons
Nothing
When Husqvarna’s excellent forestry tools are in your hand, you are ready for any wood-cutting task. The multi-purpose axe has a non-stick coating that reduces friction while cutting. The fibre-reinforced shaft and a stainless steel component safe the handle while ensuring a long life of the axe. It is perfect for balance and weight distribution.
Husqvarna Composite axes come with fibre-reinforced and have excellent weight distribution. Drop-forged blade and head geometry adapted to different applications for an easy entry into the wood and best splitting performance. Husqvarna composite axes come with a hammer function and shaft protection.
Hults Bruk Tarnaby Hatchet
Specification
Brand Hults Bruk
Item Dimensions LxWxH 16.3 x 6.9 x 2.25 inches
Head Type Hatchet
Pros
The hatchet comes in good shape
Feels good for different types of work
Good axe for the money
Cons
It dulled very quickly
The axe head is hand-forged and made from Swedish axe steel in a foundry that has been in operation since 1697. The Hults Bruk Tarnaby is small; the hatchet is best for essential use such as making kindling, doing light clearing, and working in the garden. Its steel is struck multiple times, increasing its density and resulting in more durability of the axe.
The head is constructed so that there is a tempered zone designed to hold a very sharp edge even after many sharpenings. Each axe has a traditional leather protective sheath embellished with some unique Swedish decorative elements.
Husqvarna 26″ Wooden Multi-Purpose Axe
Specifications
Brand Husqvarna
Item Weight 2.1 Pounds
Item Dimensions LxWxH 25.6 x 7.2 x 1.6 inches
Style 26″ Wooden Multi-Purpose Axe
Head Type Felling
Pros
Strong grip
The handle is beautiful
Grain orientation is excellent
Cons
The axe head is not as polished, and the handle is not as nicely finished.
The Husqvarna provides a wide range of wooden axes for different kinds of work. These axes are forged in Sweden from Swedish axe steel with consistently high quality. If you take care of it, then your axe will last for a long time. Always dry of dirt and moist before putting the axe cover on. If the axe is put away for longer, grease it to prevent rust.
What to Consider When Choosing the best splitting axes?
Some axes are available in different shapes and sizes, designed for felling trees and trimming branches to shape wood for sculptures. But remember, all axes are not suitable for splitting firewood. Splitting is striking the flat sawed end of a short log to separate the wood fibers, causing the log to split apart. The two main axes are used for harvesting wood, and when you are ready to split wood, you can also split wood with a hatchet.
Axe Handle
- Splitting axe handles are made of three types of materials. Hardwood, fibreglass composite, and forged steel are covered with a rubber-type material.
- Wood axe handles are famous because they are relatively lightweight and feel good. Wood also shock absorbers, but they are weak and break over time, requiring replacement. Wooden handles run parallel to the direction of the blade and offer you the best strength and durability.
- Fibreglass composite handles feel smooth and absorb some shock, but fibreglass can shatter if used in subzero temps. It can also break if a mid-strike and the shaft are hit instead of the head on the wood.
- Steel axe handles are made in a single piece that combines the axe head and the handle. These types are the most durable choice but do not absorb shock. Handles are covered in rubber absorbent material which will reduce the shock.
- Composite handles come with a mix of fibreglass reinforced plastic that will last forever. The composite handles in modern splitting axes provide you with excellent grip, but they are not replaceable. They are the most durable option but provide little shock absorption when splitting logs.
Length
When choosing an axe, the length of the handle is an essential feature—14 inches up to 36 inches as Handle lengths. The length of the axe increases the velocity and power. Remember that a longer handle makes hitting a precise spot on a log slightly more complicated. For beginners, an axe with a 31-inch handle is best.
Weight
Another essential feature you should consider before buying is the weight of the axe, and the heavier the axe head, the more power you can swing it in an arc and bring it down on the log. However, if the head is too heavy, it is difficult to control it. There is a 6 to 3-pound weight of Standard splitting axes that come with heads. However, mauls with sledgehammer-type heads have 8 pounds.
FAQs
Q.What maintenance does an axe require?
If you use your axe frequently, you need to sharpen it regularly. Also careful for signs of rust because nicks are pretty standard. Grease the head with good or recommended oil before putting it in the sheath to save it from rust. One thing more, remember that the Wood-handled axes also need periodic oiling to maintain their strength.
Q.Should splitting axe be sharp?
A splitting axe should be sharp to avoid a bounce when you stroke with it on the more complicated wood. However, woodworkers prefer very sharp splitting axes to ensure efficiency.
What is the best length of splitting axes?
The longer is better than the small one. The most popular full-sized splitting axes have around 36 inches in length.
Q.Can you fell a tree with splitting axes?
A splitting axe is not too sharp and heavy to effectively fall a tree with. For this, we usually use to fell a tree a forestry axe or a felling axe.
Q. What are the best axes for splitting wood?
If you want to split for this, a splitting axe work best for you. Splitting mauls are very efficient for large rounds, but the weight and length need strength and practice.
