Working with wood can be a complicated affair. Whether you are starting a new wood project, or simply want to enjoy a relaxing campfire, you will need to properly split the wood to make it workable.
However, it can be hard to find the proper axe that will help you split wood, especially since most axes are designed to chop, not split. This is where our review comes in.
We searched for the best axe for splitting wood, but instead of offering just one axe, we present you with six different axe options. From simple one-handed, to bigger and sturdier two-handed axes, each one has a different specialty. We’ll discuss them all so you can choose the right splitting axe for you.
1. WilFiks Chopping Axe
This axe’s design is specially created so that you can easily chop firewood, logs, kindling, and branches with ease, while its shock-absorbing and anti-slip handle will ensure a comfortable grip while you get to chopping. It has a forged-carbon, steel, heat-treated blade that produces smooth, quick, and sharp splits while maintaining a sharp edge. This axe will deliver a superior and long-lasting performance.
The blade comes with a rubber protective sheath that will for easy storage and maintaining sharpness, and you can easily resharpen it with a file. Its optimal blade geometry will ensure you one strike splits.
The axe’s fiberglass structure ensures a durable ax that will help you cut any piece of wood that you need during your camping trips. It’s important to note that, due to its size, this axe is also perfect for gardening and getting rid of small branches from trees.
Specifications
- Weight: 2.59 pounds
- Package dimensions: 15.1 x 6.6 x 1.3 inches
- Axe length: 15 inches
- Blade length: 6.5 inches
- Material: Fiberglass
Pros
- Lightweight and small
- Easily resharpened blade
- Fiberglass body grants an easy grip
- Well-balanced feel
- Comes with a rubber sheath allowing for easy storage
Cons
- Axe head can’t be replaced
- Blade may arrive dull and need sharpening
- Small size won’t help with bigger projects
2. Estwing Fireside Friend Axe
Its leather grip helps reduce impact vibrations by 70%, while its nylon sheath offers safety and protection, making it easier to carry around without risking a possible injury. The axe blade also comes with a splitting maul, which splinters wood by sheer force, giving you two options to break firewood apart.
The axe is painted blue, but the paint is known to easily chip away and rub on to the users hands. However, the axe is waterproof, ensuring that the steel won’t rust.
The Estwing Fireside Friend Axe is ideal for splitting wood for campfires or wooden stoves. The head can be used to either split wood by sheer force with the splitting maul on one side, or the sharper blade on the other side can be used to cut through wood fibers.
This is a good one-handed axe, but it’s bogged down by its small size and lack of different uses.
Specifications
- Weight: 7 ounces
- Package dimensions: 14.25 x 5.83 x 1.5 inches
- Axe length: 14 inches
- Material: Steel
Pros
- Specifically weighed to splinter wood
- Its small size makes it easy to handle
- Maul on the back of the blade can be used as a hammer
- Waterproof
- Leather grip absorbs 70% of the shock
Cons
- Paint can rub off on the user’s hands
- Axe is one solid piece, making it impossible to change the blade
- Blade is fairly dull, so not so useful for chopping
- Short handle makes it difficult to chop bigger pieces of wood
3. Intertool Steel Splitting Maul
This axe also comes with a flat side on the back of the blade that can be used as a sledgehammer or to drive wedges, splitting the wood with the use of sheer force.
Its handle is made from fiberglass and provides a comfortable non-slip grip which will ensure that you get the best leverage possible, making each strike a powerful blow that will split whatever piece of wood you are working with.
The blade can be protected with the use of an included silicone blade cap, which keeps it sharp and makes it safe to transport and store.
While this axe allows for powerful strikes thanks to its long handle, its handle can also be a pitfall. The handle is hollow, so it can easily bend and even break if placed under too much stress.
Specifications
- Weight: 6.59 pounds
- Package dimensions: 37 x 9 x 2 inches
- Axe length: 34.4 inches
- Material: Fiberglass
Pros
- Extra leverage allows for powerful strikes
- Well distributed weight
- Flat side of head allows for blunt-force splintering
- Head of the axe can be replaced if needed
- Fiberglass grip absorbs shock
Cons
- Handle is hollow, making it easy to bend
- Blade is difficult to properly sharpen
- Long handle makes it hard to properly store
- Hollow handle can crack after too much use
- Flat side can be unwieldy and hard to properly use
4. Fiskars 28-Inch Chopping Axe
Its all-purpose design makes chopping trees quick and easy. At 28 inches, this axe provides more than enough leverage to properly swing the axe at trees with the intent of chopping them down. Its weight distribution also helps, since it ensures that the axe delivers a powerful chop to the wood.
The blade has an ultra-sharp edge, and advanced blade geometry allows for the axe to bite three times deeper when chopping wood. The blade also has a low friction coating that ensures the axe doesn’t get stuck.
Since this axe is first and foremost a chopping axe, it probably won’t work very well as a splitting axe. Its sharp edge cuts the wood instead of properly splitting it. The axe can still be used to splinter wood, but, due to its sharp blade, it will probably end up chopping it completely instead.
Specifications
- Weight: 0.01 ounces
- Package dimensions: 2 x 9.25 x 31.5 inches
- Axe length: 28 inches
Pros
- Comes with a sheath to protect the blade
- Hollow handle ensures proper weight distribution
- Shock-absorbing handle
- Very lightweight
- Can chop down a tree if needed
Cons
- Not the best at splitting wood
- Length makes it hard to properly store
- Head of the axe is molded to the handle, so you can’t replace it
- Can’t be used to drive in wedges
- Handle is smooth and hard to properly grip
5. Tabor Tools Splitting Axe
The head is easy to resharpen, while its protective coating protects the sharp edge. It also comes with wings on the blade, providing an easy and effective swing. The axe has a rubber protective sleeve that will protect the blade while stored.
A fiberglass handle helps the axe to be fully balanced, while its cushioned, rubber, non-slip handle grip reduces hand strain by absorbing the shocks that come from splitting wood.
This axe is ideal for taller users who wish to split medium to large sized logs. Its design grants the user maximum efficiency by helping score one-strike splits, while the blade’s low friction assures that, if you don’t split the log in one strike, the axe won’t get stuck.
The main issue with this axe is the head, as the blade tends to be a little crooked. However, since it’s mainly used to split wood, that shouldn’t matter too much.
Specifications
- Weight: 8.95 pounds
- Package dimensions: 35 x 9.5 x 1.5 inches
- Axe length: 32 inches
Pros
- Lightweight
- Shock-absorbing handle
- Designed for splitting wood
- Ideal for splitting wood in one strike
- Well-balanced axe allows for proper handling
Cons
- Blade may arrive dull and need to be sharpened
- Head can’t be replaced, as it’s one piece
- Not designed for chopping
- May not split perfectly straight
6. Husqvarna 28-Inch Steel Splitting Axe
Its fiberglass composite handle is lightweight, allowing for a proper balance that will allow you to take the necessary swings that will easily splinter wood.
The head of the axe is made of 5 pounds of steel with a non-stick coating that will ensure your axe doesn’t get stuck in the wood you’re splitting.
The shaft has a stainless steel component that will give it a long life, however, the lack of a sheath makes it cumbersome to carry and store due to its large size.
Specifications
- Weight: 5.59 pounds
- Package dimensions: 27.6 x 8.9 x 1.6 inches
- Axe length: 28 inches
Pros
- Can be used in conjunction with splitting wedges
- Well-balanced axe
- Works well for shorter people
- Able to split large pieces of wood
- Easy to use
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a sheath
- Large size makes it hard to carry and store
- May be too large for smaller pieces of wood
- Edges may dull quickly
- Head of the axe can’t be replaced
Buyer’s Guide for Wood-Splitting Axes
All of the axes discussed above are great in their own way, but some may help you in ways that the others can’t. To help you find the ideal axe for your money and needs, read on for a quick breakdown of the axes that stand out the most.
The Best Axe for Chopping
Although this guide was created to explore axes used for splitting wood, during our search we managed to find an axe useful for chopping wood. We recommend the Fiskars Chopping Axe if you ever find yourself needing to do some chopping.
The Best Axe for Camping
If you are looking for a lightweight and easy to carry axe, then you can’t go wrong with the WilFiks Chopping Axe. Small and compact, with this axe you will be able to splinter more than enough wood during your campouts.
The Most Powerful Axe
If you want a no-nonsense axe that can get the job done efficiently, then we recommend the Intertool Steel Splitting Maul. Thanks to its large handle and maul, you’ll be able to split even the toughest of wood.
Conclusion
Whether used for splitting huge logs or breaking down smaller branches, a good wood axe is an essential tool to have in your arsenal. It can be difficult to choose among so many great options, but as long as you keep your needs and the products’ specifications in mind, you can’t go wrong.
We hope that this buyer’s guide has helped you find the best axe for splitting wood, and that you can get to work using it soon!