31 products considered. 700+ reviews analyzed, 34 research hours spent, 15+ info. sources referred
Fiskars 378841-1002 X27
- Rarely gets stuck in wood
- Comfortable grip
- Perfectly balanced and effective
Fiskars Iso Core 8 lb Maul
- High-quality construction
- Splits logs with ease
- Very comfortable to use
Fiskars X15 Chopping Axe
- Chops very smoothly
- Shock-absorbing technology
- Sinks extremely deeply into wood
A sturdy, durable ax that you know will last you through many years of use is the perfect companion for campers, woodcutters, or even for a bit of backyard work.
If you’re struggled to find such a trustworthy ax or are struggling to decide on a good option, the summaries and pros and cons in this article will be immeasurably useful to you.
Comparison Table : Top Axes in Market
Check out a quick comparison between the top axes available in the market on key parameters –
| Product | USP | Axe Material | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Fiskars 378841-1002 X27 | One Strike Split | Steel | Check Price |
Fiskars Iso Core 8 lb Maul 36 Inch | Rust Resistant Coating | Steel | Check Price |
Fiskars X15 Chopping Axe | Low Friction Coating | Steel | Check Price |
Fiskars 375581-1001 | Excellent Edge Retention | Steel | Check Price |
Husqvarna 26" Wooden Multi-Purpose Axe | Retains Sharpness | Swedish Steel | Check Price |
Estwing Camper's Axe - 16" | Reduces impact vibration | Steel | Check Price |
Estwing Double Bit Axe - 38 | Vibration Reducing Grip | Steel | Check Price |
Cold Steel Trail Boss Axe, 27 Inch | Inexpensive | Carbon Steel | Check Price |
CRKT Woods Chogan Tomahawk Axe | Head is easily Removable | Carbon Steel | Check Price |
Reviews of Best Axes
Fiskars 378841-1002 X27
This ax by Fiskars is made for taller users or for those users who prefer a longer ax and is good for medium and large logs.
This ax is designed with a heavier head and a hardened forged steel blade that is meant to give you one-strike splits to maximize your efficiency.
The blade geometry is an advanced bevel convex type construction that makes it easier to remove from the wood, along with its friction-minimizing coating that prevents it from getting stuck.
The unique head shape along with the specially developed blade-grinding technique work to give you clean splits each time.
The handle of the ax is lightweight, with a shock-absorbing design that makes it stronger than steel, thus preventing overstrike damage.
It has a non-slip textured grip and the perfect balance and power-to-weight ratio to give you the strongest swings. The head is insert-molded into the handle so that there’s no risk of it getting loose and breaking off.
You can watch it being used and compared to a more traditional splitting maul here:
- Rarely gets stuck in wood
- Very effective at making clean splits
- Perfectly balanced to maximize efficiency
- Comfortable grip
- Sturdy and high-quality construction
Fiskars Iso Core 8 lb Maul 36 Inch
As the name suggests, this is a maul, rather than simply an ax, and consists of a splitting face for wood and a driving face to drive wedges and stakes.
The head is made of forged and heat-treated steel that has a rust-resistant coating to give you durability and longevity and exceeds ISO standards for striking tool durability.
The blade has a geometry that is designed to give you better penetration for tough logs.
The driving face, on the other hand, can not only be used for driving wedges but can also be struck with another tool while splitting for added force. The head is inseparable from the handle so you don’t need to worry about it detaching.
It features a patented IsoCore Shock Control design that minimizes vibrations that lead to shocks being transferred to your body. An insulation sleeve and the dual-layer handle further dampen initial and lingering vibrations.
The final design feature for user comfort is the handle, with a sculpted profile and dimpled texture to give you a comfortable grip and prevent blistering and fatigue.
- Very comfortable to use because of the ergonomic handle and vibration-dampening
- Driving and splitting face lend it versatility
- High-quality construction and durability
- Splits logs with ease
Fiskars X15 Chopping Axe
This 23.5-inch ax is perfect for felling trees, with a design that is meant to chop deeper with each swing so that you can fell trees more quickly.
It has a textured non-slip grip for your hands to give you better control while minimizing strain to make chopping easier on your body as well.
The blade is made of hardened forged steel that retains its sharpness and has a low-friction coating to prevent the blade from awkwardly getting stuck while chopping.
The blade is ground using Fiskars’ proprietary technique that gives you cleaner cuts and better contact with the tree.
The handle used is a shock-absorbing FiberComp one that combines lightweight construction with stronger-than-steel durability that prevents overstrike damage.
Combined with the insert-molded head, you’re getting a perfectly balanced ax with the ideal power-to-weight ratio for fast, powerful, and efficient strikes.
You can watch it being tried out over here, half way into the video:
- The blade has good edge-retention and sharpness
- Easy to grip with shock-absorbing technology to reduce strain
- Chops very smoothly
- Sinks extremely deeply into the wood for quick felling
- A few users received axes whose heads got nicks and cracks after some months
Fiskars 375581-1001
Although this 28-inch ax features an all-purpose design, it is actually ideal for felling trees and has a number of design features meant to boost your performance.
The overall axe has the perfect balance to make it easy to handle and a power-to-weight ratio that gives you both speed and power for maximum chopping efficiency.
The blade, made of hardened forged steel, has excellent edge retention and is made with Fiskars’s blade-grinding techniques.
These give you a sharper edge that delivers more contact and cleaner cuts while the blade coating minimizes friction so that the head doesn’t get stuck in the wood. This lets you chop deeper each time with every swing, allowing you to speed up your tasks.
The handle absorbs shocks and vibrations to prevent fatiguing and reduce the strain on your hands.
It remains light, for easy handling, while still being stronger than steel and the head is inseparably insert-molded in with it so you won’t have to worry about breakage.
- Lightweight and easy to handle
- Well-balanced and delivers deeper cuts with each strike
- Sharp blade with superior edge retention
- Very durable and long-lasting
Husqvarna 26″ Wooden Multi-Purpose Axe
This 26-inch ax is from Husqvarna’s line of traditional axes and it features a wooden, hickory handle and a blade made of hand-forged Swedish steel.
The head is secured to the handle with the help of a wood and steel wedge. It’s meant to be a versatile addition to your tools and can be used for felling trees, clearing bushes, and trimming branches.
You can watch a long and detailed test video of this axe, which puts it to multiple uses, here:
- Retains sharpness
- Works efficiently
- Lightweight and is well-balanced
- Comfortably sculpted hickory handle
- The head is not well integrated into the handle and can snap off with heavy-duty work
Estwing Camper’s Axe – 16”
This 16-inch ax by Estwing is drop-forged and tempered using a single piece of solid America steel to give you an extremely durable and hardy tool for all-purpose outdoor use.
Each ax is also hand-sharpened and polished and it can come with two distinct finishes: a legacy hand-polished version and a special-edition black color.
It has a comfortable handle which sports Estwing’s patented shock-reduction grips which reduce impact vibration by up to 70% for greater comfort. The grips are bonded onto the handle so that they won’t slip off.
The ax is also available in an equally popular but longer 26-inch version.
- Very long-lasting
- One-piece construction makes it sturdy and powerful
- Good, comfortable grip
- Efficient splitting
- A few users received axes with unsharpened blades
Estwing Double Bit Axe – 38
This is a wood splitting ax made with forged steel construction that offers you premium strength and enhanced durability.
This long-lasting tool is meant to provide you with many years of versatile use, which includes chopping logs, small trees, and branches. Along with chopping, it can also be put to use for splitting firewood and kindling.
It comes with a patented shock-reducing grip that can eliminate 70% of impact vibrations to give you a comfortable grip. The ax comes with a ballistic nylon sheath to keep the cutting edge of the ax protected.
You can see it being used here:
- Vibration-reducing grip
- Meant for versatile rather than specialized use
- Solid build with well-balanced weight
- Sturdy steel construction makes it very durable
- A few users found the cutting edge to be too thin for effective cutting
- Might need slight sharpening when it first arrives
Cold Steel Trail Boss Axe, 27 Inch
This trail boss ax by Cold Steel features a European-style head with a broad 4.5-inch cutting edge and 4-inch blade.
The blade is made of drop-forged carbon steel and is designed to give you a deeper cut with every swing, which boosts your efficiency significantly.
The handle of the ax is made of sturdy and straight-grained American hickory and has a comfortable feeling. It is meant to be a versatile ax, capable of chopping kindling, cutting down trees, and clearing branches.
- Inexpensive
- Sharp and effective blade
- Very versatile makes a good backpacking ax
- Lightweight with good balance
- Inexpensive
- There are multiple complaints of the handle shattering
- Head can rust easily
CRKT Woods Chogan Tomahawk Axe
This Tomahawk Axe features a smooth Tennessee Hickory handle that gives you an easy grip which minimizes fatigue while chopping firewood. The blade is made of hot-forged 1055 carbon steel and has a length of 3.5 inches.
With a precisely curved design, the ax is meant to give you bigger bites with each swing of the ax.
The other side of the ax features a hammerhead that can be used for driving, giving you a bit more versatility.
Overall, the axe is well-balanced and quite lightweight, making it easy to stash in a backpack in case you need a handy portable axe.
Watch it being tested out here:
- Hammer on the back for versatility
- Head is easily removable for sharpening
- Lightweight, easily portable, and multi-purpose
- There are complaints of people receiving axes where the head doesn’t adequately fit the handle
- Edge might need further sharpening on arrival
- The finish on the handle is a bit slippery
An axe is a simple tool that makes cutting, splitting, shaping, and harvesting timber easier. Whether you are cutting wood for a fire, or using it to split wood for furniture, you need one that will slice through anything.
Because an ax is a simple tool, you may think that they are all the same. However, not all are created equal.
In this article, we will take a look at the best axes on the market and what makes them the best. Each one has its own features and functions, but you decide which ax is the best option for your needs.
Buying Guide for the Best Axes
This section of the article will go over the main uses, benefits of certain features, and will help you to determine what kind of buyer you are. Knowing what kind of buyer you are will allow you to weed through the various products when shopping, and know how to find an axe that will work best for your needs.
What is an Axe?
An axe is a simple tool made from metal and wood that aids in the splitting, cutting, shaping and harvesting of wood for commercial or private use. An axe can be used for cutting firewood at home, or splitting wood for a carpenter or woodworker to use for furniture.
Why an Axe?
Being a simple tool, an axe requires very little maintenance. Unlike a chainsaw, it has no vibrations since it is not mechanical, and requires less to function – only a person’s strength and a sharpening stone.
With someone who has mastered it’s use, there are many advantages in regards to the versatility that make it superior to using a chainsaw for certain tasks.
What kind of Buyer are you?
Knowing what type of buyer you are will help to determine what kind of axe you need for the jobs you do. Although they can be fairly similar, there are different styles of axes that are made of different types of metal for certain types of jobs and functions.
If long term use is a factor, then having a grip for comfort may be a specification you require.
I am a Professional Carpenter or an Independent Contractor…
If you are in a field that requires you to use a cutting tool often, and possibly at multiple sites throughout the day, or week, then an axe is a great option because it is easily portable.
It is also very sturdy so that it lasts through many jobs without issue, and it doesn’t require much maintenance, beside sharpening, making it a no-nonsense tool.
I am a Hobbyist or DIYer…
If you are looking for something to help you around the house with wood splitting, then an axe is a great option because it doesn’t require much experience or fuss.
A chainsaw is heavier, and takes more to use, so a beginner or casual user will benefit from the simplicity of using an axe instead of a chainsaw. It also requires less maintenance, which in turn, requires less information for upkeep.
FAQs
Yes, you should always file the axe in the same direction. You will always want to file towards the axe bit.
You should use a large chisel and strike it close to the bit of the axe until the wood looses enough to get the axe out. Do not strike the chisel too hard or else you will risk denting or damaging the wood.
Wearing gloves can help, but they do not make for a complete substitute for a good grip. The shape and grip of the handle helps to keep your hands in better shape to use the axe for longer periods of time, and keeps the axe from flying out of your hand. Gloves offer only slight grip and protection, but it is recommended to use gloves at all times.
The average axe handle is around ¾ inches thick, but it can depend on the size of your hands and how easily you can grip the handle. For those with smaller hands, you may want to hold the lower hand on the handle slightly higher up for better grip and control while keeping the other closer to the head.
Final Words
Know that you’ve seen some great options for axes that you can use for your needs, hopefully, you are able to figure out which one will work best for the jobs, or projects you will work on.
Whether you’re on the lookout for a heavy-duty two-handed ax or just something small to stash away in a backpack for camping, you’ll find a suitable option on this list.
Covering these two kinds of axes and more, you’ll be sure to get a representative overview of the best kinds of axes in their class on this list.
With any purchase, it is important to think about what you will be using it for, and what your jobs will require. Hopefully, with this information, you will be able to find the right axe for you.
Here is the list of our top picks again for you. Check out the specs, customer reviews, price and offers on Amazon –
- Fiskars 378841-1002 X27
- Fiskars Iso Core 8 lb Maul 36 Inch
- Fiskars X15 Chopping Axe
- Fiskars 375581-1001
- Husqvarna 26″ Wooden Multi-Purpose Axe
- Estwing Camper’s Axe – 16″
- Estwing Double Bit Axe – 38
- Cold Steel Trail Boss Axe, 27 Inch
- CRKT Woods Chogan Tomahawk Axe
Last update on 2020-04-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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