If you have a wood burner or garden fire pit or are an avid camper in need of fuel, you need a wood splitting axe. Unlike hand axes, wood splitting axes make working through a woodpile a breeze. Picking one of the best axes for splitting wood will ensure that you are well-equipped for years to come. Read of for our buyer’s guide.
What to look for in a wood splitting axe:
Weight
More weight equals more force. The heavier an axe, the more force it will fall with and the better (and quicker) it will cut. Lighter axes require the user to do more of the work, making them less efficient for larger cutting tasks. However, depending on user strength and skill, more weight equals less accuracy. It can reduce your control, which is inefficient and potentially dangerous. Choose your axe’s weight based on your needs and ability.
Handle length
The length of an axe handle determines the arch of a swing, with longer handles offering greater leverage and more power. The length of the handle determines the overall weight of the axe - a balanced axe is best.
Head type
There are two types of heads found on wood splitting axes. One is a traditional axe head, with a curved striking blade designed to pierce into the wood - often, manufacturers will add small additional angles onto these heads to help prevent the axe head from jamming into the wood. The second type of head is called a maul. It's a versatile head that has a hammer-like surface on the rear of the axe head. Maul axes are heavyweight and can be used to strike wood splitting wedges.
The best wood splitting axes:
The best wood splitting axe
The Fiskar is a great axe, with a spec sheet to meet the wood-splitting needs of most. The axe head is hardened stainless steel and promises years upon years of use when cared for properly, while the handle is fibreglass. Itu2019s 30.3-inches long and weighs 2.5kg, which gives it a nice and weighty, precise swing. Itu2019s well-balanced, so feels good in the hands, and has a pleasantly proportioned grip. Overall length: 30.3-inches | Weight: 2.5kg
The best heavyweight splitting axe
Need to split some serious wood? Opt for Fiskaru2019s Maul Axe. Itu2019s a hefty choice, weighing 3.9 kg with a 35.4-inch handle. This combination makes for a large and powerful swing. This power can hammer splitter wedges and significantly reduce the duration of your wood-chopping chores (the polymer striking head limits the vibration, too). There are some clever design principles involved in the handle, which is layered with varying materials to improve strength, balance and grip. Overall length: 35.4-inches | Weight: 3.9kg
Recommended
With its drop-forged carbon steel axe head and long hickory handle, this is a classic splitting axe. Its head is of the maul design, with its rear side doubling as a striking hammer - ideal for using with a splitting spike. The US hickory handle is very robust and is well-shaped in hand - though synthetic handles may prove more robust after years of use. Youu2019ll also need to make sure that the head is fitting well whenever you come to use it - however, if youu2019re a traditionalist, this is a good and well-priced choice. Overall length: 34.8-inches | Weight: 2.95kg
Recommended
Keeping it old school is Roughneck with this maul axe, complete with a smoke-treated, moisture-resistant, lacquered US hickory handle. The maul head is robust tempered alloy steel, which is adept at splitting through logs and hammering spikes - itu2019s unlikely to jam, too, thanks to the nifty shaping. At only 2kg, itu2019s not particularly heavy, so it can be used quite speedily and with precision. Overall length: 20-inches | Weight: 2kg
The best camping axe for splitting wood
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If youu2019re camping, you donu2019t want to be hauling a huge axe with you. To avoid any impracticalities, we recommended the Gerber Pack Hatchet - an axe that weu2019ve previously ranked as the best for camping. Itu2019s a nicely sized, well-weighted and well-balanced little axe with full tang construction. The handle is reinforced and comfortable to grip, with a rubberised grip adding some extra security. Though it doesnu2019t have the weight or size to handle large logs, it can split large branches, which is enough for a campfire. We recommend packing a splitting spike if you fancy taking on larger logs. Overall length: 9.4-inches | Weight: 590g
The best wood splitting wedges and spikes:
While splitting wood with an axe is very satisfying, it’s also pretty hard-going and time-consuming work, to the point that the very idea of a large woodpile is like an exhausting, blistering nightmare.
In such cases, it’s better to work smart than work hard. Using a wood-splitting wedge (sometimes called a wood spike or splitting spike) can save you from hardship. These wedges can be hammered into a log, or inserted into axe strikes, to force wood apart through any natural weaknesses in the grain. This means that with only a few strikes, a log can easily be broken down into four or more pieces, ready to be stacked or thrown on the fire.
Couple a splitting wedge with one of the best wood-splitting axes above, and you’ll soon crack through that pile of wood. Here are the best wood splitting wedges:
Shaped like a diamond screw, the Wood Grenade is simple and effective. Drive it in with a few direct hits from a maul axe, and the work is done.
Easy to use - just screw the splitter to a surface and hammer small logs down onto it with a mallet. Comes with a protective cover.
Itu2019s a big wedge and it works. Itu2019s a big block of forged carbon steel, so that explains the price, and lets you know that itu2019ll last through all the strikes you can throw at it.