When you consider the wide range of high-powered tools on the market, the axe is an ancient tool. However, axes are still important, even in this modern, high-tech world. These versatile tools give you some vital advantages, both indoors and outdoors. They allow you to gather and split firewood very efficiently, they are good for chipping timber, and on the fun side- axe throwing is still a fun and competitive sport.
Whether you need wood for use in a fire or the increasingly common log-burner, clearing a piece of land, splitting logs, or are going camping, you will find the axe an excellent companion. There is more to think about than expected when choosing the best axe on the market. In this post, we have reviewed 11 of these tools on the market today. We have also provided a buying guide that can further assist you in making the correct choice.
Read on to find out more!
The Best Axe On The Market of 2022
1. Husqvarna 26″ Wooden Multi-Purpose Axe
The Husqvarna 26” Multi-purpose Axe is an excellent axe that will provide you with superior performance than most of its peers on the market. It looks like it has been handed down generations, but don’t let the simple, traditional, and understated design fool you: this axe is capable of some truly impressive cutting feats.
It is a multi-purpose tool that can be used for various things from felling trees to chopping and splitting wood; all with impressive results. It comes at a relatively low price, which makes it even more appealing. It is made of solid, slightly curved wood and features a heavy, metalhead. To keep it safe from the elements when not in use, it comes with a leather edge cover. It is well-constructed, with the all-metal head affixed to the shaft with a steel wedge. We love the wooden feel of an axe in our palms, and you will likely love it as well.
On the downside, this axe doesn’t stand up to extended, heavy-duty use.
As you hit the trail or head out to camp, take this axe along with you to enjoy the best outdoors experience. It looks and feels high-quality despite the low price, and you will likely enjoy using it.
2. Fiskars Iso Core 8 Axe (Budget Pick)
This axe is widely considered to be one of the best axes you can find on the market today. It is built by a company known for making high-quality tools, and it is, fortunately, no exception. It is made for splitting logs; however, it can also be used for other things.
The design of the Fiskars IsoCore ensures that it grants the user plenty of cutting power. Hence, aside from splitting logs, it is also great for cutting large logs and even felling trees. One reason for this superior and versatile cutting ability is the long handle. The handle is slightly flared and textured, which improves your grip. The design and length of the handle mean that you get enough power behind each swing of the axe. It is fantastic for camping as it can fill different roles you require.
Another reason why you will be hard-pressed to find a better axe on the market is because of the patented IsoCore Shock Control System from Fiskars. This feature ensures that the axe absorbs vibrations as a result of heavy impact force.
However, it is relatively heavy and will require someone with average to above-average strength to wield it effectively.
Overall, it is a powerful axe that comes at a low price and gets the job done.
3. Fiskars X27 Super Splitting Axe
The Fiskars Super Splitting Axe is not only made by a manufacturer with superior blade cutting expertise but is a product of a special technique that vastly improves its performance.
The grinding technique used in making this tool makes the blade super-sharp, which ensures greater efficiency and success as you cut. With this axe, you will not need to expend plenty of energy in cutting wood as the blade will do most of the work for you. The axe is a versatile tool that is excellent for most users of above 5’9”. It has a length of 36” which makes it great for splitting medium to large-sized logs.
It features a textured non-slip grip which ensures that you achieve maximum grip as you swing the axe even with wet, slippery palms. The axe weighs a total of 5.85 pounds, which we found to be relatively lightweight when compared with many other options on the market.
If you are below 5’9” in height, you might be better served elsewhere as the length of the axe might be uncomfortable for you.
If you have a workload of average-sized logs, the Fiskars 378841-1002 X27 Super Splitting Axe is the right tool for you. Cut with minimum fuss using this sharp, durable, and affordable axe.
4. Estwing Sportsman’s Axe
A good axe is hard to find, and you probably have the bruises, smashed knuckles and scars to prove it. Fortunately, the Estwing Sportsman’s Axe is an excellent solution that offers you incredible cutting performance.
The Estwing is a survival axe that fits right in with the rest of your camping gear. It is built to last, with the head and handle forged into a single piece. This one-piece construction ensures that despite heavy use, the head doesn’t suddenly fly off as you cut. It is made from tool grade steel; hence, it easily cuts through tough wooden logs. The axe is not just nice to use due to its durable construction, but it also feels great to hold. It has a leather grip, which is somewhat a novelty. We are not complaining, though, as the leather grip ensures comfort while splitting and cutting logs.
When not in use, this axe has the rugged nylon sheath that keeps it covered and safe from the elements. It comes with a belt loop that ensures your convenience as you carry it around.
A lovely feature it has is the square butt. This makes it an ideal camping companion as it can be used to nail tent stakes or just serve as a hammer.
The downside of this axe is that the handle is great to use with gloves, but uncomfortable when handled with bare hands.
Overall, this is an excellent axe. It is boosted by its one-piece construction that results in minimal impact on the wrists and elbows.
5. Cold Steel Trail Boss Axe
This model is an attempt from the Cold Steel Company at making a high-quality axe at a low price. And the result is rather impressive.
The Cold Steel Trail Boss Axe comes with a durable build that allows it to cut through wood of varying thicknesses efficiently. It has a length of 26”, which grants the wielder enough length to put some force behind a swing. Furthermore, the 4” head and 4.5” cutting surface make clear the purpose of this axe: heavy-duty cutting duties on the trail. As if the dimensions weren’t ‘buff’ enough, it features drop-forger 1055 carbon steel, and an American Hickory handle. Hence, however hard you swing, you can rest assured that this axe will stand up to heavy-duty chores.
The downside of the otherwise perfect axe is that it might be slightly larger than the axes you are used to; hence, it can be challenging carrying it around, especially if you are a camper.
Whether used for home chores or for camping duties, this axe will serve you well. It is excellent for serious campers due to its big, strong, and overall better construction.
6. Fiskars Chopping Axe
As it comes from Fiskars, this piece is definitely worth your attention. It is a multi-purpose tool that ensures that chopping logs is fast and very efficient.
First of all, the handle is an impressive piece of work. It is a Duraframe Synthetic handle that feels super-comfortable to hold. It is easy to grip, even in wet conditions as it is waterproof. Due to its design and materials of construction, it can stand up to abuse in various conditions. Additionally, the handle comes with a shock-absorption feature. Therefore, unlike several axes on the market that come with wooden or fiberglass handles, you can hit as hard as you want without sending vibrations through your spine.
This model, as with most axes from Fiskars, comes with a plastic sheath to safely keep the axe when not in use. It protects the blade from rust and other factors that can affect its efficiency. The blade it protects is itself an excellent feature of the axe. It is made from forged carbon steel and has a non-stick coating. Hence, you can bury your blade deep in the wood without fear of getting stuck.
At 23.5”, it is one of the most compact axes you can find on the market. This is a benefit and a downside. If you require axes with long handles, you might want to avoid the X15.
Overall, it is an excellent axe that will serve you well for several years.
7. 1844 Helko Werk Germany Black Forest Woodworker Axe
Some of the things we look out for when choosing an axe on the market is its shape, its build quality, and its ability to hold an edge. Well, this exotic axe ticked all boxes, especially if you are using it for short camping trips.
This model gives off a traditional vibe, and it is one of the best-looking axes you can buy. It is a multi-purpose axe and has passed through different processes across different continents to arrive in your hand. It is handmade in Germany and has a traditional yet classy vibe. Its wood is American Hickory and is carved in Switzerland. Due to its German carbon steel blade, it doesn’t require as much maintenance as many other options on the market. Additionally, this blade is heat treated.
To keep it safe from the elements and for safe storage when not in use, it comes with a tanned leather sheath.
One negative thing about this axe is that it requires some work before it can achieve a very sharp edge.
If you are looking for an axe that serves various purposes like carving, cutting and even felling, then you will likely be happy with this tool.
8. Estwing Camper’s Axe
This model is the second Estwing product on this list, and if you are conversant with the company, you will not be very surprised. Known for the high quality of its offerings, this model continues the tradition.
Once the axe is out of the box, you might be tempted to get swinging and chopping wood up. However, it requires some sharpening before you can enjoy its full benefits. Once sharpened, you will find it an excellent axe. This axe is a versatile option that can serve as a backup option. It is decent at chopping wood and felling trees. It is, however, particularly excellent at chipping wood instead of cutting through it.
It is made of steel and holds its edge remarkably well. Additionally, it comes with a shock-absorbing function that makes swinging more comfortable.
It does come with its fair share of criticism. For instance, we observed that the head of the axe bows slightly to the left; hence, you will have to consider that as you swing.
If you are a camper or a forest ranger, you will likely love swinging this impressive tool. Overall, it performs its functions without plenty of fuss.
9. Fiskars 375581-1001 Chopping Axe
If you seek a powerful axe that can split wood and fell trees with quite remarkable ease, then look no further than this impressive option from Fiskar.
This axe is made to fell big trees in the blink of an eye and is especially suited to heavy-duty projects. As it can easily fell trees, splitting logs of wood is quite light work for this bad boy.
Some of the reasons why it is so good at being a powerhouse include the blade and handle. The blade is specially hardened during the manufacturing process. Therefore, despite the force of impact, it doesn’t get blunted and will go for a long time before it will require any sharpening. The edge of the blade is very sharp and will remain so for an extended period of heavy use. Additionally, the handle is made to offer you a superior grip. To use this axe to its full potential, you will need two hands. Fortunately, it is optimized for two-handed use and has a nice balance and heft.
Although it has a powerful blade, it is likely shorter than the axes you are used to. Hence, it might take some time to get used to using it.
As a powerful option, it makes light work of trees that ordinarily might pose a problem.
10. Husqvarna 30″ Wooden Splitting Axe
Husqvarna is a Swedish company that has spent over 300 years producing axes. Hence, it has had enough time perfecting the manufacture of this tool, and the 30” Wooden Splitting Axe is one of its best products on the market.
As a splitting axe, it is made to split your wood along the grain instead of cutting it. And it delivers superbly on this function. It impressively helps you to split your logs of wood right down the middle with ease. At 30”, it is well proportioned to make its way through medium thick logs and chunks of wood. The hickory handle might not appear to be sturdy, but don’t be fooled; it is quite strong and will stand up to punishment quite admirably.
To further help you with your outdoor adventure, this axe comes with a hammer on its other side. Thus, you have the right tool for smashing through any chunks of wood that aren’t completely split.
A major reason why this axe is so good at what it does is the design. It is made with most of its weight focused on the head. Thus, as you swing, most of the force is concentrated on the blade of the axe, which in turn provides enormous splitting power.
The downside of this axe is that it is somewhat too heavy to carry wherever you go. Additionally, the sheath it comes with comes off rather easily.
A beautiful, hand-forged axe, this tool is built to last for a long time.
11. Iunio Camping Axe
As you traverse the outdoors, having the right tools can be a matter of life and death. Even a trip as innocuous as a weekend camping trip needs the right tools to be enjoyed safely. Well, the Iunio camping axe is an excellent tool that can help you.
This axe is a survival axe that comes with several features that make it an excellent buying choice. For instance, it features a pair of axe blades and extendable handles. This is great because it allows anyone to use it. All you need to do is to adjust the blade and handle to whatever dimension feels more comfortable for you.
Additionally, the axe comes with a leather sheath to keep it safe and sound when not in use and to ensure it doesn’t cause any harm as you carry it around. Impressively, all these nice features come at a low and reasonable price, making it one of the top choices on the market today.
The only downside with this axe is that it feels loose after it has been assembled.
If you seek a budget option that comes with all the features you need to survive outdoors, then you will likely enjoy using this product.
How To Choose A Axe: A Buyer’s Guide
Buying an axe requires more information than you might expect. Fortunately for you, we have provided you with just the appropriate information you need that can help you make a correct buying decision. Let’s consider some of these factors.
Durability
Your axe should not be a flimsy tool that goes to the dogs after a brief period of use. It should come with specific features that reassure you of longevity.
For example, stainless steel heads might be more expensive, but they usually last longer than other materials. It is also vital that the axe features a solid handle made of high-quality, durable materials. Wood is a popular option, although it isn’t the strongest. If you are going for a wooden handle, ensure that it is sanded and varnished since these will make it even stronger.
Safety
The axe is in itself a dangerous tool. Hence, you have to do all you can to ensure your safety as you use it. The best axes on the market come with safety features that can help you. For example, your axe should come with a grip at the base. That way, despite heavy-duty work, it won’t suddenly fly out of your hand. It is also important to buy a product that is made by a popular and reputable company.
Weight
The weight of the axe plays a vital role in how powerful it is. You might opt for the heaviest axe on the market since it will offer you more power. However, you should note that the heavier the axe is, the less accurate your cuts will be. You will lose some accuracy in your cuts. If you are a beginner, you should start off with a relatively lightweight option until you gain more experience and can ‘graduate’ to more powerful tools.
Type of handle
This factor affects the length of the handle as well as the material it is made of. Just as with the weight, a long handle will offer you more swinging power. However, the longer the handle is, the likelier you are to lose control of the axe as you swing. Therefore, it might be better to start off with shorter handles.
Conclusion
The axe is a simple yet essential tool. There are several things you need to consider before you make a buying decision. Fortunately, we have spent hours testing and reviewing scores of these tools. We have provided you with 11 of the best axes you can buy on the market right now. We have also given you a buying guide that can assist you. We hope that this article helps you in choosing the right axe that will suit your needs. if you want to make an axe by yourself, do stay tuned to our future post.
