An axe is one of the most essential tools that shouldn’t be missing in any toolbox. It is a reliable, portable, and versatile tool that can help you in cutting woods, chopping logs, and other heavy-duty tasks.
In case you are in the market searching for the best axe, visiting endless numbers of platforms is a hard task just to find the best axe. This makes the process of choosing among those countless options quite challenging.
To help make your work easier, we have reviewed all the promising items in the market and trimmed down the list for you. And with the help of relevant professionals, we tested and comprehensively graded each of them to give you knowledgeable insights about them.
Lastly, to give you the best deals, we conducted a hunt for their best deals on Amazon to ensure that you’ll get them at the most reasonable prices. That said, do not forget to click the buttons below and check what wonders they can offer.
Best Axes Comparison & Rating
1. Tabor Tools Chopping Axe
Brand | TABOR TOOLS |
Dimensions | 27.5 x 8 x 1.5 inches |
Weight | 4.44 pounds |
Handle Length | 24 inches |
It is a suitable axe for chopping firewood or preparing kindling from small to medium-sized logs. It is perfect for hikers, campers, and outdoor activities. There is a great balance between the head and shaft for comfortable, safe, and efficient use. The blade of this axe comes with a rubber protective band that ensures safe storage and transport. After using it, ensure that you always apply a rubber protective sleeve and hang the hatchet from the handle after every use.
2. Helko Werk Black Forest Woodworker Axe
Brand | Helko Werk Germany |
Dimensions | 24 x 7 x 1.5 inches |
Weight | 3.75 pounds |
Handle Length | 24 inches |
Helko Werk is a black forest woodworker quintessential tool for the experienced woodsman. It is of a very compact size making it a very versatile packing tool and lightweight chopping feeling axe. It is made using high forged carbon steel. It features Helko's famous Rheinland pattern axe head, named for the country's Rhein River Valley. Have handles individually hand finished and selected for grain orientation and density with a boiled linseed oil finish.
3. Fiskars X11 Splitting Axe
Brand | Fiskars |
Dimensions | 1.25 x 7 x 20 inches |
Weight | 2.18 pounds |
Handle Length | 17 inches |
It is a 17-inch single-handed axe suitable for splitting small logs. It is a perfect tool to carry when going camping and for backpacking purposes. It comes with a sheath that helps in protecting the user and the blade. This axe offers a perfect balance and power to weight ratio increasing the swing speed to multiply power. It is well designed for maximum efficiency to give you more strike splits.
4. Gransfors Bruks Outdoor Hatchet Axe
Brand | Gransfors Bruks |
Dimensions | 14 x 6.7 x 1.9 inches |
Weight | 1.2 pounds |
Handle Length | 15 inches |
It is a perfect axe for camping and hunting. This axe offers you superior splitting and chopping performance. It is a great companion axe for felling small trees and cutting firewood. You can easily control this axe using one hand. There are times when you can use it as a knife. There is a collar guard that helps in protecting the handle against overstrikes whenever splitting.
5. Estwing Special Edition Camper’s Axe
Brand | Estwing |
Dimensions | 26 x 7 x 1.38 inches |
Weight | 7 ounces |
Handle Length | 12 inches |
It is a perfect axe for outdoor lovers and campers. You can use this axe for chopping down small trees and clearing the trails or roads in a regular affair. This axe was specifically made for hard work. Has maximum strength and durability for a lifetime of hard work. It comes with a ballistic nylon sheath that helps in protecting hand-sharpened cutting edges.
Best Axes - Buyer's Guide
The head’s shape of the axe helps in determining if it is suitable for splitting, carving, or felling trees. Axe with a wider head will allow you to split or cut wood pieces faster.
The sharp head axe is very suitable when it comes to slicing and cutting through the woods. It is appropriate when you have to skim tree layers for lambing logs.
Axes can have a single head or a double head. Most people prefer going for axes that are double-sided on the head since it makes it possible to use both sides when cutting. However, an axe with a single side cutting can be enough for most people.
The weight of the head will always determine how fast you can do the cutting. The heavier the axe head will help deliver a considerable swing momentum and cutting impact.
When cutting thinner woods or a smaller tree, you will have to go for a head that is not too heavy. Axes with heavy heads usually deliver more power although it makes it quite challenging to do the precise cutting.
The handle plays a very important role when it comes to woodcutting. Axes with wooden handles can be replaced after some time. You need to ensure the handle length you are buying is suitable depending on the type of cuttings you will be using the axe for.
The handle acts as a lever during cutting. It means the handle length will determine the force and control an axe can deliver. However, no one is interested in having a handle that is too long or too short. Most of the axes have their handle length ranging from 24 to 36 inches.
Handle shape is a very important factor that you should consider when choosing an axe. For instance, when buying a single-side blade axe, the curved handle will be more suitable since it gives you a more natural and comfortable grip.
When buying a double-sided head, you will have to choose a straight handle since it allows one to easily wing in both directions without having to change the head orientation.
Best Axes - FAQs
It is an axe that is mainly used for cutting down trees and not for splitting wood using an axe for chopping logs. Felling is more of a logging process that a survival or camping task. It is a very sharp axe and comes with a thin blade that has a pointed head ensuring it can make deep cuts.
Most people often think that going for long-handled axes will give them powerful swings. Experts suggest using short handles since the long handles are at times too long for handling and comfort. Axe length is usually measured from the axe top edge to the bottom knob and most do have a standard length of 36-inches. However, a 31-inch or 28-inch handle will still offer you better force and control.
It is highly recommended that you use boiled and not raw linseed oil as raw oilseed never dries and ends up sticky. The raw linseed oil is thick and never penetrates well and will take 3-5 days to dry while the boiled linseed oil comes with thinners and drying agents for fast curing. The linseed oil layer protects the handle from elements. Always use a small paintbrush or rag to rub oil onto the handle. When there is minor damage, use a coarse handheld whetstone to sharpen the axe.
Axes are sharpened based on how the axe head is worn out. You can get a fine-toothed flat file that is important when filing both sides along the edge while still maintaining the original shape of the edge. Use coarse handheld whetstone in case of a minor damage to help in sharpening the axe.
