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

Axes

Features

  • fiberglass handle
  • non-slip design
  • small in size and compact
  • 2-¼-pound axe head
  • 24-inch long
  • protective leather welt
Fiskars 378561-1004 X11 Splitting Axe, 17-Inch, Black/Orange
  • premium steel
  • low-friction coating
  • powder coating
  • steel collar on the hatchet
  • 15-inch handle
  • well-designed collar guard
Estwing Special Edition Camper's Axe - 26" Wood Splitting Tool with All Steel Construction & Shock Reduction Grip - E45ASE,Black-Special Edition
  • shock-absorbing rugged grip
  • finest grade and forged steel
  • ballistic nylon sheath

1. Tabor Tools Chopping Axe

Specifications:
98% Overall

Brand

TABOR TOOLS

Dimensions

27.5 x 8 x 1.5 inches

Weight

4.44 pounds

Handle Length

24 inches

99%
durability
98%
Performance
97%
value for money
96%
features
Pros:
  • Comes with a very sturdy and strong blade made of steel making it possible to use in wood chopping, tree felling, and cutting of branches.
  • Has a fiberglass handle that is durable and lightweight making it suitable for use in medium to heavy-duty cutting tasks.
  • Very comfortable while holding and never slips from your hand. Its non-slip design helps in reducing the chance of you getting blisters in your hands.
  • Hatches measure 12-inch and are quite small in size and compact. You can use it for camping and backpacking purposes.
  • The blade is well-optimized offering superior penetration and split logs like butter.
  • The maximum efficiency power of the axe together with its ergonomic handle ensures you get a single strike split.
Cons:
  • Can lose its edge very fast due to the lightweight nature of the blade, but comes with a special powdered coating that ensures it is durable.
Final Take:

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

Specifications:
96% Overall

Brand

Helko Werk Germany

Dimensions

24 x 7 x 1.5 inches

Weight

3.75 pounds

Handle Length

24 inches

98%
durability
96%
Performance
95%
value for money
94%
features
Pros:
  • Made of high-grade carbon steel making it very durable while the axe head is very sharp and robust ensuring it has the tensile strength to handle any challenging cutting task.
  • The 2-¼-pound axe head is of a deep wedge-shaped design ensuring it is able to deliver a powerful stroke in each swing. With this, you can split and chop branches, woods and logs very fast.
  • Measures 24-inch long and it is compact enough hence able to handle any outdoor task.
  • Has a protective leather welt with a subtle finish and you will always be issued with a bottle of protective oil to help prevent rust.
  • The handle is made using wood and is of curved ergonomic design offering a perfect balance between functionality and comfort.
Cons:
  • Quite heavy due to the heavy-duty still used in making it. However, it is capable of absorbing shock which helps reduce fatigue and ensure you can use it for long.
Final Take:

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

Fiskars 378561-1004 X11 Splitting Axe, 17-Inch, Black/Orange
Specifications:
95% Overall

Brand

Fiskars

Dimensions

1.25 x 7 x 20 inches

Weight

2.18 pounds

Handle Length

17 inches

96%
durability
95%
Performance
94%
value for money
93%
features
Pros:
  • The blade of this axe is of high quality and durable as it is made from premium steel. The proprietary grinding techniques offer a sharper edge. You will always get a superior contact in each swing and get a clean cut.
  • Its blade will always remain sharp even after multiple uses and comes with a low-friction coating to help in improving its cutting efficiency. Furthermore, the powder coating on the head helps in improving resistance to rust and prevents its head from getting stuck.
  • The handle is lightweight and sturdy and comes with an insert-molded head that ensures it will never come off whenever it is being used on heavy jobs.
  • The design of this axe is quite innovative offers three times deeper chop and split when compared to other cheap axes.
  • It’s portable and compact design makes it suitable for clearing trails and cutting firewood. It is also well balanced which ensures it can hold its edge very well.
Cons:
  • Sheath is quite hard to fit. Nonetheless, it is quite strong.
Final Take:

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

Specifications:
93% Overall

Brand

Gransfors Bruks

Dimensions

14 x 6.7 x 1.9 inches

Weight

1.2 pounds

Handle Length

15 inches

94%
durability
93%
Performance
92%
value for money
91%
features
Pros:
  • The single-hand use together with its compact design helps in ensuring efficient cutting. With this feature, you are able to use it for a wide range of cutting tasks.
  • Has a steel collar on the hatchet that makes it perfect for light splitting with its medium-sized handle measuring 15 inches that delivers more power to fell an average tree.
  • Hatched is made from a high-grade steel while the handle is well secured inside the blade to ensure long-lasting performance. Handle is of a straight design making it comfortable to use with a single hand when chopping or splitting logs.
  • The head is securely tied to the hickory shaft and never wobbles whenever it is in use.
  • Compact and lightweight design makes it easy to pack away in your camping gear.
  • Comes with a well-designed collar guard that helps in protecting the handle from overstrikes.
Cons:
  • Very light but still offers even weight distribution.
Final Take:

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

Estwing Special Edition Camper's Axe - 26" Wood Splitting Tool with All Steel Construction & Shock Reduction Grip - E45ASE,Black-Special Edition
Specifications:
91% Overall

Brand

Estwing

Dimensions

26 x 7 x 1.38 inches

Weight

7 ounces

Handle Length

12 inches

93%
durability
91%
Performance
90%
value for money
89%
features
Pros:
  • Comes with a durable and sharp blade measuring 4-inch long and comes with a full tang and well-crafted blade made from finest grade and forged steel.
  • Head steel was put through a special heat treatment and tempering process to help improve its durability and hardness.
  • Comes with a shock-absorbing rugged grip that helps reduce its shock and maintain the sturdy grip whenever you are using it.
  • Long handle of this axe helps in giving one a better leverage together with swinging power ensuring efficient spitting and chopping of big logs.
  • Uses a ballistic nylon sheath that helps in protecting the blade from any form of unintentional damage.
Cons:
  • Awkwardly light for its length but still does the job well.
  • A bit pricey for the features it offers.
Final Take:

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

head thickness

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.

single- or double=headed

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.

head weight

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.

handle length

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

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

What is a felling axe?

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.

What is the right size of axe handle?

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.

What oil can you use for axe handles?

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.

How can I sharpen an 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.

Author

Jimmy Black started his career as a construction and carpenter foreman. After years of hard work, he decided to go on his own. Now, Jimmy is one of the trusted experts at SolidSmack who knows at first glance whether your hammer would do a great job or not. He still involves himself in various construction projects and works for individual clients. Behind formalities, he enjoys being a father to two lovely kids who keep on asking him why they can’t quit school and travel the world like Dora The Explorer.