6 Best Axe for Hardwood of 2025

By LaytonLast update: 2024-12-15

In modern life, Axes are almost replaced by electric saws or other up-to-date electrical cutting equipment, but there is a fact that an axe is actual much more convenience. No electric required, no battery power and a lot lighter so that it is the best choice for bring to anywhere! These are some reasons why axe has been used for a very long time until now.

With an axe you could prepare firewood as well as guarantee about the quality for your family by yourself to keep warm in winter, cutting all unnecessary trees in your garden and take with you when camping or natural travel, so on. In additional, you could also make it like a gift for your family member, relatives or friends who loves garden works, chop wood. Now, let start our article to find out the best Axe that suitable to your need.

Here are the best axes for hardwood you can buy in 2025:

  • Best overall: Fiskars 378841-1002 X27 Super Splitting Axe
  • Runner up: Fiskars 378501-1002 X7 Axe
  • Best Budget: Cold Steel Trail Boss Axe
  • Premium Choice: Husqvarna 30″ Wood Splitting Axe
  • Best Lightweight: SOG Tactical Tomahawks F01TN-CP Axe
  • Best Quality: Gransfors Bruks Scandinavian 430 Forest Axe
6 Best Axes for Hardwood
Best overall
Fiskars 378841-1002 X27 Super Splitting Axe
    Runner up
    Fiskars 378501-1002 X7 Axe
      Best Budget
      Cold Steel Trail Boss Axe
        Premium Choice
        Husqvarna 30″ Wood Splitting Axe
          Best Lightweight
          SOG Tactical Tomahawks F01TN-CP Axe
            Best Quality
            Gransfors Bruks Scandinavian 430 Forest Axe

              Best overall: Fiskars 378841-1002 X27 Super Splitting Axe

              Fiskars 378841-1002 X27 Super Splitting Axe
              Fiskars 378841-1002 X27 Super Splitting Axe
              Pros
              • Anti-slip textured grip
              • Lifetime warranty
              • Perfect for big size hardwood
              • Easy to remove after splitting
              • Designed for swinging one time per split
              Cons
              • Quite heavy
              • Suitable for tall people

              In the top of this list is Fiskars 378841-1002 X27 Super Splitting Axe, which is totally suitable for splitting medium to large sized of wood. The handle is designed with non-slip textures that helps user easily control their strike splits, reduced hand fatigue as well as using without gloves. Furthermore, with a flared wedge in the end of grip support you to have a maximum strike without worrying about coming out of hand.

              Besides, the blade is shaped bevel convex adds more power each cast and easier to remove from wood. This axe also defeats uncomfortable feel of taller people when splitting wood because of the length of thirty-six inches for certain. As you know, almost American is tall so that is the reason why Fiskars 36 inches become the highest buy in Amazon.

              Fiskars 378841-1002 X27 Super Splitting Axe Specifications

              Product Dimensions

              36 x 5.5 x 1 inches

              Item Weight

              5.85 pounds

              Manufacturer

              Fiskars

              Material

              Steel

              Verdict

              Ideal for tall user to split medium to large sized of wood.

              Runner up: Fiskars 378501-1002 X7 Axe

              Fiskars 378501-1002 X7 Axe
              Fiskars 378501-1002 X7 Axe
              Pros
              • Unbreakable structurer
              • Sharper edges with special grinding technique
              • Lifetime warranty
              • Light weight axe
              • Easy to swing
              Cons
              • Hard to split large sized wood

              Second candidate in the list is also a Fiskars product but shorter handle – Fiskars 378501-1002 X7 Hatchet which have sixteen point five for length only, the rest dimensions are exactly same as our champion. The sixteen inches axe is designed carefully with the balance between handle and head region weight and positioned accordingly make user set the maximum power per swing.

              One more thing that I have to mention on this axe is blade Axe which was constructed based on proprietary blade-grinding technique, created sharper edges hatchet so that you could chop deeper with each swing lead to get faster done.

              Fiskars 378501-1002 X7 Axe Specifications

              Product Dimensions

              16.5 x 5.5 x 1 inches

              Item Weight

              1.38 pounds

              Manufacturer

              Fiskars

              Material

              Steel

              Verdict

              Ideal for chopping kindling and small sized of logs.

              Best Budget: Cold Steel Trail Boss Axe

              Cold Steel Trail Boss Axe
              Cold Steel Trail Boss Axe
              Pros
              • Cheap sale price
              • Having big bite
              • Durable straight-grained American Hickory handle
              Cons
              • Unsuitable for cutting/splitting medium to large sized of wood/trees

              Regarding to the best budget product, we call the name Cold Steel Trail Boss Axe – it has traditional European designed with Drop Forged 1055 Carbon steel material for the head region and wooden handle. Only costing you around 24 dollars, but this Axe could bring you great quality and all features that almost axes have.

              In the extensive field-tests in the outback of Australia, this cold steel axe promoted its power to chop kindling, clear trails or roads and cut down fair sized trees as well. It takes a large bite each swing since having a six point five inches cutting edge plus suitable handle length. Obviously, you could use it at home to split firewood for winter, cut spare branch of tree and clear the garden.

              Cold Steel Trail Boss Axe Specifications

              Product Dimensions

              27.0 x 6.5 x 4.5 inches

              Item Weight

              2 pounces

              Manufacturer

              Cold Steel

              Material

              Drop Forged 1055 Carbon steel

              Material

              Steel

              Verdict

              Ideal for reasonable sized tree with great bargain.

              Premium Choice: Husqvarna 30″ Wood Splitting Axe

              Husqvarna 30″ Wood Splitting Axe
              Husqvarna 30″ Wood Splitting Axe
              Pros
              • Easily portable axe
              • Traditional style
              • Head is designed to go easy into the thick wood
              • Includes a leather edge cover
              Cons
              • No maul capabilities
              • No shock absorbing technology

              Continuing our list is Husqvarna 30″ Wood Splitting Axe, you could easily image the main use of this axe through its name “wood splitting”. If you are a fan of axe in traditional style you could not ignore this wooden grip with steel head region. With total weight is three point five pounds, it will easily carry on and be with you when doing split.

              However, honestly light weight axe means that you will split almost by yourself power each swing with supported by eight-point seven inches blade edge suitable to large size of wood.

              Husqvarna 30″ Wood Splitting Axe Specifications

              Product Dimensions

              30 x 8.7 x 2 inches

              Item Weight

              3.5 pounds

              Manufacturer

              Husqvarna

              Material

              Steel

              Verdict

              Best for splitting thick wood with user power.

              Best Lightweight: SOG Tactical Tomahawks F01TN-CP Axe

              SOG Tactical Tomahawks F01TN-CP Axe
              SOG Tactical Tomahawks F01TN-CP Axe
              Pros
              • Very light weight axe
              • Doing multiple tasks
              • Having a razor-sharp edge
              Cons
              • Should wear gloves to avoid peeling hand

              Lightweight, easy to carry are also one of the most importance criterion that user want to search for an axe. That is right! With the tactician and the practical user, they usually go to the forest or camping – a light and sharp axe would be wonderful choice!

              SOG Tactical Tomahawks F01TN-CP Axe is a bright candidate for this kind of axe, with only one point five pounds weight plus a razor-sharp 420 stainless steel hatchet edge bring you great experience. Furthermore, this axe constructs a flat edge for striking and a spike for piercing helps you simple to handle small wood chopping. When buying it, you also get a nylon carrying sheath with a belt clip to cover the head region plus a guarantee from seller that they are willing to repairs and replacements for your properly maintained SOG Fast Hawk tomahawk hatchet.

              SOG Tactical Tomahawks F01TN-CP Axe Specifications

              Product Dimensions

              15.75 x 8.25 x 0.83 inches

              Item Weight

              1.5 pounds

              Manufacturer

              SOG Specialty Knives & Tools

              Material

              420 Stainless steel

              Verdict

              Best for breaching, evacuating and obstacle removal.

              Best Quality: Gransfors Bruks Scandinavian 430 Forest Axe

              Gransfors Bruks Scandinavian 430 Forest Axe
              Gransfors Bruks Scandinavian 430 Forest Axe
              Pros
              • 20 years of warranty
              • Hand forging
              • Included sheath in vegetable tanned leather
              • Durable and maul capacities
              Cons
              • High sale price

              If you are the one that indeed care about the quality of axe not the price, so this Gransfors Bruks Scandinavian 430 Forest Axe will become the best choice ever. Designed for cutting down and splitting large trees, completely forged by hand with features curved bit in the blade which supports user to cut into fresh, resinous wood such as spruce or pine.

              Actually, Gransfors Bruks Forest Axe is a professional tool with 26 inches length gives more power each swing. It includes protective leather sheath and the axe book in the package when buying this axe which provides an insight into the history, working and philosophy of the manufacturer.

              Gransfors Bruks Scandinavian 430 Forest Axe Specifications

              Package Dimensions

              26 x 7.2 x 2 inches

              Item Weight

              2.6 pounds

              Manufacturer

              Gransfors Bruks

              Material

              Steel

              Verdict

              Ideal for felling larger trees and cutting a felled tree.

              How To Choose The Best Axe for Hardwood?

              There is a variety of shape, size and weight of axes, constructed to suitable to do a lot of different function such as cut down tree, split, trim, chop and so on. So how could we choose the one that fix to our need? Below I list some criterions that help you to know exactly which one to buy.

              Weight

              More weight axe, fast done task. Exactly! When splitting wood, the weight of axe will help to do it faster with one swing only, but if you could not handle the extra weight so it will be better for you to choose the one that suitable to your power.

              Handle Material

              This criterion affects a lot on your feeling when holding it and absorbs the shocks level when using it. With wooden – traditional grip makes the axe lighter, wood also have better absorbs the shocks from strike, but easier break after long using and replacement required. About fiberglass composite handles, it is smooth to hold and also absorbs some of the shocks of splitting impact, but it attends to underperform in sub-zero temperature. Regarding to Steel axe handle – the most durable choice, but it does not absorb the shock so you will feel not comfortable when using because of vibration each strike.

              Length

              When choosing an axe, its length is as importance as its material, the longer the axe, the more velocity and power you’ll be able to generate but swinging an exactly spot with long handle is more difficult than the short one. If you are beginner, you should take shorter axe so that you could control your swing more precious.

              Which Brands Make The Best Axe for Hardwood?

              Gransfors Bruks

              Gransfors Bruks from Sweden is a famous brand for their axes and edge tools. They have been manufacturing hand-forged axe for over 100 years and have a deserved reputation for their quality and product range. They believe in the quality of their product so much that they offer 20 years guarantee. Gränsfors Bruk has defined three criteria that must be met when manufacturing axes.

              • Manufacture axes with the best possible function for the axe’s area of application.
              • Manufacture axes that have as little impact as possible in our environment.
              • Manufacture axes with respect for the people who create them.

              Fiskars

              Established in 1649 as an ironworks in a small Finnish village of the same name, Fiskars has grown to become a leading global supplier of consumer products for the home, garden and outdoors. Available in more than 60 countries, Fiskars products solve everyday problems, making daily home, garden and outdoor projects easier and more enjoyable through superior performance and design. Fiskars provides variety of axe’s size and shape which are all advanced blade geometry, an ultra-sharp edge and virtually unbreakable design to maximize your performance.

              Conclusion

              Even though axe is an old tool for handle wood, but it is still be useful and a tool meant for a specific job nowadays because of its convenience and no fuel require. Having an axe for yourself, you could prepare firewood, go camping and natural travel confidently. Do hope that via this article, you could find out the best axe for hardwood that perfectly fix to your demands.


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