Splitting axes

Splitting axes for the woodpile

Splitting is a job for a wedge head and mass behind the swing. A splitting axe is not a felling axe. We have split five cords of Appalachian white oak, seasoned red oak, and cedar rounds with Fiskars X27s, Gransfors Splitting Mauls, and Council Tool Velvicut Boys Axes on the same block, and the tradeoffs are honest.

Best splitting axe

The splitting axe money page. Top pick, budget pick, premium pick, and one clear no-buy.

See the picks

Best axe for chopping wood

Chopping is different from splitting. The head geometry is different, the swing is different, the fatigue profile is different.

See the chopping picks

Felling axe

Full-size felling axes. A dying craft still worth the reach when the tree deserves the ceremony.

Felling axe picks