Best axe for splitting wood, and camping

Before buying a wood splitting axe…

Choose the right handle material.

Wood-handled axes have a tendency to break easily and aren’t really suited for regular heavy use. Leave a wood-handled axe outdoors often enough, and it will break sooner or later. It can be really frustrating when you haven’t used your axe in a while, only to find that the handle breaks when you give it a good swing.

Fiberglass-handled axes are a much better choice for heavy-duty work. They are very low maintenance, and you could safely leave them outside the tool shed without any issues. They are usually more comfortable on the hands as well, so you can use them for longer periods. So get a light fiberglass handle or a forged steel handle.

Whats the durablity of the axe head.

At the very least, your axe should be strong enough to handle any task you throw at it. The very best axe heads are made of forged steel, which is about the strongest and hardest material around. A good axe with a forged steel-head will be able to cut through the densest wood with ease without showing the least sign of wear-and-tear.

Steer clear of axes with heads made of recycled metal. More often than not, such heads will chip or break, and some have even been known to split in half after a few solid chops.  

Consider the right tool weight.

Power at the expense of weight, so don’t be surprised to find that the most powerful axes have heavy heads as well. If you really are dead-set on getting the most powerful axe you can, you will have to suck it up and manage the weight somehow.

But if you are willing to give up a bit of power in exchange for easier handling, you should be able to find a fairly lightweight ax that still provides adequate power for heavy jobs.

Make sure the tool has good balance.

Apart from weight, the balance and weight distribution of an axe will have a significant effect on handling and ease of use. This is one factor that often sets good axes apart from mediocre ones. A well-balanced ax will be a joy to use, enabling you to swing with ease. Conversely, a poorly-balanced axe will result in bad form and misplaced chops and simply won’t feel right when in use.

Furthermore, a heavy but well-balanced axe will actually be easier to use than a lightweight but poorly-balanced one. Properly balanced, a slightly heavier tool will provide the best combination of power and easy handling.

Will the tool last in the elements.

The durability of the axe head should be a foremost consideration. After all, this is the part of the axe that will bear the brunt of the impact. But consider the durability of the other parts of the axe as well.

One-piece designs tend to be a lot more durable than axes put together from different components. In general, one-piece axes provide longer and more reliable service than axes that have a few different sections glued or welded together.

What sized handle is right for you.

A short-handled axe will actually be easier to handle than a long-handled ax …within reason. Although a long handle will enable you to swing the axe with more power behind your stroke.

Choose a handle length that will give you sufficient chopping power yet remains easy enough to handle. This will give you the best of both worlds in terms of efficiency and manageability.

Consider the cost.

There’s no getting around it: the best axes will cost more than a cheap wooden handle axe. But you definitely won’t want to get the cheapest axe you can buy, as these will likely result in quality and performance compromises.

As with all tools it is best to set your price point and choose the best quality axe you can get at that price. Don’t get an ax that will require you to replace the handle later on.

Best wood splitting axe for at home

Most people purchase axes for splitting wood at home. If this is your primary reason for buying an axe, you need to consider a number of factors that will make the job easier and more efficient.

First off, you need an axe that isn’t too heavy or too light. The heavier your ax is, the more power you can put into the swing. But a heavy ax can be difficult to handle and can cause fatigue much sooner. You should, therefore, go for an axe that is heavy enough to split wood effectively, yet still, be light enough to handle.

Length is another factor that will affect the effectiveness of the ax and your swing. Again, long handles enable you to swing the axe with much more force. But they can also be difficult to manage. Choose a length that is best suited to your working style and preferences, and you will be able to work more efficiently.

The Tabor tools j55a 32 Inch axe is a good value-for-money plastic handle axe with good handle length for wood splitting jobs at home.

At 10.4Lbs the Fiskars iso core has a 36-inch handle for more swing power and with a heavier head, you can more easily cut through and split large wet logs. With a bash plate above the blade, it means that if you get the axe stuck in a log without splitting simply give it an additional wack with a sledgehammer to finish the split.

What’s the best camping axe’s

An axe that is ideally-suited for wood-splitting may not necessarily be the best choice for camping. Sure you need good product material and durability, but you also have to consider size, weight, and portability. You need to find a good balance between sufficient power to handle fairly heavy tasks and the portability that makes your axe easy to carry around.   

Some of the best camping axes have handles that are better suited to single-handed use than double-handed operation. Although it may be possible to use such axes two-handed, they might feel awkward for people with large hands and long arms.

Portability isn’t the only factor to consider when shopping for a camping axe. A heavy ax might help you chop wood more efficiently, but it will also be heavier to carry around. Besides, a lighter axe can still be effective at chopping wood. Of course, you might have to do smaller–as opposed to larger–cuts, but a good axe should be able to get the job done without too much trouble.

The Estwing Camper’s Axe E45ASE is made of forged steel, giving it the strength and durability to handle even the most demanding tasks. This is a good choice for clearing out branches or small trees, splitting wood for your campfire, or even chopping up sizeable logs.

The axe has a leather-coated grip that is sanded by hand and lacquered to perfection, ensuring comfortable handling. The grip itself is designed for shock reduction, reducing vibration by 70%. You also get a heavy-duty nylon sheath that protects the cutting-edge from chipping and dulling.

The Estwing Camper’s Axe is the best camping axe, it has a 26 inch long handle for a decent swing while being lighter and more portable than a standard axe. The Estwing black edition axe can split medium-sized logs for the fire and can tap in tent pegs.

The shorter version is more portable for fitting inside a backpack but has slightly less swing with the shorter handle. When portability is more important than swing power the shorter Estwing axe is the best camping tool.

What’s the best tactical throwing axe

A tactical axe is a versatile tool that can be used for chopping wood for fires, recreational ax-throwing, and worst-case scenario personal defense. Hopefully, you won’t ever get into a  hand-to-hand combat scenario. But instead, a tactical ax’s is lighter-weight for hiking long distances are also useful for several tasks at home, in your yard, or a range of great outdoor activities, and emergency extraction in case of an event such as a fire or earthquake.

Tactical axes are especially suitable for those into ax throwing as a hobby. For this purpose, the grip is especially important. Some of the best tactical axes have reinforced nylon handles that provide a secure grip even when wet. Many also have ergonomically-designed handles that ensure comfortable use.

Durability is a factor to consider when shopping for a tactical ax for camping and/or hiking. A tactical should be able to withstand regular use in extreme outdoor environments without showing signs of wear-and-tear. Choose your tactical blade carefully, and it should provide reliable use for a long time to come.

The Browning Shock N Awe Tomahawk is a handy and capable ax that can be used for chopping as well as throwing. The tan camo powder coating gives it the look and feel of a serious piece of equipment, and the sword-grade blade leaves no doubt as to its ability to withstand heavy use.

The Shock N Awe Tomahawk has a curved penetration spike that can bore a hole into the hardest and densest material. The one-piece handle has a nylon paracord wrapping that ensures a solid grip under any condition. It even has a large lanyard hole for added portability and convenience.

For a throwing axe you want a short and comfortable handle, with more weight in the head, the Shock N Awe Tomahawk has a handle that is easy to grip, weight balanced in the head and is ready for you to learn ax throwing.