Top 9 The Best Gardening Axes in 2025

Anyone who chops firewood, enjoys camping and other outdoor activities, has many trees on their land, and should have a decent axe. There are various axes, but the two most frequently used are best gardening axes, also known as mauls, and felling axes, also known as chopping axes. Homesteader and author Diane Kuthy, who founded the site How to Grow Everything, explains. "A best gardening axe's weight and somewhat dull edge are designed to split large pieces of firewood through impact rather than sharpness. For splitting large chunks of firewood, splitting mauls work well. Axes used for felling are smaller and sharper. These axes remove undergrowth, topple trees, chop branches, split kindling, and chip wood."

Axes were assessed for their robustness, ergonomics, usefulness, and balance. The Fiskars Super Splitting Inch 378841 1002, one of our favorites, is a reliable instrument that's well-balanced for felling trees and other chopping work while being easy on your hands and wrists.

Here are the best gardening axes to consider in several different categories.

Best Overall Axe: Fiskars Super Splitting Inch 378841 1002

Best Budget: Fiskars Chopping Storage Carrying Included

Best for Log Splitting: WilFiks Splitting Gardening Fiberglass Reduction

Best for Yardwork: Cold Steel CS90TA BRK Trail Boss

Best for Felling Trees: CRKT Woods Chogan Tomahawk Ax

Best for Camping: ESTWING Fireside Friend Axe Construction

Best for Kindling: LEXIVON Lightweight Fiber glass Protective LX V28

Best Double Bit: Estwing Campers Axe Construction Reduction

Best Survival: Estwing Tomahawk Axe Lightweight Construction

1. Fiskars Super Splitting Inch 378841 1002 – Best Overall

One of the greatest gardening axes available for taller users that need to split medium- and large-sized logs is the Fiskars Super Splitting Inch 378841 1002. They include a non-slip grip to ease hand strain and retain perfect control, and they are made to ensure that more splits only require one blow.

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It only takes one swing to realize how precisely weighted and balanced; some have even drawn comparisons to aluminum baseball bats.

Hand protection with a non-slip grip

36" in length, with the ideal balance and power-to-weight ratio. Advanced convex blade for more power.

PROS

Blade shape allows you to remove the axe from wood easily

Perfect for taller users.

Added control and hand strain reduction

CONS

Might be difficult to use if you are short

2. Fiskars Chopping Storage Carrying Included

Log splitting is frequently the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of a conventional axe. As opposed to using a chopping or felling axe, which is often wielded in a horizontal motion to cut down a tree or hack through the undergrowth, splitting means you are swinging the axe in a vertical motion to split a log into two roughly equal halves.

The Fiskars Chopping Storage Carrying Included goes one step further with both a splitting face and a driving face, which is ideal for driving wedges or striking with a mallet to add force to your splitting efforts. Log-splitting axes frequently called mauls, typically have a wedge-shaped cutting head to maximize the splitting power.

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The Fiskars Chopping Storage Carrying Included is specially made to give you a clean and effective split with every stroke when splitting logs into isolated areas, on a homestead, or at home. The dual-layer rubbery coating further decreases vibration and the innovative IsoCore handle considerably reduces shock and vibration to your arms and hands.

Pros

Two faces: one for splitting, one for driving

Head is shaped for optimal splitting force

Shock-reducing handle to protect wrists and hands

Cons

Few complaints of the handle breaking

3. WilFiks Splitting Gardening Fiberglass Reduction

If you simply want to use your axe periodically for small chopping and splitting jobs around your campground or yard, there's no need to invest a lot of money on one. WilFiks Splitting Gardening Fiberglass Reduction is a cost-effective axe that works well for making kindling or fuel out of small to medium-sized logs and branches.

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Our Hatchet has a Forged Carbon Steel Heat Treated blade which improves its density, makes it more durable, and produces smooth, sharp, and quick splits. You can count on this Felling Axe to stay sharp much longer than traditional axes, delivering superior and long-lasting performance!

The carbon-steel head weighs 5.09 Pounds, which is just enough weight to cut through the brush, small trees, and other standard camping or backyard needs without wearing you out. The head and handle are well-balanced, allowing for a fluid swing with little effort. But remember, you'll have to sharpen the blade.

Pros

Perfect size for camping

Includes sheath

Cons

Only suited to tiny trees and brush

Requires sharpening before first use

4. Cold Steel CS90TA BRK Trail Boss

The appropriate equipment can make the difference between life and death in the wild. Even short camping trips need the right equipment to survive. This contains a small, reliable axe you can use to make firewood, clear pathways, or, without any other weapons, defend oneself against wild creatures. This increases the significance of choosing the proper camping axe for a fun time in the woods. Having a reliable tool is essential when camping.

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Cold Steel CS90TA BRK Trail Boss has a straightforward steel axe head and a special, multifunctional handle that conceals a variety of other survival gear, including a compass, knife, hammer, and fire starter. Each item is kept in its compartment of the handle, making it simple to locate and use the appropriate tool whenever you need it without having to look for it.

Pros

Combines several valuable tools in one, making it perfect for camping or survival.

The tubular handle lets you adjust the length to your needs.

Cons

Not for heavy-duty use.

Depending on the specific task, the ax is designed in many different designs. A felling axe is the tool of choice for felling trees. Your go-to axe for cutting meat would be a hunter's axe. A camping hatchet would be necessary for bushcraft activities. A pickaxe would be needed for mining. Tomahawks are the axe of preference if you want to get into axe throwing, though some people also use a hatchet. You see what I mean.

Size and weight

Best gardening axes come in various weights and sizes. You should consider how much room you have for the task at hand. With a long-handled axe, you may use gravity to your advantage when swinging. However, it will increase the weight, so if you need more room to swing it fully, you are only putting out more energy.

Knowing how much weight you can physically swing is crucial. The best gardening axes range in weight from four to eight pounds. The work at hand weighs between 4 and 6 pounds, and most people who chop wood find that the axes they use the best match their physical capabilities.

Safety

You should think about the manufacturer's reputation for safety reasons. It might be wise to spend a little more money on an axe from a company that has been producing them for many years and has excellent customer evaluations rather than one from a smaller, less well-known business. If an axe is badly made, the head can come off and cause severe human injuries. When it comes to keeping all of your toes, the quality of an axe maybe everything!

The handle must be held with a secure grip. The hands and wrists are susceptible to severe injury from the vibrations of an axe striking its target. The best handles for stress absorption are those made of wood. The preferred woods for shafts are hickory and ash because they feel cozier in hand than less popular types of wood. Due to its capacity to absorb shock, fiberglass, a relatively new axe handle material, has gained popularity. These best gardening axes are a great deal more expensive, though.

Axe Price Range

Axes can be purchased anywhere between $15 to $200, with a typical cost of around $40. Axe type, function, and brand affect pricing and other factors.

The cost of sharpening your axe, whether using your tools or asking someone else to do it, must be considered when creating your budget. Because it is assumed that the best gardening axes are used for splitting, most axes are marketed bluntly. Your axe needs to be sharpened if you intend to use it for anything other than this or decoration. Axe sharpening tools cost about $20 to purchase.

We frequently communicate with the world's largest axe producers and sellers to ensure our knowledge of axes is current. We consult subject-matter authorities who have consistently employed a range of axes throughout their careers. Only the best gardening axes make it onto our list of recommended products, according to our team members that enjoy DIY.

We read a lot of evaluations from regular consumers because we know that only some are skilled axemen. The industry is constantly growing and altering. We keep our research current to provide the most reliable information.

What are some safety tips for using an axe?

Tanisha Peten, the chief marketing officer for the outdoor lifestyle website Garrett Wade, provides Axe safety advice. "Awareness of where the blade is and where it might go is essential when using woodworking equipment like axes. Keep a tight grasp on your axe at all times to keep track of its location concerning you and your surroundings.

Carry axes with the handle curled up towards your body and a firm grip on the sheathed blade. When cutting objects lower than your waist, maintain a wide stance so the blade will swing between your knees if you miss the mark. And whenever using an axe, always wear closed-toed shoes (or boots, ideally).

What kind of maintenance does an axe require?

If you use the axe frequently, you may need to sharpen it regularly. Watch for signs of rust because nicks are fairly common. To prevent rust, oil the head before putting it in the sheath. Wood-handled axes may also need periodic oiling to maintain the strength and appearance of the wood.

When should I buy a double-bit axe?

Double-bit axes are like having one blunt axe for splitting and one sharp axe for cutting and chopping. It is a great piece of equipment that boasts multi-functionality and saves space.

Fiskars Super Splitting Inch 378841 1002 Axe’s length, weight, and durability make it an ideal pick for splitting into high volumes. It’ll make you sweat, but it also splits better than any other models on the list. For basic function and all-around portability, the ESTWING Fireside Friend Axe ConstructionAxe is a top pick at a great price. Its comfortable handle  and compact size make it a go-to choice for quick splitting or clearing a campsite.