1. Estwing Fireside Friend
Don’t let the petite size and light weight fool you – the Estwing Fireside Friend is a hatchet-sized maul that delivers outstanding results.
Robustly built of high-grade American steel, the forged, one-piece construction gives plenty of heft and power for a small tool.
Meant for a one-handed swing, it cleanly rends small logs and wood rounds along the grain and chops kindling like it’s slicing butter.
Estwing Fireside Friend
The head is double tempered for exceptional hardness and the bit is hand-sharpened for a precision edge. The large, round poll end can be used with a sledge or wedge as needed.
A durable vinyl grip is permanently bonded and molded to the handle, providing shock reduction and ergonomic comfort by absorbing and reducing impact vibration.
Finished to exacting standards, the four-pound, royal blue head and 14-inch shaft are covered with a protective UV coating. Included is a nylon sheath for head protection while in storage.
Well-made and highly effective, it’s perfect for camping or the backyard fire pit.
Current prices and customer reviews can be found at Walmart.
2. Fiskars IsoCore Maul
The Fiskars IsoCore maul is big and well-designed to plow through knotty or green wood, with a brawny head and vibration-free handle.
The dual head provides a splitting face and an extra-large driving poll for striking wedges and stakes.
Fiskars IsoCore Maul
Forged and heat treated, the steel is strong, tough, and durable, with a rust-resistant coating that helps to prevent sticking when driven deep into wood.
The blade geometry has been optimized with a convex wedge shape to efficiently rend along the grain, forcing wood apart.
A high-end composite handle provides optimal comfort with an insulating, steel-reinforced fiberglass core.
Shock waves are absorbed and dispersed, and a comfortable, textured grip of thermoplastic rubber reduces fatigue. The handle heel has a flared edge to prevent slips, keeping your swing controlled and powerful.
Fiskars IsoCore Maul
Safety features include a riveted head that won’t slip or separate and a steel-reinforced shoulder guard to prevent damage from overstrikes.
Tested to exceed both US and ISO standards for striking tool endurance, the Fiskars IsoCore measures 36 inches and has an eight-pound head.
Made in Finland, this is a big, well-built stick for big jobs. It comes with a lifetime warranty to be free of defects in materials and workmanship.
Read customer reviews and check prices now at Walmart.
3. Fiskars Super Splitting Axe
Light and nimble, the Super Splitting Axe has an extra-long, 36-inch handle that generates plenty of head speed to tackle most backyard firewood chores.
With perfect weight distribution and the wedge-shaped geometry of a maul, it also has a sharp cutting edge to maximize performance, biting into and rending wood with little effort.
Fiskars Super Splitting Axe
The heat-treated, forged steel blade has a hard, sharp edge and a low-friction coating that helps it travel cleanly through wood without getting stuck. And for extra security, the head is over-molded so the blade can’t separate from the handle.
The FiberComp handle is made for ergonomic comfort with a nylon/fiberglass composite that provides excellent shock absorption. The durable composite also protects against overstrikes and is rust- and corrosion-free, and the hooked end prevents slipping.
The Super Splitting Axe has a four-pound head, and it’s lightweight and easy to control with the long handle.. Made in Finland, it comes with a lifetime warranty against defects in materials or workmanship.
Find current prices and customer reviews now at Tractor Supply.
4. Fiskars X11
The ideal tool for small or quick jobs, Fiskars X11 is compact and beautifully balanced, easily splitting small logs and kindling with a one-handed swing.
Molded of high-carbon steel, the blade has an ultra-sharp edge for chopping or limbing and a broad, robust head with a non-friction coating that cleanly rends along the grain, dispersing wood with a minimum of strikes.
Fiskars X11
The FiberComp handle has a hollow chamber that absorbs shock and an overmold provides shoulder protection, ensuring the head is permanently in place and won’t loosen. The textured handle gives ergonomic comfort and the deer-hoof tip keeps it firmly in hand.
The handle measures 17 inches and the head weighs two and three-quarter pounds. Made in Finland, it comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
High quality in a mini maul size that’s well-suited for camping or the firepit, this model is available via Amazon.
5. Garrett Wade Professional Maul
For those who enjoy the natural feel of a wooden handle, Garrett Wade’s Professional splitting maul uses oiled American hickory for a tool that’s well-balanced and efficient at quickly working through billets or logs.
The forged German steel axe head has distinctive raised cheeks, forming a wedge to push wood apart and prevent sticking. A solid, rectangular poll can strike or be struck as needed to wedge through larger jobs.
Garrett Wade Professional Maul
The straight-grained hickory handle has a flared tip to maintain a sure grip, and an extra-wide shoulder with a red steel spaulder prevents damage and shock from overstrikes.
The Garrett Wade Pro has a 31-inch handle and a four-pound head. Made in Germany, it comes with a 90-day money back guarantee. Returns in the USA are paid by Garrett Wade with the prepaid shipping label included in the original packaging.
Mid-sized and lightweight, this is a big-time performer. Find prices and customer reviews at Garrett Wade.
6. Garrett Wade Super Splitter
A Garrett Wade exclusive, the Super Splitter maul features a six-pound head of German steel with a sharp, convex bit that quickly broadens to wide shoulders – the ideal combo to bite into and rend rounds without jamming, even in tight-grained wood.
Garrett Wade Super Splitter
The sturdy handle of straight and true oiled American hickory has a slightly hooked tip to maintain a safe grip. Extra-wide shoulders have a red steel safety collar that helps resist shock from overstrikes and prevents damage to the upper handle.
The handle measures 31 inches and the head weighs six pounds. Made in Germany, Garrett Wade provides a 90-day money back guarantee.
Sturdy and well-balanced with the natural feel of wood, this is another excellent option. Find it now at Garrett Wade.
7. Gransfors Bruk Splitting Maul
Hand-forged in Sweden, the Gransfors Splitting Maul is a heavy-duty tool, combining a five-and-a-half-pound steel head with a 31.5-inch hickory handle, for an overall weight of just over seven pounds.
The head tapers into a sharp blade, cutting easily through large, hard pieces of wood. With a well-balanced handle that features circular grooves to allow for easy grip, this is a high-quality tool that will last a lifetime.
Gransfors Bruk Splitting Maul
The head is attached to the wooden handle with a traditional wooden wedge, featuring a protective steel collar to shield against damage.
It ships with a vegetable-tanned leather sheath and the manufacturer provides a 20-year warranty against defects.
Since it’s forged from steel, make sure you clean the head after use and lubricate it with oil regularly to prevent rust.
This is a premium product that offers solid craftsmanship from a well-established business.
You can find the Gransfors Bruk Splitting Maul available via Amazon.
8. Halder Simplex Maul
Halder Simplex’s nine-pound maul features a unique head with a forged steel blade for splitting and a poll end of superplastic nylon for striking wedges.
The wedge-shaped head has a sharp bit for biting into wood and the durable superplastic is engineered to hit hardened steel without cracking or chipping, even in cold temperatures.
Halder Simplex Maul
A cast iron housing unit neatly holds all the pieces together. With excellent break resistance, it forms a protective overstrike area and is easily disassembled to replace components as needed.
A long-grained hickory handle absorbs shock without shattering and is lightly contoured for ergonomic comfort.
The Simplex head weighs nine pounds and the handle measures 35 inches. Made in Germany, it comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
This is a tough, durable hybrid for heavy-duty jobs. Customer ratings and prices can be found at Home Depot.
9. Husky Premium Log Super Splitter
Husky’s Premium Super Splitter is constructed to specifications that exceed ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) standards.
Delivering outstanding durability and safety, the axe-head is built with large, raised cheeks to neatly cleave small to mid-sized rounds or whittle up a pile of kindling.
The forged head has a sharp blade that bites cleanly into surfaces while the wedge forcefully rends along the grain, easily splitting wood with a minimal number of strikes.
Husky Premium Log Super Splitter
A double- injected fiberglass handle increases strength and durability, and a full sleeve encircles the shoulder for overstrike protection. A soft TPR rubber handle gives a comfortable, sure-handed grip and the deer-hoof tip ensures it won’t slip from your hands.
The handle measures 34 inches and the head weighs four pounds. Made in Vietnam, it comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
Lightweight but effective for fatigue-free chopping, maybe this is the tool for you. Prices and customer reviews are available at Home Depot.
10. Husqvarna Splitting Axe
The Husqvarna splitting axe is a cross between a hatchet and a maul, constructed of high-quality, drop forged steel with a sharp axe bit and flared edges that form a wedge, effectively cutting small to medium pieces of firewood.
Husqvarna Splitting Axe
The head is treated with a nonstick coating that reduces friction when driving through tight grains, and the flat, milled butt can be used as a hammer with aluminum or plastic wedges, but should not be used on steel wedges.
The composite rubber handle is fiberglass reinforced, providing a comfortable, shock-absorbing grip, plus tough, long-lasting durability. A stainless steel spaulder provides protection to the overstrike area.
The handle measures 24 inches and the head weighs two and seven-tenths pounds. Made in Sweden, Husqvarna provides a limited lifetime warranty.
Small, light, and easy to maneuver for medium duties, you can check prices and find customer reviews now at Amazon.
11. Razor-Back #8 Wood Maul
A full-sized tool constructed with a brawny, eight-pound head of quality forged steel, the Razor-Back #8 maul is designed for excellent control, functionality, and safety.
The sturdy, wedge-shaped head has a deep bit for rending logs and rounds plus a large, round poll for striking wedges. And the head-to-handle connection is reinforced with a steel pin for maximum safety and head retention.
Razor-Back #8 Wood Maul
A solid fiberglass core absorbs shocks through the length of the handle and the thermoplastic rubber (TPE) overmold gives a comfortable, secure grip.
Three layers of TPE form the overstrike collar and the flared tip ensures safe handling without slippage.
The Razor-Back #8 has an eight-pound head and 34-inch handle. Assembled in the USA using American-made as well as internationally sourced components, it comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
Well-built and comfortable for extended use, consider adding this model to your tool chest. Prices and customer reviews can be found at Home Depot.
Axes vs. Mauls
While they have many similarities, axes and mauls serve different functions.
Both are simple machines that use a wedge and lever.
The handle is a lever that increases head speed – or in other words, the longer the handle, the more speed it creates.
The head is wedge-shaped to transfer energy into a cut or split. A narrow wedge is better for cutting and a wide wedge is best for splitting.
Head weight is variable, with heavier heads increasing energy at impact.
Let’s have a quick look at how they work.
