Splitting wood is not an easy job. It’s a lot of hard work that requires physical strength, sweat and a proper combination of the brain, eyes, and hands. Of course, you can always hire someone to do it, or simply buy chopped pieces from stores. But if you’re looking to save some bucks, enjoy the air and get an upper body workout as well, doing it yourself is the way. And acquiring the best splitting maul on the market is part of the process.
There might be times when you are into the woods and you need some lumber in order to cook and keep yourself warm. The last you want is having some dull equipment to do the chopping part. Unless you high power hydraulic splitter, a splitting maul can serve you better than an axe, and we’ll discuss why.
Best Log Splitting Maul Comparison Chart
Image | Name | Length (Inches) | Weight (Pound) | Head Material | Handle Material | Specialty | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  | Fiskars x27 | 36 | 5.85 | Hardened forged steel | Fibercomp composite material | Ergonomic design, Vibration dampening technology. | |
  | Husqvarna | 32 | 6.5 | Hardened forged steel | Hickory shaft | Maul and Sledgehammer combined, Leather sheath. | |
  | Fiskars Iso Core | 36 | 8 | Hardened forged steel with optimized blade geometry | Composite material with IsoCore Shock Control System | Maul and Sledgehammer combined, Vibration dampening technology. | |
  | Gransfors Bruks | 31.5 | 7 | Hardened forged steel | Hickory Wood Shaft | Maul and Sledgehammer combined, Protective steel collar. | |
  | Estwing Fireside Friend | 14 | 4 | Solid American forged steel | Genuine lather coated | Combination of Axe and maul, forged in one piece, vibration dampening grip. |
Best Wood Splitting Maul Reviews
1. Fiskars x27 Review
Quick Facts
- Length- 36 inches.
- Weight- 5.85 pounds.
- Head Material- Hardened forged steel.
- Handle Material- Fibercomp composite material.
Features
1. The handle of the Fiskars splitting maul is made of fiber comp material. Despite being lightweight, the handle is stronger than steel. No matter how inappropriately you swing the maul, it’s nearly impossible to break the handle.
2. The strong material doesn’t hamper the comfort the handle provides when in hand. The handle is non-slip, which means it won’t accidentally come off the hands if your palms are sweated. The grip also acts as a vibration dampening chamber, which protects your wrists from recoil.
3. The long body (36 inches) of Fiskars x27 Super Splitting Axe gives you ample power with each swing. However, the most noteworthy feature is perhaps the blade. It looks sharp, and it is! The blade is made of forged steel which is rustproof, strong and stays sharp for a long time.
4. The blade is sharpened with an exclusive grinding technology that keeps the edge sharp for a long time. Besides, the blade has a coating that lessens the friction and stays the blade ultra-sharp.
5. They say Fiskars have the collection of best splitting maul in the world, certainly, that’s true for most parts. Just like a baseball bat, the weight balance of Fiskars X27 help swing the axe with maximum power. The convexly shaped blade is stronger and heavier than its counterparts on the market. The length is actually suitable for taller people and can handle bigger logs.
What We Like
1. Comes with 4 different lengths including the reviewed 36” model.
2. The blade design makes it easy to hit the log deeply and remove.
3. Large splitting maul with ergonomic design, easy to control and use.
4. Non-slip grip with vibration dampening technology.
5. Cheap splitting maul with top quality, suitable for even taller people.
6. Best maul for splitting firewood.
Limitations
1. Shorter users might find it challenging to use the 36 inches version. However, there are other suitable versions for them.
2. Husqvarna Splitting Maul Review
Quick Facts
- Length- 32 inches.
- Weight- 6.5 pounds.
- Head Material- Hardened forged steel.
- Handle Material- Hickory shaft.
Features
1. If you are an admirer of antique splitting maul, the Husqvarna comes with a traditional look with the latest features and versatility. The hickory wood handle gives it the look, but the safety is also ensured because both wooden and steel wedge has been used to fasten the head and handle.
2. The most remarkable feature is the versatility it provides. Along with a maul, you can also use it as a sledgehammer. The neck has hardened striking face, so you can use it either as a sled or in collaboration with splitting wedge. A money saver with a maul and a sledgehammer.
3. The handle might seem shorter to many with its 32 inches length, but the ergonomic design compensates for that. The hickory made handle comes unfinished, so you can apply varnish or linseed oil if you want it to sustain a long time.
4. The Husqvarna splitting maul comes with a leather sheath for its blade. It protects the blade from rust and being vulnerable to weather if you don’t plan to use it for a long time.
What We Like
1. Two in one, a maul that comes with a sledgehammer.
2. Traditional look with an unfinished hickory shaft.
3. Comes with different sizes from 13 inches to 32 inches.
4. The leather sheath protects the blade from environmental hazards.
5. The slightly shorter handle increases precision and accuracy.
Limitations
1. Doesn’t come with shock absorbing technology.
2. The hickory handle is susceptible to the environment in the long run.
3. Fiskars Iso Core Review
Quick Facts
- Length- 36 inches.
- Weight- 8 pounds.
- Head Material- Hardened forged steel with optimized blade geometry.
- Handle Material- Composite material with IsoCore Shock Control System.
Features
1. The 36 inches 8 lb. splitting maul is made for long, uninterrupted cutting sessions. The handle is long enough to be used by a taller man. The end of the handle is wrapped with anti-slip vulcanized rubber grip with strategic texturing so that the axe doesn’t come off during long woodcutting sessions.
2. An impressive feature the Fiscars Iso Core comes with is its vibration dampening system. The grip enables Iso Core Shock Control System, which reduces the recoil before it reaches your wrists. Not only that, there is a plastic collar just under the head that absorbs most of the recoil when it is initiated. Fiskars splitting maul reviews shows that the users admire this dual vibration control system.
3. It comes with an inseparable head, so you can rest assured it won’t come off unexpectedly. The head comes with two faces. The blade side for splitting wood, and the driving face side for wedges, stakes. The driving face works as a sledgehammer.
4. The blade is strong enough to withstand the agonies of wood cutting. The forged, heat-treated blade is quite sharp and should stay so for a long time. The blade has a rust-resistant coating that protects it from environmental hazards.
What We Like
1. Versatile and heavy splitting maul with cutting face and sledgehammer face.
2. American slitting maul, safe and tested against U.S standards.
3. Ergonomic handle with a double layer of shock-resistant protection.
4. Impressive blade geometry to cut larger logs. Hefty head ensures deep penetration.
5. Inseparable head, long and ergonomic handle, suitable for taller people.
6. Considering the price and the features against that, this is the Best Splitting Maul For The Money.
Limitations
1. It’s heavy. It can be both good or bad. Swinging an 8 pounds maul repeatedly is a challenging task.
2. The grip will wear over time around the place where you place your fingers.
4. Gransfors Bruks Splitting Maul Review
Quick Facts
- Length- 31.5 inches.
- Weight- 7 pounds.
- Head Material- Hardened forged steel.
- Handle Material- Hickory Wood Shaft.
Features
1. Gransfors is respected for the quality it delivers, even more than the popular Fiskars when it comes to cutting bigger logs. The traditional look is a pleasure for the eyes. However, being made in Sweden, Gransfors represents European version of the maul. The cutting blade is comparatively thinner, which allows users to work with different types and sizes of wood.
2. The mauls are handmade in Gransfors Bruk’s forge in Sweden. The forged carbon steel is sharp and that can be seen with bare eyes. Along with the sharp blade, the heftiness of the head delivers more poundage while cutting woods.
3. Under the head, there is an overstrike protection collar. It looks good, and it’s useful too. It protects the handle from breaking if you overstrike a log. You’ll get off with a dented collar instead of possibly breaking the handle or head.
4. The handle is made of American grade-A hickory. It has a nice texture, density, and strength. The handle is ergonomic and strikes a balance with the head, giving you maximum power with each strike.
5. To protect the blade when you’re not using it, Gransfors splitting maul comes with a handmade sheath. The sheath is made from vegetable tanned leather. It helps to retain the sharpness of the blade and protect from environmental damage.
What We Like
1. Quality producers like Gränsfors with a blending of European design.
2. Handmade, no chemical finished applied. Environmentally safe.
3. Comes with a leather sheath to protect the blade.
4. The concave thin blade that goes with different types of woods.
Limitations
1. Medium sized handle, might not be suitable for taller people.
5. Estwing Fireside Friend Review
Quick Facts
- Length- 14 inches.
- Weight- 4 pounds.
- Head Material- Solid American steel.
- Handle Material- Genuine leather coated.
Features
1. The product isn’t like the other products we have covered. It can be best described as a compromise between an axe and a maul. And what a compromise it is! With an axe-like sharp splitting blade and maul like driving face, you can use the Estwing for multiple purposes.
2. The Estwing maul come axe is comparatively small sized, suitable for camp-uses. While you should expect any magic, this maul deals with medium sized log quite easily. Its lightweight and easy to carry around.
3. The whole maul is made as one, unbroken piece. The head design makes this maul suitable for multipurpose design. It can be used either as a maul or an axe. And the flat face can be used as a sledgehammer to use with wedges.
4. The grip is a comfort for the wrists. The shock absorbing vinyl grip is hand sanded and lacquered which makes it long lasting as well as comfy. The forged steel used on the blade is difficult to break. Thus, a lifetime warranty demonstrates the manufacturer’s confidence.
What We Like
1. A combination of maul’s strength and axe’s ease of use.
2. Comes with a heavy-duty, ballistic nylon sheath to protect the blade.
3. Made in the USA, using the best quality American steel.
4. The grip and the UV coating reduces the shock up to 70%.
5. Best axe maul for splitting wood.
Limitations
1. Cutting big sized logs will be a challenge.
What Is A Splitting Maul?
Also known as block splitter, hamaxe, block buster, a splitting maul is a cutting device that comes with long handle and blade. One side of that blade looks like a sledgehammer, heavy (usually 6 to 8 pounds) and able to deliver powerful blows. The other side looks like an axe. Splitting mauls are made to chop alongside grains, and they are effective long after being dull. If you apply your splitting maul with proper force, it should split the cut section with a single attempt, unless the section is too long or contains a knot within. However, the wide head of the blade helps to make sure the blade doesn’t get stuck into the wood. This feature made splitting mauls particularly popular among regular users, adventurers, and survivalists.
Splitting Maul Vs Axe
Many people refer to splitting mauls as splitting axe. But they are not quite the same equipment. Axes, being 4000 years old, gets the benefit of being widely known. But are they better? While that doesn’t hurt in regular conversations, you ought to know the difference when you intend to buy one. There are differences in their features, working style, and functions, and we’re going to jump into splitting axe vs maul comparison to bring a clearer picture.
1. Weight Of The Maul/ Axe
As we said, the weight of a splitting maul revolves around 6 to 8 pounds, while an axe weighs between 3 to 6 pounds. Axes are lighter, so you can use it for a longer time without fatigue. Also, swinging an axe is easier, especially when you are not accustomed to log splitting.
However, being lightweight comes with its fair share of limitations. For instance, efficiency. While the maul is more efficient with its weight and sledgehammer like head, the axe takes up more effort from you. A maul allows you to use brute force, thus reducing the time spent on each log. However, you’ll get tired quickly because of the weight.
2. Head Shapes
The most visible difference is in the head design. While splitting mauls come with wide heads that look like a sledgehammer, axes come with narrowing heads with sharper blades. The narrow shape of the axe allows several uses, like cutting wood across the grain and chopping them.
As for mauls, driving them across the trunk might be dangerous because of the weight. They are better options when you have to split wood alongside the grain. The fat, heavy head along the hollows between the fibers allow chopping wood with a single attempt.
The narrow nature of the head of an axe comes with some limitations. Although you can cut across the trunk, getting stuck is a regular occurrence if you apply too much force at once. Although mauls need harder effort, they’ll talk once you have been habituated with the work.
3. Handle Length
Another feature that can be differentiated in plain eyes is the handle. Mauls, being heavy, needs longer handles. A longer handle means you can stay clear of the wood and the maul is not likely to land into your feet accidentally. Considering the weight of the blade, this is an important safety measure.
On the other hands, splitting axes are mainly used to chop trunks across the grain. Which means they come with a shorter handle to ease the job. The shorter handle allows you to judge the distance and hitting place better and helps you hit the same spot every time.
Here is a method to tell whether the device is a maul or an axe based on the handle. If the handle is more than your arm length, then it’s a maul. If the handle is equal or shorter than your arm length, then it’s an axe. Not exactly science, but it’ll help you when you need to take a decision.
4. Handle Material
Axe, having a long history (probably more than most of the tools), historically comes with wood handles. Most of us remember axe with a wooden handle. However, modern brands have started using composite materials.
As for mauls, the handle needs to be strong and able to withstand the recoil that comes with using a heavy blade. Although wooden handles are not uncommon, most of the time the handle is made of plastic, hickory, or fiberglass.
5. Use
Honestly, to me, it depends on the using purpose. I mean, an axe is better for chipping woods or cutting across the trunk. So, if there’s any need to cut a tree trunk, I’ll happily choose an axe. There are many occasions when you need to cut across trunks, such as building cabins, and an axe will come in handy in these situations.
On the other hand, there are no matching splitting mauls when it comes to splitting wood pieces. The weight, structure and long handle make it extremely easy to apply brute force. Thus, you’ll be able to split a good amount of wood within a short time. The cut wooden pieces are used for an indoor fireplace, cooking and outdoor camping.
At the end of the day, it comes to your own taste and preferences. Once you are accustomed to splitting wood, common guidelines are just subjected to experience. There are woodworkers or regular users who use both axe and maul interchangeably.
Best Mauls For Splitting Wood Buying Guide
1. The Length Of The Handle
The handle length determines how much strength you can put with each swing. Obviously, we are using a maul to make cutting wood faster. Using a longer handle helps with that purpose. A long handle ensures you are not easily fatigued.
Usually, the length of an axe ranges from 22 inches to 28 inches. On the other hand, splitting maul handles range between 32 inches to 36 inches. The height of the users determines which one is suitable for him.
2. Handle Material
When it comes to maul handle material, there are two options that are used. Traditional wooden handle and handle made of fiberglass and other composite materials.
The wood handle is available and cheaper option, yet vulnerable to the environment. The handle can weaken over time. However, that doesn’t hamper its popularity because they are comfortable, and when most people imagine maul handles, they imagine the wooden ones.
Handles made of fiberglass or plastic are lighter and provides better grip when wet. Also, they are constructed in the most ergonomic way possible to eliminate fatigue. Most of them come with anti-shock trait.
You might think most of the modern brands opt for composite materials for the handle. To your surprise, you’ll find the most popular brands who make handcrafted axes/ mauls come with wooden handles.
3. Head
Head, more specifically the weight of the head is another important factor. The weight works as a double-edged sword. A heavy head will provide better force but lifting it will also be a challenge.
You need to strike a balance here. The choice depends on the strength and weight of the user. If you think the weight will make you tired quickly when swinging, then opt for a lighter head. However, expect to have lesser efficiency.
It’s a good idea to check the sharpness before purchasing. It comes handy if you want to use it right away. You can always sharpen it later, but why take that hassle just after you buy a new one?
4. Head And Handle Connection
There is a correlation between the handle length and the head weight. The heftier the head is, the handle should be longer in order to compensate for that. A disproportional correlation might make using the maul difficult, even risky.
While purchasing a maul, check and make sure the head is properly connected to the handle. The socket should be durable, tight and strong.
5. Fixed Head Or Multi-Piece Head
Although we know the handle and head comes attached, there are models in which they come apart. This allows you to use heads of different weight. Also, the sharpening job becomes a little easier.
However, there’s always a danger of heads coming off accidentally. While the building mechanism makes that unlikely, if you want to stay on the safe side, go for a maul that comes attached.
6. Sheath
It’s not necessary for the best splitting axe maul to come with a sheath. However, that adds some extra benefit on top of the qualities. The sheath protects the blade from environmental hazard, rust or being dull quickly. It also provides added security when you are on a trip and keeps it on the trunk with other materials.
Wrapping It Up
It’s always a good choice to have both splitting maul and an axe. They are designed for sperate uses, and for the regular user, both will come in handy in different situations. But if you choose to have one, it rather should be a splitting maul. Why? Because while it might be heavier, it’ll deal with bigger logs that a normal axe can’t handle.
When you go for it, make sure you make a careful choice and purchase none other than top splitting maul. Obviously, the top one depends on your requirements, but where there is a question of safety, you better not compromise with the quality. Hopefully, our best splitting maul reviews guide will help you with that.
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