6 Best Hatchets for Splitting Wood in 2024

Published on: February 16, 2022
Written by Eric Devin / Fact-checked by David Rowan

If we talk about splitting hatchets and mauls, both are suitable for splitting wood and making kindlings. Whether it is smaller fresh felled logs like green wood, lumber, cured, dry round woods. Hatchets are handier than mauls for their fab lightweight feature and smaller but thicker profile.

One side with a sharp blade and a designed sledgehammer on the back-end point. The front end hopes you know what it is for. But the back end of the hatchet head is often used to move in splitting wedges. Apart from its inability to fall trees, capable of severing wood that you put on the ground.

Getting the worthy hatchet for splitting wood should not yield a splitting headache. Yet, having a trendy one does not always intend to feature accuracy in your pocket. Hundreds of options can overwhelm you by looking at more and more online available ones now. Well-informed consumers can achieve the best one for money. 

So do we have assembled a list of hatchets for splitting wood, including a buyer’s guide? Follow and evaluate one by one as per your need.

How to Select a Hatchet for Splitting Wood?

Handle

Like the overall durability, you cannot undervalue the handle quality while buying a hatchet as per your need. Because all well can, durability relies most on this factor. It somehow matters how a hatchet blade contacts splitting wood. But how your hand feels from the grip, matters a lot. Read more: How to Choose Small Gas-Powered Chainsaws

The best hatchets may last season after season. Handle quality holds such a preferable area; you have the perfect choices at present. All these include either wooden shafts or upgraded to steel or some other metal shafts. 

Though a wooden-handled holds a traditional look and comforts your hands. Whether upgraded forged one-piece or steel or other metal-made ones have better durability. As well you can go after one which concludes a shock absorption grip for no hand straining.  

Blade

The oldest first opt-out factor, which people would take into consideration while shopping for a hatchet for splitting wood. We agree that it is important if it contains an ultra-sharp edge on itself. 

Another aspect that can explain how long your hatchet can go without any sharpening puck. Yes, it is a low-friction coating. The good coating makes it last longer, even if you use it on the hardwood with great force.

For instance, Fiskars 375501-1001 integrates a proprietary blade-grinding technique. The strategy secures the cutting edge from the overstrike breakage. Between uses, sheath the beast’s head whether it varies from leather, nylon, or plastic one with the tool.

Hatchet Head

To look for the axe for split wood, search for a wedge-molded hatchet head, ideally with a hand-trimmed and finished sharp edge. For wood-slashing executions that hold without fail, look for the hardest steel accessible.

Grips

Most of the optimal axes, including the tactical axes, the camp axe positioning, and the hunting axe, have an ergonomically formed perception that is intended to be held securely in any event when wet. A decent grip is an important safety highlight when cutting wood or setting up dinner in the camping area. One part of our top picks has an elastic hold, while the other goes with the cowhide wrap.

Quick Solutions

How to Use a Hatchet for Splitting Wood?

You split wood by preparing its working environment, right? Everybody should and this classic approach to a larger piece of wood or a leveled tree stamp. Then you raise your hatchet over and bring it down. It takes a lot of time, so when you stick your butt out after frequent times, you drop your knees. 

This adds enough force to your axe swing and makes splitting wood easier, mostly during camping times. As much as possible, keep your back straight which saves your hand from straining and your back from a lot of pain. Use this key strategy, whether it is dry wood or green wood, and timbers as well.

Which Hatchet From the 6 Best Options Is the Most Suitable for Wood Splitting?

If you’re looking for a hatchet specifically for wood splitting, the Fiskars X7 Hatchet is a top choice. With its perfect balance and powerful blade, it’s designed for efficient wood splitting. And if you need some guidance, be sure to check out a splitting wood tutorial to refine your technique.

How to Use a Splitting Maul?

If your wood chunks are light, yet long enough and ready for dividing out, hence splitting maul is the smartest choice. It is an absolute form of a sledgehammer. Its built-in additional power, containing its heavy weight, allows it to split even heavy logs at a faster speed. So, analyzing its basic side is not good for smaller users.

The usage tactic of splitting firewood with mauls is quite similar to the hatchet. But one different step is, before striking on the large piece, marking the hitting point. Then practice for a while and strike with huge force to bring it down in two pieces. 

Splitting Hatchets vs. Mauls?

People who do not know the basic differences between these 2 striking tools should acknowledge them before shopping for one of them. In many developed countries, people nowadays like to buy ready-split wood. Though in outdoor functions, these are necessary.

Hatchets are the ideal device for numerous home chores. Often used for splitting sections of large kindling into smaller ones. As well as trimming a bunch or cutting through a young tree. Described as a shorter axe, you can take its one-hand usage advantage rather than two.

On the contrary, splitting mauls have a bigger length by the handle than hatchets. Whether hatchets accomplish home-around chores, the mauls often used to crush short logs with their weighty head and big cutting edge. 

View Top 6 Hatchets for Splitting Wood, Below

1. Husqvarna 13-inches Hatchet for Splitting Wood

• Weight: 2.05 pounds;
• Length: 13”;
• Premium 1.32 lbs. hand-forged axe head;
• Made with hickory and Swedish steel;
• Comes with a leather edge cover;
• Made in Sweden.

Searching for a good all-around hatchet? This 13” long wooden-handled hatchet will not let you go wrong with itself. Husqvarna’s small, yet powerful hatchets are quite better. As well as this one excels in every corner of the area, you would prefer to let a hatchet excel. 

Featuring a strong composite handle of pro-preferred American Hickory wood. This means to manage better than the small wooden handled equivalent hatchets. If we consider its hand-forged Swedish steel great blade, also coated with heat-treated metal, which lasts longer sharpness. Even reduces the damage to the blade, which takes over time.

Also, you can take advantage of the mounted head, which ensures accurate fastening. Rather impossible to separate the handle and head by the strongest strike on hardwood, though. 

Overall it is quite a well-balancing, weight-to-ratio device. To get powerful blows, we bet neither find a better husky model than this.   

What we liked

• Strong handle;
• Solid fastening between head and handle;
• Well-balanced;
• Durable;
• Inexpensive;
• Leather edge cover.

Disliked 

• Nothing found.

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2. Estwing EFF4SE Splitting Maul

• Weight: 7 pounds;
• Length: 14”;
• Head material: solid American steel;
• Handle material: half-wooden and forged steel;
• Style: splitting maul.

The next one is the outdoorsman’s fireside friend Maul from the Estwing series EFF4SE. If you plan to go on a paddle, hike, or any other adventure, you can grab and pack this in your bag. However, this standard haft (more than a hatchet) does not allow all by itself for felling big trees or chopping logs. As it is not even that much of well-empowered to use in such a heavier task. You can split not more than 2 feet of lengthy logs. 

Crafted from quality materials with an entire shock absorption grip. This means to make your arms less tiring and secure yourself during outdoor jobs. The entire model, forged in one piece, presents itself as a kind of strengthened possible sledgehammer. It comes up with a kinky center gravity, which makes its balance off as if it is metal throughout.

Apart from splitting wood fibers, it also creates smaller chunks by reducing 70% vibration like a tool for splitting kindling. Whether we talk about its sheath, coated with a ballistic nylon portion out of the factory. 

What we liked

• Smart as a shorter axe;
• Reasonable;
• Forged in one piece;
• Nylon sheath included;
• Reasonable;
• Durable.

Disliked 

• Poor balance.

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3. Hults Bruk Bjork Hatchet for Splitting Wood

• Weight: 3.09 pounds;
• Length: 20”;
• Head material: American hickory handle;
• Handle material: US-made leather sheath;
• Style: hatchet.

Hults Bruk Bjork is a 20-inches long axe. In particular, you are applying more for better-off split firewood than dividing logs in a classy place. If you are after something like that, this Agdor one will not let you be unhappy with camping and fine carving of small wooden pieces. 

All credit goes to its classic turpentine pattern head, which has a cutting edge over 3-inches long and is razor-sharp. The blade is either forged carbon steel or stainless steel. Being coated with a lower friction type, like the closest lump of molten steel. Which lets the shape make chopping easy without covering down the blade’s edge. Thus we have experienced the head and its sharp edge, as it is intended for creating more kindling and some light backcountry jobs.

It comes with a hard head-handle connection that becomes stubborn to separate. As well it serves lifelong all-purpose hatchet features, like tucked leather belt sheaths to carry for wilderness survival.  

What we liked

• Low-friction blade;
• Very handy and easy to tuck;
• Blend of toughness and hardness;
• Seldom needs sharpening touch;
• Well-balanced.

Disliked 

• Nothing found.

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4. Estwing E44A Camper’s Hatchet

• Weight: 7 pounds;
• Length: 16”;
• Head material: drop forged steel;
• Handle material: steel;
• Style: camper’s axe.

Another top-rated model E44A from Estwing has reigned for more than 90 years. As well as it provides some good things like a quality striking tool for splitting wood. Including the shock reduction grip, meant to provide balance to the hand-polished blade. That will work well longer without having any fatigue issues to yourself or over the pieces themselves. 

It is a smart choice for outdoorsmen everywhere. However, the forged one-piece was tempered and used grade steel to produce it all itself. As well as the handle got a non-slip integrated grip with more absorption power.

Also, capable of reducing impact vibration that may give comfort to your hands on every swing. Even the tempered 4” cutting edge goes as long as possible to the depth of your logs. As it can make firewood, even from a block of wet wood warm up until late winter. Thus, the patented perfection makes it stand out from the crowd.

What we liked

• Hand-polished durable head and neck;
• Shock reduction grip;
• Forged precision;
• Crazy sharp edge;
• Top drawer handle.

Disliked 

• Nothing found.

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5. Fiskars 375501-1001 Wood Splitting Hatchet

• Weight: 1.55 pounds;
• Length: 14”;
• Head material: molded steel;
• Handle material: forged carbon steel;
• Style: a medium-sized hatchet.

The rest of the listed striking tools are good enough for a compatible hatchet to fall into our list’s last position. The Fiskars 375501-1001 does include some forged precisions in the hatchet for splitting wood. Whether itself having a few bad conclusions that forced it to drop into the last category. 

Integrated with a proprietary blade-grinding technique enables the sharper edge for accurate cuts and better contact, whether it is about to drive through small or medium logs, or creating kindling. It may hold the lowest friction-coated blade, which ultimately is worth your money. The coating does not let its head get stuck on the wooden piece on every swing.

However, the sharp edge does not come with a leather belt sheath. In anyways, the so-called small plastic hood with a locking lever can help to pack it away. 

Its hollow handle is rather fab than traditional weight-to-ratio axes. This built-in carrying handle combines perfect weight distribution for faster chopping wood in less time and without hand straining. Also, grab the shock absorption dura frame covering the grip to counteract overstrike damage. As well, it is a top-tier tool. In case of a home woodpile or take it for throwing competition. 

What we liked

• Lightweight yet stronger;
• Hollow handle;
• Good balance;
• Shock absorption, durable grip frame.

Disliked 

• Small head;
• Need to sharpen and maintain the edge.  

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6. Estwing 14” Camping Hatchet for Splitting Wood

• Weight: 1.7 pounds;
• Length: 14”;
• Head material: molded steel;
• Handle material: forged carbon steel;
• Style: a medium-sized hatchet.

Giving our finishing turn with this USA made 14 in. Hatchet from Estwing. Estwing is beyond explanation, a complete outdoor tools manufacturer of over 90 years worldwide. The hatchet is well known as one of the best because of its strong but small handle.

This one can give you the proper utilities in the present overwhelming market, especially if you are searching for a camp axe. Tuck it into your backpack and go ahead for a camping night. Later chopping small trees, logs, and branches for creating kindlings. 

Considering its top-to-bottom, the overall construction is made by one-piece-forged technology. Which is strong enough with American steel as a durable, striking tool. Hand-polish or hand touch-up gives an excellent outlook for further activities and means to use year after year. A lovely stitched leather sheath helps more for carrying. However, its head’s back end is good for hammering tent stakes.

The classy handle is another breeze. Managed to provide comfy while striking your firewood. 

What we liked

• Less hassle hatchet;
• Inexpensive;
• Easy to carry and store.

Disliked 

• Soon-to-rust problem with older handles.

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Final Thoughts

Just like how hatchets for splitting woods have done it for ages. Similar striking tools as well as mauls, axes, and more for the same reason even for decades. Well, there are many categories to consider while shopping. But always starting as per your need is a good idea. 

Better is to study the best aftermarket ones. So you can follow our well-researched ones with a complete buyer’s guide to save you time.   

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• How to Split Wood with A Hatchet