All About Log Splitter

Best Splitting Mauls 2020 [Reviews & Buyer’s Guide]

best splitting mauls

best splitting mauls

A splitting maul is like a specially designed axe for splitting chunks of wood. Unlike an ordinary axe, splitting mauls have a bit more weight to them which makes it easier to create momentum and chop wood. And to support the heavier head, splitting mauls have a longer handle for ease of handling.

Whether you want to build a campfire or need wood for a wood stove, a splitting maul is a necessary tool to have in your arsenal. They help divide chunks of wood without ripping or tearing them which makes building a fire much easier.

Nowadays, choosing the right splitting maul can get a bit tricky. You go to Amazon and search splitting maul only to be presented with a huge number of available options. To save you the trouble of going through hours of research, we did that for you.

We scoured the internet in search of any information we can mind on splitting mauls, observed customer reviews and talked to a handful of experienced users to come up with a list of top 10 best splitting mauls you can currently purchase from Amazon.

And to help you make your pick, we’ve added some tips and other miscellaneous information on splitting mauls collected from long-time users.

If you don’t have the time to go through the full article then we would like to recommend you go for theFiskars Iso Core Maul. It has a great amount of weight, a long and slip-proof handle which makes it an excellent buy for anyone looking for a new splitting maul.

But it is we advise that you read through the whole article before making your choice to ensure that you buy the best one for your buck.

What Is A Splitting Maul?

A splitting maul is specially designed to split (not cut) wood against the grain. Compared to a normal axe they are a bit wider and there is much more weight at the head part. This allows you to create better momentum using gravity as your ally and separated the fibers of the woods splitting it in half.

This results in the wood dividing in two without any ripping or tearing creating smaller and regularly chopped pieces of wood. This makes using them for making fire much easier. The splitting maul also has a longer handle to help you handle the larger weight of the head.

Of course, you can use them for cutting wood as well but they are much suited for splitting.

If you are a lumberjack by profession, or need to cut woods occasionally, then a splitting maul will be the best tool in your arsenal. A good splitting maul will cut your wood splitting time by half.

List Of Top 10 Best Splitting Mauls 

In this section, we reviewed 10 of the best splitting maul for you, which are given below:

  1. Fiskars Garden Iso Core 8 lbs. Maul 36 Inch
  2. Estwing Fireside Friend 14 Splitting Maul
  3. Fiskars X27 Super Splitting Axe
  4. Husqvarna Splitting Maul (32-inch Wooden Handle )
  5. Gransfors Bruks Splitting Maul (Splitting Axe For Woods)
  6. Truper 32415 12-Pound Splitting Maul
  7. TABOR TOOLS Splitting Axe (Wood Splitting Maul) 
  8. True Temper Splitting Maul (Sledge Eye Wood Super Splitter)
  9. Fiskars X11 Splitting Axe, 17-Inch
  10. Wilton Tools 50836 B.A.S.H Splitting Maul

In a surge? Check the blockbuster top Splitting Mauls from Amazon. Just check the product link.

Picture Name Features Price
Fiskars Garden Iso Core 8 lbs. Maul 36 Inch Great value ,Great blade, Good weight Check Price
Estwing Fireside Friend 14 Splitting Maul Affordable, Compact ,Great for splitting kindling  Check Price
Fiskars X27 Super Splitting Axe 2-in one, Affordable,Lightweight Check Price
Husqvarna Splitting Maul (32-inch Wooden Handle ) Wooden handle, Tough steel ,Durable handle Check Price
Gransfors Bruks Splitting Maul (Splitting Axe For Woods) Good weight for splitting large logs,Swedish steel,Durable handle Check Price
Truper 32415 12-Pound Splitting Maul Heavy , Affordable,Durable handle Check Price
TABOR TOOLS Splitting Axe (Wood Splitting Maul)  Affordable ,Great value ,Heavy head Check Price
True Temper Splitting Maul (Sledge Eye Wood Super Splitter) Affordable , Great for small and medium logs, Long handle Check Price
Fiskars X11 Splitting Axe, 17-Inch Affordable, Small size,Virtually unbreakable Check Price
Wilton Tools 50836 B.A.S.H Splitting Maul Affordable, 8 lbs. Tool, Unbreakable handle Check Price
https://youtu.be/5T_PyoJ-r6Y

Fiskars Garden Iso Core 8 lbs. Maul 36 Inch 

At number one, we have the Fiskars Garden Iso Core 8 Maul. This globally acclaimed finish company is well known for producing top-grade tools. And this one is no exception. The 8-pound splitting maul is vibration-free, rust-resistant and virtually unbreakable.

The head has two faces. The splitting face is for splitting wood and the other blunt end for striking with a wedge. The head is heat-treated and steel made making it resistant to harsh climates and virtually indestructible. The blade is wide and well designed to easily split through wood and deflect wooden pieces to the side. 

Fiskars is well known for its Iso core handles. These handles are designed to be shock sponges so that you don’t have to withstand the strain from the strike. Fiskars promises that their handles are 2 times better than the standard wooden handle at absorbing shock and vibration. And upon use, we have found that to be quite accurate. 

The lower portion of the handle comes with a thermoplastic covering that provides maximum grip. The handle is also designed to perfectly fit in your hand and the slight flare at the end prevents slipping. All this is to provide you with the best comfort possible. 

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Estwing Fireside Friend 14 Splitting Maul

Estwing has been in the hardware manufacturing business for a long time. Started in 1923 this company has been in business for about 97 years. So, when you are buying a maul from this brand you are not just buying a splitting tool but you are buying their years of experience. 

The Estwing Fireside Friend 14 is a splitting maul that is a bit different from all the others on this list. This one-handed mini-maul is a bit shorter compared to the others in this list measuring at only 14 inches in length. This makes it perfect for carrying around while out camping. 

The head and the handle are forged in a single piece. This means the splitting maul is much more durable and sturdier than traditional mauls. 

What is most unique about this splitting maul is the grip. It has a company patented nylon vinyl shock reduction grip that is very effective in canceling incoming vibration from impact. The leather grip makes sure your splitting maul does not split off from your hand. 

The Estwing Fireside Friend 14 splitting maul is compact, durable, shock-absorbent and slip-proof which makes this an excellent buy for people on the go. 

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Fiskars X27 Super Splitting Axe

For those who cannot choose between a large and small splitting tool, Fiskars solves the problem by adding both to this awesome bundle. This bundle has two splitting tools. A 36-inch splitting axe and a small hatchet.

The large axe is great for splitting medium to extra-large logs. This splitting axe is exclusively designed for people who are 6 ft or taller. It has perfect weight distribution and length for people of that height which makes using this a breeze. If you are shorter than 6 ft then there is no reason to worry. They have the exact same yet shorter tool in their X25 series. 

The smaller hatchet is for splitting kindling and small to medium-sized logs. They are great for carrying around while in the woods. 

The handle is made of carbon-fiber-reinforced material. This is why the handle is very strong yet very light. This relatively smaller overall weight makes using these splitting tools less strenuous than most other alternatives in the market. 

From observing customer reviews I’ve found that most users praised the great design, relatively lightweight and “one-hit split” efficiency of these tools. And we’ve found them to be true for the most part during our testing.

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Husqvarna Splitting Maul: (32-inch Wooden Handle )

This list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning a splitting maul from Husqvarna. The company has been around for over 300 years. So, when it comes to making premium quality tools, they know what’s up. 

Mostly known for making power tools like chainsaws, Husqvarna also produces top-quality splitting mauls as well. This 32-inch splitting maul is great for people who are a fan of wooden handles. Many people are a fan of wooden handles for simply how they feel and look.

The head is made of forged Swedish steel which is quite well known for being top of the line. They remain sharpness longer and can withstand heavy punishment. The blunt part of the head acts like a little sledgehammer to drive splitting wedges in large pieces of wood. 

The splitting maul is a bit light compared to most full-sized splitting mauls at about 5.5 lbs. This is great for splitting medium-sized logs as you don’t have to carry unnecessary weight. Chopping large pieces of wood might be challenging but doable nonetheless. 

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Gransfors Bruks Splitting Maul (Splitting Axe For Woods)

Swedish steel is really great. It is strong and very durable. We are just fans of it. And that is why we out Gransfors Bruk Splitting Maul at 5th place. 

A good thing about this particular splitting axe is the weight. It is 7 lbs. which is on the heavier spectrum as far as wood splitters come. This means it can be used to split large chunks of wood without a sweat. 

The head is strong and the handle is long making this great for people who do a lot of wood splitting on a daily basis. The steel collar right below the head protects the handle from damage adding to its durability. 

This one isn’t very convenient if you are splitting small wood pieces. But when it comes to large logs this one is a pure beast. It’ll chop through wood like butter. 

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Truper 32415 12-Pound Splitting Maul

If raw power is what you are looking for then the Truper 32415 is exactly what you are looking for. This 12-pounder beast is built to split through the toughest and the largest logs you a possibly find if you have the strength to use it. 

The handle is about 27 inches which we think is adequate to support the large head. The handle might seem a bit short. But it is necessary for the large head. Controlling the splitting maul would become very hard if the handle was longer. 

The handle is made of steel. This makes it extra durable and almost impossible to break. The steel handle also adds to the overall weight of the splitting maul that helps you gain momentum in your strike. 

The rubber at the end of the handle provides it with a perfect grip. Something that is quite useful when swinging a heavy tool such as this. 

When it comes to the Truper 32415, its greatest strength is also its greatest weakness and that is its weight. Yes, the weight is great for splitting large heavy logs but at the same time, it requires a lot of muscle power. So, it is advised that you can handle it before you decide on buying it. 

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TABOR TOOLS Splitting Axe (Wood Splitting Maul) 

The Tabor tools splitting axe is a wonderfully designed splitting axe for medium to heavy-duty wood splitting. The splitting axe weighs at 8.95 lbs. which makes it pretty heavy than a lot of other splitting mauls in the market. Though not heaviest it is adequate to chop through anything you can throw at it. 

This splitting axe is engineered to provide the best user experience as much as possible. First of all, let’s talk about the blade. It is super sharp and coated with a low friction coating that prevents corrosion. The blades can be easily sharpened to maintain peak performance. 

The winged design at the head allows effective swinging and also helps to guide splatted wood to the side for your protection. And from our testing, we have found that to work and quite useful as well.

The handle is made of fiberglass. This is great for two reasons. Number one, fiberglass is pretty strong. And number two, they are also pretty light. This makes sure you are getting the sturdiest handle possible without sacrificing usability. The handle also has a rubber grip that helps to maintain a proper grip on the splitting maul while working. 

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True Temper Splitting Maul(Sledge Eye Wood Super Splitter)

Sometimes buying super heavy splitting mauls isn’t really the best idea. Especially, if you are working with small to medium-sized logs then that will be just an unnecessary waste of muscle strength. 

For tasks like these True Temper Sledge Eye Wood Super Splitter Maul is perfect. The head weighs about 4 pounds which we have discussed in the buying guide to be the perfect weight for balancing between functionality and usability. 

The 36-inch fiberglass core handle helps you to strike with greater force. Made with fiberglass the handle is strong, shock-absorbent and quite light. The long length of the handle also means that you don’t have to bend over while striking which is great for the back. Its molded handle guard ensures the handle does not fly off from your hand. 

True Temper provides a lifetime warranty for this splitting maul which goes to show its quality and the company’s confidence in their products. 

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Fiskars X11 Splitting Axe, 17-Inch

There is a splitting tool for every situation. Using a single splitting tool for dealing with logs of all types and sizes would not be very efficient. For example, when splitting small logs if you are using an 8-pound splitting tool then you can be sure you are wasting a lot of energy for nothing. 

The Fiskars X11 is designed exactly for this type of situation. This splitting axe is super lightweight at only 2.18 pounds. This makes them light enough to easily swing and carry around but also heavy enough to easily split small logs. This splitting axe is best to take with you on a camping trip. 

The forged steel and low friction coating mean the blade cuts through wood easily causing minimal damage to the blade. The blade remains sharp for a long time and is very durable. 

The famed Fibercomp handle is super strong and very shock absorbent. As a result, it cancels most of the vibration created by the splitting axe and makes wood splitting a bit less strenuous on your body. 

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Wilton Tools 50836 B.A.S.H Splitting Maul

Last, we have the Wilton Tools 50836. This splitting tool is 8 lbs. in weight and 36 inches in length. As you have probably already guessed it seems like a splitting maul for heavy-duty work. And it was built for that. 

The head is heavy and strong that allows splitting of wood without any worry about breaking in half. The handle as Wilton Tools claims is unbreakable. Right below the head of the splitting maul a thick part is called the anti-vibe neck. 

It reduces vibration from impact. This splitting maul is great if you are looking for a decent splitting tool to work with at a very affordable price. 

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How To Choose The Best Splitting Maul? 

There is a bit of science behind a good splitting maul. You can’t just choose one willy-nilly and hope for it to work. The perfect splitting maul is less about its properties and more about what it is for and who is it for. 

I know it sounds a bit confusing. But, let me clear it out for you. Here, are all the things you should consider before buying a splitting maul:

Head Weight: 

Theoretically, the larger the weight the better when it comes to splitting mauls. But in reality, it is not the case. Yes, a bigger and beefier head means more momentum. But it is also going to take greater muscle power to get the head into the air. A heavy splitting maul will cause you to fatigue much sooner. This is especially problematic if you are splitting in large volumes. 

For this, you need to have a good balance between weight and usability. Make sure it has decent weight for the type and size of wood you are splitting but is also easy to work with. For me, I have found 3-4 pounds to be the perfect weight for the head. But it could be different for you according to your strength and work. 

Hand length: 

The handle length should be long enough to support the weight of the head. The length should also make using the splitting maul easy for you. But it is actually really hard to determine that. As the length for maximum comfort on your part really depends on your height. So, you really need to go with your instincts on this one. 

Handle material: 

Choosing the right handle material is really important when buying a splitting maul. In this case, you have to choose between aesthetics and functionality. Wooden handles look much better but composite handles have better shock absorption and do not require much maintenance. They are also designed to be lighter but stronger than wooden handles. 

It should also be noted that even though the wooden handle is not as durable as composite ones they are much easier to replace.

Price: 

When it comes to the price it really depends on the individual. If you are going to use the splitting maul for occasionally chopping some wood for building a campfire then it really doesn’t make much sense in buying the priciest one you can find. 

But if chopping wood is part of your profession or you really just find yourself splitting wood quite often then investing a decent amount on a good and premium grade splitting maul would be a great step to take.

Now that you understand what you should be looking for when choosing a splitting maul lets to get into the list of top 8 best splitting mauls you can currently find on Amazon. 

Splitting Maul Vs Axe

At first glance, you might not see much difference between the splitting maul and a normal axe. But upon further observation, the differences are quite obvious. They both have their own purposes and designs for executing specifics tasks. 

First of all, the most obvious difference is the weight of the head. Splitting mauls have much heavier heads than axes. This is mainly due to the nature of their use. Axes are mostly used to chop down trees. So, you a striking horizontally. For this, it is light so that gravity doesn’t put you off from your aim. 

For splitting mauls, the story is completely different. In this case, instead of avoiding gravity you are actually trying to use it to your advantage. Splitting mauls are used to chop large wood chunks into smaller pieces. And in this case, you are striking horizontally. The larger weight makes it easier to gain momentum and strike with great force that easily splits the wood chunks in two. 

The second most obvious difference is in the handle. Splitting mauls have a much longer handle than axes. As axes are used horizontally there is not much chance for the blade to come near you. But it is a different case for splitting mauls. If they had handles as short as axes, they would split the wood and swing towards the legs. And that is why they have a longer handle.

The head of the splitting maul is much wider than axes. Thin blades have a tendency to get stuck in the wood. While splitting you are striking along the grain so the chance is much higher as wood pushes on the blade from both sides. And for that splitting mauls have a wider head. 

Lastly, splitting mauls are designed to cut along the grain. This is so it does not rip or tear the wood fibers. As a result, the newly split pieces are even and more regular in shape which makes them easier to store and use while building a fire. When chopping down a tree that isn’t really a problem. And for that axes are designed to cut against the grain. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Should you sharpen a splitting maul?

Out of the box, most splitting mauls are adequately sharpened. But some might not be as we’ve discussed in the review. So, if you think your splitting maul isn’t as sharp as you would like it to then try giving it a good sharpening. 

It is advised that you sharpen your splitting maul or any other cutting tool from time to time to maintain optimum functionality. 

Q. Which is harder hickory or oak?

When buying a splitting maul, you should be concerned about the strength of its handle. Especially, when buying one with a wooden handle. According to the Janka hardness scale, hickory is hard enough to withstand the force of wood splitting. And yes, it is tougher than oak. 

Q. What is the best weight for splitting mauls?

There are splitting mauls of different weights, shapes, and sizes. None is truly better than the other as they all have their own set of advantages, disadvantages, and uses. Smaller splitting mauls are easy to carry around and great for splitting small logs. On the other hand, bigger ones are great for splitting large chunks of wood. 

But if I had to pick, I would say, anything between 5-7 lbs. strikes the perfect balance between power and usability. They are light enough for anyone to use and heavy enough to chop small to medium-sized logs. Even large logs are doable if you put your back in it. 

Q. What is better? Wooden or fiberglass handle

Wooden handles have been used for mauls and axes for generations. So, you can be sure they are good enough to take on the task of splitting wood. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything better than wood. With the advancement in technology, we’ve developed newer and better materials like fiberglass. 

They are at the same time lighter and tougher than wood. They are also great at absorbing incoming vibration from impact. But on the chance that they break it is really hard to find a replacement. In this scenario wooden handles shine as they are easy to replace.

Q. What is the best splitting maul?

Every company adds something to their splitting mauls that make it unique. Whether it be aesthetic or functional each company targets a specific niche for their specific product. But if I had to choose one, I’d pick Fiskars Garden Iso Core

Its weight makes it possible to be used with heavy chunks of wood. But it is not so high that it would cause problems. The Iso core handle is great at absorbing shock and vibration by 70% which is more than any other splitting maul in the market. All this makes the Fiskars Garden Iso Core our top pick for this list.  

Conclusion 

For campers, lumberjacks, and people of many other professions, splitting mauls are an essential tool. If you belong to these professions then there is no reason for you to not own one. Choosing any of the splitting mauls that suit your height, strength and budget will make splitting wood a simple task. 

In this article, I’ve provided you with a list of top 10 best splitting mauls you can find right now on Amazon and provided much other noteworthy information on choosing the right one. 

So why wait? I hope you found what you were looking for in this guide. And thanks for coming by. 

Best of luck. 

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