What are the best felling axes?
Well, you’ve come to the right place because that’s exactly what I’ll be going over in this post.
So, let’s get straight into this!
IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | |
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Best Overall | 1844 Helko Werk |
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Germany Classic |
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Double Bit Axe |
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Germany Classic Forester |
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Fiskars 378841 |
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Hults Bruk Atran |
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Snow & Nealley 016S |
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Hudson Bay Axe |
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GEDORE OX 20 H-1257 |
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1. 1844 Helko Werk (Best Overall)
- Head Weight: 4lb.
- Handle Length: 31 in
- Total Weight: 6 lb.
This is the most versatile and worthwhile axe on my list. This company has been making outstanding axes since 1844 in Cronenberg, Germany. Its Tasmanian designed head is designed for timber sporting, even if you’re not trying to compete you will be able to do it all with this axe.
Right out of the box it comes sharpened and ready to go. Because of the wide Tasmanian pattern head, it’s suited for hardwoods like the iron hardwoods found in Australia.
The premium C50 high-grade carbon steel is unique to this brand and means the process is always under watch by an expert blacksmith, giving you the benefit of high quality.
The handle is made of grade A American Hickory, the best option for a handle as it has the best flexibility and absorption for every swing. The length is just about perfect for the average male and it’s perfectly balanced head weight can deliver you the best possible swing.
Another benefit of working with this company is their excellent customer service. If you have any problems you happen to voice over the internet, they are quick to redeem themselves and fix whatever issue there is. It comes with a sheath and axe guard protective oil.
2. Germany Classic
- Head Weight: 4.5 lb.
- Handle Length: 35 in.
- Total Weight: 6.5 lb.
Another product from Helko Werk ends up high on my list as they give special attention to every single head that they make. When you can trust your head and know with the utmost certainty that it will not shatter, it becomes hard not to lean towards them every time.
Every head they produce in this Classic Line is made with the premium C50 high-grade carbon steel. This particular model comes in a bit heavier than the Tasmanian head as it is designed for larger body types. The length of the Grade-A American Hickory handle also caters to the large body types.
The handle combined with its heavy head gives you a powerful blow with every swing. The benefit to this workhorse is that it can do everything from felling to splitting wood, so when you need just one axe to take in the backcountry this can be the one.
When working on a heavy and difficult project, this is the best axe for the job. Like every other item in the Classic Line by Helko Werk, you get some of the best customer service if anything were to ever happen.
You can have faith that you will not need to use that number too often, probably never. It even comes with the standard vegetable-tanned leather sheath and a liter of axe guard protective oil.
3. Double Bit Axe
- Head Weight: 3.5lb
- Handle Length: 30in
- Total Weight: 5lb
The great part of a double bit axe is that you can profile each of the bits to cater to different needs. Being able to profile one side of the blade to handle felling and the other side to handle splitting makes this an incredibly versatile axe.
It comes with the same C50 high carbon steel as mentioned earlier as this is part of the standard with Helko Werk the Classic Line. Considering this is a double bit, the weight comes in relatively light. This works to your advantage because you can essentially have two axes in the form of one while still be about the same weight as one.
The length of the handle is a bit on the shorter side but will still work for the middle size body, larger bodies may desire something longer. The length is perfect for the weight of the head and can deliver a beautiful swing.
You can count on the craftsmanship of the company as this product can easily last for generations if properly taken care of. The durability is better designed into their products than anyone else.
The company holds itself in high regard and takes everything from the craftsmanship to customer service with the utmost care. As in the other items on the Classic Line, it comes with an appropriate sheath and axe guard protective oil.
4. Germany Classic Forester
- Head Weight: 3.5lb
- Handle Length: 31in
- Total Weight: 5.5lb
This is another great all-purpose axe that is designed for felling and can also handle splitting. This axe is perfect to strap to your backpack when heading deep into the backcountry. It’s lightweight enough to travel but still heavy enough to fell just about anything.
It’s possible to fell a medium or large tree with this axe, and you won’t need to push yourself or the axe to its limit to do so. It’s a lightweight axe so you can easily swing and gain a rhythm when trying to fell a tree.
Being a part of the Classic Line of Helko Werk gets you their top-notch customer service and if you have any problems they are eager to help. It even comes with a sheath and some protective oil for the whole axe.
The axe is equipped with their standard premium C50 High Carbon Steel head and the grade-A American Hickory handle. These will assure you that you can trust the axe as a whole and that it won’t fall apart on you.
5. Fiskars 378841
- Head Weight: Heavy
- Handle Length: 36in
- Total Weight: 5.8lb
This axe is a great more affordable option for those who aren’t looking to spend the money that Helko Werk asks. While it’s hard to find any concrete specifications on the axe, it truly is great for felling trees. Though it is advertised as a splitting axe the head can make quick work of any medium sized tree.
Fiskars prides themselves on its lightweight ability so that you can easily swing to your heart’s content. Its Finnish design means that it has the perfect weight distribution to create the perfect flow when working on a medium-sized tree.
The Finns give you the benefit of a lifetime warranty so you can trust that this will be the last axe you ever buy. Good luck breaking it, because it was specifically designed to be unbreakable.
The advanced bevel convex blade geometry means that there is more power to obliterate through any tree, as well as be able to remove the axe easier than ever. The length of the handle allows taller people to get a full swing out of it and at the same time maximize their power and speed.
6. Hults Bruk Atran
- Head Weight: 3.5lb
- Handle Length: 32in
- Total Weight: 5lb
A perfect moderately priced felling axe hand-forged from Swedish steel. The head was designed to be incredibly dense meaning that it is very durable while also being made to withhold a sharp edge. Down to the 32-inch hickory handle, you can feel the care that was put into the grain of the handle.
You will be able to cut up any size tree from a small to larger mid-sized tree. The balance of the axe is superb, as the head seems to want to drop as you swing and flies right back up with no hassle on the upswing.
It’s the most well-rounded option when looking at the price, weight, size, and the quality you get for all of that. For larger folks, this may not deliver the brute force you are looking for, since it is more on the lightweight side of the spectrum.
7. Snow & Nealley 016S
- Head Weight: 2.25lb
- Handle Length: 28.19in
- Total Weight: 3.23lb
Another well priced all-around style axe, this one is made in Maine, USA. One of the lighter options of all of those on my list, it is the ideal option for taking backpacking. The Snow & Nealley is easy to strap to your backpack, but also very useful when using in the backyard to fell trees.
Every single axe head is hand-assembled and made with a hickory handle that is easily held in hand and perfectly balances the axe. This is not an axe for a taller person as the shorter handle and lightweight will make it difficult to deliver any power with the desired leverage.
Otherwise, the power to weight ratio is healthy, as it is not meant to be an absolute beast. This is the everyday axe you will want to keep nearby whenever you need to fell a small to a mid-size tree or even just to limb an already felled tree.
8. Hudson Bay Axe
- Head Weight: 1.75lb
- Handle Length: 24in
- Total Weight: 2.5lb
Another great moderately priced axe that can deliver on the lighter scale. By this, I mean that while this is the lightest option on my list it can still handle most felling opportunities. Granted it won’t be able to take down the biggest of trees, any mid-sized or smaller tree will be able to be felled mightily.
The short axe handle is great for smaller people, but also good to manoeuvre with just one hand. You can limb any tree already felled and also use this to split any wood. Snow & Neally make every single head by hand in their shop in Maine, USA.
The handle is made of 100% American Hickory and has been polished to have a shiny coat. It is a great option to keep in your camper trailer and can be easily taken out to use on any task around the property.
9. GEDORE OX 20 H-1257
- Head Weight: 3lb
- Handle Length: 28in
- Total Weight: 4lb
On the lower end of the spectrum of axes, the Gedore Universal Forestry Axe is a great utilitarian option for those not looking to spend a lot of money. The blade is finely polished and heavy enough to handle some medium-large sized trees.
You will need to keep an eye on the blade as it will need sharpening more often than some of the rest. Keep an eye out to buy the hickory handle model as this one is better for shock absorption. The company that makes these axes, Oschenkopf, is the same as the company who makes the blades for Stihl.
While they are not the same quality, you can rest assured that the head will hold up for years. The sheath is a major benefit to protect the blade from any rust or wear. A pretty solid axe that can handle more than its ranking on this list suggests.
While the handle isn’t conducive to larger people it is still a respectable length that can get the average person good leverage to fell a tree.
Conclusion
So those were the best felling axes.