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5 Best Splitting Maul Reviews and Recommendations

5 Best Splitting Maul Reviews of 2020

In case you wonder what is a maul, let’s start today’s guide with the definition: a splitting maul is a tool made to split chunks of wood into smaller and more portable pieces. Today, we will discuss the best splitting mauls on the market, helping you make an educated choice. 

Splitting Axe vs. Maul: Why and When to Choose A Wood Splitting Maul?

While you can use an axe to split firewood, a splitting maul has more weight and a wider head. This makes it much easier to do the splitting, which is a definite perk. It also causes nearly no part of the wood to go to waste. More wood means less splitting and enjoying that wood in your fireplace for a longer time. Finally, using an axe for a maul’s work or vice versa is dangerous and can cause accidents that you can prevent by using the correct tool. That’s why having the best splitting maul that is high quality is so important.

The Features and Properties of a Wood Splitting Maul

Mauls are typically heavy with an eight-pound maul head being the typical offering. There are some mauls that are a bit lighter that can be used for smaller pieces of wood if you prefer. In addition to being much heavier than a typical ax, the splitting maul typically has a longer handle. The most common length is 36”, but some are available at a bit smaller length. You just want to be sure that it’s long enough that the maul hits the ground after the strike, rather than your foot. Definitely not something anyone wants to experience. If you are aiming for a backpacking experience, like a hiking and camping trip, you should pack a smaller wood maul in your ultralight backpack and have it at hand at all times.

Let’s say you go camping and you want to have a warming fire to gather around and play some fun campfire games with your friends and family.

  • You should bring a splitting maul to prepare the campfire wood with little waste and in full safety.
  • The wood axe you should also bring works best if you want to split around the wood’s edges or if you want to split wood into smaller, sharper pieces, to prepare a barbecue, for instance.

Most experts recommend you take both a splitting maul and a wood axe if you go to a place where you need wood for the fire or for some construction work. In case you go camping or on a fishing trip with the family, having both tools in the trunk is always a good idea.

Best Splitting Mauls on the Market: Comparisons

With that said, we have made a list of the best splitting mauls on the market right now. These are from various companies and have many attributes to them. There is something here for everyone, no matter how experienced you are. We ranked these on a handful of criteria and offer all the information you will need to make a choice. We hope this helps you in ensuring you have the right equipment for you and your needs.

Estwing Fireside Friend 14″ Splitting Maul Fiskars X27 Super Splitting Axe, 36-Inch Fiskars Garden Iso Core 8 lb Maul, 36″ HUSQVARNA Splitting Maul Gransfors Bruks Splitting Maul
4 lbs maul head 4 lbs maul head 8 lbs maul head 6 lb maul head 6 lb maul head
Steel handle Fibercomp handle IsoCore Shock handle Wooden handle Wooden handle
14 inch 36 inch 36 inch 32 inch 32 inch
Lifetime warranty Lifetime warranty Lifetime warranty 90-days warranty 20-years warranty
Check Price Check Price Check Price Check Price Check Price
  • Estwing Fireside Friend 14″ Splitting Maul
  • Forged steel construction
  • Shock reduction grip reduces impact vibration by 70%
  • Ballistic nylon sheath for added safety and protection
  • Limited lifetime warranty
  • Check Price
  • Fiskars X27 Super Splitting Axe, 36-Inch
  • 4 lbs maul head
  • Fibercomp handle
  • 36 inch
  • Lifetime warranty
  • Check Price
  • Fiskars Garden Iso Core 8 lb Maul, 36″
  • 8 lbs maul head
  • IsoCore Shock handle
  • 36 inch
  • Lifetime warranty
  • Check Price
  • HUSQVARNA Splitting Maul
  • 6 lb maul head
  • Wooden handle
  • 32 inch
  • 90-day warranty
  • Check Price
  • Gransfors Bruks Splitting Maul
  • 6 lb maul head
  • Wooden handle
  • 32 inch
  • 20-year warranty
  • Check Price

Estwing Fireside Friend 14″ Splitting Maul

This small splitting maul makes short work of wood chunks with a top-notch, immensely durable design.

Thanks to the single-piece construction, forged in full, this hatchet-sized maul is effectively made to last.

This tool’s head design truly sets it apart from competing options as it is weighted with a sledgehammer second head, allowing you to work a lot less to get wood chopped. The weight drives the head through timber quickly and efficiently.

The grip on this maul is genuine leather that provides a stable and safe hold for working. You can swing away without worrying about this cleverly designed tool slipping from your fingers.

Fine American steel makes up this splitting maul’s form, contributing to its impressive longevity. A shiny blue finish further protects it, while also making it quite a nice cutting tool to have and hold. Reviewers mention just how tough and fine-tuned this maul is for its intended task.

Our Verdict

Complete with a protective sheath, you can rest assured this splitting maul will last you quite some time. This is a must for all people who love to spend their free time outdoors. It is also a great tool to have around if you need wood for your fireplace or the barbecue in the back yard.

Pros:

  • Small size and comfortable weight
  • Fine-tuned design
  • Durable

Cons:

  • May be too small for some uses

Fiskars X27 Super Splitting Axe, 36-Inch

21Gr5-U6KXL._SL250_The Fiskars X27 Super Splitting Ax is number four on the list of 5 best splitting mauls. This maul axe is made to split medium and large logs with total ease. Balance and power have been perfected in order to increase the speed of your swing, allowing more power to hit the wood. This product is a bit different than others when it comes to weight. It is 36” as is typical but it comes with a 4 lb maul head. However, the weight distribution is great and the super sharp edge makes this less of a problem than it would be on many mauls. In addition, it has a shock-absorbing handle that helps prevent any overstriking.

This maul is available at a great price. That includes a sheath for storage and protection. It also features a great lifetime warranty so you don’t have to worry about what happens if something does break or function improperly. If you are looking for a maul that is a bit lighter than the typical ones, but with the average reach, this Fiskars X27 is the tool for you.

Our Verdict

The price is right, the options are right, and there are very few negative comments about it. This Fiskars splitting maul is the best choice for taller users that want to work with medium- to large-sized logs. The textured non-slip grip reduces hand strain and improves control, while the optimized blade geometry offers better penetration and blasts tough logs apart. Just like most Fiskars splitting mauls, this one also features the brand’s patented IsoCore Shock Control System to absorb strike shock and vibrations.

Pros:

  • The handle is lightweight but strong
  • Ideal for medium to large-sized logs
  • Extra power from advanced bevel convex blade
  • Includes sheath for storage
  • Great price for what you get

Cons:

  • Lower weight means less impact on power

Fiskars Garden Iso Core 8 lb Maul, 36″

31Gd0KaysmL._SL250_The third maul on our list of 5 best splitting mauls is another Fiskar splitting maul. It features a lifetime warranty so you don’t have to worry about problems now or in the future. Fiskars has the reputation of being a great maker of these mauls and this one is a winner.

As far as the specifications of this maul, they are more average than compared to the one above. This Fiskar splitting maul has an eight-pound maul head and has a 36-inch handle on it. What makes this maul even better is the handle. It is made of a patented technology called IsoCore Shock Control System – present on the model we saw above as well – and you can guess what it does from the name. It is going to make shocks and vibrations much less intense, which makes chopping wood so much easier than a typical splitter. In addition, Fiskars features blade geometry optimized for this sort of work. This provides power and penetration that is much more intense than is typical. If you need more reason to check it out, take a look at the riveted head. This technique makes sure the head will never slide down or snap off of the handle.

Our Verdict

This maul is ideal for splitting wood (splitting face) or driving wedges and stakes (driving face). In other words, you have here a multifunctional wood tool to be of help at all times. You will fully enjoy the forged, heat-treated steel finished with a rust-resistant coating. The soft-grip handle features a sculpted profile to fit the natural shape of your hand, which makes this maul even more comfortable and easy to use.

Pros:

  • Blade geometry offers great penetration
  • Insulation sleeve holds the initial shock
  • Riveted head won’t snap off or slide down
  • IsoCore Shock Control System takes away shock and vibration

Cons:

  • Not everyone is a fan of the grip material

HUSQVARNA 32″ Wooden Splitting Maul

21lsA-zGiFL._SL250_This next splitting maul on this list is from Husqvarna and is their most heavy and powerful ax available. This maul looks more traditional with a wooden handle but is not entirely average. Rather than implementing an eight-pound maul head, this one has a six-pound head. It is also slightly shorter than usual as it comes in at 32”. If you’re looking for something a little more manageable for someone smaller or new to splitting wood, this could be a dream. It’s a very sturdy and useful maul without being too heavy or awkward for shorter splitters. The maul comes with a warranty just like the others. The only difference is that the warranty on this product is only 90 days, rather than the year most of them offer. That said, you do get a leather sheath with this one for no extra cost, which is always a good thing. Free accessories are the best bargain of all.

Our Verdict

It is ideal for splitting chunks of wood, while the design of the poll makes it an excellent choice for driving splitting wedges. The product features a hardened striking face in the neck, so you can use it as a sledge or in combination with a splitting wedge. This is probably the best wood splitting maul for beginners. 

Pros:

  • Made for splitting biggest logs and wood chunks
  • Can be used as sledge or with splitting wedge
  • Includes leather edge cover

Cons:

  • May not be as useful against hardwood types
  • Short warranty period

Gransfors Bruks Splitting Maul

21I0DVgBZ8L._SL250_The Gransfors Bruks maul is our priciest option on the list and is a definite contender in the top 5 splitting mauls available. It comes with a 32-inch handle, just like the former maul, and comes with the same six-pound head. This is great for smaller individuals or those new to the practice of splitting wood. The handle is wooden and of hickory, making it the perfect choice if you prefer wooden handles. The blade is ground to a concave blade making it thinner than a lot of splitting mauls on the market. There is also a steel collar to give a great grip. This maul is the heaviest sold by Gransfors Bruks, which is a well-known company.

While this maul is a bit more expensive than others, there’s a good reason for it. Gransfors is known for very quality axes and makes a product that will be worth the money. You do receive a sheath with the maul and it comes with a 20-year warranty. This isn’t as epic as the lifetime warranties of some of its competitors but it certainly speaks toward a quality piece of equipment.

Our Verdict

When you add all of these features together you get a great splitting maul that will last you many years into the future. It is an excellent choice for splitting very thick and knotty chunks of wood. In other words, it makes a great camping companion and you should not leave it behind if you plan a hiking trip. It works great at home if you have a fireplace to tend to or chunks of wood to prep for your backyard barbecue party. You will also enjoy the weight and sturdy poll with beveled corners and its protective steel collar below the axe head and circular grooves towards the end for an extra firm grip. All in all, this is an excellent product to have at hand in all conditions.

Pros:

  • Concave thin blade
  • Great for wedge striking
  • Leather sheath included

Cons:

  • Medium weight head

Best Splitting Maul: Final Thoughts

There you have it, our guide on the five best splitting mauls available. You are now equipped to make an educated purchase. Which is the best splitting maul in your opinion? Are you using other products for your needs? Feel free to use the comment section below to tell us about your favorite splitting mauls. Also, if you have products in mind that you want us to review, feel free to suggest them to us!