The Best Felling Axe For The Serious Camper
Hey guys, John back again with another in-depth review to keep you on point in the wild. Today we are going to look at why it’s important to choose the right felling axe. By choosing the best felling axe for you needs, you can make chopping down trees easier than ever before. Paul Bunion undoubtedly swung a felling axe as he raced against the first chainsaws in his epic tale. Real lumberjacks and woodsman will tell you, a felling axe is ideal for chopping down trees.
The Best Felling Axe – Why You Need One
I use my felling axe mostly in the winter months, when the snowfall makes it impossible to use downed trees for firewood. This occurs because the snow saturates all the fallen trees making them to wet to use for my fire. Luckily, my felling axe can chop down medium size trees with very little effort on my part. Anytime you are required to chop down standing trees a felling axe should be your go-to choice.
Anyone who has experience felling trees will tell you if your blade gets lodged in the tree, it’s going to cause you to exert far more energy to get it out than it did to get it stuck in the first place. The last thing you want to do is spend the majority of your time wrestling your axe out of the tree.
The Best Felling Axe – What to Look For
Felling axes have a thinner blade than other axes. This blade is razor sharp to help it to cut deep into the tree when swung. When you are felling trees, it is important to note that you are cutting against the grain of the tree. You also have the weight of the tree weighing on your axe every time it is stuck into the grain. To help avoid getting your axe stuck felling axe heads are very thin.
Some manufacturers have taken this concept a step further and added a non-stick coating to reduce the chances of the blade sticking even more. This is why a felling axe is a perfect solution for chopping down standing trees.
The majority of felling axes have a straight handle that curves slightly at the bottom. This curve is designed to give you more force in your swing. It also gives you a better grip when your swing is fully extended.
Handles come in a wide variety of different woods and lengths. I prefer at least a 25″ handle. When it comes to axe handle wood I try to stick with hickory. This wood is excellent for making axe handles because of its firm grip and shock absorbent properties. I am also a big fan of the composite material handles such as Glass-Filled Nylon and Carbon Fiber. Handles made from these materials are more expensive, but they allow your axe to be lighter and stronger.
The Best Felling Axe – Top 5
There is no shortage of felling axe manufacturers and sorting through the endless selections can prove to be frustrating. If you are like me, you need a tough felling axe that can handle years of abuse. Below are my picks for the top 5 best felling axes for the money.
Amer Felling Axe, 4 lb, Hickory, 35-3/8 In
Amer Felling Axe, 4 lb, Hickory, 35-3/8 In
The Amer Felling Axe features a hand-forged blade that gives each axe its own unique appeal. I like the dark brown handle and the length (28″) is perfect for felling medium sized trees. This entire axe weighs in at 2.5 pounds. Truly, this one-of-a-kind axe is sure to add value to your collection.
Pros
- Hand Forged Head
- 28″ Dark Brown Handle
- Lightweight
- Portable
- Great Balance
Cons
- Handle is Small for Very Large Trees
This axe is ideal for camping and hunting scenarios. It’s not too heavy to carry with you and the design and extra sharp blade makes felling trees a breeze. If you are planning to do some extensive camping, this may be the perfect axe for you. The high-quality materials and exceptional craftsmanship make this felling axe a smart choice.
Helko Classic Expedition – 4.5lb Felling Axe
Helko Classic Expedition – 4.5lb Felling Axe
The Helko Classic Expedition Professional Grade Felling Axe comes with a razor sharp C45 High-Grade Carbon Steel blade that can cut deep into trees with less effort. The heavy head on this axe weighs in at 4.5 pounds. This is a serious axe designed for the professional lumberjack in mind.
Pros
- C45 High-Grade Carbon Steel
- Linseed Oiled Handle
- 4.5 lb Head
- Premium Leather Sheath
- Hickory Handle
Cons
- Too Heavy for Some Users
You can literally build a log cabin with this axe. I like heavier blade axes for use at my cabin. This is because I don’t plan on taking these with me into the wild so the extra weight isn’t a travel burden. You can feel the difference e in the power of your swing when you use a 4-pound axe to fell trees. This professional felling axe can help you chop down trees without wearing yourself out.
Hults Bruk Atran Felling Swedish Axe, 3.5 lb. Head, 32 in. American Hickory Handle
Hults Bruk Atran Felling Swedish Axe, 3.5 lb. Head, 32 in. American Hickory Handle
The Hults Bruk Atran Felling Swedish Axe gives you maximum felling capabilities from a medium sized (32″) axe. The head of this axe is 3.5 pounds so you get a lot of momentum in your swing. The handle is made from Hickory and it has been hand treated with a linseed and clear lacquer coating.
Pros
- Tempered Steel
- Hickory Handle
- Linseed Treated
- 3.5 lb Head
- Razor Sharp
Cons
- Not Out The Box Sharp
This axe comes with a traditional style leather carrying case to help you store it safely and the total weight of this axe is 5 pounds. You can feel the quality in this axe from the moment you pick it up. This superb craftsmanship is backed up by a manufacturers lifetime warranty. It’s going to be hard to find a better deal than this felling axe.
Gransfors Scandinavian Forest Axe #430
Gransfors Scandinavian Forest Axe #430
The Gransfors Scandinavian Forest Axe is designed to make felling trees easy. Each axe is handmade giving each blade its own unique feel. The craftsmanship on this blade is stunning. This axe is made from high-quality materials; it can be handed down to your next generations. I love how this axe retains its blade even after heavy use.
Pros
- Hand Forged Head
- Razor Sharp
- Leather Sheath with Belt Loop
- High Quality
- Hickory Handle
Cons
- Handle Needed a Touch Up
I am a huge fan of this axe. You can’t beat the quality and a 20-year warranty is included with the purchase of this blade. The handle has been ergonomically designed to near perfection. This is a comfortable axe to hold and swing and the blade is sharp enough to shave the hair off your arm. If you require the highest quality from your axe, this is the best felling axe for you.
Hand Forged Felling Axe
Hand Forged Felling Axe
The Hand Forged Felling Axe by hbforge comes in a unique dark brown design that adds to the overall appeal of this blade. The head weighs 2.5 pounds making this an ideal camping axe. The hand-forged head provides this axe with added chopping power and the 28″ handle is well suited for felling trees.
Pros
- Hand Forged Head
- 2.5 lb Total Weight
- Dark Brown Finish
- Hickory Handle
- Great Balance
Cons
- Handle is Small for Very Large Trees
This is the best camping axe if you are planning a trip deep in the woods. I like having the extra chopping ability. No matter where you are, this axe is sure to make felling trees less work. If you are considering adding a quality axe to your tool set, this may be the axe for you to consider. The superb craftsmanship and quality materials used in the construction of this blade, make it one of my favorites.
The Best Felling Axe – Final Thoughts
Felling axes are the key component in creating an optimal situation in terms of fire building and maintaining. Don’t over exert yourself trying to fell trees with an axe designed to split logs. People do this every day and the end result is more work and less productivity. Having the right tool for the job, makes life so much easier.
I hope this guide helps you to find the best felling axe for your needs. Make sure to check back in soon to see what new and exciting blades will be coming under the microscope. John signing off
Since I have limited time for my hobbies, I look for quality tools to let me REALLY enjoy what I do.
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