Fiskars Splitting Axe XL X25, 2.5 kg, incl. storage and carrying case, Length: 77 cm, Non-stick high Steel blade covering/fibreglass handle, Black/Orange, 1015643

After a few months of labouring with a cheap maul my wife bought at the car boot sale, this Fiskars maul feels like having a super power. It feels like cheating. The difference in productivity is really that big.The maul sits beautifully in the hand, and is easy to grip. The textured surface and the hooked end ensure that it won't slip out. I find the maul light and short enough to lift right over my head, but long and heavy enough to deliver power to the log.Don't guess at the size and weight you need: it depends on your size and strength as well as the size of the logs you're working with. The Fiskars Web site has a guide to choosing the right maul. Take the time to consider carefully. Once you've chosen, come back here and buy. If you have a lot of wood to split, it's worth every penny.Just as one data point, I'm a fifty-something office worker, and I've used the XL maul to take apart leylandii logs that were 500mm across and 250mm deep. That was hard work -- my wife couldn't have done it. With smaller logs, the maul goes through that much more easily, sometimes almost effortlessly, but the problem then is precision -- it's easy to be slightly off-centre and just skim the edge off the log, rather than cleaving it in two. Although I've only got the XL maul, I can see that a shorter one would yield a more precise cut.Although this maul has an anti-shock handle, I still find my fingers a little unresponsive after an hour or two of wood-splitting: it's hard to, for example, hold a wine glass by its stem. My hands return to normal by the end of the day.Don't confuse a splitting axe (a maul) with a chopping axe. You can't use a maul to chop a long log into shorter segments: it's not designed to be used like that, and it won't work. If you need to chop wood, get a chopping axe or, better, a chainsaw.Finally, whatever you do, don't skimp on safety gear -- rigid boots, shin protectors, safety goggles and ear defenders. No amount of cheap firewood is worth a serious injury or the loss of your sight or hearing. And get other people to stand clear while you work, because odd-shaped lumps of wood tend to fly off in unpredictable directions.

What a great axe. I’m no expert on axes but this is certainly getting through the logs with ease. I can split much more than I used to as I don’t get tired. Light weight and very sharp. Cutting much thicker logs than my previous axe. Worth every penny.

So far so good. A well weighted axe, which has a sturdy construction and protection in any wear areas. Far better than my last axe, not that that’s a gauge for anyone else, but it is a very well weighted and balanced axe.It has a good size and tactile grip, even when it’s a bit wet. All in all, a great purchase.

Greatest of all time, this is my third fiskars purchase (different sizes). Fantastic and they just keep going.Perfect for splitting, keep the sharpness for a long time. Even if you leave outside for a day or so. Couldn’t be more happy.They come with a nice mounting pack, which is very easy to use and keep stowed away nice and neat

Excellent for quickly splitting both dry and fresh logs though if it’s a particularly knotty piece I’d tend to use a hydraulic splitter or chainsaw. Most of the logs I split are 6 - 12”diameter and up to 15” length. They’ll usually split with a single blow though it does depend on wood type. It’s mostly beech, ash, sycamore pine and larch I split. Light weight and easy to use but potentially dangerous if used incorrectly. Safety boots, glasses and hard hat recommended as a minimum as pieces of wood can fly off in unexpected directions and it’s a good idea to have the log for splitting on a platform rather than the ground. Looks well made and expect to get many years of use from it.

Upgraded my 30 year old long-handled splitting axe for this slightly shorter-handled Fiskars splitting axe. Much quicker and less effort required for the same impact. Doesn't get stuck so much either.

Bought as a gift for Christmas, not passed on yet

When my last delivery of logs had diameters of, on average 30 cm, they became difficult to manage with a 1kg hand axe! This however cuts through them with ease; the balance is excellent....and it comes with a 25 year warranty. 10/10 value for money