While you can certainly use an axe to split firewood, a maul has more weight and a wider head, which makes it easier to do the splitting. This 8 lb. Maul is a favorite of any one who loves the outdoors. It’s extremely well designed. From the face cutouts for reduced sticking to the fiberglass handle for reduced vibration to the overmold grip for maximized comfort, HART has thought about every part of this maul. Another reason to go with a fiberglass handle is, unlike wooden handles, it doesn’t break as easily, so it has a longer life. Shopping for a maul is something you do so infrequently, so it’s important you get the best wood splitting maul for the money. You get that with HART. As a cautionary reminder, we recommend wearing the necessary safety gear when using, such as heavy-duty work gloves and eye protection.