Fiskars X27 Review: Super Splitting Axe Power for Big Rounds

If the X25 is the default UK splitting axe, the Fiskars X27 is its bigger brother, built for the people whose wood pile keeps beating a normal axe. This Fiskars X27 review covers what the extra length actually buys you, how it handles big and knotty rounds, where it becomes a liability rather than an advantage, and whether you should pick it over the more popular X25.

Short version: the X27 is a genuinely powerful splitter that turns awkward 18-inch-plus rounds into one-strike work, but the same length that gives it that power makes it harder to aim and tiring over a long session. It is a specialist, not a default.

What the X27 is built for

The X27 is Fiskars’ “super” splitting axe, designed for medium to large logs. It pairs a heavy splitting head (around 4lb) with a long 36-inch (roughly 91cm) handle, for a total weight of about 2.6kg. That combination is the whole point: a long handle plus a heavy head equals more leverage and more force at the moment of impact than a shorter axe can generate.

The blade is forged steel with the convex, wedge-shaped Fiskars profile that pops logs apart rather than burying itself, and it has a low-friction coating to reduce sticking. The handle is FiberComp, Fiskars’ hollow composite, which is lighter and far more shock-absorbing than wood and is moulded inseparably to the head, so there is no eye to loosen and no shaft to break behind the blade. It comes with a moulded sheath.

How it performs

On big rounds, the X27 is excellent. The extra handle length builds up real speed in the swing, and on seasoned hardwood it splits large logs in a single strike often enough that you stop thinking of it as lucky. For anyone regularly processing 18-inch or larger rounds, the leverage genuinely earns its keep, and it shrugs off knotty pieces that would stall a lighter axe.

The trade-off is control. That same 36-inch handle is harder to place accurately than a shorter axe, so your strike consistency matters more, and a mis-hit on a long handle is more punishing. It also asks more of your body over time: swinging 2.6kg on a long lever is satisfying for a dozen rounds and tiring across a whole afternoon. Height matters too. If you are taller than about 5ft 10in you will get on with the length naturally; shorter users often find it unwieldy and over-long.

X27 vs X25: the real decision

This is the choice most buyers are actually making, and it is simpler than the model numbers suggest. The X25 has the same large head but a shorter handle (around 28in). That means slightly less maximum force, but noticeably better accuracy, manoeuvrability and comfort. The X27 trades some of that control for more raw power and reach.

Pick the X27 if you are taller, you split big or stubborn rounds regularly, and you want maximum one-strike power. Pick the X25 if you want the most versatile single axe, you are average height or shorter, or you value accuracy and a less tiring swing over outright force. For most people splitting a normal domestic wood pile, the X25 is the easier tool to live with, which is exactly why it is the more popular pick. Our Fiskars X25 review covers that one in full.

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Where it sits in the range

If your rounds are big enough that even the X27 struggles, you are really in maul or powered-splitter territory rather than axe territory; see our best splitting maul guide for that end of the scale. If you are weighing up axes more generally, the best log splitting axe in the UK roundup puts the X27 in context against its rivals. You can also check the official specs on the Fiskars site.

Verdict

The Fiskars X27 is a powerful, durable, near-indestructible splitting axe that rewards the right user: tall, splitting big rounds, after maximum force. It is not the best first axe for most people, because the length costs you accuracy and stamina, and the X25 delivers most of the capability in a more controllable package. Match it to your height and your wood, though, and it is one of the best big-log hand splitters you can buy. Check current price on Amazon before deciding between it and the X25, as the gap between them is often small.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Fiskars X27 worth it? For the right user, yes. If you are taller than about 5ft 10in and regularly split large or knotty rounds, the long handle and heavy head deliver real one-strike power and durability. For average-height users or smaller wood piles, the shorter X25 is usually the better, more controllable buy.

What is the difference between the Fiskars X27 and X25? They share the same large splitting head, but the X27 has a longer 36-inch handle versus the X25’s roughly 28-inch one. The X27 generates more force and reach, while the X25 is more accurate, more manoeuvrable and less tiring. Taller users and big rounds favour the X27; most people prefer the X25.

How long and heavy is the Fiskars X27? The X27 has a 36-inch (about 91cm) FiberComp handle and a total weight of roughly 2.6kg, with a splitting head around 4lb. That length and head weight are what give it its leverage and splitting power on large logs.

Is the Fiskars X27 good for small logs and kindling? Not really. Its length and weight are made for large rounds, which makes it clumsy and tiring for small logs, and it is the wrong tool for kindling. For kindling use a dedicated kindling splitter, and for everyday medium logs consider the shorter X25.

Will the Fiskars X27 handle break? It is very unlikely. The FiberComp handle is moulded permanently to the head, so there is no eye to loosen and no wooden shaft to snap behind the blade, which is the usual failure point on traditional axes. It is one of the most durable splitting axes available.