STIHL Pro Universal Forestry Axe Review

After 10 years, countless adventures, and about 70,000 miles of bouncing around in the bed of my truck, I think it’s time I gave the STIHL Pro Universal Forestry Axe its due. It’s the perfect axe for camping, offroading, and general all-around outdoor duty.

If that seems like a big statement, I have a decade of use to back it up. This is why I love the reasonably priced Stihl Pro Universal Forestry Axe.

In short: Durable, compact, sharp, and ergonomic, the Stihl Pro Universal Forestry Axe ($120) is the ideal tool for campers, overlanders, and anyone who needs a versatile axe for limbing, chopping, and splitting wood. With its shorter 27.5-inch length, five-piece head attachment (claimed to be 2.5 times stronger than standard), C60 steel head, and pleasant hickory handle, it’s a versatile axe that’s easy to love. Aimed at forestry professionals but priced well for everyday adventurers, it’s the perfect “truck axe” in many ways.

Compare the Stihl Pro Universal Forestry Axe with the best axes for splitting wood.

STIHL Pro Universal Forestry Axe Review

A record-dry spring in Colorado has left the clay soil in my turkey-hunting area baked and hard. Whacking the thick spikes of a White Duck wall tent with a rubber mallet proved painfully slow. It was time to switch to missiles.

I grabbed the STIHL axe from the bed of my truck, where it always rides in a Decked drawer, sauntered over to the stubborn stake, and swung easily. Thunk, thunk, thunks. A few swings and the stake was seated deeply into the hard soil.

That is just one of hundreds of times I’ve grabbed the STIHL Pro Universal Forestry Axe over the last 10 years. I don’t think I’ve ever wished it was any different.

Before I get much deeper, I want to call out what it isn’t. This forestry axe is designed for versatility. It’s shorter than most splitting or felling axes. And it won’t split wood or fell a tree nearly as well as those specialized tools.

Instead, it’s meant to be relatively light, easy to wield in tighter spaces, and easy to transport. Forestry axes are mostly designed for limbing trees and clearing brush, while chainsaws do the heavy work. That’s what makes them perfect for camping and outdoor recreation.

And this “Pro Universal” option has a very tough metal collar where the handle meets the head. STIHL claims this five-piece attachment method more than doubles the axe’s strength. Having swung this axe hard a lot of times, I don’t doubt it.

From Field to Domestic ‘Forestry’

Through my work at GearJunkie and my previous life clearing forest for new marshes on a cranberry farm, I’ve collected a few axes over the years. And while specialist axes like splitting mauls and felling axes are excellent for specific tasks, no other axe I’ve used is as ideal for the generalist jobs of recreational users as this STIHL forestry axe.

While a little short (which is worth noting for taller users, as shorter axes can be somewhat more dangerous in overswing scenarios), it will split tough logs. For campfires and kindling, it’s as much splitting firepower as anyone should need. If you have a home fireplace and need to split cords of wood, you may want to look elsewhere, though.

In the field, I’ve used it to chop logs blocking the road. It has no issue. Obviously, it’s slower than a felling axe. But how many times do you plan to fell a tree with an axe? If you do that regularly, just go buy the MS71 Farm Boss chainsaw, which has also been faithfully serving me for 10 years now, or another chainsaw.

Excellent for Smaller Chores

I also use this axe around the house. I just used it to chop down a 5-inch tree that was encroaching on a fence. It swung easily as I crouched in a tight corner and made the job quick, even though I couldn’t take full swings due to the tight space. I appreciated the shorter handle in those scenarios.

I grab it when I need to cut up branches to fit in a compost bin after spring pruning. I’ve also used the blunt end to whack old, stuck brake rotors before removing and discarding them. It does axe things as it should. And it’s not so fancy as to cringe when hitting the ground or a rock at a campsite. Mine has some chips and has been resharpened many times. But it seems to have decades of life left.

Why a Truck Axe?

An axe is a great piece of everyday kit to carry in your truck. I use mine regularly for everything from preparing campfires to clearing trails or hammering tent stakes. Last week, I used it to lop the head and legs off a turkey my buddy harvested in Colorado during the spring season.

It’s a handy tool in a vehicle. And if you get a small model like the STIHL Pro Universal Forestry Axe, it doesn’t take up much space. At around $100, you can grab one, toss it in your overlanding kit, and never think about it again until you need it. Then, it’ll be there waiting, ready to go.