STIHL Pro Universal Forestry Ax Review

After 10 years, countless adventures, and about 70,000 miles of bouncing around in the bed of my truck, I think it’s about time I give the STIHL Pro Universal Forestry Ax its due. It is an excellent ax for camping, off-roading, and general outdoor work.

If that seems like a big statement, I have a decade of experience to back it up. That’s why I like the reasonably priced Stihl Pro Universal Forestry Ax.

In summary: Durable, compact, sharp, and ergonomic, the Stihl Pro Universal Forestry Ax ($120) is the perfect tool for campers, climbers, and anyone who needs a versatile ax to cut, chop, and split wood. With its short 27.5-inch length, five-piece head attachment (claimed to be 2.5 times stronger than standard), C60 steel head, and sweet hickory handle, it’s a versatile ax that’s easy to love. Aimed at forestry professionals but reasonably priced for the everyday traveler, it is the perfect “truck axe” in many ways.

Compare the Stihl Pro Universal Forestry Ax to the best wood splitting axes.

STIHL Pro Universal Forestry Ax Review

A record dry spring in Colorado has left the clay soil in my turkey hunting grounds baked and hard. Hitting the thick tentacle spikes on the White Duck wall with a rubber mallet proved slow. It was time to switch to arrows.

I took the STIHL ax out of the bed of my truck, where it was sitting in the Decked drawer, into a stubborn pole, and swung with ease. Thunk, thunk, thunk. A few berries and a pole sat deep in the hard ground.

That’s one of the hundreds of times I’ve handled the STIHL Pro Universal Forestry Ax over the past 10 years. I don’t think I ever wished it were different.

Before I go too deep, I want to say what it is. This forestry ax is designed for a variety of tasks. Shorter than most splitting or chopping axes. And it won’t split wood or fell a tree nearly as well as those special tools.

Rather, it is intended to be lightweight, easy to use in tight spaces, and easy to transport. Forestry axes are designed for cutting trees and clearing brush, while chainsaws do heavy work. That’s what makes them perfect for camping and outdoor recreation.

And this “Pro Universal” option has a solid steel collar where the handle meets the head. STIHL claims this five-piece attachment more than doubles the ax’s power. Having cut this ax many times, I have no doubts.

From Field to ‘Forest’

Through my work at GearJunkie and my former life of logging for fresh bogs on a cranberry farm, I’ve collected quite a few axes over the years. And while professional axes like splitting mauls and logging axes are great for certain tasks, no other ax I’ve used is as good for the general tasks of the recreational user as this STIHL forest ax.

Although it is short (which should be noted for taller users, as short axes can be very dangerous in extreme fall situations), it will split tough logs. For bonfires and fires, it’s a firecracker that everyone needs. If you have a home fireplace and need to separate wood chips, you may want to look elsewhere.

In the field, I have used it to cut down logs blocking the road. It doesn’t matter. It is obviously slower than a chopping axe. But how many times do you plan to chop down a tree with an axe? If you do that, just go buy an MS71 Farm Boss chainsaw, which has also served me faithfully for 10 years now, or another chainsaw.

Ideal for Small Jobs

I use this ax around the house. I recently used it to cut down a 5 inch tree that was going through the fence. It swung easily when I crouched in a tight corner and made quick work of it, even though I couldn’t move it all because of the tight space. I enjoyed the short handle in those situations.

I grab it when I need to cut branches to go in the compost bin after spring pruning. I also used the blunt end to tap out the old, stuck brake rotors before removing and discarding them. Do things with the ax as you should. It is also not desirable to sink when you hit the ground or a rock in the campsite. Mine has chips and has been resharpened many times. But it seems he has decades of life left.

Why the Truck Axe?

An ax is a great piece of everyday kit to carry in your truck. I use mine regularly for everything from setting fires to clearing trails or nailing tent poles. Last week, I used it to cut off the head and legs from a turkey my friend harvested in Colorado during the spring.

It is a cutting tool in the car. And if you get a small model like the STIHL Pro Universal Forestry Ax, it doesn’t take up much space. For about $100, you can grab one, toss it in your landing kit, and never think about it again until you need it. Then, it will be there waiting, ready to go.