The right axe for you is the one you feel most comfortable with. A good starting point for the size of your axe starts with the handle. Ideally you want the length of the handle to go from the ground ...

In the southern Appalachians, where I live, fall means primo mountain-bike conditions and car camping without the mosquitos. It’s the beginning of bouldering season and arguably the best time to take ...

Splitting wood for the coming winter isn’t just great exercise. It can be a time for reflection and even meditation. There is something deeply satisfying in seeing the pile of split wood grow larger ...

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us? I’ve always enjoyed when my kids help me with projects and jobs around the house. My ...

It is wood splitting season, and the time of year I love best. There is a Zen aspect to splitting wood, and indeed, a Zen proverb says: “Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After ...

Sometimes tools break, and that’s part of working with wood. In this video, a failed axe handle turns into a lesson in why ...

The sounds of my attempt to chop the long log in half echoed off the canyon’s rock cliffs like gunfire. I wasn’t having success because I was using a smaller axe with a narrow head. It was the wrong ...