Hultafors Åby Forest Axe Review (AFTER 2 YEARS | WITH FACTORY VISIT | BIG TREE CHOPPING)
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- Опубликовано: 31 мар 2020
- Hultafors Åby Forest Axe Review (AFTER 2 YEARS | WITH FACTORY VISIT | BIG TREE CHOPPING)
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This reviews starts in the Spring of 2018. At the Scandinavian Outdoor award Jury meeting in Kleinwalsertal, Austria - and just before the Outdoor Tradeshow - Hultafors send in the Hultafors Åby Forest Axe. We played with it for a day and we thought it is an outstanding product. This resulted in the Hardware Award for this Swedish axe maker. But one day is a test, not review so a couple of weeks later a brand new Åby Forest Axe arrived art my home. It's been with me on every trip that needed a campfire. After almost two years I think I have enough experience to make a descent review on this axe. Enjoy!
Although I do mention and use the Hultafors gear, they have NOT asked me to make this video and they are NOT paying me for this tutorial in any way. Please read the following too.
Link to the manufacturer: www.hultafors.com (for your convenience!)
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I am an INDEPENDENT gear reviewer/vlogger/blogger/journalist. I am NOT PAID for my reviews, I don't have any affiliate deals and I don't have advertisements on my website. The products that I review are sent back to the manufacturer after publishing. Please support my way of independent reviewing and subscribe to my RUclips-channel, like my Facebook page and follow me on Instagram and Twitter. Thanks in advance!
Cheers, Gijs
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In the video I cut a large tree and No, I did not kill it for the video. That tree needed to go. I was at a campsite in Sweden and the owner was going to remove this tree to give space to the more rare and more beautiful tree on the right of it. You will see it in the video. So this was proper maintenance of the forest. Cutting down trees just for the video would indeed be stupid. Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Cheers, Gijs
I'm looking at buying this exact axe, and this entire video is an excellent demonstration of it's uses, and it's exactly what I need this axe for. I'm sold, I'm going to buy it tomorrow! Thank you very much for this review!
Happy that I was helpful 👍😊. Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Cheers, Gijs
How do you not have at least 100k subscribers? This was one of the most in depth reviews I’ve ever seen. Very impressed
Hi Homie, You are not the only one that asks me this question and I am thankful you think I should have 100K+. It is a lot of work to do descent in depth videos so all the positive vibes help me to continue my mission. Yes, I would love to make a living out of this and it is almost necessary since I lost most of my income due to Covid but I am positive about the future. Thanks you for your support! Cheers, Gijs
I love Swedish axes. I visited Gransfors Bruk in October 2017, an interesting experience.
Scandinavian products are so much more refined and streamlined to realistic use. Probably going to be building most of my backpacking load out with Scandinavian products going forward. Your videos are masterful and direct in true Scandinavian form as well.
Your video convinced me and I have bought a Åby axe. Fantastic, great plessure.
Your video convinced me and I bought an Åby axe. Fantastic and great pleasure. Thnaks alot.
Husqvarna multipurpose axe is half the price and almost identical. Served me well for two years now 😊
Hi Graham, Who do you think produces the axe head for Husqvarna? Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Cheers, Gijs
I have bought one. Great pleasure! Thanks alot.
You are welcome and have fun with the 🪓 . And be careful😉. Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Cheers, Gijs
I've the Hultafors Aby Forest Axe - best ever! Great video. Btw, you deserve more subscribers. Glad I found you.
Hi Aco, Thank you so much for the kind words! Share my channel amongst your friends, might help 😇. Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Cheers, Gijs
Thank you for the thorough and independent!! review, - you've got a new sub! :)
Thank you Lex 😄. Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Cheers, Gijs
Great video! I'll be taking mine out to my backyard...the Canadian Rockies!
You are so lucky! I wish I had that. Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Cheers, Gijs
Excellent pronounciation effort! You are one of few foreigners that I´ve heard that got the "Å" right! ;) But the "y" should be like when you say "Ypsilon". "Åby(psilon)". Kind of. But at 3:46 you got it all right.
Hi Erik, Got that by know 😉. Thanks for helping. Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! cheers, Gijs
Die bordjes zijn echt geniaal 😂
Doet me denken aan wile. E coyote van de looney tunes 😂
Top video kerel 👍👍👍
Dank Jan ;-)))
Nice axe i have carpenter axe and this is amazing axe for everything.Greathings from Bulgaria
Greetings back Vasili✋. Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Cheers, Gijs
Thank you very much!
U R Welcome! 👍 Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Cheers, Gijs
Now I have Gränsfors Bruk Wildlife, Wetterlings 118 Outdoor/Backcountry, Gränsfors Bruk American Felling Axe and finally Hultafors/Hults Bruk Åby/Akka. All wonderful. Always be very careful when splitting and chopping, not only for safety but of the handle and edge. Just below the head, I wrap he handle with old shoe laces. It always saves the wood.
Sweeeeeeet 👍😋. Enjoy the Outdoors and Say Safe! Cheers, Gijs
Great work on video mate 👍👍👍👍
Thanks Dean! Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Cheers, Gijs
The l basically looks like a larger version of the carpenters axe. I like the grind alot, very good for woodworking
Thanks for sharing UL 🙏. Enjoy the outdoors and Stay Safe! Cheers, Gijs
Wife just bought me one of these as an anniversary gift. I'm in love....I guess the wife is okay too ;)
The axe I take out is the Hultafors Ekelund (hunter). I love this axe. It is a bit smaller than the Aby however I live in the Boreal forest and it can handle anything I need to split. I did add a leather guard on the neck to protect the wood handle while chopping.
Thanks for sharing Aron. Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Cheers, Gijs
Where did you purchase the leather guard for the neck? Was it quality?
Hi, thanks for the very detailed review and factory footage! At 18:16 when you show a detail of the axe head it looks like the edge of blade is off-centered (though straight). Did I see that right and how do you feel about it?
Well seen Serban 👍. How I feel about it? Handmade is the best I can say. It does not effect the axe. I have seen others by now and the are centered 100%. Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Cheers, Gijs
I really love this axe but I don't think it performed as well as I had hoped in chopping. I would really like to see a comparison of the Gransfors scandanavian axe vs the aby. I likely won't be using either to drop a tree, I have really nice saws for that, but will use it to de limb, craft and absolutely chop.
Hi CPCB, Well it is not designed for felling trees, I just tried it. I can agree that it is not the best axe for cleaving big pieces but I use the axe almost daily and I still like it for general use. Thanks for commenting btw! Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Cheers, Gijs
It was an interesting review by a colorful Scandinavian. I especially enjoyed his field demonstration and explanations. Perhaps the review would have been more helpful had he quantitatively went over how he came up with a 9.3 rating. I assume it was 9.3 out of a possible 10 perfect score, but the reviewer did not indicate his methodology. I own a fiskars ax and it has a fiberglass handle. It functions extremely well and I purchased it at home Depot in Maryland USA. It was 1/3 the cost of the axe in this review. As a recommendation, I suggest that this same reviewer perform a presentation on the fiskars axe because I believe it would be helpful to a broader audience. Nevertheless, thank you for a very good review and take care.
Hi Mike, Thank you for your kind words. Although I don't mind being called a colorful Scandinavian... I am Dutch😉. About the rating: I try to get to a verdict at the end of evert video wrapping things together. The verdict is not a 100% true science since that will take gut feeling out of everything and that is something I don't like. Maybe the article on the axe on my website is a bit helpful so take a peek there too. The Fiskars... I don't own one since I like the traditional axes a lot and never came around buying on other. Next to that I like the circular aspect of a metal axe with a wooden handle. But... you are not the first to suggest the Fiskars so I will listen and try to get hold on one that is a nice in-between-do-it-all-axe. If you have a suggestion: feel free. Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Cheers, Gijs
"Åby" close enough :D
top vidéo
Thank you! Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Cheers, Gijs
Those saws are for pulling not pushing. Works much faster. I would never ever ever (even with gloves) chop anything while holding it with your hands.
I like the axe.
Thanks for the video
Hi Rogier,
Sorry for my late reply but I was on holiday and gave myself some real time off and thank you for the very kind words. Chopping with hands holding something.... I do it a lot when making kindling or smaller jobs... Sorry. I am not sure anymore what saw it was....
Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe!
Cheers,
Gijs
yehaaaaaaa! You got my sub :D
Thanks Niklas! Spread the word ;-) Cheers, Gijs
@@OutdoorguruGearReviews Sir, the Y, say the letter i by puttin ur lips in "kiss mode" then you"ll get it right😊 Greetings from Sweden.
Nice Video! I want to buy an Axe around 60cm for mostly chopping down dead trees and make firewood out of it while camping. A little bushcrafting as well but main focs is on getting firewood out of dead standing trees (hard and soft wood). ATM I'm into the Gränsfors Scandinavian Forest Axe, Ray Mears Wilderness Axe and the Hultafors Åby Forest Axe. I tend to get the Ray Mears because it could be the best splitter although it has the shortest handle. Or can the Hultafors handle splitting as good as the Ray Mears despitethe lighter handle. What Axe would you choose? I'll transport in or on my backpack. 1,4kg total is the maximum weight I want to carry.
Hi Harvey, Thanks for the compliment😀. From all my axes the small Gransfors Wildlife hatchet and the Aby are the ones I use most. I have heavier splitting and felling axes but never take them with me on trips. The hatchet is super for small work, the Aby super allround. Be aware that the balance on a backpack with a heavy axehead and a short handle is not going to be nice. I don't know the Ray axe but it looks a lot like other Gransfors axes and it fine tuned to make some money for both companies. Which is fine. What I don't like is that is that the Ray website states: 'While many Gransfors axes are forged en masse in large presses, the Wilderness Axe is produced in small quantities by Gransfors' experienced blacksmith, who work by hand with a traditional hammer press.". I have been to Gransfors - and the other companies they bought to keep up demand - anonymus and I have seen they forge the axes like Gransfors states on their website: 'All the axes produced by Gränsfors Bruk are forged by hand.' Maybe I am wrong, but I don't feel right with the Mears statement. Pointing fingers? It's not that Mears makes them. I like the handcraft in the Gransfors and Hultafors axes but there are quite a few good axe companies that do make very good axes totally without the blacksmith tradition and all by machines and hardly any people. Next to that. The Mears axe weighs 1400 grams and I think that is a bit heavy. It retails for £ 140,00 = € 150,00 and that is fine. The Hultafors is more expensive and lighter. If you are looking for a special axe that is different: take a peek at the GRÄNSFORS OUTDOOR AXE that was developed for Gransfors in coop withy Lars Felt. Hope this helps. Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Cheers, Gijs
@@OutdoorguruGearReviewsThanks for the Input! The reason for the Ray Mears would be the heavier and a little thicker head especially because of the main task of splitting wood. The outdoor axe you recommend and the SFA is too short in my opinion. I already own a good hatchet and i search for some more serious.
@@andi7331 Harvey, I do agree on both and I know you are not looking for the SFA but I think there is more thought behind that one then the Ray one. The Hultafors is great in splitting wood while camping as long as upon are planning to do huge trees. But than you would need a felling axe anyway ;-).
@@OutdoorguruGearReviews So I asume you don`t think the Gränsfors Scandi is a better splitter? Right now you confirm me in getting the Hultafors.Thanks for the help by the way!
@@andi7331 Looking at the axes on pictures It looks that the Hultafors is a bit more beefier while the Scandi is more tapered so yes, I think the bAy is a bit better. But.... Scandinavian longer and heavier so maybe it does not make a bit difference. It's a pity I can't find the weight of the Scandi head...
I've heard that using the weight of the wood coming down on the axe (13:28) can deform/widen the eye of the axe over time. Is that really an issue?
Hi Eric, I won't say it never happens but you are the first to make a remark on it. With none of my axes I have this issue. I hope this answers your question. Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Cheers, Gijs
the poll is not heat treated so it is softer than the edge. I have heard using the poll as a hammer to hit a hardened metal object can cause not only the poll to deform; but also the eye and thereby loosening the handle axe head hang. eventually, the axe hang will losen no matter how well you treat your axe or how little you use it. please always check the axe head hang before using the axe. I have seen one axe head fly off the handle luckily no one was around. please my friends do not use the reverse split method there are just too many things that can go wrong. look at using wooden wedges instead. checkout Mors Kochanski and Karamat wilderness ways for safety and speed tips on cutting wood. I thought I knew what I was doing until watching these guys. Karamat does a better job explaining things than anyone. I lived on the old family farm as a kid and we used wood extensively for heat and sourced the wood from the woods backing the old farm. I am always thankful I managed to grow into a man with all of my fingers and only minor injuries. please be careful.
As long as you are pounding the eye on a wood chopping block it should be fine. Don't do it on a rock or on graveley ground. I don't think it would deform the eye but absolutey will mess up the poll. You won't be happy if you do that to this beautiful axe.
Hello,
Thank you for your video. Really interesting.
I'm looking for a multi purpose, verstaile, portable, axes : first for splitting and felling and last some more little task (for precission works I have other stuffs). Is this the "perfect" axe ?
Well about splitting, what's the "normal" section that can be handle (or in other words the max section without pushing it to limit) ?
Did you compare it to "wetterlings les stroud bushman" ?
And compared against a small forest axe, can I suppose better for splitting ?
Thank you in advance
Hi Ben,
Thanks for the nice words!
This axe will fell and split and make kindle and a lot of other jobs. But... it is a bit les portable. I have a Gransfors Bruk Small hatchet too. I bring that a lot. It's not for felling but with stamina it can fell small trees. It's packable and not too heavy so take a look at that one too. I have seen the Wetterlings Les Stroud Bushman but not tried it. On paper it looks very capable and the hammer back looks super. I would need to try it it to give a real opinion. But... are you able to buy it? It seems to be out of stock everywhere.
Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe!
Cheers,
Gijs
@@OutdoorguruGearReviews Hello,
Thank you for your answer :) Well I was looking for a multipurpose one, balanced between splitting and felling (and capability to some little work). On paper the Aby forest could do it. Of course the axe take a little room ... but not so heavy.
You are talking about this one ? www.gransforsbruk.com/en/product/gransfors-small-hatchet/
At first read, I was thinking you talking about the small forest axe, close in size and weight to the aby forest, but the shape of the head seems more oriented to felling isn't it ?
About the Wetterlings Les Stroud Bushman, out of stock here. Returns seems very good about it, so I was looking to an equivalent ... and the aby could be close to the bushman (head shape, weight, a little longer handle)
Regards,
Hi Ben, Yes, that is the one. I have it for ten years or so and I love it. The Aby is always with me when I travel by car. Where are you from?
@@OutdoorguruGearReviews Thank you :)
I'm in France.
Well I'm searching for a transportable one in a backpack / rucksack. A one that can feel and split.
In my case I don't imagine to have the needs for a axe in the car.
I'm looking at the small forest axe too.
thx
Which hultafors axe do you think is better for mid-term bushcrafting?(shelter,cutting trees,prepare fire)
forest,carprenter Axe SY SV
or another one?thanks in advance
Hi, Have look at these two:
www.hultafors.com/products/axes/H0290-hultan-hatchet/160442
www.hultafors.com/products/axes/H0261-hatchet/79480 (the 600 gram version)
And one that I have and love : www.gransforsbruk.com/en/product/gransfors-wildlife-hatchet/
Hope this helps! If not, let me know.
Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Ciao Ciao, Gijs
@@OutdoorguruGearReviews I know the different models they have.....I just asked your personal opinion about which of all performs better and easiest the tasks i mentioned before...
@@seirios79 For use with a backpack: take the small Gransfors if you want less weight and a bit more work. Otherwise the Forest Axe. They are my two favorites (and I have a bunch to choose from ;-).
Hmm. Interesting that the branding on the axe heads @9:42 is showing the Husqvarna brand, and not the branding for Hults Bruk which produces Hultafors axes. (Hults Bruk's branding can be seen through the sheath @9:54) Which factory were you at? Is Hults Bruk producing Husqvarna axes as well?
Hi Tor, Well noticed! Yes, they do axes for Husqvarna too. I was at Hultafors. Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Cheers, Gijs
In my opinion,Aby is a trekking axe at best. it has the weight of a small hatchet, not bad for a camping trip, to help with some kidling for the fire, but that thing can't do any kind of serious chopping. Hultafors makes better Forest and felling axes, that are cheaper, so better value too!
Hi GV, The comment that I got in my mailbox from you five hours ago a lot different from the edited comment above. Why? The Aby is a very nice mix between chopping and felling. Although it is not a felling axe and I do agree: Hultafors has more serious/better axes for this. But I did fell - with a bit more energy - serious trees with this 'little' gem. You mentioned in your comment before editing the Müller Biber Canada as the the perfect forest axe. Thanks for the tip. I did not know the brand and will look into it. Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Cheers, Gijs
@@OutdoorguruGearReviews It's not the brand only. Its the weight, that indeed offres a superior performance tool. it's the head geometry, the handle etc etc. That small axe, is not havier than a hatchet. You can't fall trees with a hatchet, it will take forever. I mean, I can try with a cleader, or a machete that has the same weight and a better,thinner blade geometry, that the companie's marketing says it can chop like a felling axe. is that a felling axe though?
Felling or forest axes, usually have almost double the weight, a longer handle, a different head and so on. I'm too old to make videos to prove my point, that's why I linked you there. My older axe was very close in specs with that Muller, however since yesterday that I own it, I've lost my mind with it's performance and how light it feels compared to others. I deleted it, that part because I thought, that no proof is needed, when you haven't epxerienced something by yourself, you'll never understand., so what's the point I said.
You own a Aby?
@@OutdoorguruGearReviews That's why I cut that part, you see, it always leads, to people act like kids, that you insulted their personal toy. What's the differecne If I own similar in weight and design. Marketing doesn't add any special magic properties you know.. IT's a good trekking axe, camping axe but hell know something I would spent my time, or risk my tendons, trying to bring down a tree with. Ego doesn't let people see, or understand. You act like I said, that it's the worst axe or something. What's the point If I know ask you, how many trees you cut down in your life? What's that good for? 700 gramms, is almost hatchet, not a felling axe. Hunters axes weight etc. Even a boys axe, is 200gr havier than that for Christ's shake..
I'm a kid that plays with the most beautiful toys in the world. From axes to motorbikes to tents to bikes etc. I don't feel offended at all by your comment. I like that you take the time to comment and I respect your opinion but you don't seem to respect mine. No problem. My opinions are based on practice, not on estimating how something on paper might work. As I wrote before: I will look into 'your' Müller Biber Canada axe. Not digital, not on paper but I'll try to get hold on one to form my own judgement in practise. Funny thing... this is a quite stupid way to work since It is a felling axe and I am not felling trees in general with an axe (I have a Stihl MX 260 C) so I don't need an axe for that job. I tried felling with the Aby and it worked, but neither me nor Hultafors claim that the Aby is a felling axe. Let's agree on a few things: we both like axes, we both like playing outdoors and I for sure hope that we are both kids in one way or the other. Enjoy the outdoors! Gijs
I can tell your dutch by the accent haha de manier waarop je het uitspreekt is prachtig
Good zo Sall 😉. Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Cheers, Gijs
What is the pack sitting next to you
This one Mike: ruclips.net/video/X3iS6OONXOg/видео.html
@@OutdoorguruGearReviews thank you so much- live the content and appreciate the reply!!! Happy new year
It's pronounced "Obi", with the O sounding like the A in Awe.
Taktak! Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Cheers, Gijs
No cortar árboles!
Hi Gerardo, I think it means: don't cut down trees and I think you refer to the big tree that I chopped. That tree needed to go. I was at a campsite in Sweden and the owner was going to remove this tree to give space to the more rare and more beautiful tree on the left of it. You will see it in the video. So this was proper maintenance of the forest. Cutting down trees just for the video would indeed be stupid. Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Cheers, Gijs
@@OutdoorguruGearReviews thanks for the explanation !
I was waiting for your wife to interrupt and call you into the house.
Funny Beau😆. Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Cheers, Gijs
Why did you cut live tree ?? (7:30 min)
Hi Birol, I thought I explained this in de video, but maybe not or not good enough. I asked the owner of the forest if he was going to de maintenance on his forest and if there was a tree I could cut that he was going to cut anyway. This one of those trees. That part of the forest needed trees to be cut just for maintenance: sometime trees are to close together or there are to many high trees so the undergrowth does not get a chance to develop due to the lack of light. And some trees are just not healty. This tree needed to go because of the tree on the left of him: a beautiful pine that was being overshadowed bij the poplar. In the pine you have the branches that stay green and that is a super place for birds and insects to hide in and survive bad winter weather. So there is a good reason why it had to be that one. I hope this explains your question. Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Gijs
@@OutdoorguruGearReviews Hi again, Thank you for your clean and simple explanation.
I thought you cut the tree arbitrarily for the Hultafors Aby Forest Axe explanation and so I was sad but I was wrong. Thanks again for your kindly explaining the situation. Stay with the nature and enjoy the outdoors!
weit das ein Downsyndrom loser ist...
You did not get Åby right. Your saying "Obo"
Swedisch Archer, Well, I had some remarks on that ;-))). Also in Sweden not everybody says the same and I think that is cool. One went like this: '
Ha, ha, you got the pronunciation wrong after all. . The Å is pronounced like the o in boring. And at the end there is a y which is pronounced like y in ypsilon. No Oebooo like you say it. Cheers!
Henrik, Thanks;-) but other people from Scandinavia tell me other ways. Might it also be a slang thing? In Dutch we have some funny ways of saying the same word from south to north of out ridiculous small country. Where are you from? Cheers, Gijs
About that pronounciation... ..in contrary to most other reviewers your pronounciation would be understood immediately. Most Americans could learn from you :D
You make me blush 😉😍😇. Enjoy the Outdoors and Stay Safe! Cheers, Gijs