I have a Gransford Bruks splitting maul ($180) an Ace "tru temper" 8lb maul on it's second handle ($35 including the second handle) and a Craftsman 5lb maul ($20 on Craigslist). I split 12 to 15 cords a year of eucalyptus (red gum, blue gum, mallus, silver dollar, iron bark, etc.) along with elm, ash, coast live oak, sycamore, willow, pine, alder. I just finished splitting 2 cords with the above arsenal plus a friends Fiskars X27. After a 1/4 cord, I put the Fiskars down and never picked it up. It almost fills the role of the gransfors bruks but just isn't the same quality and fells less "controllable" to me. That's just my opinion. At the end of the day, I'd say there isn't one maul I'd take to any splitting project. I take all three of my mauls. If budget is a concern replace the Gransford with the Fiskars. Sure, splitting alder or pine with the gransford is effortless. My 11 year can split alder or ash with one hand using the Gransford Bruks. The 8 lb maul works just as good but why use the extra energy? Put that same bruks into a 16 inch round of green live oak and you are in for a frustrating experience. Yes, I know about the kinetic energy deal. 1/2 the mass of the object times the square of the velocity give you the energy at the toe/face. So swing the bruks really fast and all is good but sometimes the angle of the cheap maul simply works better on green, "spongy" wood. Practicality trumps physics in my opinion. If you asked a person "what's the best gun" you'd get a long winded answer. Of course it depends on what you use it for. Self defense at home? (Pistol/Craftsman 5 lb) Shooting skeet or rabbits or deer? (Shotgun - deer slug/8 lb maul) Sniper rifle? (.308/Gransford Bruks) Each fills a role. Determine your need, invest in a quality tool and take care of it. If I split one cord of wood a year of mixed wood and could only buy one maul. I'd get in shape and get the 8 lb tru-temper maul. You'll spend more energy than you need to but...it's cheaper than a gym membership.