Deciding which is the best sledgehammer to buy seems like an easy job, but there are so many makes and models to choose from. Of course, your budget range does play a big part in which sledgehammer you buy but don’t think that because some look good that they are good.
When choosing a sledgehammer, remember that we are not all built the same, some people are tall, some not so tall. Some people will have no problems at all working an 18 or a 20 lb sledgehammer, and I take my hat off to you folks because you know when you’ve been working an 18 or a 20 pounder, that’s for sure. Others are more comfortable working a 10, 12 or 14 pounder. It’s important you get one that you can work with, so just buying the heaviest doesn’t mean you’ll get the job done quicker.
Sledgehammer handles are generally 30 inches or 36 inches long, and not too long ago wooden-handled sledgehammers were all that were available. Today’s sledgehammers are much better designed with safety features built-in as standard, in the better quality models.
Stories of wooden and fiberglass handles breaking due to overstrikes are pretty common, along with sledgehammer heads coming loose and flying off. These wooden and fiberglass handles just can’t compete with the ergonomically designed, impact-absorbing, steel re-enforced handles that are most popular today.
The Best Sledgehammers Reviewed
| Editor’s Award | Brand |
| The Best Sledgehammer | GROZ Heavy Duty 12lb Sledge Hammer with 30-Inch Indestructible Handle |
| Alternative Pick | Estwing 10-Pound Hard Face Sledge Hammer, 36-Inch Indestructible Handle |
| Best Budget Option | Fiskars 750620-1001 Pro IsoCore 10 lb Sledge Hammer, 36 Inch |
The Best Sledgehammer: GROZ Heavy Duty 12lb Sledge Hammer with 30-Inch Indestructible Handle
The Best Sledgehammer
GROZ Heavy Duty 12lb Sledge Hammer with 30-Inch Indestructible Handle
This is our top pick choice as the best sledgehammer. From first impressions, you’re probably thinking, well it looks ok, not sure about the bright orange-colored head but hey, it says indestructible on the handle, so it must be put together well. That’s the thing here, it is put together well, very well.
Let’s see just how this is put together, so let’s start with that Hi-visibility head, the idea behind it is simple, it’s just so that you can easily spot it when it’s being used. The head is drop forged with induction hardened (50-55 HRC) striking ends. 50-55 HRC, by the way, is a measurement of the hardness of metals, and this is hard!
This 12 lb hi-visibility Drop Forged head is attached to six spring steel bars each measuring 9/32″ (7.1mm) in diameter, running all the way through the full length of the handle.
These 6 steel bars are locked with a steel plate on top of the hammerhead. This eliminates any chance of the head becoming loose. And in cases of overstrikes, the handle will take them without breaking.
The steel bars are nicely hidden away within an ergonomic vulcanized rubber handle, this rubber-grip handle also helps to absorb impact and vibration.
Example’s of work where you can use a heavy-duty 50-55 HRC head sledgehammer include,
- Driving stakes.
- Heavy demolition work.
- Construction.
- Driving fence posts.
- Rebar work.
- Railroads.
- Bending and shaping metal.
- Police, Fire, and Resue.
What We Like:
- High Visibility Color – It really does stand out, easy to see when it’s in use and easy to spot when put down.
- Indestructible – You will not break this sledgehammer.
Things to Consider:
- Suitability – Is this sledgehammer suitable for the job? Does it pack enough weight or not enough weight to help you work effectively, efficiently and safely?
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Check the latest price for the 36-inch handle version on Amazon.
Alternative Pick: Estwing 10-Pound Hard Face Sledge Hammer, 36-Inch Indestructible Handle
Alternative Pick
Estwing 10-Pound Hard Face Sledge Hammer, 36-Inch Indestructible Handle
Estwing is a name you will, without doubt, have heard of, established in 1923 they certainly know a thing or two about producing quality tools. Present-day they operate out of the northern Illinois city of Rockford.
This Estwing sledgehammer was designed and built for heavy-duty use, this version features a 10 lb forged alloy steel-head that is case hardened to 50-55 HRC.
This head will never break off or loosen because it contains locking plates that connect directly to the 6 spring steel bars that run the full length of the indestructible handle.
These spring steel bars also help with overstrike protection and impact force, if you do overstrike and hit the handle rest assured, this handle won’t break.
As for the handle design features, it’s ergonomic, shock-absorbing and ozone resistant and of course does the job of nicely hiding away the 6 spring steel bars, courtesy of a vulcanized rubber overlay. The handle also has a steel reinforced lanyard hole at the base to allow for a wrist strap or hanging loop to be attached so that you can store it away when it’s not in use.
Example’s of work where you can use a heavy-duty 50-55 HRC head sledgehammer include,
- Driving stakes.
- Heavy demolition work.
- Construction.
- Driving fence posts.
- Rebar work.
- Railroads.
- Bending and shaping metal.
- Police, Fire, and Resue.
What We Like:
- Quality – Great quality product from an experienced tool manufacturing company.
- Unbreakable – This thing won’t break, the head won’t fly off or ever loosen.
- Manufactured – Designed and produced in the US.
Things to Consider:
- Cost – Not the cheapest out there but you can see the design features this Estwing sledgehammer has, it’s quality and that usually costs a few extra bucks.
- Suitability – Is this sledgehammer suitable for the job? Does it pack enough weight or not enough weight to help you work effectively, efficiently and safely?
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Check the latest price for the 30-inch handle version on Amazon.
Best Budget Option: Fiskars 750620-1001 Pro IsoCore 10 lb Sledge Hammer, 36 Inch
Best Budget Option
Fiskars 750620-1001 Pro IsoCore 10 lb Sledge Hammer, 36 Inch
This sledgehammer made by Fiskars a company based in Finland offers a different head option to the top pick, alternative pick, and previous worthy mention choices. As you can see in the picture, one side of the head face is flat as you would usually expect a sledgehammer head to be, but the other side of the head face is wedge-shaped.
You see, a wedged-shaped demolition face concentrates force with up to 5 times more destructive power than traditional head designs. And not only that but any bits of debris are directed to the sides away from you. Clever!
On the other side of the wedge face is the extra-large diameter driving face. This helps those of us that, shall we say, don’t always hit the target.
The bigger driving face improves strike accuracy and that’s a most welcome feature. Also, don’t worry about the head face coming loose or breaking off either as it’s inseparably riveted to the handle.
Built-in to this sledgehammer is an IsoCore Shock Control System, what this basically does is to absorb strike shock and vibration when using the sledgehammer.
In fact, comparing it to wooden handles it transfers 2X less shock and vibration, that’s got to be better for your body.
Another nice design feature that helps a lot is the flare at the bottom of the handle, this gives you that little bit extra grip and reduces the chances of your hands slipping off the handle.
What We Like:
- Head face – A really smart design, one end flat the other end wedge-shaped giving you 2 tools in one.
- Flared Handle – Another nice touch, gives you that extra bit of grip and also helps to stop your hands slipping off the end of the handle.
Things to Consider:
- Suitability – Is this sledgehammer suitable for the job? Does it pack enough weight or not enough weight to help you work effectively, efficiently and safely?
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Check the latest price for the 8 lb, 36-inch version on Amazon.
Other Worthy Mentions
In this section, we have included sledgehammers that didn’t make it as our top pick or alternative pick, but that are definitely worth a mention.
Wilton 21436 14 lb. BASH Sledge Hammer with 36-in Unbreakable Handle
Wilton 21436 14 lb. BASH Sledge Hammer with 36-in Unbreakable Handle
This 14 lb BASH sledgehammer from Wilton, certainly is a Bad Ass Sledge Hammer, just looking at it tells you that!
When you first set eyes on this sledgehammer the first thing that gets your attention is the Hi-Visibility head, the idea behind this being that it makes it easy to see when it’s in use and also easy to find when you put it down a while.
Hiding under that Hi-Vis paint job is the Drop forged 46 HRC steel head, this is more than strong enough to endure the most demanding of applications.
Inside the head is a safety plate that secures the head to the molten steel bars that run inside the full length of the handle.
There’s no way that head is gonna come off and no way that the handle will snap with any overstrikes. Wilton is so confident about that, and to prove it they offer a $1000 guarantee.
Just below the head, you’ll notice what Wilton calls the Anti-Vibe Neck, this is a thick tapered neck that absorbs vibration when striking objects and also absorbs overstrike impacts too. And to prove this claim it was tested with 25,000 overstrikes!
Those molten steel bars that run down the length of the handle are neatly hidden away by Vulcanized rubber which gives that handle a really great surface to grip onto while striking. There’s a very handy Lanyard Hole at the end of the handle for securing the sledgehammer to your wrist or for hanging it up for storage.
Example’s of work where you can use this heavy-duty sledgehammer include:
- Demolition Work.
- Driving Fence Posts.
- Driving Stakes.
- Fracturing Stone and Concrete.
- Police, Fire, and Rescue.
- Railroads.
- Rebar Work.
What We Like:
- Quality – Top quality and tough, very tough. The handle design was tested with 25,000 overstrikes.
- Guaranteed – $1000 says this sledgehammer won’t break.
Things to Consider:
- Cost – It’s not the cheapest, but it sure is one of the best.
- Suitability – Is this sledgehammer suitable for the job? 14 lb is a good weight, does it pack enough weight or not enough weight to help you work effectively, efficiently and safely?
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Check the latest price for the 30-inch handle version on Amazon.
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