"Best" is subjective, and really comes down to use and what you are working on. I have taken to using hawks of some sort, I have a few, one is a one piece light combat style one, I forget offhand what brand exactly, maybe Colt IIRC, it's too light for much utility work, but carries well, and wicked fast to swing, its good for hunting and limited survival use. When I am intending more branch chopping and constructing/ deconstructing work I use a Cold steel Rifleman's hawk, it has a useful hammer head on the opposing side, and is heavy enough to chop like a true axe but easy to carry. I also have their Norseman hawk which I will use when I want the broader head and its a little lighter to pack around, but not as good a chopper as the Rifleman, the broad head is nice for light brushy stuff though. The hawks advantage is the straight handles are easy to replace.
I seem to prefer those half bearded axe heads most I think. I used an antique hand forged one I picked up on an auction some place or other and really liked it, but it had and odd handle hole that requires a lot of carving to replace the handle and tends to leave it weak, so have went to more modern versions. The blade shape is a lot like the Estwing camper axe. I don't have one, but I have used it, camping of all things
, and liked it. They have 2 sizes, I used the 17" one, it didn't have the leverage of the 20"+ hawks do, but it handled well and if you ever swung a hammer much, I have appreciated the Estwing handles. They also have a 26" version, but its quite a bit heavier, more like a true axe.
Another that has peaked my interest is the CRKT berserker, I might pick one up sometime to give a try. I have a couple of their knives I really like.
Those are the relatively cheap ones that are worth having, the cost can go up significantly with others as you probably know already. And there are a lots of alternatives that are probably as good that I don't know about. But for using them in the role of utility and trail work, I try and KISS.
