Top 5 Hookaroons (Pickaroon) for Every Budget

A hookaroon is a clever wood handling tool every woodsman needs. Whether you’re moving rounds or stacking firewood, a hookaroon will keep you from bending over while saving your back from unnecessary pain. 

Splitting firewood is a chore in itself, so anything that makes the entire process easier is fine by me. The hookeroon or “pickaroon”, as some call it, is designed to “pick” or “hook” into the wood, allowing you to move firewood or logs without bending over to pick it up.

On this page, I’ll cover the basics for selecting a hookaroon best suited for your needs as well as provide a list of 5 of my top picks. Whether you’re looking for something short, long, old-fashioned, or new-school, you will find it here.

I’ve taken the liberty of listing my top choices directly below this paragraph. For more information on each tool, see the review section below.

Image	Length	Weight	Name
	36″	1.7 lbs	Ochsenkopf Aluminium Hookaroon
	30″	2.9 lbs	LogRite 30″ Hookaroon
	32″	1.75 lbs	Woodchuck 32″ Hookaroon
	36″	3 lbs	Council Tool 36″ Hookaroon
	28″	1.8 lbs	Fiskars 28″ Hookaroon

How to Choose a Hookaroon

Choosing the best hookaroon for you comes down to four main aspects. All of which depends on your overall height and, of course, personal preference.

To get started, we first need to remember why you’re getting a hookaroon to begin with. That’s simple, right? You want a hookaroon so you don’t have to bend over to pick up firewood.

This tool allows you to lodge its pick into the end of the wood and move it where you want it. With that in mind, I’ll go over the four things that will help you select the perfect hookaroon.

1. Length of the handle.
2. “New school” or “old school” design.
3. Head and handle materials.
4. The price of the tool.

The length of the handle makes a huge difference. Remember, the point of using a hookaroon is to keep you from bending over to pick up your firewood. Should the handle be too short, you’ll still need to bend over.

On the other hand, perhaps you’re moving wood that’s not laying on the ground. In which case, getting something with a short handle makes sense.

You’ve probably heard the phrase “new school” or “old school” before. In case you haven’t, I’m making reference to the design of the new and the old style hookaroons and pickaroons. The difference is most apparent when comparing LogRite and council tools. The LogRite utilized a new design, which is more effective than the old, traditional design.

The traditional style, like the council tool 36″ hookaroon, is still effective but due to the wider pick, it doesn’t stick and hold on to the wood as well as the new design.

The head and handle material makes quite a difference as well, mostly in the longevity of the tool. The tools listed on this page will last you several years to a lifetime if treated properly but the biggest difference comes in the materials used for the handle. While wood is almost always an option, steel and composite materials are growing in popularity.

I don’t recommend one over the other in this case. Wooden handles can be replaced while composite and steel handles usually cannot. Likewise, the strength of a steel or composite handle is stronger than wood. As for the head, well, they’re usually crafted from carbon steel.

Last but not lead, the price of the tool plays a big factor in everyone’s decision. Whether you can or cannot spend a lot of money or you simply won’t use the tool enough to justify spending over a certain amount, money determines which tool you end up with. As for the cost of the hookaroons on this list, there is one for every budget, ranging from $45 to $130.

I recommend you get a hookaroon with a long handle, which utilizes a new design. The long handle will you keep you from bending over while the new design ensures the tool won’t slip out of the wood when you’re least expecting it.

The Best Hookaroons Reviewed

Now that you know the qualities to look for in a hookaroon, I’ll be showing you my top picks. Each of these tools has made it into my favorites for its innovative design, price, or combination of the two. So, without dragging this out any further, let’s get into it.

Ochsenkopf Ox 36″ Aluminium Hookeroon

Ochsenkopf is a German brand established by the Fahlefeld brothers in 1781. They’re most well-known for their incredibly well-made axes but, as you can see by this product, axes aren’t the only tool they make. Ochsenkopf has several “sappies” or hookaroons, ranging from short to long, with either wooden or metal handles.

This particular device made its way into this list due to its length, ergonomics, and innovative design. The head is perfect for gripping lumber rounds or firewood. The strength of the handle is nothing to scoff at and their soft grip makes working with this hookaroon a pleasure.

Full disclosure, this is the most expensive one on the list. Rightfully so, I’ll point out. It’s not easy to craft something so durable and effective at the same time, so a steep price is understandable. This is likely the best all around, coming in around $130. But remember, just because it’s the most expensive doesn’t mean its the best for the money.

LogRite 36″ Hookaroon

The story of the LogRite company starts with a man by the of Kevin. He was operating a portable sawmill after he found himself without a job. His portable sawmill worked for a while but, unfortunately, he was always closing his business early when his “can’t hook” handle broke. For those of you who don’t know, a “can’t hook” is a tool for rolling logs.

Kevin decided it was time to make his own handle. He tested a series of different handle materials until eventually, he found the right one. Meanwhile, he continued to work his sawmill business while building handles in his garage.

Eventually, Kevin sold his sawmill business and started working more on his can’t hook business. He named his company LogRite and acquired Future Forestry in 2006. Since then, the LogRite company has been manufacturing some of the world’s best log handling tools.

The handle on Kevin’s “can’t hook” was born out of necessity. He kept breaking the other handles so he made a strong handle that won’t break or bend easily. These same durable handles are used on LogRite’s tools today.

As for their 36″ Hookaroon, it has a strong handle, and more importantly, the design of the pick is perfect for sticking into firewood or pulling slabs off a sawmill. Whatever you’re using it for, rest assured it will do a great job while keeping you from bending over all day. The effectiveness of the pick cannot be understated. This new design does a much better job of keeping the wood on the hook.

By combining a durable handle, a great pick, and selling it for under $80, the LogRite 36″ Hookaroon is one of my favorites. You won’t be disappointed should you decide to get this tool.

Woodchuck Hookaroon

The stainless steel hookaroon from Woodchuck is ranked third on this list due to its toughness and meaningful design. This company specializes in a number of forestry tools like can’t hooks, peaveys, log jacks, and more.

It is similar in design to the LogRite tool, but with a few differences. The first difference is the overall length. The Woodchuck is slightly longer and it weighs less, coming in at 1.75 lbs.

Another difference is the pick or hook. On the Woodchuck pickaroon, it’s more of a hook than a pick. Both of which are effective. What really makes the difference is the thickness of the hook.

In the old-style designs, his part was often-times too thick, causing the hookaroon or pickaroon to slip out of the wood. These newer designs create a better grip, giving you more control over the firewood you’re working with.

Woodchuck products are made in the USA. Should you decide to get one of their tools, you’re supporting a company of families living in the United States of America. You can find these online for $50 – $60.

Council Tool 36″ Hookeroon

Council Tool is one of the longest-lasting, quality-tool-making companies in the USA. They’re associated with the development of great tools which are sold at a reasonable price. Their company has been around since the late 1800s and follows four main beliefs established by the founder.

It all began with John Pickett Council, the founder of the company which still bear’s its family name to this day. As for those beliefs the company adheres to? Well, the first is manufacturing a quality product. Council Tool uses American-made steel and hickory.

The second is offering value and being innovative. As manufacturing methods change, they continue to innovate. The third is simple; be honest. Being honest and upfront with their customers is essential. Last but not least; be a good corporate citizen. Council Tools offers a number of specialty tools for the US Forest Service.

Council Tool develops many high-quality tools from axes to hammers and everything in between. Their hookaroon, as pictured above, sports a traditional design and while it may not be as effective as the newer styles, it still gets the job done. This is the perfect option for someone looking for a traditional hookaroon with a wooden handle. You can get buy these on Amazon for around $50.

Fiskars 28″ Hookaroon

Fiskars is a brand you’ve probably heard of already. They’re known worldwide for their products. Not only do they make forestry tools, but they also make a multitude of other useful devices as well.

The company was established in Finland in 1649. Fiskars estimates around 63% of all US citizens own at least one item made by their company. Their orange scissors are perhaps what they’re most well-known for. Suffice to say, Fiskars is an innovative company with a long history of producing exceptional tools.

As for their Hookaroon, its main selling point is the price. Almost as appealing as the price is the design and the materials used in the handle. As you can see, the head is shaped similar to that of an old-style pickaroon. The difference is the thickness of the pick which allows for better penetration and grip; the slight hook at the end helps to keep the wood from falling off.

The handle is made from a composite material, which is both good and bad. It depends on how you look at it. If you manage to break the handle, you may as well chuck the whole thing in the trash. It’s not easily replaceable like something with a wooden handle.

On the other hand, these composite handles are really hard to break. I did a review on the Fiskars X7 hatchet recently where I actually ran it over with my vehicle. The handle bent but it did not break.

Fiskars hookaroon is a great option if you’re looking to save some money. You can find these online for around $50. They offer a 28-inch and 12-inch versions. Although I will say this, for just $10 more you can get the LogRite Hookaroon but both are great options.

The Different Uses for a Hookaroon

Now that you know more about the best hookaroons on the market, let me share some of the different uses for these amazing tools. Let’s start with the obvious. This is a tool meant for moving wood from one location to another.

1. Whether you’re loading wood on a splitter or transporting firewood cuts from the ground to a truck, wheelbarrow, or a stack of firewood, having a hookaroon will make your life easier. The length of the handle makes quite a difference as well but remember, it’s almost always better to have a long handle; you can always choke-up on the handle if you need to.
2. There is one more task this tool can help you accomplish. That task is the moving of branches, logs, and small trees. After felling a small tree or cutting off branches, use your hookaroon to help you drag the timber wherever you need it.

These are just two examples. There are many uses for a pickaroon but most of them would fall into the two categories listed above. Also, don’t forget to take care of your new hookaroon! Read more about this in the section below.

How to Care for a Hookaroon

Proper care will keep you from replacing any tool before you need to. This section is mainly for hookaroons with wooden handles. Also, this tip can be used for virtually any tool with a wooden handle, especially axes and hatchets.

Applying a coat of boiled linseed oil every season protects your wooden handle from drying out and breaking down. Not only does it offer some protection, it soaks into the wood causing it to expand. It’s the same effect water has on wood.

The difference is, water will dry out leaving a wooden handle damaged. The oil, on the other hand, will remain in the wood for quite some time. The slight expansion of the wood helps to keep the head of the tool secure. Having more outward pressure on the metal head helps to keep it securely attached to the wooden handle.

As you can imagine, the pick will eventually start to dull. Use a bastard file to sharpen the hook for better performance. This might be required for new hookaroons as well, depending on the brand and your preference.

Conclusion

It’s incredible how much this one tool can save your back and make your time cutting and stacking firewood more enjoyable. What’s even more incredible is how many people don’t know about this tool! Sure, it’s not essential for moving firewood around but it definitely makes life easier. A hookaroon is well-worth the money.

Remember the four points I mentioned at the beginning of this page. Look for a hookaroon that’s the correct length. The length of the handle makes the biggest difference.

After all, why even bother getting a hookaroon if the handle is too short and you still have to bend over? Second, decide which style you like; new or old.

While most “old-school” tools really are better, that’s not the case here. The newer design grips the wood much, much better. I suggest getting one of the newer styles like the LogRite hookaroon.

The third and fourth things to consider are the materials and the price. Get the best tool that’s within your budget and pay careful attention to the handle materials if that is one of your concerns.

Once you get your own hookaroon, you’ll realize how much easier moving firewood can be! I hope you enjoyed this page. If you found it useful, please consider sharing it with friends and family.