The long handled HB is a really nice axe for light use and camping/bushcrafting type use. I got my son one for Christmas a year ago and he's used it a lot for limbing and even tried some carving with it. The only issue we had was that after some use, the metal wedge started slipping out due to mostly an overly wide kerf. I lowered the head 1/8" or so and replaced the metal wedge with a closely fitted poplar wedge, which I glued in place. The head hasn't moved yet and has been used quite a bit. It was sharpened by a vendor (free upgrade) and has held edge well. Last time I checked it would still shave arm hair. The handle is more like 26" on the HB, by the way. The same handle on the boys axe is 27.5 approximately.
Incidentally, I liked the HB so well, I bought a boys axe to play with. It was a fine axe as well, but I didn't really need it long term, so I put an inexpensive sheath on it and gave it to my son's best friend, after checking with his dad, who tells me that the boy uses it pretty much every day and keeps it in his room.
