It’s easy to lump all bladed tools into a single category, so long as you’re an industry outsider. However, those who trade in everyday carry, bushcrafting, outdoor exploration, etc. know that there’s a world of difference between the sub-categories. For instance, a traditional wood axe is great for chopping wood but not so good at slicing up pieces of a well-grilled steak. Similarly, a sheepsfoot or Wharncliffe folding knife is well-suited to whittling but might not do very well where puncturing tasks are concerned. And those are just two examples amongst a vast gallery of similar scenarios.
Perhaps one of the most misunderstood bladed tools is the machete. At a glance, these hefty, intimidating, sword-like devices look like something you’d see a bad guy wielding in a big-budget action-adventure movie. And that makes sense since popular media tends to portray them as such. However, if you look at history and modern usage, machetes aren’t weapons at all. Rather, they’re tools most often used in agricultural practices, the act of exploration, and the like. And if you find yourself in need of such a tool, we’ve gone to the trouble of rounding up the best machetes currently available and putting each one to the test in this hands-on review.
How We Tested
There’s an enormous number of machetes currently on the market, from ultra-budget sub-$20 models sold at local hardware stores to ultra-premium handcrafted brush-clearers forged in modern powder metallurgy blade steels. Recognizing the sheer abundance of options in this segment, we kicked off our search for the best machetes by first making a list of criteria that we’d be using to judge each possible candidate. This included looking at each machete’s steel composition, handle material, blade shape, blade thickness, blade length, overall length, weight, and overall design. Secondary elements such as each machete’s hardware and sheath were also factored into our decision-making process. After allowing these areas to guide our search, we then generated a shortlist of machetes that we suspected may represent some of the very best currently on the market.
Reading a machete’s product description or spec sheet can be pretty informative, though the only real way to get a comprehensive sense of a machete’s overall value, performance, and worth is to experience using it first-hand. So, we opted to do exactly that; sourcing down one of each of the machetes on our shortlist and putting each one to the test. This hands-on testing helped shine a light on areas that can only be uncovered when physically testing a machete in-hand, such as how its ergonomics feel, how well balanced it is, and its overall level of craftsmanship and build quality. Even more importantly, our hands-on testing phase also allowed us to test out the performance and durability of each machete on our shortlist. Coupled with each machete’s price and performance, our hands-on testing also played a key role in allowing us to determine the overall value and bang for your buck offered by each model.
The main purpose of a machete is usually clearing brush or small branches or limbs. As such, this was the main focus of our testing. Each machete took its turn doing limb-chopping tests on roughly 0.5”, 1.0”, and 2.0” branches. Next, we used twine to mark out 100-square-foot (10’ x 10’) squares overgrown with 2.5’ to 3.5’ brush and weeds. This enabled us to perform a timed, standardized brush-clearing test in order to uncover how each machete performs individually, and how their performance compares and contrasts side-by-side. In order to get a better sense of each machete’s versatility, we also performed additional tests with each one including a paper-cutting test, a feather-sticking test, a log-hammering/splitting test, and a horizontal log-limbing test. Also of major importance, the aftermath of these tests also allowed us to examine the overall durability of each machete, along with its ability to handle abuse.
After reviewing and testing each machete on our shortlist, we then leaned on our firsthand findings, looking at each machete’s performance, build quality, overall durability, ergonomics, price, and value, in order to narrow our initial list down to a final hard-cut of what we found to be the best machetes on the market. It’s also crucial to note that, while brush and branch-clearing played the most important role in our testing, we also scrutinized each machete’s overall versatility and how well they lent themselves to other outdoor and survival tasks. As such, our final picks have resulted in a fairly diverse list of machetes, aimed at users with different intended applications, needs, and budgets.
Estwing Machete
Best Value Pick: For just over a century, Estwing has been crafting quality hammers and tools offered at a fair price. And a fantastic exemplar of the Illinois outfit’s modus operandi is the plainly-named Estwing Machete. Spanning 19.25” overall, this USA-made machete features a foot-long blade with a hand-sharpened 10.75” cutting edge that’s positioned opposite an offset-tooth sawback spine — a design that’s been brought to life in a powder-coated 1055 carbon steel construction.
In my hands-on field-testing of the Estwing Machete, I found it generally performed well across the board — save for one area. It had no problem clearing brush and could effortlessly lop through small branches, roots, and vines. In my timed test of clearing out a 10’ x 10’ square, it did the job only 10 seconds slower than the fastest machete I used. And, while it occasionally had a few issues, I was able to hammer-split logs using this machete, albeit with a little extra patience and effort. It didn’t do the best job of splitting a log horizontally, taking out only a small notch with its strike, though to its credit, the blade never chipped — or bent or folded to the point where I couldn’t easily re-hone and re-sharpen it. Speaking of its sharpness, I was pretty underwhelmed with this machete’s factory edge, as it performed the worse out of all the models I used on our paper-cutting tests — and unsurprisingly then had a difficult time feather-sticking (at least anywhere nearly as easily as the other machetes I feather-sticked with). I was also pretty unhappy with how the thing’s sawback performed, though I’ll touch more on that below.
Those gripes aside, I quickly found there was a lot to like about this machete. As someone that’s owned Estwing hammers for years, I applaud the tool-maker for implementing its impact and vibration-absorbing rubberized-nylon Shock Reduction Grip into its machete’s design. I could pretty instantly feel shocks and impacts being mitigated through the rubberized handle, especially when hacking at limbs or splitting logs. This effect became even more noticeable after using it immediately after other machetes I was testing. While it does lessen its mobility and travel-friendliness, the extended two-hand handle did also afford me with a bit of extra reach when clearing brush. It also wasn’t until using it that I realized just how much I appreciate the symmetrical round handle design. It might not have offered much extra leverage thanks to its lack of a recurve, though the hammer-like handle made using this machete’s sawback just as comfortable and secure as using its sharpened edge. I was also pretty content with the nylon sheath that the Estwing Machete ships with, as it felt solid, well-constructed, and offered great retention. In typical Estwing fashion, the thing also offers pretty solid bang for your buck — another major selling point for this machete in my eyes. And, while the blade’s edge retention was nothing to write home about, the metal was really easy to re-hone and resharpen.
There were a few other issues I uncovered while testing this model. As previously mentioned, its blade steel is on the softer side and its handle doesn’t provide any additional leverage like most traditional machetes do. I also felt the additional power and range afforded by the dual-hand handle setup didn’t really justify the extent to which it compromises portability. At a little over 36oz (2.25lbs), this 19.75” machete is definitely on the heavier side, too. In fact, it’s the heaviest of any model on this list, despite not being the longest. My biggest issue with Estwing’s machete was unquestionably its sawback. Though its handle makes it super comfortable to use, the offset teeth just had a really hard time getting a cut going (much less actually sawing through anything substantial). Even when I shaved down some of the powder-coating and sharpened the teeth, it still only made a marginal improvement. The heavily-embossed “Estwing” lettering beneath the sawback very much appears to exacerbate this area, as well. Another minor gripe is the question of tang construction. After my heavy-use tests, I didn’t notice any looseness or wobbling in the handle, though I’m honestly still unsure as to whether or not the Estwing Machete employs a full-tang construction, or just a really robust and heavily-reinforced two-piece configuration. Either way, I’d argue what matters more is its ability to stand up to abuse, which this machete had no problem with in my experience.
Verdict: Manufactured by a legendary American tool brand, the Estwing Machete is an American-made two-handed model that features a proprietary shock-absorbing grip and some of the best all-around performance (and all-around value) of any machete that I tested.
CRKT Chanceinhell
Best Upgrade Pick: The youngest person ever to be inducted into the Blade Magazine Hall of Fame, Ken Onion is a legend in the knife-making world and is responsible for penning all manner of iconic blades, tools, and weapons. So, leave it to Onion to conjure up one of the best modern-day takes on a machete — and to CRKT to bring his vision to life. Boasting a full-tang construction and a 17.88” overall length, the Chanceinhell (pronounced “chance in hell”) is crafted from 65Mn carbon steel that’s been fortified via a black powder-coating. Mated to the tang using a quintuple pin setup, the Chanceinhell also features a set of rugged glass-reinforced nylon handles with rubber overlays.
Like many knives from CRKT, I found the Chanceinhell machete to offer pretty outstanding bang for your buck. Sure, the thing is made in China and you may not get the most premium blade steel or the thickness blade, but for a full-sized Ken Onion-designed model, you’re still getting a lot for your money. Not only is the handle extremely durability and decidedly grippy, but it also features what are easily the best ergonomics of any machete I tested. Despite the fact I wear a size large glove, I did find the Chanceinhell’s handle to be just a bit too big more my hand, though the ergonomics were still pretty fantastic. I can only imagine how perfect this handle would feel were my paws just a little bigger. Even still, it felt incredibly natural in my hand and was comfortable even when being gripped hard for an extended period. What’s more, the top of the handle includes a particularly effective finger guard while the bottom boasts a few centimeters of recurve that bolsters leverage when slicing or chopping, much like the design on many hatchets and axes. And while it does have a somewhat menacing aesthetic, I appreciate the fact that it doesn’t look overly-aggressive or tactical just for the sake of looking overly-aggressive or tactical and instead sports a design with functional elements that just happen to result in this kind of appearance. For example, its handle looks tactical though does a phenomenal job providing leverage and grip, while its widening blade shape adds a bit of extra weight to increase chopping prowess. Even its stealthy blacked-out finish is a powder-coated treatment chosen to fortify its blade steel.
Despite scoring in the middle of the pack when facing the paper-cutting test and being just a bit too big for camp kitchen tasks, the Chanceinhell excelled at feather-sticking. And while its tenth-inch blade thickness did have me a little concerned, this CRKT machete was able to be hammered though a log. When it took its turn clearing out a 10’ x 10’ patch of roughly 2.5’ to 3.5’ brush, the Chanceinhell was the second-best performing out of all models I tested, outdoing several machetes that trump it in terms of both weight and overall length. It mows down brush and weeds almost effortlessly, and the ergonomics and leverage provided by the handle amplify the blade’s ability to dice through plant matter. In fact, this was the best machete I’d tested thus far — until performing a horizontal log-chopping test, after which I noticed a few small chips had come off the blade’s edge. I also noticed the rubberized handle felt a tiny bit loose after the chopping and splitting tests — an offense made worse by the fact the handle’s hardware can’t be tightened. To this machete’s credit, it wasn’t engineered for splitting logs, and even with the chips in the blade, I didn’t notice it perform any worse when clearing brush. With that said, I still think it’s worth calling out — especially because the chips were large enough to the point that I couldn’t simply re-hone the blade.
Another major part of what bothered me with this machete wasn’t just how it performed in the real world, but also how the thing is marketed. With the monicker of “Chanceinhell,” I expected this machete to have a more robust overall construction and to be a machete that’s able to deliver true survival-grade durability — something that it’s definitely not. What it is, however, is an excellently-designed branch-chopper and brush-clearer that excels at less-hardcore/hard-use garden, off-roading, and camping applications. With a price hovering around the $50 mark, it’s admittedly foolish to expect a super rugged and robust tool that’s built-to-last a lifetime, though CRKT is also a heralded brand with a lot of credibility so seeing its marketing not really align with this product’s IRL performance was a little disappointing to me. One area that definitely wasn’t in anyway disappointing was the Chanceinhell’s sheath. Cut from heavy-duty nylon, this sheath uses a three-snap securement that I found to be super effective. So, while it’s not without a few issues, I still found this to be a stellar machete, offered at a very fair price.
Verdict: Though it doesn’t fully live up to its name, the CRKT Chanceinhell is a value-laden brush and limb-clearer that boasts one of the most calculated and ergonomic designs of any machete on the market. And while it might not be a survival-grade tool, it’s got no problem handling basic tasks around the yard or campsite.
Barebones Japanese Nata Tool
Best Japanese-Style Pick: Whether you find yourself in your home’s back garden or deep into off-grid territory, Barebones aims to offer quality gear and tools for cultivating and living off the land. From a harvesting and gathering bag to pair of work gloves to cast iron cookware to vintage-inspired lighting equipment, Barebones’ often-retro-inspired wares all focus on not only connecting you with nature, but letting you thrive in it. For proof, look no further than the Barebones Japanese Nata Tool. Spanning 19.5” overall, the Japanese Nata Tool is forged in 3Cr13 stainless steel and boasts a full-tang construction that comes cloaked in a set of genuine walnut handles.
Inspired by traditional Japanese gardening tools, this cleaver-esque design allows this machete to split logs or feather-stick just as easily as it can clear brush. Despite its vintage-inspired design, the “JNT” doesn’t feel dated in the slightest, with a handle that provides pretty stellar ergonomics. The clear-coated walnut construction admittedly isn’t very grippy, though its shape, profile, and contours have been perfectly dialed-in. While it isn’t the most mobile or travel-friendly, its considerable heft allows it to easily mow down brush, lop off small limbs, or cut through vines. In addition to its cutting and chopping prowess, I was also particularly impressed with this machete’s sheath — and not just because of its price. Barebones’ Japanese Nata Tool ships with a semi-rigid sheath composed of 900-denier polyester. Equipped with riveted reinforcements, an interior liner, and a copper-finished snap closure, the sheath also comes with a reinforced, integrated stainless steel belt/pocket clip that, while not removable, provides plenty of retention — and no shortage of carrying options. Like the traditional Japanese tool that inspired it, this machete is also incredibly versatile.
As far as how the Barebones Japanese Nata Tool faired in our battery of tests, this cleaver-style item scored high, landing towards the front of the pack in almost every area. As touched on above, it excelled at mowing down brush and weeds, and cleared out a 100-square-yard crop the third fastest. I imagine it would have been quicker were it not for this machete’s fairly excessive weight. On top of allowing it to breeze through brush, the blade’s ample heft also made it great for splitting logs and lopping off small branches. It also performed the very best at our paper-cutting test. Sadly, the horizontal log cutting test did see this machete suffer a few minor chips. They weren’t as deep as the nicks in the CRKT Chanceinhell’s blade, but were nonetheless concerning. I also noticed just a tiny bit of play in the handle after hard-use testing — another area I didn’t love, but one that could easily be remedied with a bit of tightening with an Allen key.
Unfortunately , the blade chipping wasn’t the only issue I had with this machete. For starters, though it is Japanese-inspired, this thing definitely isn’t Japanese-made, having been crafted in China. Next, while I applaud this machete’s design and use of quality materials, its craftsmanship, build quality, and overall execution left a lot to be desired. The handle didn’t lineup with the tang in several places. It was hardly noticeable when testing it as I wore a pair of work gloves, but when wielding it barehanded, these small differences could very much be felt. Considering how long the JNT had been on the market, I’d really have liked to see Barebones iron out this kink. On a more expensive machete, I’d have seriously taken issue with this fault, but considering this model’s price, it’s difficult to complain about — the chipping, less so. Even with that said, this tool’s quality materials, unique Japanese-inspired design, immense versatility, and generous bang for your buck unequivocally make it one of the best machetes that I tested — and almost certainly one of the best machetes on the market.
Verdict: Combining traditional Japanese designs with modern materials, the Barebones Japanese Nata Tool is a unique-looking machete with a level of performance, versatility, and overall quality that’s matched by very few others — especially at this price.
ESeE Libertariat
Most Versatile Pick: Penned by John Armstrong for ESEE’s Expat Knives division, the ESEE Libertariat is a unique compact machete that sees traditional brush-clearing designs collide with that of tropical survival knives. Sporting a rectangular cleaver-like silhouette measuring 9” in length, 2.0” in width, and 0.13” thick, the Libertariat’s design has been brought to life in tried-and-true 1095 carbon steel. Finished with a set of grippy and rugged Micarta scales, this compact machete is the epitome of a tool that can punch above its weight, with a level of performance and overall chopping prowess that’s typically reserved for machetes spanning twice the length of the Libertariat.
With a shorter cutting-edge, a handle that’s decidedly lacking in recurve, and a beefier 0.13” thickness, I honestly had no idea how the ESEE Libertariat would fair at basic brush-clearing tasks. And to the Libertariat’s credit, it performed just as well as the full-size models I tested — and not just at clearing brush, with this model only scoring about 15 seconds behind our fastest-clearing machete. In addition to being able to hold its own when mowing down weeds and brush, the ESEE Libertariat was also super conducive to everything from feather-sticking to log-splitting. It ate through small branches, vines, and limbs with no problem, too. On top of the immense versatility and performance that it packs in a compact package, another monumental part of what makes this model so special is its ability to lend itself to other uses around camp — not unlike a survival knife. From splitting coconuts to chopping meat and veggies, the Libertariat is just a phenomenal survival and camp knife that’s able to excel across a wide range of applications. I also wasn’t particularly surprised to see this knife take second place overall in our paper-cutting test — if anything I was surprised it didn’t take the number-one spot, as ESEE knives in my experience usually boast a tremendous level of craftsmanship and fit and finish.
Able to easily double as a large survival or camp knife, the ESEE Libertariat was very clearly designed by someone with ample real-world experience in the backcountry (and jungles of South and Central America). This is not only made evident by the performance the design affords, but also through the implementation of other useful outdoor-focused amenities such as a 90° spine that was selected for easy striking and Ferro rod use and the draw knife hole set towards the top of the blade. Despite only spanning 14.0” overall, its 0.81-pound weight provides it with plenty of chopping power. The generally robust nature of this model also allows it to lend itself to tasks such as light hammering and prying. Crafted from a heavy-duty nylon, the sheath of this machete wasn’t particularly special, though it got the job done and offers multiple carrying options. Over time, I’d worry the blade’s edge may eventually start eating into the sheath, though I admittedly saw zero signs of this when I tested it — despite going so far as to spend almost 10 straight minutes inserting and removing the blade from its sheath over and over and over again in an effort to simulate longterm wear, albeit to no avail.
Considering how well it’s able to lend itself to a variety of other uses, I was expecting to find a few issues with the ESEE Libertariat when testing it, though the reality is I came up short here — which is far from a bad thing. It doesn’t have the reach of some of the longer machetes on this list and it lacks their weight, though it’s exceedingly difficult to fault ESEE for this with the Libertariat being a purposefully compact design. The one gripe that I do have is that, unlike every other ESEE product I’ve ever had the pleasure of using, the Libertariat is made in El Salvador — rather than in America (in fact, if I’m not mistaken, I believe this machete is crafted at the same factory used by Condor Tool & Knife). Having said that, the overall fit and finish is still pretty superb, and had ESEE told me this machete was made by hand in America, I’d 100% have believed them. And, regardless of its origin, the Libertariat still comes backed by ESEE’s unconditional lifetime “No-Questions-Asked” warranty. And, while the Libertariat is our top pick, ESEE’s Junglas model and Darien model also make for fantastic choices for anyone looking for a more premium machete.
Verdict: If versatility and durability are your two top priorities, the ESSE Libertariat makes for an obvious choice, with a 14.0”, cleaver-inspired design that punches well above its weight, making short work of everything from tall brush to coconut shells.
Condor Tool & Knife Discord
Best Overall Pick: With nearly a third of its land occupied by forestry, there’s an immense need for machetes in El Salvador. As such, it probably won’t come as a shock to learn that our pick for best overall machete goes to a model that was designed, developed, torture-tested, and made by hand in El Salvador. Tipping the scales at 33oz — making it the second heaviest machete on this list — the Condor Tool & Knife Discord is a full-sized two-hander machete that spans 27.0” overall. Designed by Joe Flowers, the machete is crafted around a 0.118-inch-thick full-tang construction that’s forged in rugged 1075 high-carbon steel, equipped with a Black Traction powder-coating, and finished with a convex grind. The 27.0” full-tang construction has also been paired with a set of perfectly-contoured 9.0” Micarta handle scales.
Because of its size, I anticipated the Discord would perform at — or at least towards — the front of the pack. Even with this preconceived notion, I was still legitimately blown away by how effortlessly it was able to slice throw small branches, chip through logs, or lop away vines. Its ergonomic handle and oversized blade together afford it a level of chopping prowess that exceeded every other model I tested — and in most cases by a pretty substantial margin. In fact, aside from the ESEE, the Discord pretty much blew everything else out of the water — save for the paper-cutting test where it got 4th out of 5th place. When its time came to clearcut a 10’ x 10’ patch of brush, the Discord made short work of the plant matter in mere seconds — plus its hefty weight really didn’t slow me down the way I thought it would. In a matter of minutes, the Discord leveled several feet of growth down to 8″ or less.
While I 100% stand by our choice to crown the Condor Discord with our pick for overall best machete, I did come across a few minor caveats during my research and testing. At over 2.0lbs, the thing is really heavy. Though it no doubt bolsters it chopping power, this immense heft also pretty hugely compromises its ability to perform more delicate tasks such as feather-sticking — unlike the much smaller and easier-to-control ESSE Libertariat, which is around half the Discord’s length. Additionally, while the two-handed setup does provide a bit more power and range, I just didn’t feel the added length fully justified the extent to which it compromised portability — not at all unlike the Estwing Machete. And, while I’m actually quite fond of how it looks, I didn’t really see any clear advantage or purpose behind the harpoon-esque tip just behind the blade’s point on its spine. I also found the harpoon-tip to occasionally catch on the Discord’s sheath. With that said, I absolutely loved the Discord’s leather sheath in just about every other way possible, as it both felt and looked great, and performed just as it should — not unlike the machete it’s made to house.
Though it is made in El Salvador, I actually found the Condor Discord to feature the best overall build quality and fit and finish of every machete that I tested — with the ESSE Libertariat taking a close second, and every other model trailing significantly behind. Like the Libertariat, if you told me the Discord was handcrafted in small batches in the U.S. I’d believe you in heartbeat. The attention to detail and quality control are just superb, and the handle not only feels great, but it also perfectly aligns with the blades tang to an extent that can typically only be achieved through small-batch handworked manufacturing. At $175 it’s also the most expensive machete on this list —again, by a pretty huge margin — though I would actually argue that its stellar craftsmanship, quality materials, and unparalleled performance actually add up to a pretty decent value. It’s a simple case of “you get what you pay for” — and then some, as you can expect to get a true lifetime of hard use out of it, which is more than I can say for the lower-priced Barebones or CRKT machetes.
Verdict: With a particularly effective full-size design that’s been brought to life using premium materials and meticulous craftsmanship, the Condor Tool & Knife Discord is the go-to option for any adventurer, laborer, or outdoorsman looking for a highly-capable machete that can easily withstand a lifetime of hard use.
Best Machetes Comparison Chart
Do You Need A Machete?
As mentioned and despite common misconceptions, machetes are not actually self-defense weapons. Rather, they are purpose-driven tools that are most often used for clearing foliage in the unexplored outdoors, harvesting crops, campsite management, and various other related duties.
This is proven further through their construction. Machetes, typically speaking, have long and thin blades made for repetitive hacking and slashing attached to a relatively small handle. And while they are meant to be swung, the intention is for the blade to pass through relatively soft tree branches, bushes, and the like. They lack the breadth and heft of sword blades, as well as battle-focused additions like crossguards and extended handle for two-handed grips — meaning they’re not meant to slash through enemy combatants, including armor and even bone.
If you’re interested in machetes as weapons of war, you’ve come to the right place. Sure, they can be used for battle in the same sense that a brick can be used in battle. It might get the job done, but that was never the original purpose. However, if you need a large-bladed tool to make your exploratory or agricultural endeavors a bit more manageable, you just might be in the market for one of these machetes.
What To Look For In THe Perfect Machete
Though machetes are fairly straightforward items, there are a handful of finer points that one should be privy to one shopping. Below, we’ll briefly break down a few of the most pivotal areas to consider when buying a new machete.
Intended Use: How you plan on using your machete should ultimately serve as the jumping off point for your search, as how you intend on utilizing the thing will play a major role in determining areas such as size, blade shape, blade thickness, and weight.
Blade Steel: As the element that actually comprises the majority of a machete, the blade steel being used is of extreme importance. When reviewing this aspect, you’ll want to look into the type of steel used to compose the machete’s blade, as well as the thickness of the blade, and whether it’s been fortified via any type of exterior treatment or coating. Also of extreme importance in this area is whether or not the machete’s blade steel uses a full-tang construction.
Size: Though pretty much always exceeding 1’ in length, machetes can nonetheless vary in terms of size. Larger machetes tend to provide greater chopping and slashing power, though are heavier and lack the mobility of their smaller counterparts.
Handle Material: While the blade makes up most of the machete, the remainder of the item is comprised of the handle. Machete handles can massively vary in size, shape, and material. Handle construction will also play a major role in the machete’s overall durability.
Ergonomics & Grip: It’s not just a handle’s construction that’s of importance, but also how that handle is shaped, and if it’s been bestowed with any type of grip-enhancing texturing. The shape of the handle not only determines how comfortable and ergonomic a machete will be, but also how much leverage a particular machete offers — not unlike an axe or tomahawk.
Build Quality: Unlike some blades meant for finer and more delicate cutting tasks, machetes are designed for hard use in outdoor settings. This requires an immense degree of durability. As such, how well a machete has been constructed — I.e. it’s build quality — is massively important.
Sheath: Whether carrying one as part of your backpacking loadout or mounting one to the exterior of an off-roader, machetes are designed to be used out in the field. As such, practically every machete on the market will come with an accompanying sheath. These sheaths can hugely vary in terms of materials and overall quality, which is why we recommend paying close attention to this area prior to pulling the trigger on your purchase.
Weight: There’s an important tradeoff to be aware of when buying a machete. The larger and heavier a machete typically is, the more cumbersome it will be to carry, and the less it will lend itself to travel or use on the trails. And while it limits mobility, a machete’s overall heft can also play a key role in its ability to hack through branches and limbs or slice through weeds, vines, and brush. We recommend considering your intended use and then selecting a machete with a weight conducive to said use.
Price & Value: Machetes can massively vary both in terms of price and level of value – making this another crucial area to consider when shopping. When shelling out a higher amount of money, you do typically get better quality materials and more meticulous craftsmanship, though the pricer machetes seldom offer the same bang for your buck as their more budget-friendly counterparts.
Warranty: Another area that can bolster a machete’s overall value and bang for your buck is undoubtedly warranty. Because machetes are designed for hard-use and are expected to be abused, it’s incredibly comforting knowing that, should you somehow manage to damage your machete, that it will be warrantied — in some cases, for life. Because these tools have a tendency to occasionally brake, we recommend opting for models that come backed by lengthy warranties — preferably of the lifetime variety.
Versatility: Though most will have no problem hacking away small branches or clearing out brush, it’s still nice to have a machete that possesses a good deal of versatility — as this area can also bolstered the thing’s value. Other areas to consider when reviewing this element include whether the machete can be used for other outdoor tasks or applications, and whether or not it can doubsheet le as a large knife or any other type of tools such as a hammer or pry bar.
Honorable Mentions
Part of the Studies and Observations Group’s SOGfari lineup, the SOG Kukri Machete is a compact machete that manages to punch well above its weight thanks to a 12” 3Cr13 steel blade with a distinctive Kurki recurve that enables it to deliver markedly more chopping power than a machete with a standard silhouette. Add to that an ergonomic 6” Kraton construction handle and a sawback-equipped blade spine, and you’ve got a venerable machete that also delivers some pretty exceptional bang for your buck.
Comprised of an 18” zinc phosphate-finished 1095 blade and a molded plastic handle, the Ontario Knife Company 1-18 is about as tried and true as a piece of gear can get, having been manufactured for the U.S. government and military for more than 70 years. Though not fancy or innovative, the 1-18 does everything a good machete should and features a level of durability that allows it to stand up to years of hard use — and does so in a fairly value-laden package, with a sub-$50 MSRP.
Co-penned by designers Ethan Becker of BK&T and John Benner of TDI, the KA-BAR Becker Tac Tool is an ultra-rugged and ultra-robust blade that boasts a 1095 Cro-Van construction and a beefy quarter-inch thickness. The Becker Tac Tool’s super beefy construction and rugged build quality allows it to serve as more than just a machete, being just as capable of acting as a demolition and breaching tool thanks to its ability to hammer, bash, pry, and of course, cut and chop.
Made by hand in America, the Case M-1 Astronaut Knife is a commemorative carbon-copy replica of a compact machete that was designed for NASA for use in the survival packs on the Apollo and Gemini spacecraft missions. While admittedly very versatile, it doesn’t lend itself to clearing brush anywhere near as much as a full-sized machete. With that said, its story and history alone make this an incredibly cool — and seriously noteworthy — machete that we feel is more than deserving of an honorable mention. Hell, this very design has traveled to the moon and back nine-times over!
The RMJ Tactical 3V Syndicate is unequivocally one of the world’s most high-end interpretations of a modern-day machete. Spanning 16” overall, the. RMJ Tac’s 3V Syndicate features a 0.19-inch-thick full-tang construction forged in ultra-premium CPM 3V super steel and fortified via a Cerakote finish. Weighing only 11.5oz, these small-batch handmade machetes also sport contoured G10 scales mated to the blade using titanium hardware (in fact the thing ships with bare, bronze, or blue-finish titanium hardware sets). Paired with a Kydex sheath, the 3V Syndicate admittedly doesn’t come cheap, though it undoubtedly represents one of the finest machetes that money can buy. And, while not quite as top-shelf, the Bastinelli Creations Separateur is another stellar option for anyone looking for a decidedly premium machete.
