The best and most convenient way to get rid of stubborn brush in your yard is to purchase a machete. In this article, I will be sharing 7 of the best machete for clearing brush that I personally loved the most.
Last year, I was a bit worried about how to clean my yard. A friend of mine suggested that I get a machete, but deciding which one to get wasn’t easy because I’ve never had one of them before. After trying a few different machetes on the market, I’ve compiled 7 of them here that are definitely worth considering.
I have tested each machete, and the reviews here are my personal opinion about them. Before moving on to them, let’s briefly overview some of the features you need to consider before purchasing the best machete for clearing brush.
Buying Guide for Purchasing the Best Machete for Clearing Brush – 2024
When I went to get myself a machete, I thought it was a no-brainer, and I just had to pick the one that looked the sharpest; I guess I was completely wrong here. Buying a machete for a clearing brush requires careful selection, and it isn’t always the most expensive tool that does the best job.
Here I have compiled some handy features to consider while purchasing a machete for clearing brush. So, let’s get onto the first feature.
Type of Machetes
There are so many different machetes available in the marketplace that you could easily get lost in them.
You can classify these machetes based on their area of origin. Let’s say the Parang Machetes; the basis of their origination was Indonesia. These are some strong machetes and are suitable for cutting through thick vegetation.
Another type of machete is the Latin-style machete. These obviously came from Latin America. The main feature that makes them apart from other machetes is that they are lightweight and easy to handle.
The next type of machete I came across was the billhook machete. These came from Europe and Asia and are made from carbon steel to provide maximum durability and extra sharpness. They are ideal for chopping green vegetation.
Panga machetes originate from Africa and are super sharp; they are often used to cut thick wood vegetation. Heavy machetes can be useful for clearing off the heavy brush and other vegetation. Lastly, the bolo machetes come from the Philippines and are suitable for cutting thick plants.
Vegetation You Have
The next thing you need to consider is what kind of vegetation you have. The vegetation type plays an important role in deciding which machete to go for. For instance, you can either have a grassy brush or a woody, thick brush.
I won’t suggest going for a heavy machete for a thin brush. You get your work done by using a lightweight machete in such a situation. It is also easy to carry around and works well in the longer run. To have an easier hand, make sure to purchase a lightweight machete with sharpened sides.
Coming towards a thick or woody brush for that, you need to choose a machete that has a wide space near the tip of the blade. I had a very thick brush on my lawn, and I accidentally got a lightweight machete that ended me in a lot of trouble. Make sure you go for a weighted machete for a thick brush coupled with a wide blade with a curved tip.
Blade Length
If you focus on the machetes available in the market, you will get to know that they are available in different blade lengths. They can be as short as 12 inches and as long as 24 inches or even more.
Now the selection is the main part. I suggest you go for a length that is neither too short nor too long. This will prevent any injury and reduce the time it will take to chop off the brush. A pro tip is to purchase a long blade because this way, you won’t have to repeatedly chop off the brush again and again at one single point.
The thickness of the blade
Most of the machetes have a thickness of 1/8 inch. Due to these thin blades, they are light in weight and provide the appropriate momentum to cut through brush or grass. One thing I dislike about thin blades is that they can break too easily. You can find thicker blades but remember they are much more difficult to handle and are often heavier.
Style of the Machete
In the beginning, I told you about how different types of machetes exist based on their origin. All of these machetes serve different purposes, and you must acknowledge if you are purchasing the right machete or not.
It is good to purchase the Bolo, Parang, or Panga machetes for cutting through brushes. They are suitable for heavy brushes and are easier to maneuver as well.
Material
You can find machetes in 3 different constructions. One is carbon steel, the second is stainless steel, and the third is high-carbon stainless steel. Carbon steel blades are most optimal for clearing thick brushes. One odd thing about them is that you have to oil these blades regularly so they won’t rust up. If you do have rusty tools I’ve written an article on how you can fix them and keep them clean and ready to use.
Stainless steel blades are resistant to rust, but you need to sharpen them often; they are also much costlier and usually found in ornamental machetes. Lastly, a high-carbon steel blade can be the best blade for a machete. They clear thick brush and are the easiest to sharpen.
Full Tang Availability
Whenever you purchase a brush-clearing machete, make sure you go for the one with a full tang. This means that the whole blade is spread to the back of the handle. Because of this, you will be able to have better control over longer time intervals.
Safety
No matter what kind of machete you use, it is important to care about your safety. A sheath can serve the purpose of having the machete stored and transported safely. The handle must be designed ergonomically so it won’t slip out of your
Best Machete for Clearing Brush You Can Buy Today
How I Tested The Products Listed Here?
To test the machete, I, of course, started with my lawn. Before starting the tests and trials, I did not brush off my lawn for about a month because I wanted to check every tool rigorously.
I tried every machete on thick as well as thin brushes. Because my yard had every kind of brush available so I was lucky in that stance. I started with the thick brush and checked if the tool was able to cut through smoothly or not.
Next, I tried the machetes for cutting through thin brushes and branches lurking around. I tested whether the machete could get through many brushes together all at once or if I had to repeat the strokes.
After this, I check whether the blades are made of good quality stainless steel. I even left these tools out to see if they could withstand harsh weather conditions. This was my way of testing, and I made sure to access every aspect of these machetes.
After getting all the information about the sharpness and design of the blades, I tested the comfortability of these tools. I gave at least an hour trial period for each of the tools mentioned here to see if they are comfortable in hands or not.
One important thing that I ensured was that the handles were soft and didn’t make my hands sore, even under heavy pressure. Plus, I checked for the handles to see if they were short or long to get hold of them in the right direction.
Lastly, I confirmed that every machete was easy to carry around and did come with a protective sheath. I tested whether these sheaths were of good quality or not and were easy to transport from one place to another.
Conclusion
Hopefully, I have provided enough options for you to choose from. To have your machete perform well, make sure you select the right one. However, if you haven’t made up your mind yet, let me share my personal favorites with you:
- Best Buy Pick: Kershaw Camp 18 (1074) Camp Series Machete
- Best Budget Pick: Hooyman Bush Machete
- Beginner Friendly Pick: KA1248-BRK Machete Cutlass
As a precaution, be careful while handling the machete to avoid any mishap. Need to purchase a good leaf blower, you can check it out here. Best of luck!
