Best Machetes

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Best Machetes

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How to Choose the Best Machete

If you’re doing anything outdoors, a machete is the kind of tool you don’t want to be without. It can do everything from cleaning game to sharpening sticks. It’s a true outdoorsman’s tool, used for centuries all around the world. Some of the best machete brands make multiple different models and sizes to suit everyone’s needs. This overflow of product can make the machete market hard to navigate, but you want the best machete in the world. Here are some things to look for when buying a machete.

Best Machetes

Blade Length- It’s important to know how long your blade is, as this can change how you use it. If you’re taller, a longer blade might be easier for you to handle. If you’re on the shorter side, a smaller blade may pack more of a punch.

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Overall Length- If you’re trekking through the woods and chopping down brush, you’ll want a longer machete. But if you’re just out camping and want something easy to pack, a shorter knife will do the trick.

How to Choose the Best Machete

Handle Material- Rubber handles offer better control, but can be uncomfortable if you’re using it all day. Plastic can be more comfortable but does not offer as much control. Wood handles also offer good control with less discomfort.

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Weight- If you want to take your machete with you everywhere, a lightweight machete will be better for your needs. For something that is for very heavy duty use, you’ll want a heavier machete that can pull its weight.

Best Machetes

Sheath Included- Everybody needs something to keep their machete in, and something that is custom built for your knife is a great accessory. Many of the best machete review will tell you to look out for this tool.

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Lanyard Hole - Nobody wants a machete slipping out of their hands, so a lanyard hole is an important feature. Lanyard holes can also be useful for clipping your knife to your belt and carrying it with you.

Top 10 Products

So, let’s get to the point. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best machetes out there. If you’re in a hurry, you can check our top and budget pick out first. They’re some of the best in our machete reviews. You need to get to work on all that brush in your backyard or the another project and you don’t have time to wait. Review all of the machetes on this list to make sure you get the best one for you.

Schrade SCHKM1 Full Tang

Schrade SCHKM1 Full Tang
Our top pick, the Schrade Full Tang, is among the best machetes on the market. It has a shorter blade, with a rubberized grip on the handle. It’s really tough and very practical for most outdoor uses. It’s a 1/8 inch thick blade is well suited for high impact use without dulling too quickly. The way the blade is curved allows for great chopping power. The handle is comfortable, and the lanyard wrist strap ensures that it’s not going anywhere. It comes with some awesome add-ons, like a fire steel and striker, a sharpening stone, and a sheath. This makes it a great choice for long camping trips or outdoor treks, as it really can be a multitool. It’s also made of stainless steel, which means it could be a great choice for someone who needs a machete that stands up to the elements. IT’s a great value for anyone looking for a great all purpose blade that can punch above its weight.
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Gerber Gator Machete

Gerber Gator Machete
Our budget pick is the longer Gerber Gator Machete. With a 15” blade and an overall length of 25”, this machete is meant for big things. It has a fine 15” blade on one side and an 18” saw blade on the other. This basically makes it both a hand saw and a machete. You can go straight from cutting down limbs to chopping up your kindling. It makes fast work of small trees and also works great on the heavier limbs. It’s a very lightweight blade, which makes it ideal for taking on camping trips. It comes with a sheath, which can be attached to a belt with a built-in loop. This is definitely the best machete for the money. It has a rubberized handle for optimal grip and control and a durable nylon sheath. It includes a lanyard hole for attaching the machete to a belt yourself. This machete is a great choice for anyone looking for a good deal.
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Ontario Knife Co Military Machete

Ontario Knife Co Military Machete
This machete is a good choice for anyone looking for a basic long machete. It has a full tang 18 inch carbon steel blade for maximum chopping power. Ontario Knife company is famous for it’s military issued knives and it’s long history of making quality knives in the US for over 70 years. This is a thick, heavy blade meant for heavy duty work. This is a good choice for anyone looking for a heavy duty machete that can take down some serious wood or brush. It comes sharpened, so it’s ready to go from the second you take it out of the box. The design of the plastic handle makes it easy to grip and swing with control. At it’s low price point, it’s a great choice for anyone looking for a quality blade without spending a lot of money. It’s the perfect tool for anything from cutting through brush to taking on zombies.
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Tramontina Wood Handle Machete

Tramontina Wood Handle Machete
The Tramontina wood handle machete is a great choice for anyone looking for something that ranks with the best machette at a lower price point. It has a natural wood handle and is made in Brazil. It’s a carbon steel blade and can hold up to most high impact tasks. It has a good amount of temper, with a little bit of spring. It’s weighted well and gets a good amount of momentum behind each swing. It can chop limbs with ease and make quick work of most brush. The wood handle gives it a unique look in a sea of rubberized and plastic grips. Wood offers a good balance between grip and control without being too uncomfortable for most people. It’s a larger blade, but incredibly light, so it can be a great choice for many users. The blade is easy to sharpen and reshape, so maintenance is a breeze. Tramitonia is among the top machete brands in the industry, so you can be sure you’re getting a quality product.
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SOG Safari Machete MC04-N

SOG Safari Machete MC04-N
The SOGfari MC04-N is a small blade that packs a big punch. It’s a 10” blade, so it’s perfect for on the go uses. It really lives up to its name and would be a perfect safari companion. From cutting through the savannah to the underbrush, it really does the job. It comes with a tanto blade and a saw back, so it is truly a multitool. It has a Kraton handle, which can provide a superior grip. The blade is full tang and stands up to heavy use well. It’s light and powerful, at 13 ounces. It comes with all the essentials, including a SOG sheath which holds the blade snugly. It attaches to belts or bags with its lanyard hole, which is a great feature. SOG makes some of the best machetes on the market, so you know this powerful little knife is worth the money. It is well balanced and made of stainless steel.
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Gerber Bear Grylls Parang Machete

Gerber Bear Grylls Parang Machete
This Gerber machete has one of the best names in survival machetes behind it- Bear Grylls. This 13.5” blade could accompany the survivalist everywhere- from the Arctic to the desert. The Parang is a modernized jungle tribesman’s knife, originally designed for handling everything from thick brush to animal attackers. Its full tang blade is durable and can last a whole trip. The blade is also angled to provide maximum chopping ability. It’s well designed- with a grey and orange handle to make sure you never lose track of your machete. The textured rubber grip is ergonomic and comfortable, reducing slip. It comes with a military grade nylon sheath, which is lightweight and perfect for transporting your machete everywhere. It also comes with a pocket guide of Bear Grylls survival essentials, a useful tool. It is one of the best machettes for high impact and versatile use and is based on the machetes humble roots as a jungle multitool.
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Kershaw Machete Camp Knife

Kershaw Machete Camp Knife
This Kershaw camp knife is great for someone looking for a range of choices when purchasing the best machete. It comes in three sizes- 10”, 14”, and 18”. The full tang carbon steel blade is ideal for camping. It is covered in a light black powder coat to protect it from damage and keep it chopping longer. The sheath keeps the blade held tightly and clips on easily to a belt loop. The sheath is molded plastic with nylon straps. It is close to a bolo style blade, which is commonly used to chop jungle brush. To get the most out of this machete, chop in short, powerful bursts. The blade chops through most small branches best this way. It has a powerful, curved blade to deliver maximum strength. It is light enough to provide a comfortable swing but heavy enough to deliver the blow. It has a rubberized handle to ensure that you have a strong grip while remaining comfortable.
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Gerber Gator Bolo Machete

Gerber Gator Bolo Machete
This Bolo machete is a great large machete for heavy use. It comes with a 15” blade, with an impressive 22” overall length. This is not at all a compact knife, it’s meant for heavy-duty use. It is heavy enough to deliver a strong blow- at 21 ounces. The bolo style machetes are most commonly used in South America and Asia for chopping through thick brush, cutting firewood, or killing animals. This machete looks incredible doing it too, it’s curved design and matte black coating make it look great. The nylon sheath that comes included with this large machete is perfect for keeping it from slipping or getting beat up by things that you’re not cutting. It also includes a wrist lanyard to ensure that you don’t accidentally send it flying in the wrong direction. The blade is well balanced and sharp, perfect for a taller outdoorsman or someone looking to do some real heavy duty work with this machete.
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Whetstone Cutlery The Brute

This machete review is of the Whetstone Brute, which truly lives up to its name. It is a super tool complete with both a saw and fine edge, as well as a gut hook, blood slot, and an extra grip area. The extra grip area is especially useful on this heavy machete when doing big tasks. The gut hook can also be used to cut a rope. Both blades are sharp and can do everything from skinning fish to chopping down small trees. It has a wood handle, which strikes a good balance between grip and comfort. Its design ensures that you look like you’re ready for anything, even the apocalypse. It’s a great value for someone looking for a  do it all tool that can stand up to heavy tasks. It would also make a great starter machete, as it holds its weight in multiple areas, not just cutting through brush. Its heavy weight makes it better for people who are taller and bulkier so that it packs the highest punch.
This machete review is of the Whetstone Brute, which truly lives up to its name. It is a super tool complete with both a saw and fine edge, as well as a gut hook, blood slot, and an extra grip area. The extra grip area is especially useful on this heavy machete when doing big tasks. The gut hook can also be used to cut a rope. Both blades are sharp and can do everything from skinning fish to chopping down small trees. It has a wood handle, which strikes a good balance between grip and comfort. Its design ensures that you look like you’re ready for anything, even the apocalypse. It’s a great value for someone looking for a do it all tool that can stand up to heavy tasks. It would also make a great starter machete, as it holds its weight in multiple areas, not just cutting through brush. Its heavy weight makes it better for people who are taller and bulkier so that it packs the highest punch.
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Fiskars Machete Axe

More than your average machete, the Fiskars Machete Axe is a sharp tool for cutting down nearly anything. It’s unique shape, which includes an ax like the section at the top of the blade, allows the user to chop all kinds of things. This shape allows you to pull-cut and provides powerful chopping. The back side of the ax blade is serrated, which allows you to hack away at larger or heavier items. Even the top of the blade is sharp, allowing you to cut things that are just slightly out of reach or require a more delicate touch. The largest machete in our machette reviews, this thing is powerful. It includes a specially shaped nylon sheath for easy transport and a lanyard hole to ensure it does not slip. It also includes a finger guard. This machete can be used with a one-handed grip. The hardened steel blade ensures that your machete stands up to the tasks you need it to.
More than your average machete, the Fiskars Machete Axe is a sharp tool for cutting down nearly anything. It’s unique shape, which includes an ax like the section at the top of the blade, allows the user to chop all kinds of things. This shape allows you to pull-cut and provides powerful chopping. The back side of the ax blade is serrated, which allows you to hack away at larger or heavier items. Even the top of the blade is sharp, allowing you to cut things that are just slightly out of reach or require a more delicate touch. The largest machete in our machette reviews, this thing is powerful. It includes a specially shaped nylon sheath for easy transport and a lanyard hole to ensure it does not slip. It also includes a finger guard. This machete can be used with a one-handed grip. The hardened steel blade ensures that your machete stands up to the tasks you need it to.
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About the Author

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Heather Patton

Expert Researcher and Writer

Heather Patton is a lead researcher and writer at GeekWrapped. She has been creating high-quality content for over a decade and covers home, lifestyle, beauty, fashion products and more.

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Article last updated on:

September 30, 2019

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TOP PICK

Schrade SCHKM1 Full Tang

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