Machete for survival

I guess I’m speaking for the whole gang when I say that this CRKT survival machete has our highest recommendation. You might’ve noticed it’s our Editor’s Choice!

But why is that?

The CRKT Chanceinhell is a lightweight machete. I’m not the biggest guy in our group, but I can wield this tool like an expert! It’s balanced too, so it’s very easy to swing.

And it helps that its polymer handle has finger grooves. Combine that with its high-friction design, and you have a super-secure grip. It’s also very comfortable that I don’t remember having blisters after use.

Not only that…

Straight out of the box, we found that the blade was razor-sharp. We didn’t have to hone it before trying it out. Neither did we have to hone it often. 

Maybe once every two trips, and that’s it. The blade edge is back to its sharp glory!

Also…

CRKT Chanceinhell’s carbon steel blade is durable enough to withstand the pressure we let it get through. And it’s powder-coated to prevent rust.

We confidently used this machete in the heat and the rain. We also chopped huge fish with it, thinking it wasn’t going to rust. And it was true to its promises!

Now, it’s our go-to machete for camping because we can rely on it in chopping wood, making kindling, building shelter, and preparing food.

And all of those…

… without breaking the bank! The CRKT Chanceinhell machete falls in the middle of the price range. But it leads the others when it comes to quality.

If you’re looking for an even lighter machete, I have a suggestion. And it’s also even more affordable!

Our Best Value Cold Steel Kukri machete proved that quality doesn’t have to go down with the price.

Here’s how we know…

This Cold Steel machete’s curved blade style – that distinct kukri shape – makes it great for many survival tasks. It made clearing brush, skinning games and catch, and shaving wood as easy as cake.

However, its sharpness and edge retention can only withstand some light chopping. 

But if you don’t mind doing the extra sharpening work, then you can go for the heavier chores. This machete is durable enough to handle that!

By the way…

The best way to sharpen this carbon steel machete is by a metal file, not the usual sharpening stone. We learned this one the hard way.

But after we got the hang of it, our Cold Steel kukri machete quickly became one of our faves. That’s mainly because it never broke or rusted after we used it in rugged situations.

Not to mention…

This Cold Steel’s grip has a high-friction handle design that makes it more secure, if slightly uncomfortable. But it never fell off our grasp while in use, and that’s more important.

You just can’t beat a cheap yet high-quality machete!

My friends and I agreed that the Gerber Gator is one of the best-designed survival machetes for this price point! 

First of all…

Its blade is space-efficient, with every part and side useful for many tasks. 

The plain edge is great for clearing thick bush, chopping wood, skinning, shaving, etc. The drop point can do precision tasks like food prep. And its saw back can cut through harder stuff like small logs.

That’s why it’s our Top Pick!

But also…

Its textured rubber handle is comfortable and firm to hold. So far, it hasn’t fallen off our hands when in use. Not even while sharpening.

Speaking of that, you have to be ready with your stone. Its plain edge can retain its sharpness for a while, but the serrated edge doesn’t have the same power.

Another thing…

You might read from other reviews that this Gerber Gator carbon steel machete tends to snap in half without warning. But that hasn’t happened to my Gerber machete.

And it won’t happen to yours as well if you steer clear of hard or thick wood. Let me warn you; this isn’t the most durable machete I can recommend.

Still…

You won’t waste your money on the Gerber Gator. Aside from a well-designed blade, it also has a durable nylon sheath. So, overall, it’s a great buy!

If you’re a survival knife person, you might find machetes hard to get used to. But this Kershaw Camp machete can change that!

Why so?

Simply because the Kershaw camp machete is easy to wield, swing, and sharpen.

All thanks to its textured nylon handle and light, beginner-friendly weight.

Even the ladies in our group loved this machete. They said it’s not scary to use, so they could participate in light tasks like clearing brush, cutting thin branches, etc.

So, even though it’s a bummer that this expensive thing needs honing now and then, we got used to it quickly.

However…

I can’t recommend it for food prep and the like. Those delicate tasks need a thinner blade, and Kershaw isn’t known for that. 

Although, it’s surprisingly light and less bulky on my backpack.

But more importantly…

This Kershaw Camp machete has a simplistic yet durable design. Rain or shine, we brought and used this machete in the camp.

Its anti-rust coat hasn’t come off, and I found no other damage but a few scratches. Again, we had to hone it often, but that’s about it.

In the end…

My friends and I agreed that the pros far outweigh the cons of this machete. So we all accepted its price.

The SOGfari Tanto machete is more of a tactical than a survival machete. So what’s it doing in this list?

Simple…

The SOGfari Tanto is one of the best survival machetes in terms of durability! Its textured handle provides a good grip too. Those qualities combined to make this great for heavier tasks around the camp. 

We’ve graduated from clearing brush and chopping small wood. Finally, we found something that can split small logs and endure batoning!

Also…

The SOGfari Tanto can saw off medium-sized logs too. You just have to sharpen its saw teeth now and then, but you’ll get used to it. 

Besides, we have no complaints about the plain edge’s sharpness and retention.

That’s why…

We forgave the slight imbalance in its weight. The SOGfari has a thicker blade than what I’m used to, so it took me some practice before I got more confident in swinging it.

But overall, I regret nothing about buying this machete!

Usually, I complain about survival machetes that I can’t use for heavy tasks. But sometimes, it’s the other way around.

In other words…

This Schrade bolo is a favorite for batoning, chopping small logs, clearing thick brush, etc.

We did all those in our backyards and on our camping trips. And we came home with this machete still intact and with minimal damage.

In fact…

There weren’t even scratches on the titanium coating! That’s what kept this blade from rusting until now.

We think it’s also the biggest factor in its durability. It’s one of the few survival machetes that could handle all the abuse we subjected them to.

But that was as expected from this one’s price.

The only downside…

This Schrade bolo’s blade thickness and weight make it less ideal for food prep and other precision tasks. A parang machete would be more useful in those than a bolo.

Still…

We think it’s a steal. No other package contains a Ferro rod, diamond stone, and a sheath with extra storage. 

Those add-ons came in handy, too, especially the stone. Schrade holds its edge well enough, but it’s not that sharp. But after we re-did it, we grew very fond of this machete!

The Condor Golok machete looks cool in its leather sheath and wooden handle. And it looks so expensive. 

As it should, because this tool costs more than most of the ones in this list.

But that’s okay…

After trying it on our backyard bushes, dry kindling, and many camping chores, we fell in love!

We specifically recommend this if you’re the person who handles the precision tasks in your camp. The golok blade style is thin and narrow, so it’s best for skinning, slicing, and bushcraft activities.

And it’s also sturdy enough to withstand rugged conditions – and uses.

Surprisingly…

We tried clearing some brushes with it. We also tested it against small, dry logs. And it passed with flying colors! 

I found no damage except for faint scratches on the epoxy powder-coated blade. It also dulled out pretty quickly, but it was nothing that a good honing couldn’t fix.

The only reason that we don’t use it so often is that we don’t want to. It looks so good that my buddies and I want to keep it looking new.

But also…

As much as I love its hardwood handle, I have to admit I don’t like its grip. The finger grooves give a bit of security, but it slipped off a few times because of a lack of friction.

At least, though, I found no discomfort from using it. And I don’t just mean the grip. I’m talking about the whole machete.

Overall…

The Condor golok has a good balance that it’s easy to swing despite being lightweight. And it does the job while being pretty. Surely that counts for something!

When it comes to survival machetes, it’s hard not to put a bowie machete on the list. That blade style is made for versatility.

Needless to say…

This Master Cutlery machete can do lots of things. And it’s not only because of its clip-point blade. It also has an integrated hook placed near the end of its spine.

At first, we didn’t know how to use it. It wasn’t sharp, so it couldn’t cut ropes or twines. It took us a while to figure out that it was just a plain, old hook. And it’s actually used like a no-touch tool!

We said goodbye to pot holders once we discovered that. It was easier to take a burning pot by its handle with a machete.

And aside from that…

This bowie machete made our camping chores easier. Its clip-point is great for precision and bushcraft tasks. Also, the plain edge is sharp and sturdy enough for clearing, chopping, and cutting tasks.

We also used it for batoning and making kindling. It does the job, but after only a few trips, parts of the coating scraped off. But besides that and some wear and tear at the handle, there wasn’t any more damage.

Plus…

It’s easy and simple to use, and beginners will have a good time with it. The handle has high friction, making it secure if uncomfortable. I had blisters, just so you know.

And most of all, it’s balanced despite being lightweight. I think its full-tang construction paid off!

I was initially skeptical about this Ontario machete. I’ve never been a fan of squared-off tips and heavy blades.

But I had to make an exception for this black carbon steel tool, its Cordura leather sheath, and Kraton handle!

Because…

This Ontario machete proved to be reliable in performing heavy-duty cutting and chopping. Its weight needs some getting used to, but its balance allows a comfortable swing.

And a heavy machete has its advantages. For example, you won’t need to exert too much effort on your swing. The blade’s weight has that covered.

And besides that…

This machete’s handle is made of Kraton material. It’s comfortable – no blisters over here – and high-friction. Despite being that heavy, it never fell off my grasp.

Because of that, it’s also easy to sharpen. And that’s something that you’ll have to do often if you want to use this machete constantly.

But it’s sharp to begin with, so that’s not much of a problem.

Lastly…

You know carbon steel, right? It’s one of the most durable materials ever to make a blade. Sadly it’s not popular for its rust resistance.

But if you take good care of it and store it clean and dry, it’ll stay good as new.

By the way…

I found this machete’s blade tip to be a useful shoveling tool. But my buddies already knew that and didn’t think to tell me.

Anyway, I stand corrected… Turns out, a square-tip blade can make a good survival machete too!

Heads up!

This machete is big and heavy! You can use it for camping, especially if you build your own shelter. But if you already have a tent or are just backpacking, choose another one.

Then again, this size and weight have advantages, and that’s why this Luna Tech machete got on our list.

We’re talking about…

… logging, chopping, batoning, hunting, etc. All those things are mere pieces of cake for this Luna Tech machete! 

A single swing can cut halfway through a medium-sized log. And that’s even easier because this machete is razor-sharp in all of its edges.

Oh, did I mention it?

This Luna Tech machete has a saw back and a serrated spine. Its cutting edge also has a serrated part and a plain part. Plus, it has a carbide tip!

And there’s no dullness in that list. It takes me one or two trips before I need to hone this machete. And that’s with all the heavy lifting.

You’ll have to bring a smaller survival knife, though. If you’re going to make some food, Luna Tech isn’t your guy.

Another downside is…

This Luna Tech survival machete is a very expensive one! And that’s a huge bummer because my machete’s carbide tip snapped off while I was trying to split logs. But that was after months of abuse and carelessness.

You might be a better machete owner than me… Whatever the case, this Luna Tech machete should be your choice!