Tactical machete

Who doesn’t love a versatile tool? Our Editor’s Choice SOGfari 18-inch machete is exactly that!

Its blade has a plain edge and a serrated spine. Both are sharp and can retain their sharpness after several uses. I didn’t have to hone it as I did the others.  And this design and durability allowed me to work easily around my backyard and the campsite.

Because of its size and weight…

I also use it as a survival machete. I just have to strap it on my back and bring it camping. My outdoor enthusiast friends loved it, too; now it’s our go-to machete.

We all agreed that it has one of the best handles we’ve tried. It never slipped out of my grasp, no matter how much I swung it. Of course, you have to be experienced to know how to swing it properly. But this handle has enough friction to add security to your grip.

However…

I’ve found reviews about this SOG machete saying it can’t cut. That made me wonder because I had no problems with the blade edge.

So I think that there’s a proper way to grip this machete. 

Its blade length is longer than what I’d prefer for its weight. And that weight isn’t evenly distributed throughout the machete. You have to put in more strength and find the best way to swing it so you can cut something.

Also…

After trying it on different outdoor tasks, we figured this SOG machete wasn’t the best for cutting logs. 

Chopping wood to make stakes and kindling would be easy with this. The serrated edge is great for sawing small to medium-sized logs too. But I had a hard time cutting trees with it.

But overall…

We got more than what we’ve bargained for. This SOG machete is so affordable that we didn’t expect it to be this high-quality!

We couldn’t pass up a super affordable machete. After all, there’s no harm in trying, right?

To our surprise…

This Gerber machete gave us more than we expected! We didn’t know that it could accomplish so much. From chopping wood to clearing bushes – I had a good time using this machete!

Its weight is also evenly distributed, so I had no problems swinging it around. I figured it would also come in handy in an animal attack. It’s long and light, which is perfect for defending myself. Luckily, I haven’t been in that situation yet.

Plus…

When this arrived, my friends and I were hanging out, planning our next trip. It was the perfect time to try it. And straight out of the box, this Gerber machete is sharp! 

We tried it on the bushes in my backyard without any initial sharpening. And it slashed through like no one’s business!

But then…

I had to hone it right after. In just a few uses, the edge dulls out.

Now, I sharpen it at home when I take it to camp.

It’s also not the most durable. So we only use this on dry wood and the saw teeth on thin logs. Tree cutting isn’t one of its specialties.

Still…

We were impressed overall. From blade to rubber handle, the Gerber Gear Gator machete is comfortable and easy to use. 

This comes at a cheap price, but it’s definitely not cheaply made! So, what else would be our Best Value award winner?

This Ka-Bar kukri machete is priced higher than other products, especially those we just discussed. But we don’t regret buying it!

Now, it’s our Top Pick award winner!

Its best quality is its blade. It’s made of durable carbon steel, which is why this machete is sturdy. Its hardness makes it great for heavy-duty tasks around camp – even cutting down small trees!

You may have to be careful with it, though. This blade material isn’t known for its rust resistance.

Especially since…

This Ka-Bar machete has a kukri blade. This blade type is one of our favorites because of its versatility.

The shape will allow you to chop wood, prepare food, slaughter game, dig trenches, build shelters, etc. It can pretty much do anything you can think of at camp!

Also…

It has a comfortable grip that’s designed for security. It won’t fall off your hand no matter how hard you swing – but you still have to be very careful when handling it.

The grip also makes it easy to sharpen. And mind you – you’re going to do that a lot. The Gerber Gator dulls out when you use it on large logs.

But overall…

There’s so much that you can do with the Gerber Gator. And it will last long even if you use it every week!

This Japanese NATA tool has a unique squared blade shape. We were initially doubtful about it because it didn’t look like it could do much. Besides, we’re all used to pointed-tip blades.

Then, we used it. And…

We discovered that this Japanese NATA machete is durable enough to withstand most tasks in any weather. It’s not a tree-cutting tool, but it’s great for lighter chores like clearing brush or tall grass, making planks and kindling, stripping barks, etc.

But we were most impressed when we didn’t find any damage after several trips. It has scratches now, but there weren’t any dents or chips. And it’s one of the first machetes we’ve tried too!

We didn’t expect less from it, though. After all, it’s an expensive find.

Which is a bummer because…

Some of my buddies complained about the grip. They said that it’s slightly uncomfortable for the palms. And I agree because I always had to adjust my grip on it to prevent blisters.

But we all loved its wooden handle. It’s sturdy and has a finger groove for your index finger to anchor on. All these make the grip super secure, so you can confidently swing it. I know I did…

Another thing…

This Japanese NATA machete has a balanced weight distribution, adding to the ease of swinging. Even beginners – with proper practice and carefulness – would easily maximize this tool’s uses.

Add all that to its razor-sharp blade that doesn’t need honing too often, and you have a great survival machete!

Why do you need a tactical machete? To cut things, of course. And the Kilimanjaro machete superbly does that!

On the trail…

Making a clear track on the mountain was as easy as swinging this machete around. 

I’m neither the biggest nor strongest in our group. But I led my buddies on a hike once and brought my Kilimanjaro with me.

I told everybody to stay back as I made us a trail to follow, and I did it in no time at all. Infact, it was exhausting, but seeing those branches and brushes fall in a single swipe was pretty satisfying.

In the end…

We made a new trail and a new campsite with an affordable machete. Sure, we had to hone it right after the trip. But it was easy, and once the sharpness is back, there’s no stopping the Kilimanjaro…

… from clearing brushes and making kindling, that is.

We tried to use the serrated spine to cut small logs too. But it wasn’t as sharp as the cutting edge. So I recommend this tool for lighter tasks only.

Also…

The overall build of Kilimanjaro is not as good as the others that we tried. Even at the same price point. The cheaper ones might even be better.

But we did a lot with it around the campsite. I even love using this in my backyard for chopping wood. My friends also borrow it because it’s balanced, easy to swing, and has a great grip.

So, overall…

The Kilimanjaro machete comes high up our recommendations. You’re going to love its long and light design.

This full-tang machete looks so cool that we had to try it! Its patterned hatchet blade and belt sheath make a rugged-looking combination.

But that’s not all…

The Leopcito machete is my favorite when it comes to skinning wild game. Some of my buddies prefer small knives for food prep. But some of us are hunters and butchers. I’m one of the latter, and I must say we’re done with small knives.

Most of the time, we just want to get into it. Skin, dress, chop – all those stages with one big knife. And this Leopcito machete is just the right size.

Also…

Its size and weight make it a good addition to my camping gear. It doesn’t weigh me down, but it does the job.

Others might feel that a shorter machete can’t be as useful as your usual machete. If you like your tools long, then you might want to choose another one from this list.

But as for me…

I love how the Leopcito machete’s weight is evenly distributed throughout its short length. It gives me a balanced and more controlled swing. 

The grip is so comfortable and secure in its finger grooves.

However…

It’s not the most durable machete in this pile. Its blade isn’t as sharp as others, either. I had to hone it every so often. And after a few trips, I found a tiny chip on the edge just before it met the handle.

But that was after I shaved oakwood, which is a no-no, according to the manufacturer. Still, it’s very handy in light survival tasks. And for an affordable machete – not bad! 

The Woodman’s Pal machete comes in either a leather or a hardwood handle. The wooden handle is less expensive, but we opted for the leather handle just to try it.

First of all…

This survival machete is expensive. Think four to five times our award winners. But its advantages are sky-high too! Now that’s out of the way…

The first thing we noticed was the uniquely designed high-carbon steel blade. It has a plain edge for cutting and slicing and an inwardly curved edge. This blade style is made for versatility.

We read the description and tried to use our Woodman’s Pal in everything they said it could do. Cutting, trimming, chopping, splitting, building, shoveling – we did those with ease!

Also…

It helps that the hilt and knuckle guard of the handle adds to the security of the grip. Although, it’s not as comfortable as I hoped. I was always close to blisters when I used the Woodman’s Pal.

I also had to exert more effort because it’s not that sharp, to begin with. That’s a little disappointing, considering the price we paid for this machete. 

Not to mention…

It weighs more than our usual full-tang blade machete. But I guess that’s the price of durability. Woodman’s Pal has one of the most authentic and sturdy high-carbon steel we’ve seen. And its finish prevents it from rusting.

That’s why we’re so confident to bring this when we go fishing. It’s good for delicate food prep tasks too. And with proper cleaning before storage, this machete will last a lifetime!

And most of all…

It looks as expensive as its price, especially the leather sheath. Looks don’t matter more than utility when it comes to a machete. But it sure doesn’t hurt!

I’m telling you…

The Kershaw Camp 10 will impress you straight out of the box! No initial honing needed, no re-finish, no extra grinding, nothing. Simply take it out, and it’s ready to use.

The biggest problem about Kershaw Camp 10 is that it’s not that versatile. I can do lots of tasks with it, but I can do more with a cheap machete from this list.

So, light chores feel lighter with it, but not food prep because it’s too big. I would even classify this as a parang machete because of its blade style.

Still…

This has become one of my favorites because it’s easy to carry. Its size and weight are balanced, and it doesn’t feel bulky in my backpack.

Its nylon sheath is just okay in quality if a little loose. But what I like about it is that it’s lightweight and doesn’t add much to the overall weight of the machete.

But more importantly…

This is a durable tool!

My Kershaw Camp 10 withstood lots of chopping and batoning. I usually hone it after every trip, but besides the edge getting dull, I find no damage.

To be honest…

I convinced my friends to try this Cold Steel machete to fuel my warrior fantasies. You can’t blame a guy for wanting a sword, right?

But we were surprised by how great it turned out!

Based on its affordable price…

We didn’t expect much from this Thai sword-inspired machete. But we were still disappointed by how careful we had to be when using it. After its first camping trip – with all the chopping and batoning – its carbon steel blades chipped off.

But it’s still sharp and useful even now. And even though we had to hone it before our first use – it was a little dull when it arrived – it retained its edge quite well.

Another thing…

My buddies don’t like its long blade and weight. Yes, it’s too long and heavy for a survival machete; I will not defend it. But it will surely defend me when I get attacked by a bear or something!

The best part there is that long blades will allow you to get as far from your opponent as possible while still causing them damage.

And this machete’s lengthy handle and balanced build make it easy to wield and swing. My friends just had to steer clear of my path when using it!

I was looking for a bowie machete to try. Instead, I found this Gerber bolo machete. Not exactly it, but close enough.

And to my surprise…

I liked this Gerber Gear machete better! Despite its size, it’s lighter than others, so it’s easy to swing. But it’s not made for splitting logs, especially the big ones.

I used this for rudimentary cutting jobs in my backyard and at the campsite, and I had no problems with it.

Except…

I have to hone it all the time. Its blade is sharp and sturdy so that it can chop in one swing. But also, after one use, it needs some sharpening.

But the edge doesn’t chip off if you’re careful, so that’s a good sign.

But most of all…

It has the best sheath of all the machetes at this price point. 

I know that the sheath isn’t as important as the handle and the blade. But this is the thing that protects you when you carry the machete. And Gerber’s sheath does its job well.

I’m more comfortable strapping this thing to my belt than any other tool on this list. If that’s something you’re looking for, don’t pass this Gerber bolo machete up!