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Are you looking for the best machetes to get the job done? There are a variety of machetes available today and we reviewed some of the best ones to help you make the right choice for your needs. We also discussed the types of machetes as well as the features to consider when choosing one.

1. Jungle Master Machete

The Jungle Master machete is made of a black stainless steel blade with reverse serrations. It can be used when camping, hunting, hiking, survival activities, and other outdoor adventures. With its 21-inch length, this machete is easy to maneuver and is great for lightning-fast reactions.

This machete provides razor-sharp cutting performance and is durable. It provides an excellent balance of hardness and corrosion resistance as it is made of 3CR13 stainless steel. You benefit from a firm grip when using the Jungle master as the handle is wrapped in a black cord.

What We Like:

Durable

Dependable

Dual-Purpose

2. Gerber Gear Machete

The Gerber Gear machete is made of high-carbon stainless steel. It is a 15-inch fine-edge blade on one side and an 18-inch high-performance saw blade on the other side. It is lightweight and has a Gator grip rubberized handle that makes it comfortable when you are working with it. You can use this machete when camping or doing other outdoor work.

What We Like:

Durable

Lightweight

Comfortable

Dual-Purpose

3. CRKT Machete

The CRKT machete is made of carbon steel that is covered with a black powder coat which enhances its durability. It is ideal for camping, hunting, survival activities, and other outdoor adventures. The CRKT machete is an 18-inch machete designed to make light work of difficult jobs.

What We Like:

Durable

Corrosion-Resistant

4. Snake Eye Machete

This machete is an 18-inch sawback machete that is made of 440 stainless steel. It features a 6-inch high-tack double injection D-handle for a firm grip. it can be used for outdoor activities like camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, survival activities, and more. The Snake Eye machete is designed with a serrated reverse side that makes it versatile as you work.

What We Like:

Durable

Dual-Purpose

5. Ontario Machete

The Ontario machete is a 24-inch machete that is made of 1095 carbon steel. Its blade is 18 inches in length and is hardened to 50-55 HRC. This machete is ideal for outdoor activities like camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, survival activities, and others. You benefit from a firm grip and comfort when using this machete because the handle is riveted and covered with molded plastic.

What We Like:

Durable

Easy To Use

6. Kershaw Machete

The Kershaw machete has a 10-inch blade that is made of 65 Mn stainless steel makes is capable of heavy-duty work. You benefit from a firm grip when working as its textured grip design provides safety when you use the machete. This full tang machete is ideal for any outdoor adventure like hunting, camping, fishing, hiking, and many other outdoor activities.

What We Like:

Durable

Comfortable

7. Cold Steel Machete

The Cold Steel machete is a wide and curved tanto point blade and solid steel tsuba that is made from heat treated 1055 high carbon steel with a baked-on anti-rust coating. This machete is durable and weather resistant due to it being injection over-molded with high-impact polypropylene. This Cold Steel machete is ideal for outdoor activities like hunting, camping, hiking, fishing, survival activities, and many more.

What We Like:

Durable

Weather Resistant

Anti-Rust

8. WEYLAND Kukri Machete

The WEYLAND Kukri machete is made of high-carbon steel with a black surface coating. This machete is a full tang machete which makes it strong and durable. It is a sharp and rust-resistant machete to enhance its effectiveness and durability as you work outdoors. it is ideal for hunting, camping, hiking, survival activities, and many other outdoor activities.

What We Like:

Durable

Full Tang

Rust-Resistant

Ergonomic Grip

9. Kilimanjaro BM21 Machete

The Kilimanjaro BM21 is a 21-inch machete made of stainless steel. It is a reverse machete with a serrated edge on the other side. This machete features a rugged Tanto blade with a fine edge. You benefit from a comfortable and firm grip with its rubberized handle. This machete can be used for outdoor activities like hunting, camping, hiking, fishing, projects around your home, and many more.

What We Like:

Durable

Dual-Purpose

Types of Machetes

  1. Barong Machetes

Barong machete is a large and heavy-duty machete with a leaf-shaped blade. Its curved blade features a deeper curve on one side than on the other side. It originated in the Philippines.

2. Billhook Machete

The Billhook machete is primarily an agricultural tool that features a curved blade with a sharp point. It is used for clearing vegetation.

3. Bolo Machete

The Bolo machete is used as an agricultural tool. This machete is compact, lightweight, and popular in Southeastern Asia. It is primarily used to harvest crops.

4. Bowie Machete

The Bowie machete is used to skin wild game with its clip point or skinner tip. It is a light and powerful blade that is about 12 inches long. The Bowie machete can be used when camping, hunting, self-defense, and other outdoor adventures.

5. Bush Machete

The Bush machete has a long, straight design with a full tang. It is used to clear vegetation. It can be used for a variety of tasks like gardening, chopping wood, and other outdoor activities.

6. Cane Machete

The Cane machete features a blunt tip and is easy to use. It is usually used to for cutting rice, sugar cane, corn stalks, and bamboo. Its edge is thin, sharp, and wide which allows it to cut through.

7. Colima Machete

The Colima machete features a double edge blade that is used for clearing large areas of vegetation. Its origin can be traced to Central America. With a double edge blade, you can swing back and forth to quickly clear vegetation.

8. Hawkbill Machete

The Hawkbill machete is a curved or hooked machete that is used to cut tall grasses. Both sides of the machete can be sharpened to clear vegetation.

9. Kukri Machete

The Kukri machete features an inwardly curved thick blade at the spine that tapers to a sharp point. It is used to clear vegetation, skin animals, chop wood, or for self-defense.

10. Panga Machete

The Panga machete features a wide and curved blade that is used for chopping and slicing woody vegetation. It originated in Africa and is also found in the Caribbean.

11. Parang Machete

The Parang machete features a curved shape with both the spine and edge being curved. It is used for cutting thick crops or woody material. It originated in Indonesia.

12. Weighted Machete

The weighted machete is the heaviest of all machetes and is used for chopping tough vegetation. With most of its weight concentrated towards the top of the blade, clearing tough vegetation becomes easy.

What To Look For When Choosing A Machete

  1. Blade Shape

One of the important features to consider when choosing a machete is the shape of the blade. The shape of the blade determines how the machete is used. Choose the shape of the blade depending on the purpose you will use the machete.

2. Blade Length

The length of the blade is another important feature to consider when choosing a machete. There are machetes of different lengths and you must be clear on the length of the blade you want based on what you will use it for. Most machetes’ lengths are in the range of 10 to 28 inches.

3. Blade Composition

Most machetes are made of stainless steel, carbon steel, or high-carbon stainless steel. High carbon stainless steel is a combination of both and benefits from the properties of both.

4. Tang

Tang refers to the part of the machete that goes into the grip and connects the blade and the handle. Some machetes are classified as full tang which implies that the steel runs all the way through the handle of the knife. A full tang machete is strong and durable.

5. Handle

The handle of the machete is also important as it has an impact on how comfortable you are as you use it. Additionally, the material and design of the handle determine how firm of a grip you will have when working with the machete. Machete handles are designed differently with some featuring textured handles, molded plastic and riveted, hard plastic composite, rubberized grip, and many others. Additionally, the handles are usually made of rubber, wood, or polymer.

6. Dual Purpose

Some machetes are designed as dual-purpose machetes in which you can use both sides when working. When choosing a machete, determine if you need a dual-purpose one or not.

Best Machetes

What size machete is best?
The best size for machete is the size that works well for the purpose you want to use it for. However, a length of about 10 inches is the average length.
Should I oil my machete?
If the blade is carbon steel, it can easily get corroded and you should always cover it in a light layer of oil to prevent corrosion.
What is the strongest steel for a machete?
Carbon steel offer a superior level of hardness and strength. Moreover, it creates a sharp blade that is easy to re-sharpen.
What oil do you use for machetes?
Any regular oil can be used for machetes.

The Bottom Line

Machetes are used mainly for clearing vegetation and agricultural work. There are a variety of machetes used for different purposes. In this article, we reviewed some of the best machetes on the market and also discussed the features to look for when choosing one.

If you are also interested in hunting knives and multitools, we reviewed the best axes, the best hunting knives, and the best multitools that you can read from this link. You can also read about the best fixed blade knives and the best pocket knives.