Best Machetes 2020

A machete is a serious tool. Just one look at a good machete, and you will be perfectly clear on the fact that you are dealing with a solid piece of equipment capable of tons of different types of work. Carrying a machete is not something that you do lightly. When you decide to add one of these tools to your set of equipment, you do so with very specific purposes in mind. With that said, if you need a machete to complete a task or a variety of tasks, you will want to find one that can live up to the demands you will place upon it.

One of the best things about a machete is simply the versatility that it brings to the table. While you will probably have one certain task in mind when you decide to buy a machete, you will soon find that it can do much more. It acts just like a large knife in some situations, but it can also do heavy-duty work that will remind you more of an ax than a knife. Thanks to the weight that most machetes offer, they can also be used as blunt instruments for hammering or breaking when the butt-end is employed.

After doing all the hard research for you, we’ve put together our 7 favorite Survival Machetes in the comparison table below.

Comparison Table

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gathering firewoodIn reality, the list of things that you can do with a machete could go on and on for days. This is a tool that is carried around for every day life in many parts of the world, and it is easy to see why. Even if you live in a developed area where it would be unnecessary (and possibly illegal) to carry a machete on a regular basis, there are still plenty of great functions when you head out into the backcountry. Between cracking into a can of food to gathering firewood and everything in between, there is little a good machete can’t do.

The content below includes five of the best machetes. All of these machetes have their own strengths and weaknesses, and of course, each comes with its specific price point. By thinking about what you need from your machete, along with what budget you have set aside for the purchase, you should be able to find at least one or two fitting models from the list below.

Top Five Rated Machetes

1. Gerber Gator Machete

Image of Gerber Gator Machete [31-000758]To start our list, we have a basic machete that includes most of the features that the average user will hope to find. This is a steel blade with a comfortable rubber grip, which has been designed with the harshest of uses in mind. One side of the blade is ground to a fine edge while the other side is a saw blade meant to allow you to cut through wood with relative ease. Included with the purchase is a sheath which will protect the blade edges and allow for safe carrying.

As Gerber is a trusted name when it comes to tools such as knives and machetes, it is not surprising to see that this product has earned excellent reviews. Users enjoy the sharp blade; they appreciate the comfort of the grip and the point on the tip of the blade. Some have commented that the blade is rather soft, so that is something to keep in mind if you have harsh uses in mind. However, that softness has led some to feel that it is easy to sharpen the knife when necessary. For a basic machete that includes the standard functionality, you would expect from this type of product, take a close look at the Gator.

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2. Schrade SCHKM1 Large Full Tang Fixed Blade Kukri Machete

Image of Schrade SCHKM1 Large Full Tang Fixed Blade KukriSchrade is a name that many outdoor enthusiasts are familiar with, so some will trust this to be a quality product based on the manufacturer alone. However, thanks to great reviews from a number of current users, it seems that this product can stand on its own. The blade is black powder coated 3Cr13 stainless steel, and there is a Safe-T-Grip with lanyard hole on the machete as well. The full length of the product is just shy of 20, with just over 13 of that length dedicated to the blade itself.

As mentioned above, the reviews of this product have been extremely positive. For the price, some reviewers feel that this is the best machete available today. As it usually sells for less, it is easy to see why buyers would love the combination of value and performance that is available here. Unlike the previous option on our list, this machete does not have a saw blade on the back, so keep that in mind before placing any order.

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3. Whetstone Cutlery The Brute Super Machete

Whetstone Cutlery 'The Brute'Any product worthy of being nicknamed, the Brute is something that you should at least, give a closer look. In addition, when that product is frequently sold for a low price, you want to check it out to see if it can live up to the moniker that it has been given. And, if you take the word of the reviewers, it does live up to that name quite nicely. There have been many of reviews of this product, and many of them fall into the positive category.

The overall length of the product is 22.75, and it has a black coated stainless steel blade with a Pakkawood handle and nylon carrying case. There is a fine blade edge on one side, with a saw blade on the backside for cutting purposes. Users note that this product feels solid while swinging and cutting, and they like the variety of features that are included in the design of the item as a whole.

Some buyers did not feel that the blade was sharp enough out of the box, but that can be taken care of with the right sharpener and a little bit of experience. All in all, this machete is one that has earned plenty of supporters, especially at a modest price.

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4. United Cutlery BV 124 Savage Jungle Hunter Machete

Image of United Cutlery BV124 Savage Jungle HunterRight off the top, this is a great looking machete. Even if you don’t have any experience with products in this market, it is easy to see that this is a great looking piece which just about anyone would be proud to carry and put to use. It has an overall length of 25, making it one of the largest models on our list. Despite that large size and the AUS-8 stainless steel blade, this product still typically sells for an affordable price tag.

When used for clearing grasses and bushes, this machete is praised as being able to handle the task nicely. Many buyers think that the blade is durable, although some question how it will fare when put up against truly heavy-duty tasks over time. Overall, the reviews are positive for this machete, and it is another one that seems to deliver good value for the money. If you need a machete that is suited for light-duty work and you want one that looks good at the same time, you should be impressed by the Savage Jungle Hunter.

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5. SOG Specialty Knives & Tools MC02-N SOGFari Machete

Image of SOG Specialty Knives & Tools MC02-N SOGFariSOG is another brand name with a strong presence in the cutlery market, and they have put forward a contender with the SOGFari Machete. It is one of the most affordable items we have included on the list. It has an 18-inch blade made from high carbon steel, and it has the saw back that some of the other machetes on our list have featured as well. Overall, the product is just shy of 24 in length, and it weighs nearly a full pound. To help you control the machete, there is a Kraton rubber handle, and you can store the blade in a nylon sheath when not in use.

With reviews recorded, there have been plenty of positive things to say about this item. The balance of the machete is one of the features that is praised, along with the fact that it can handle brush-clearing duty with little trouble. This is a straightforward machete with little in the way of tricks– it offers a double-sided blade, a comfortable handle, and hefty weighting. If those features are on your list, the SOG may be worthy of a closer inspection.

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Conclusion

When buying a machete, you want to make sure you are getting exactly what you need for the job at hand. Do you need a saw for some situations? If so, you obviously need to pick a model that includes the saw blade design on the back. However, if that doesn’t matter to you, it may be better to focus on a machete with a great sharp blade on the front and other features that will benefit your pursuits.

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