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Best Machetes for 2024 – Updated by Burbro Editors on April 14th, 2021
The best machetes are designed to be easy to use, and they’re light enough that you can swing them for long periods. The blades are typically made from hardened steel, so the blade retains its edge, and the blade remains sharp, even after striking hard surfaces. The handles are designed for comfort with a soft rubber or leather finish, so you won’t need to wear work gloves when using it. They often come with handle flares as well, so the machete can’t slip from your hand while you’re swinging the machete.
There are hundreds of machetes, making it difficult to choose the best one. If you’ve been shopping for a while, you’ll also notice there’s a wide price range between the various options. While there are many options that you could choose from, it doesn’t mean that they’re a durable machete or worth your money.
In this article, we’ll be reviewing the best machetes of 2024. We’ve looked at lots of machetes and compiled the top products into a shortlist that will be reviewed in this article. The knives on this list are built to retain their sharp blades, remain durable, easy to use and affordable for the average consumer.
The Best Machetes for 2024
If you’re looking for the best machete, we’ve got you covered. We’ve reviewed the best machetes and compiled the top products into a quick list that you can use to find the right option for your lifestyle and get back to your life.
There are hundreds of products that you could choose from, so we’ve created a ‘runner-up’ section, which is a list of machetes that just barely missed “the cut” to be included in our top-ranked list. Nevertheless, they are all still very good options.
Here are the Best Machetes of 2024.
- Best Machete for Home Use: Fiskars 29-Inch Machete Axe
- Best Machete for Cutting Trees: Gerber Gator Machete
- Best Machete for Self Defense: Kershaw Camp Full Tang Machete
- Best for Overall Quality: Gerber Gator Kukri Machete
- Best Machete for Clearing Brush: Condor Tool and Knife Machete
- Best Machete for Camping: Gerber Broadcut Machete
- Best Budget Machete: Kershaw Camp 14 Inch Machete
Runner-Up List
- Also Popular: Schrade Bush Sword Machete
- Also Popular: CRKT Fixed Machete
- Also Popular: Hooyman Bush Machete
- Also Popular: Jungle Master Machete
- Also Popular: Fiskars 15-Inch Clearing Machete
- Also Popular: Whetstone Cutlery Machete
1. Fiskars 29-Inch Machete/Axe
The Best Machete for Home Use.
Most people who are looking for a machete won’t use it on hikes or adventures in the forest. Instead, they’ll be using it around their yard so they can clear brush, weeds and unwanted shrubs. If you’re looking for the best machete for home use, you’ll want to look at the Fiskars 29-inch machete/axe. This product is designed for chopping tree roots, clear thick brush, trim tree branches and remove underbrush. The Fiskar machete comes with an 18-inch straight edge blade made from hardened steel, so it always stays sharp, even after hours of use on tough underbrushes. The Fiskars blade has a rust preventing, low-friction coating that allows the blade to glide through shrubs and trees easily. The blade also has a curved angle, allowing you to pull while you cut, making the blade more effective. One of the things that we love about the Fiskar 29-inch machete/axe is that it comes with a soft performance handle, making it comfortable to use. You can also swing it with a single hand, leaving your other hand free to remove the underbrush that you’ve chopped down. This product also comes with a lifetime warranty from Fiskars.
2. Gerber Gator Jr.
The Best Machete for Cutting Trees.
When you’re chopping down small trees, you may want a machete that comes with a saw on the back, so you don’t dull your blade by hitting harder surfaces like trees. If you’re looking for the best machete for smaller trees, you’ll want to consider the Gerber Gator Jr. The Gerber Gator Jr is made from high carbon steel, creating a strong, durable machete that retains its edge, even after being used for hard surfaces like trees. The blade on the Gerber Gator is about 18-inches, with the entire unit measuring about 25-inches in length. The blade’s backside comes with razor-tooth blades that eat their way through small trees and branches, making it easy for you to clear brush. The Gerber Gator Jr’s handle is made with the gator grip, making it easier for you to hold and control the blade while you’re swinging it at a small tree or bush. The Gerber Gator Jr also comes with a nylon sheath, which allows you to safely carry the machete. With the Gerber Gator Jr, you’ll also be given a lifetime warranty from Gerber, which guarantees the quality over the long term.
3. Kershaw Camp Full Tang Machete
The Best for Self Defense.
If you’re concerned about your safety and looking for self-defence weapons, you may want to consider getting a tactical machete. One of the best machetes for self-defence is the Kershaw Camp Full Tang Machete. This product is designed from 65MN stainless steel, making a hardened steel blade ideal for hitting hard surfaces while remaining sharp. The Kershaw Camp Machete has a blade that measures about 10-inches, with the unit’s overall size being about 16-inches in length. While this unit can be used for self-defence, it’s also good for clearing fields, trails, thickets, gardens, small shrubs, and underbrushes. The Kershaw Camp Full Tang machete comes with a textured grip that’s designed to protect your hands and make it comfortable for you to use this machete rigorously. The handle comes with thumb and finger guards, lanyard holes so you can attach it to your wrist and a pointed end so you can break glass. This full tang machete also comes with a nylon polymer sheath, which protects your blade from becoming dull and can be attached to your backpack, your MOLLE, or your waist.
4. Gerber Gator Kukri Machete
The Best for Overall Quality.
When you’re choosing a machete, you’ll want to choose one that’s built with the quality so that it doesn’t break while you’re using it. If you’re looking for a high-quality option, you’ll want to consider the Gerber Gator Kukri Machete. This option is made from 1055 Carbon Steel, which makes a strong blade that retains its sharp edge while being a powerful machete for many uses. The blade measures about 12-inches, with the overall size of the unit measuring about 19-inches in length. This unit comes with a well-designed handle that’s comfortable to use and covered in the gator grip, making it easier for you to use the machete and control the edge of your blade. This unit can serve many purposes and can be used for cervical, hunting, hiking, camping, outdoor adventures, or a tactical machete. It also comes with a nylon sheath that protects the blade edge while preventing you from cutting yourself while you’re carrying it.
5. Condor Tool and Knife Machete
Best Machete for Clearing Brush.
Many people don’t need a machete because they’re going on a wilderness hike or using it to cut down a forest. Instead, they want one that can help them clear the weeds in their yard, so they don’t need to use a weed eater. If you’re looking for a simple machete that can be used to clear brush, you’ll want to look at the Condor Tool and Knife Machete. This unit is made from 1075 High Carbon Steel, which provides a strong blade that can be used to chop the undergrowth in your yard. The blade is about 14-inches, with the overall unit measuring around 19-inches in size. The handle of this machete is beautifully made from walnut wood, making a nice handle that’s smooth and comfortable to hold. This unit also comes with a leather sheath that can be used to keep the blade from cutting you while you’re carrying it.
6. Gerber Broadcut Machete
The Best Machete for Camping.
Whether you’re camping, going on a hike or surviving in the woods, you’ll want a machete that’s sharp, durable and easy to use. You’ll also want to ensure that there are few moving parts so there’s less chance of something breaking while you’re using your survival weapons. If you’re looking for one of the best machetes for camping, you’ll want to look at the Gerber Broadcut Machete. This product is made from stainless steel, preventing the blade from rusting while you’re camping in the wilderness. The blade is about 13-inches, with the overall size of the unit measuring about 19-inches in length. This product comes with a beautifully designed handle with a soft comfort grip, which allows you to grip the handle firmly, no matter the weather conditions. It also comes with thumb and finger guards, along with a handle flare, which prevents you from losing grip while you’re swinging it. The Broadcut Machete also comes with a belt-carry sheath, making it easier for you to carry over long distances. This unit also comes with a lifetime warranty from Gerber.
7. Kershaw Camp 14 Inch Machete
The Best Budget Machete.
If you want to choose a machete but don’t want to spend a lot of money, you’ll want to look for a budget option. One of the best budget machetes is the Kershaw Camp 14 Inch Machete, a high-quality machete that’s affordable for the average consumer. The Kershaw Camp 14 Machete is made from 65Mn Carbon Steel, creating a strong blade that retains its edge, even after use on hard surfaces. This unit comes with a nice handle grip that’s comfortable to use and easy to grip. This handle has a rubber over-mould with some texture, making it easy to control. It also comes with a nylon polymer molded sheath that protects the blade from the elements and protects you from getting cut.
Summary
We hope this article has helped you find the best machete for your lifestyle. If you’re new to bush-whacking, we’ll provide some quick tips to help you understand what to look for when you’re choosing your next bolo.
First off, you’ll want to choose the correct blade length. If you’re going to use your machete for clearing brush, you’ll likely want a blade that’s longer so you can clear more area with each swing. You’ll also want to find an option that has saw tooth blades on the back of the blade so you can clear brush and chop down trees. We also recommend choosing a machete that has hardened steel for the blade so you can chop through trees and underbrush without dulling your blade. If the steel isn’t hardened, you’ll lose your edge, which means that you’ll need to sharpen your blade more frequently, or the blade will become ineffective for clearing large areas of brush.
You’ll want to look at the handle to ensure that the handle is comfortable and grippy so you can use the bolo rigorously. If the handle is uncomfortable, you’ll get blisters from overuse. We recommend finding a machete with soft rubber and a textured handle so your hand is comfortable and it’s easier to control the blade while you’re swinging the bolo. You’ll also want to ensure that the handle has handle flares so it can’t slip out of your hand while you’re swinging at some underbrush.
We recommend that you choose an option that comes with a carrying sheath. A carrying sheath will prevent the blade from dulling and protect you from accidentally cutting yourself while carrying it. If you’re using it around the house, it’s okay to use a nylon sheath, but a nylon polymer sheath is much better. A nylon polymer sheath is a hard-shelled sheath that can be attached to your backpack, your waist or a carrying strap so you can carry your machete for long distances.
As always, you should set a budget for your purchase. If you’ve been looking at different available options, you’ll notice there’s a wide price range between the various machetes, which can make it confusing and complicate your selection process. By setting a budget, you’ll narrow your choices and eliminate the products that are outside of your price range, making it easier for you to choose the best machete.
