Best machete in your opinion.

I dont have a best .. I have a few best for certain tasks tho

I have a 24 inch one thats best for clearing grass and light stuff , where you need reach , it packs one HELL of a whallop tho when you do have to move that branch .. I have a 14inch ish one thats best for up close country .. holding stuff out of the way , and cutting the prickley stuff thats going to catch the pack or whack the mrs in the face as it flicks off me ... I have a heavier bladed one thats best for me at chopping heavier stuff ... the kids use it instead of the axe even ...

I spotted a machete that mora make thats said to be best for ultra light backpackers ... I seriously want a look see at that one ....seriously so :)

but best overall .. I dont know that such a beast exists yet
 
The best machete for my purposes is my Baryonyx, but the best one for YOU is going to depend on what you need it for and how/where you'll be carrying and using it. Condor is usually my top choice, but there's an abundance of excellent brands out there. This is a discussion that really needs a lot more specifics before a definite conclusion can be reached. :)
 
Depends a lot on where you are and what you want your machete to do. My personal favorite is the 14" Imacasa Pata de Cuche.
 
the one the locals use. also, in my experience the cheap $15 ones will out-chop/out-perform the $100 ones from big name knife makers (big knives disguising as "machetes").
 
My 12" Philippine Barong is my favorite- grass per se is not an issue for my use. More on light wood/heavy woody weeds.

Bill
 
Withing a given style, length, thickness, and use there may be better brands, steels, etc.. But, like these guys have said it depends on what you're going to be cutting.
I like the 1095 steel that Ontario uses in their machetes, it's tough and takes less damage than my Condor. I only own the heavy duty Ontario's, and a Bark River/Ontario machete. Ontario does make a thinner stock, economy models. With all the Ontario's you'll have to create the edge and the handles pretty much suck. I had to convex the edge and change the scales to hickory, then you have a great machete, for general hard use. Gotta have something lighter for light jungle vegetation and/or long trail clearing.
I've never owned a Marbles or Tramontina, the Tramontina might be the best value/price.
So, IMO,
Fiddleback has the best shaped handles, that's what you're paying for with these.
Ontario has the better steel, and Bark River's modified Ontario's are just awesome, but the edge is much thinner(good and bad), and these are the most expensive.
Condor has the best price/value, good handles, and an edge that shaves out of the box.
If you can make your own handle scales, micarta or wood, and make an edge, then you open up your options.

In general, I like a thicker/shorter machete for camping in KY. But, at times I have to clear weeds and need a thinner 18" blade. My 1/8" thick 18" long Ontario is pretty heavy for clearing weeds, it's best at chopping harder materials and roots, or maybe Zombies.;)
 
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I don't think there's a best, only different. That said I think my best allarounder right now is a Marbles 14 inch Scout.
 
It depends on what you want the machete to do. I personally prefer for an overall machete a Condor bolo or my Koyote machete, but if I was going for more slashing of thin grasses, I'd want a thinner machete.
 
Tramontina, sold at Tractor Supply Co or farm stores near you..used to be $7 or so, might be $10 now. Made in Brasil.

Basically a world class machete in that it is actually used by folks that work with machetes for a living.
 
Best one I have used is my cold steel kukri (long). I have an "22 Ontario , CS Latin and bolo. The kukri bites deeper on every swing. I am going to get the two handed Latin, I think it might have more torque. Each has a reprofiled edge.
 
Unk said:
Tramontina, sold at Tractor Supply Co or farm stores near you..used to be $7 or so, might be $10 now. Made in Brasil.

Basically a world class machete in that it is actually used by folks that work with machetes for a living.
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The Tractor Supply Co. stores near me just carry Chinese-made corn knives. :(

$12-$15 gets you a Tramontina with a sharp point, squared spine, flushed scales, and a convex edge. ;)
 
The one I use most is the Ontario 22" "D" handle model that I cut down to a flat tip(sharpened) and I took the handle off and reshaped the tang and made a new handle out of some scrap wood and dipped in that tool handle dip stuff. It bites deep in harder wood and plows through and thin brush but I might be the only person with big enough forearms to use it for more than a little while, all my buddys get worn out fast as it is still pretty dang blade heavy.
 
The machete can be a very useful tool. It is light, inexpensive, has reach, and can pack a real cutting wallop. But it can be a dangerous tool that can easily hurt the user or a bystander. I would suggest starting with a relatively short machete (no more than 18" in total length) and working your way up to longer machetes as you gain experience.

n2s
 
I had a cheap Cold Steel machete that was pretty good, but recently I upgraded to a Condor golok, and it's a big improvement. I haven't tried some of the other popular brands, but a Condor golok or bolo at around 14" to 15" is going to be a good all around machete. As somebody already said, the Marble machete's also look good, that was another brand I looked at (bought the Condor because I wanted thicker steel).

If you want to go with a large knife rather than a machete, for the money I think an ESEE Junglas is hard to beat.
 
Marbles' machetes are made by Imacasa/Condor so they're good stuff. A convex edge out of the box like a Condor, but a rough unfinished handle like an Imacasa. :)
 
maximus83 said:
If you want to go with a large knife rather than a machete, for the money I think an ESEE Junglas is hard to beat.
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i'm a big esee fan and been using my junglas for awhile now (i have serial #19 so i was one of the early buyers) but i hate to say it in my experience the ontario 12" cutlass machete and the cold steel kukri out chops it and they both feel faster in the hand too/better balanced.
 
For foliage and light brush the Tram wins IMO due to it's super thin blade however if you're looking for more of a chopper I'd go with a Condor Golok or Parang.
 
JV3 said:
i'm a big esee fan and been using my junglas for awhile now (i have serial #19 so i was one of the early buyers) but i hate to say it in my experience the ontario 12" cutlass machete and the cold steel kukri out chops it and they both feel faster in the hand too/better balanced.
Click to expand...

Jeff and Mike agree with you! :p

I remember Jeff saying when they came out with the Junglas admitting that they made it mostly 'cause folks wouldn't shut up until they did. :D
 
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