Esee Junglas or Esee 4 and axe?

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WoodsMonkey

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Aug 7, 2013
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Hey guys, I was wondering which would you chose to go hiking or backpacking.

An Esee Junglas by its self or an Esee 4 teamed up with a large hatchet such as the condor Greenland pattern axe.

Thanks in advance!
 
A lot of personal preference, but mostly depends on where you'll be and what you're doing. For most hiking and backpacking, the 4 is probably plenty, if not overkill:D As for your question, I personally prefer the Junglas as it's a great chopper and useful machete. But chopping firewood is not something I'd want to do all day with it. I'm unfamiliar with that axe, but wouldn't want anything large and heavy. Good luck.
 
I tend to go for very long distances when I'm hiking or backpacking, so I would base my decision on weight. Personally, I would only carry the ESEE 4 (or something smaller) for most situations, but if I planned to process a lot of wood, I might bring the 4 and Junglas. I'm not a fan of small axes/hatchets generally, so I would probably take the Junglas over the ax even if weight wasn't so much of a concern for me. I think how comfortable you are swinging the Junglas vs the ax would be the real deciding factor between the two.
 
The Junglas and a Hatchet aren't really in the same catagory the way some huge chopper knives would be. It's a big knife, but it's not thick for it's size and the high flat grind goes very thin at the edge - it's very much a machete. You can use it as a chopper, but it really doesn't have the blade weight to excel as one.
 
A machete and a knife. So, yea junglas I guess. Plus, I Carry a bahco saw too, its weightless.
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By knife I mean Mora or Sak, if you Wanna Baton something then baton your junglas. No sense in carrying the extra heft of a beefy fixed blade when you've already got one.

Large knife/machete on the belt, sak in the pocket, Mora+saw in the bag. Overkill? I don't think so. What you gunna clean a fish/animal with, your machete? Your sak?? Maybe but that's where the Mora comes in.
 
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ESEE 4 and a hatchet will out perfom a Junglas every day of the week. The Junglas is a compact machete which, ironically, doesn't do much of anything terribly well. A real latin machete will chop brush WAY better at 10% of the price. A purpose built chopping knife or a big blade heavy knife like a BK9 will chop wood better.
 
A few others have already nailed it , but I say it again . The ESEE 4 with a lightweight folding saw is without a doubt the BEST combination to process wood and keep weight down .


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HOLD MY BEER AND WATCH THIS !
 
I would take the Junglas just because it is a Junglas! I would EDC a Junglas if I did not think people would constantly look at me crazy!
 
"to go hiking or backpacking." I would choose the ESEE 4 only, If I've got a back pack I've got shelter, I have never used a knife saw or hatchet to collect fire wood at a camp sight, thus far in my life.
If I didn't mind the weight the Junglas might win.
 
HoosierQ said:
ESEE 4 and a hatchet will out perfom a Junglas every day of the week. The Junglas is a compact machete which, ironically, doesn't do much of anything terribly well. A real latin machete will chop brush WAY better at 10% of the price. A purpose built chopping knife or a big blade heavy knife like a BK9 will chop wood better.
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Sometimes (many times unless you're jungle trail blazing) a short machete is optimal and handy. Now, a 14" machete is a great tool and a cheap way to see if a big knife would work for you. A Mora and a Tramontina 12-14" Bush Machete would give the OP a smiliar, but much lighter, combo for about $25 to try and abuse. A hatchet is not near as handy in brush and requires a level of skill and practice the OP may not possess, so I'll fall back on my question about location and use. Also, IIRC the Junglas has beat the BK9 in wood chopping in more than a few competitions (including at Ethan Becker's place I believe). The BK9 and Junglas are the same thickness, but the BK9 is shorter and lighter. It's more knife while the Junglas is more chopper. I only have the Junglas, but have read that opinion many times on the Becker forum. Many of those guys have, use, and love BKT and ESEE. It's kind of a knife hippy commune thing:D
 
What constitutes the 'Woods' in your area. That should help determine your choice of tools...that and what era/style of woodsmanship you're studying...or what you feel like carrying...or whatever.

edit: actually here's a bit more definitive of an answer. I think it is a good idea to have a small knife with you no matter what other main tool you carry, actually the small knife is your main tool and big knives and axes are sort of luxuries. Also IMO if you are not experienced with an axe then low light, tired, end of the day wood processing is much safer with knife and baton. and in that case you should have a saw.

edit II: so, Small Knife, Big Knife, Saw.
or, Small Knife, Saw.

OK OK, Do over: If one was asking whether you should bring a Big Knife or an Axe in when 'Hiking' then I have to assume they are not much experienced with an Axe or Hatchet, because they would know that a big knife is generally preferable only when it is Fun or Necessary. Necessary being only in Tropical/Sub-tropical areas where an Axe tends towards uselessness. I live in the North and have a lot of experience with the Axe, and I find Big Knives to be Fun. But I know that, depending on the Weather or whether I'm in the piny woods or oaky woods that many times an Axe(because I know how to use it safely) will save much time and energy. But you will still often find me, for safety's sake, splitting my small kindling around the fire at night, with a knife and baton.

Please don't mistake my tone for derision, I am totally not trying to sound like that!

jdk1 said:
Many of those guys have, use, and love BKT and ESEE. It's kind of a knife hippy commune thing:D
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Also I am totally an ESEE Hippy...so Junglas and 4 :D

..and a saw and an axe(if you know how to use it)
 
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