The axe for the north, the machete for the tropic, what for the desert?

dante

dante

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Jul 7, 2004
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Usually the axe for the forests and the machete for the tropic, those are the main tools along with a good knife, all require fire and water both are abundant with food... what is the main tool for desert? Machete? Shovel? Pick? Axe? (Water!? ;) )

I need input from the desert rats!
 
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My guess is that a machete would be useful, or at least a long knife. It will really depend on the desert and where in the desert as they are not all alike and vary in terms of vegetation that can be exploited.

I dubai there are just long sand dunes interspersed with pieces of dead trees that can be chopped through and secured for firewood. An axe would work well, but I suspect too heavy to carry for distances and that would add to discomfort and dehydration. A machete allows for a lighter chopping tool. Lets you cut through and access thorny plants like cactus and their fruit without getting picked and attend to "bitey's" like rattle snakes at a safer distance.

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Desert in Dubai above...
 
In all my time in the desert I always had a 4-5 inch knife and it was plenty. I feel the most useful tool out there is a good shovel for most survival situations. As you said, WATER! Also digging down for shelter is generally a must out there.
Just my depreciating two cents.
 
Shovel.

As protourist posted, you will need to create suitable shelter if in a survival situation in the desert and a shovel will help you do that faster and with less energy.

A shovel will serve as an axe or knife if you really need it. It can hlep you to harvest edible cactus like prickly pear or even get water from other cacti like the barrel cactus.
 
Few gallons of water would be my guess.:D

I don't know much about the desert but I would think a good E-tool would be pretty handy.
 
Cold Steel Spetznatz shovel with the sides sharpened for chopping or S.D.--KV
 
E-tool better than CS shovel [Have both] reason can fold the E-tool to to use as a hoe to chop into sand/rocky soil and haul out in one stroke, gives more reach longer handle ,can sharpen edge to chop[it’s a Make do]
Bad much heavier
Machete for me or Longer fixed blade 9"blade
 
I spent a lifetime living & working in the desert & highly favor a surplus folding entrenching tool. Chopper, digger, hoe, pick. I have several & always carry them in my vehicles. Good camp tools, dig fire pits, move hot rocks, carry coals, hammer dry wood into campfire size kindling, & can cook your breakfast in the pan of the shovel if necessary. Good for cutting brush to shove under the tires for traction. Regards, Ruff Cobb
 
E-tool popped into my head when read the title. Should be able to dig down into the sand to get cooler when you make
a shelter. Should be able to chop up some of the smaller dead sticks. Etc.
 
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& can cook your breakfast in the pan of the shovel if necessary.
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That's a new one for me, great suggestion! :thumbup:

Of course I may need a separate shovel/e-tool for latrine work!
 
I work in the desert, 7-8 hours a day. Temps can reach up to high 120's. Over 100f for six months out of the year. I like my DDF but don't know if the weight is worth it. I've used it on mesquite but to be honest a machete will equal it's chopping power and has better reach in case you run into a snake(I use an 18" CS Bowie). I've run into a few, including a diamondback rattler so you definitely want the reach. The shovel works as well but would not be as effective against critters, even with the edges sharpened. I've tried it. I would go with machete, sand is soft and can be scooped with just about anything. The machete would also be better suited for cactus. Have you seen the spines on some of those suckers?
 
For the task of getting firewood a small saw would probably save you energy -and for dealing with snakes/ other critters, a spear carved with a small knife could work.

The shovel seems like the best tool
 
the gimp said:
A tarp and paracord for sun protection.
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Something like this would be much more favorable than digging. Sand is horrible to dig in, I've done it for far too long :(

Also, I used to go through 2-3 gallons of water plus a gallon of gatorade and several 12oz whatevers but since using the emergen-c electro mix I can safely cut back to 2 gallons of water alone. You need the electro mix, makes all the difference.
 
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