Woodsman's Pal vs Bushman vs Machete vs Hatchet

J

jlouis976

Joined
Feb 25, 2008
Messages
396
What would you choose for backpacking in the Midwest:

The Bushman
Bushman_style.jpg


The Woodsman's Pal
284-3.jpg


A heavy 12 inch Machete such as the Ontario(the cheaper the better)
ct1_tradcutlass.jpg


Any 'ole hatchet that you can recommend. I don't really know hatchets.
Hatchet.jpg


Why? What are the benefits of each?
 
out of those i would rank the hatchet first ( assuming it is a gransfors or somthing else thhat is good) 2nd, the machete, 3rd woodsmans pal, and 4th bushman. had you included a khukuri in the choices, it would have taken the #2 slot
 
jlouis976 said:
Thats a good looking axe.

Why is a hatchet better than a heavy machete? Won't the hatchet be a lot more weight to haul? Are the other two choices just novelty items or do they have their place?
Click to expand...

machete is more suited to a tropical environment, for woods you are better off with a hatchet or large fixed blade.

And the Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet is one of the best you can buy.
 
In terms of Hatchets, are there any.....how do I put this......Kabar-level type hatchets where I don't have to spend a fortune but I will still get a pretty good performer?
 
I saw that bushman a long time ago, if it chopped good I think it would be a decent choice, I wouldn't mind trying it out anyway.
Depending on the time of year and vegetation, I am pretty much tied with the machete and hatchet, paired up with a smaller fixed blade or good sak of course.
For a good cheap axe look at wetterlings and fiskars ( edited cuz I just saw your question. Not their smallest with the tiny handle, its no good) or Gransfors Bruks if you can afford it.
Machetes, I am partial to tramontinas, my convexed 12 incher out cut my big bolo today, (it was an Oscar, I never actually looked until today, barely ever use it)
Another good bigger chopper/machete I can recommend are the line of larger ka-bars, the kukri, cutlass, or the large bowie. Very good, tough choppers and cheap too.
 
Liam Ryan said:
I saw that bushman a long time ago, if it chopped good I think it would be a decent choice, I wouldn't mind trying it out anyway.
Depending on the time of year and vegetation, I am pretty much tied with the machete and hatchet, paired up with a smaller fixed blade or good sak of course.
For a good cheap axe look at wetterlings and fiskars (not their smallest with the tiny handle) or Gransfors Bruks if you can afford it.
Machetes, I am partial to tramontinas, my convexed 12 incher out cut my big bolo today, (it was an Oscar, I never actually looked until today, barely ever use it)
Another good bigger chopper/machete I can recommend are the line of larger ka-bars, the kukri, cutlass, or the large bowie. Very good, tough choppers and cheap too.
Click to expand...

Sweet. Thanks for the info. I will have to look into those.
 
tholiver said:
Doesn't Kabar actually sell a hatchet?
Click to expand...

i think that they do, but it is geared toward hunting and the thickness on the entire head is around 1/4'' or so, so i dont think it would function well for much outside of its intended purpose.

the axe vs machete/big knife debate all comes down to preferance, so you would need to try both to get a good idea of what you prefer. i would suggest start out with a tramontina machete ( 14'' works best for me) and a fiskars hatchet (14''). if you like the machete better, get a BRKT KSF machete and if you like the hatchet more, go with a gransfors bruks ( either the wildlife model or the small forest axe model)
 
go for a fiskars hatchet, they run about 30 bux canadian.

combo that with a 6 inch retractable fiskars pruning saw about 20 bux canadian

and you're set :)
 
for the dough it's hard to beat a fiskars hatchet... What time of year will yo be going out?? If it's winter, or late fall an axe is king..from spring on I usually pack a large thick spined knife (7inch blade) and a Pocket chainsaw.. The saw cuts the wood to size. easily, and the large knife splits it. axes are great but without experience they can be clumsy and cause serious injury. Machetes are awesome to but are mad of softer steel than large knives which makes the edge prone to wear much faster than other tools.. Machetes are great for chopping saplings and scrub, but they are thin spined. which maked them less than amazing for splitting wood.
 
jca21 said:
go for a fiskars hatchet, they run about 30 bux canadian.

combo that with a 6 inch retractable fiskars pruning saw about 20 bux canadian

and you're set :)
Click to expand...
For the past two years Canadian Tire has had the Fiskars on sale 50% off for a week in the summer.
I missed this summers sale but managed to pick up two last summer, 14$ each!
:thumbup:
 
tholiver said:
For the past two years Canadian Tire has had the Fiskars on sale 50% off for a week in the summer.
I missed this summers sale but managed to pick up two last summer, 14$ each!
:thumbup:
Click to expand...

another reasons to go to crappy tires :D
 
Man, I think I paid 40 or 50 bucks for my fiskars, it was the biggest one though. It's designed to be able to both chop and split, works amazingly well.
 
i would go wetterling its comp to gransfors its not as sharp but you can sharpen it you,ll have to sharpen it some day . i would also pick a fiskers i have all three or had all three
 
Liam Ryan said:
Man, I think I paid 40 or 50 bucks for my fiskars, it was the biggest one though. It's designed to be able to both chop and split, works amazingly well.
Click to expand...
The two i bought for 14$ each were the 14 inchers.
They also had the full sized big Fiskars on sale, i got it for 25(?) bucks last summer as well.
They didn't have the big ones on sale this summer though.
But they had a 25% off sale a few weeks back.
Sad but true, the weekly Canadian tire flyer is one of the highlights of my week.
:D
 
Why wouldn't you carry a saw instead? I carry a trailblazer sawvivor that rocks for cutting wood. It's low maintenance and very light.
 
For around $30.00 total, you can have the Fiskars garden axe, which is a good tool and the Fiskars sliding saw, another tool that works hard for you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top