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The 10 Best Machetes for Camping and Survival

| Updated Oct 20, 2023

For serious campers and hikers, here is a guide on the best machetes for camping on the market today.

A machete for camping is a knife with a broad blade and an overall length between 12 to 18 inches long. They are constructed for a variety of different uses and from a variety of blade materials, including stainless steel, carbon steel, and high carbon steel.

Some machetes are made for farmers. It can serve as a tool to cut sugarcane and for other agricultural purposes.

Others are designed for hunting, yard work, or even cutting wooden handles when making tools.

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10 Best Camping Machetes & Survival Machetes

Machetes are also very useful when trying to set up the perfect camping site. When you need to cut wood for a fire or for clearing brush to set camp, I would recommend having one handy.

They also make a great Father's Day gift or for any occasion for RV and camping enthusiasts. For other ideas, you can check out 17 Best RV Gifts for Dad.

So here is a list of the best camping machetes that will serve you well in the wilderness.

1 – Condor Tool & Knife Parang Machete

Another long blade, this one at 17 ½ inches is ideal for cutting through a lot of vegetation.

The term “Parang” originates from Indonesia and is a style known for long blades that can cut through wood. It features a hardwood handle for a fantastic grip and a quality leather sheath instead of a nylon sheath.

Like the Kershaw, it’s full-tang and powder coated. By the way, a Condor makes the list of our top picks for the Best Camp Kitchen Knife on our sister site, CampingFoodRecipes.com.

2 – SOG Sogfari 18 inch Machete

This machete is a more affordable long blade option but is certainly no slouch. It even carries a lifetime warranty.

The interesting feature about the Sogfari is the dual blade. The front of the blade is normal with a black powder finish, and the back is actually a working saw blade. 

The teeth on the saw give you more options when looking to gather wood while camping. You can even use it to prepare meals!

Also, the handle has a synthetic rubber grip, which makes it easy to hang on to.

3 – Gerber Gator 18 Inch Machete

This is another option for a dual blade with a saw on the backside. If choosing between the Gerber or the SOGfari, choose between which design you prefer since they’re both high quality.

4 – Tramontina 19 Inch Machete With Hardwood Handle

One of the most affordable options is this Tramontina. It even looks like a sword! So this is a good option for you if you don’t like the black powder look and prefer the steel to shine like steel.

It has a hardwood handle, which makes for a good grip. However, if you’re using it for a long time consider taping your hands as the hardwood may lead to blisters.

5 – Schrade 13.3 inch Kukri Machete

Maybe you don’t want such a long blade, in which case this Schrade could be the one for you.

Slightly shorter with a 13.3-inch blade with a 12-inch sharp edge, this machete is also powder-coated for durability. 

One advantage to a shorter blade is the lighter weight. This one weighs less than one and a half pounds.

When hiking it will serve you well cutting bushes in your path. So this machete would help in particular when you find the perfect camping spot but need to clear a little bit of terrain to make it comfortable.

6 – Gerber DoubleDown Folding Machete

This is another quality and comfortable to use machete by Gerber. The added bonus is the design. 

This machete folds up to half its size. So, you can easily and safely stow it in a hiking pack or on a belt. I'd say that qualifies it as one of the best survival machetes!

7 – CRKT Halfachance Fixed Blade Machete

This is the best camping machete for those who prefer a shorter blade. This one is 12 inches long, 18 inches total including the handle.

The handle is plastic but provides exceptional grip.

It includes a velcro belt loop system to give you the option to dangle its sheath on your belt or keep it snug to the belt.

8 – Condor Tool & Knife 14 Inch Golok Machete

This blade is of the thicker variety for a shorter blade at 14 inches. Thicker blades mean they’re good for slicing heavier things, such as wood or even watermelon. 

At full tang and with a walnut handle it whacks very sturdily. It even comes with a quality leather sheath.

9 – KA-BAR 2-1249-9 Kukri Machete

This is the shortest blade on this list at 11.5 inches. It is also one of the thickest and toughest.

It can easily cut through weeds and is comfortable to use. I would recommend using it if you’re looking for something small that can get the job done.

10 – Fiskars 29 Inch Machete Axe

Why not end this list with the most unconventional? This machete not only features a long 18-inch blade but an axe on the end!

The axe is the best camping machete if you’re looking to chop a lot of wood. 

Also, at the point where the blade turns into an axe, there’s a curve that works especially well pull-cutting. 

Pull-cutting is helpful when you want to clear something that is a bit of a moving target, like vines.

I would recommend this for someone looking for versatility.

Which Machetes for Camping Do You Use?

What is your favorite blade material: stainless steel blade, carbon steel blade, or high carbon steel blade? Let us know in the comments!

The 10 Best Machetes for Camping and Survival 1
We love camping season!

Curious about the gear, gadgets, accessories, and RV products Mike & Jennifer use and recommend?

On this RV Lifestyle Travel blog, our RV Podcast, and our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel, we mention all sorts of RV-related products and gear that we use, So we created special page links to them. We update this all the time.  CLICK HERE to go to it directly. 

Mike Wendland

Published on 2021-03-23

Mike Wendland is a multiple Emmy-award-winning Journalist, Podcaster, YouTuber, and Blogger, who has traveled with his wife, Jennifer, all over North America in an RV, sharing adventures and reviewing RV, Camping, Outdoor, Travel and Tech Gear for the past 12 years. They are leading industry experts in RV living and have written 18 travel books.

11 Responses to “The 10 Best Machetes for Camping and Survival”

March 25, 2021at10:49 am, Neal White said:

Good article; I prefer a machete with a high carbon steel blade. Easy to sharpen and holds an edge better than stainless steel. As a side note, a tool is a tool is a tool!

March 24, 2021at6:45 pm, Pam said:

Are any of them made in USA?

March 23, 2021at8:49 pm, Frank said:

I’m in Virginia and I’ve not seen any legislation like this. You can buy them in most any hardware store or Walmart.

March 23, 2021at8:46 pm, Frank said:

These are great tools for the camper. They can split firewood and cut limbs that might be hanging Into the camp site. I have the Gerber model and I use it often. The saw blade makes it a multipurpose tool.

March 23, 2021at5:56 pm, Shredder said:

Barb, take a chill pill. If you want to see destruction, disease and filth – take a look at what is crossing our Southern border. Perhaps we all need machetes. I found the article informative and helpful as I am currently in the market for a machete. Have a nice day.

March 23, 2021at5:44 pm, Tracy said:

Mike & Jennifer thanx for the information. Hope to see u on the road ?

March 23, 2021at2:45 pm, Joan said:

Wow. I’d say Barb needs to self-isolate some more. RV’s for me but not for thee. Who knew the work “machete” could indict all new RV’rs?

March 23, 2021at2:04 pm, Trac said:

You are a very negative person

March 23, 2021at9:09 am, Irv said:

The best machete-type tool is a “Woodman’s Pal”. It’s better balanced and safer and can be used to cut in two ways. Both by swinging at small trees and pulling at vines.

Unfortunately the original manufacturer closed and it’s now made by another company that’s charging 2 or 3 times what I paid for mine 20 years ago: $175. I consider it at least twice as useful as a traditional machete.

https://www.woodmanspal.com/shop/

March 23, 2021at12:21 pm, William krueger said:

Nice, I’ll check this one out.

Comments are closed.

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