Are CS machetes (Kukri, Magnum Kukri, Kukri Plus, Royal Kukri, Black Bear Bowie, etc.) in principle designed for wood chopping? They are only 2.8 mm thick. Other choppers are a lot thicker: for example, Ka-Bar Kukri Machete and Skrama 240 are 4.2 mm (0.165 in.). Compared to them, 2.8 mm appears to be suitable for vine and saplings only.
How thick is the wood and is it dry or green? 2.8mm is plenty for thin wood, let's say 2" or less, green wood, especially if there is adequate length and sharpness.
Thin edges penetrate but can bind easily. I think they work best for one swing cuts and that's pretty easy to do with adequate length and tip speed, a shorter heavy blade actually takes more work, especially if it's still on the tree and unsupported. I think even at 2" where it may not cut through in one swing, the branch ir trunk is thin enough not to bind badly.
Also, if it's something that is going to be carried, it just weighs less and that's something to be considered in the list of compromises you're going to make in selecting a cutting tool.
Thickness is just one measure and taken out of context of the other measurements won't answer your question fully.
If you're trying to chop dry wood, that's hardee on an edge and normally a thicker blade helps support a thicker edge and offers some different geometry. Also, a higher weight is desiteable so the blade should be broad if that thin, like the baryonyx machete.
So, vine and saplings only? Not at all. And some vines are harder and thicker than some trees so even that should be considered. I came across a set of vines once that swallowed up thd blade on my swamp rat ratweiler, a 7.5" blade. I carried the ratweiler with a silky big boy often on my mountain bike rides if I thought some trees may have fallen down where I ride.
