HELP! I just can't decide; Tomahawk or Machete?

TheDandyLion

TheDandyLion

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Mar 27, 2013
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It is a debate I have been racking my mind about for weeks, which one should I be taking out into the woods?

I live in western Oregon where there is thick brush and vegetation that I often find my self needing to cut my way through so a machete comes in handy. That said I also do a lot of heavy chopping on the trail and the machete falls short and a tomahawk or light hatchet makes my job easier and safer but I loose the bushwhacking benefit. The big issue for me is which trait I am willing to sacrifice; Chopping capability or Bushwhacking? Do I take both (A hawk and a light/short machete) and deal with the extra weight (Not much really but, every ounce counts) or do I just leave one at home and improvise? This tool(s) would be part of a man-portable system so weight is a issue and hawks are heavier but a machete can't take the heavy chopping (in my experience). Are there other options I'm not considering?

This is just something that has been bothering me for a while and I thought I should consult some 'experts' just to get my mind strait. Sorry if my writing is poor, it's past midnight and my brain is long asleep (and still debating!:confused:)

Thanks,

-Jake
 
A small hatchet and a machete would be my pick. The energy you may loose with the extra weight, will be more than made up for with the energy saved by bush whacking and proper wood processing with a hatchet. One might substitute the hatchet with a 'sharpened prybar' like a BK9, but I wouldn't.
 
A small hatchet and a machete would be my pick. The energy you may loose with the extra weight, will be more than made up for with the energy saved by bush whacking and proper wood processing with a hatchet.
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I 100% agree
 
I would go with a small hatchet and machete combo as listed above.

However, you could try something with a thicker blade, like a Golok. Might get old swinging that thing if you're doing a lot of bushwacking.
 
Agree with the guys above. Both! Thin light machete for light vegetation and a light, sharp hatchet for thicker stuff.
Those big heavy chopping knives probably weight as much as two proper tools and do neither task well and expend a lot more energy. Work smart, not hard.
Keep your stuff sharp and even a cheap $10 machete will go though surprisingly thick stuff with a smooth motion.
If you can shave with your hatchet, you're on the right track.
 
I use an ESEE Junglas here in GA trailblazing for the state park. It's light enough to swing all day and heavy enough to cut some big stuff out of the way. It's just easier to carry that then a couple different things. Maybe not the best for everything but gets the job done none the less.
 
Kabar kukri machete, or just don't clear the brush. Navigate your way through it. I get by with nothing
 
Small machete with a light weight folding saw. The saw will do most of what the hatchet does with less weight and effort. Also, you can saw halfway through something, then whack it and split it way easier than battening or using a hatchet to split.
 
I used to live in East Oregon and spent a lot of time in the Blue Mountains and now bum around southern Colorado. Maybe what you need is something like a Condor Bushcraft Parang, Ka-Bar grass machete or other long thick blade that's a little stouter than a traditional machete.

What machetes have you tried? Something like a Tramontina is pretty light but maybe a thicker Ontario GI machete would work for you.
 
I'd look at the Condor Pack Golok or basically one of their short stiff machetes. It would be great for chopping everything that you would likely use a hatchet for, and will work with brush too. You have different handle choices between models, but I prefer the wood myself. With flexible vegetation (chopping), it isn't the best tool, but you can make do.
 
KaBar Grass machete might be what you are looking for, thicker than a regular machete, so it will handle the heavier chopping too...
 
Small machete with a light weight folding saw. The saw will do most of what the hatchet does with less weight and effort. Also, you can saw halfway through something, then whack it and split it way easier than battening or using a hatchet to split.
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People say it takes less effort to cut through wood with a saw and I can't help but disagree. I have processed a lot of wood in the wilderness and I can say, I feel a hell of a lot more sore/tired after cutting several trees with a saw than doing it with a hatchet or hawk.

What machetes have you tried? Something like a Tramontina is pretty light but maybe a thicker Ontario GI machete would work for you.
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Currently I own a 'few' machetes: Tramontina 18"(x2), Ontario 18"(Military), Imacasa (I think its Imacasa) Caribbean Bolo, Condor Golock, and a Condor Khukri Machet. My favorite to chop with is the Golock but the best all-around is the Ontario and the best brush clearing one is the Tramontina 18". If I take just one 'large' tool I take my Golock.

Neither. Go with a small axe but between the two you have listed I'd say Machete.
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So let me see if I have this right, you want me to try and carry several pounds of ax with only marginally better performance than my hawk? I think axes come in handy if I'm going to be cutting down a small forest and for some odd reason don't have a chainsaw. For my back-country purposes an ax is just overkill.
 
I really thought I would get a lot more opinions on this matter... Oh well, it sounds like I might be getting a 14" Tramontina bush machete to companion my tomahawk
 
I like the idea of a machete of any kind (personally have the Ontario 18") and a folding saw- this gives you brush clearing ability, as well as sawing ability on thicker stuff, plus it probably weighs less than carrying a hawk and a machete.

You can still chop a tree down with the machete if you feel like it, or split some wood, as well. I am one of those guys who doesn't see much use for a hatchet or tomahawk when there are other options out there, I guess.
 
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