Machete or Billhook?

K

Karmic Debt

Joined
Jun 8, 2023
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I am looking for suggestions for a blade to use when hiking and/or bushwacking. I do some trial grooming (independently) on some of the local wilderness trails where I take my dogs. I'm looking for the optimal blade to carry with me on hikes and long walks. Something that will allow me to clear brush encroaching on the trail. I'm looking for an optimal practical tool, not necessarily a collection piece. Thanks.
 
I'd say the Baronyx Machete but it looks like they are on pre-order status until November. Look at the Condor Golok, it can handle vines and wood.
 
For the purpose you described, I think a machete would be best, as the billhook will have a hard time with thinner green vegetation.

Consider a long Bowie too. Easier to pack and if properly tapered towards the tip they will chop AND swipe through whispy vines/grasses.


A sharpened swedge gives you even more edge to use…

 
Drop bear said:
I am going to be captain boring and suggest secateurs.
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Excellant call. That's what I've been using and they work just fine, but it's one cane at a time and I do occasionally have actually bushwack. My faithful furry companion lost his little canine mind when he saw a rabbit and got snared in a thicket of blackberry vines some distance away. I got him out eventually, but that is what made me think of something a bit more aggressive than pruning shears. Boring answers are the best for my practical mindset. Yes, this is a "blade" forum, but I'm still surprised no-one has suggested a flamethrower yet:) definetly not boring. Insane, but not boring.
 
The Fiskars Brush Axe is a decent tool for what you describe. It is a lightweight bill hook with the handle shape and feel of the fiskars hatchets. I have use one for hours and it was a pleasure to use, it isn't overly tiring and is in some ways safer than a standard machete. It comes with a blade cover made for storage more than carry, like just to snap on and hang it up; in no way is it a lash it to your pack type thing. It works well on woody weeds and anything larger than grass and really shines on pencil to finger size branches with no resistance. It can chop wrist size and larger very well too. The steel while a little soft, it holds a decent edge but you would want to bring a course stone or fine file with you for touch ups on the trail. For the price I would recommend it without hesitation and last I checked it was available at many big box stores so you can handle it before buying.
 
Maybe a sugar cane knife, light but sturdy. The hook on top is designed to pull bits out the way.
Pretty cheap too.
 
Sorry to be a pain in the ass, but we really need to know what kind of sticks you would be dealing with. At a certain thickness your best bet would be a folding saw of some kind or a hand axe.
 
I have to suggest the fiskars brush axe as well. Especially if there are any kind of briar/bramble involved. The hook makes it so you can cut by pulling you hand away from the thorns, not toward them.
 
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