To find the best machete for clearing brush, we researched and tested over 50 models in the market, and finally came up with these 6 outperformed units.
All had been meticulously categorized to each specific need. So whether you need one for camping, fast performance, or different sizes of brush, rest the heart that there’ll be at least one good option here:
Here are the best machetes for clearing brush (May 2026 Update):
- Best Overall: Ontario Knife Co 1-18-inch Military Machete
- Best For Ultra-Fast Performance: Fiskars 29 Inch Machete Axe
- Best For Camping: Gerber Bear Grylls Parang Machete 31-002289
- Most Versatile: SOG SOGfari 13-inch Machete MC01-N
- Best For Medium Brush: Fiskars Clearing Tool Garden Machete , 15-inch - 385091-1002
- Best For A Smaller Brush: Fiskars Brush Axe
| Best Machete For Clearing Brush: Top 6 Picks | ||
|---|---|---|
Best Overall | Ontario Knife Co 1-18-inch Military Machete | Read Our Review |
Best For Ultra-Fast Performance | Fiskars 29 Inch Machete Axe | Read Our Review |
Best For Camping | Gerber Bear Grylls Parang Machete 31-002289 | Read Our Review |
Most Versatile | SOG SOGfari 13-inch Machete MC01-N | Read Our Review |
Best For Medium Brush | Fiskars Clearing Tool Garden Machete , 15-inch - 385091-1002 | Read Our Review |
Best For A Smaller Brush | Fiskars Brush Axe | Read Our Review |
Best Overall: Ontario Knife Co 1-18-inch Military Machete
- Ultra-hard & durable - made of 1095 carbon steel & 50-55 HRC
- Very strong – feature the full-tang design
- Hold up to harsh environments – high-quality coating
- The package doesn’t include the sheath
- Not ideal for heavy brush
- The handle is slippery sometimes
For this machete, the US Military has signed a 20-year contract with the Ontario Knife Company, which is equivalent to how reliable and outperformed it is.
It is a full-tang machete with 18 inches of the blade length and 24 inches overall, which is a little bit shorter than a standard kukri on purpose to increase range of motion when swinging the blade in places where the heavy brush is present.
However, it is made of 1095 carbon steel with a hardened blade to 50-55 degrees of the Rockwell Hardness, which is far superior to carbon steel.
And this is key to use with worry-free of chipping or rusting.
| Ontario Knife Co 1-18-inch Military Machete Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 15.8 ounces |
Overall Length | 24" |
Blade Length | 18" |
Thickness | 1/8” |
Highlight Features | Ontario Knife Co 1-18" Military Machete Made of 1095 Carbon Steel Blade hardened to 50-55 HRC Molded plastic and riveted handle |
Made of 1095 carbon steel and featuring a full-tang design, the Ontario Knife Co 1-18
Best For Ultra-Fast Performance: Fiskars 29 Inch Machete Axe
- Multifunctional & faster in performance - 32 inches of overall length, an 18-inch blade, unique blade shape
- Convenient to use - one-handed handle design
- Safe & reliable – the handle features a nice texture pattern with a finger guard
- No so great for trekking through the dense growth
The Fiskars 29 Inch Machete Axe sets itself apart by featuring a sharpened tip, a sharpened blade curve, and a unique ax-like blade head, which is multifunctional.
It can do chiseling and push-cutting in narrow areas, make quick pull-cuts, or chop and split.
The overall length is 32 inches with an 18-inch blade, which is a bit more expanded for better contact and cuts a broader swath. In other words, this machete is specifically designed for faster, more powerful performance, which is ideal to chop through tough materials or clean huge areas.
I particularly love the one-handed handle design which allows the other hand free to pile cuttings. This handle also has a nice texture pattern for better grips to let you choke up and ensure accurate work. And a finger guard gives you better protection to use it with more peace in mind.
| Fiskars 29 Inch Machete Axe Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 2.5 pounds |
Overall Length | 32 inches |
Blade Length | 18 inch |
Thickness | 2.5 mm |
Highlight Features | Fiskars 29 Inch Machete Axe 18-inch blade Ax-like blade head Blade curve |
Designed with the larger cutting area and a multifunctional blade shape, the Fiskars 29 Inch Machete Axe is our proud recommendation for people whose goal is rapid performance.
Best For Camping: Gerber Bear Grylls Parang Machete 31-002289
- Give straight, clean cuts without shaking - feature an angled blade
- Anti-slip efficiently - Ergonomic textured rubber grip handles & lanyard cord
- The blade is prone to rust so you should take proper care of it
We tested this and the broadCut at a time, and found out a huge difference between them, especially in the blade function. Unlike the broadCut, this features an angled blade, which makes our cuts through limbs and brushes straight, clean, effortless, and not crazily shaking.
It serves well for the purpose to clear brush or process wood for campfires.
This Gerber lines actually come in two versions: this and a mini one, but we chose to use this because it gives just enough power to do much but is still lightweight and compact to carry with ease.
While the handle of this machete is ergonomically textured to limit slippage, we also appreciate the added lanyard cord, which acts as a guard to increase grips and protection while cutting brush.
| Gerber Bear Grylls Parang Machete 31-002289 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 25.4 oz. |
Overall Length | 19.5" |
Blade Length | 13.5" |
Thickness | 1/8 inch |
Highlight Features | Gerber Bear Grylls Parang Machete Angled blade Full tang construction |
[su_verdict asin="B0091AVTR8" content="
We highly recommend the Gerber Bear Grylls Parang Machete [31-002289] for camping as it’s lightweight, easy to carry, but strong and functional enough for multiple tasks.
"]
Most Versatile: SOG SOGfari 13-inch Machete MC01-N
- It can clear brush and limb, harvest crops, and saw – feature a professional-grade, dual-edged blade
- Handles are well-balanced, comfortable, and grippy - made of Kraton with ergonomic contouring
- It can scrap and pound – have a spiked tang in the back of the handle
- Not really durable
- Can’t cut through hard materials or dense growth
Although the three machetes above are considered versatile and multifunctional, one general flaw of them is not able to saw. That’s why this SOG SOGfari 13"" Machete MC01-N, featuring a large tooth serrated edge for sawing, is outperformed.
It still gives you a straight edge machete-shape blade on the other side which is made of 3Cr13 stainless steel with a black powder-coated finish for clearing brush, limbs, and even harvest crops.
Careful attention is also given to the handle design, which is made of Kraton with ergonomic contouring and good balance. It’s non-slip, comfortable, and giving a very nice hand-feel.
You’ll also find a lanyard cord at its base as well as a spiked tang in the back for scraping and pounding.
| SOG SOGfari 13-inch Machete MC01-N Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 13 ounces |
Overall Length | 18.95 inches |
Blade Length | 12.9 inches |
Thickness | 0.08 inch |
Highlight Features | Feature a professional-grade Dual-edged blade Made of Kraton with ergonomic contouring Have a spiked tang in the back of the handle |
Not just the blade shape but also the handle of this SOG SOGfari 13-inch Machete MC01-N is specifically created to be multifunctional, which makes it the most useful and versatile tool in the world.
Best For Medium Brush: Fiskars Clearing Tool Garden Machete , 15-inch - 385091-1002
- Easy to swing & reliable – feature a full-tang design
- Can cut through medium brush or dense growth without sticking – the blade features a unique curve
- Easy to use - no assembly needed
- It won’t hold an edge
The Fiskars Clearing Tool Garden Machete, 15-nch - 385091-1002 shocked and impressed us with its great weight distribution.
This full-tang machete is very easy to swing and doesn’t tire you quickly after clearing a huge brush, MTB trail maintenance, trimming, or gardening. It has no issues with small to medium branches either.
The blade of this unit features a unique curve for the purpose to avoid sticking when you cut it through dense growth. The best thing is no assembly needed and the blade is razor-sharp right out of the box, which means you can use it immediately.
| Fiskars Clearing Tool Garden Machete , 15-inch - 385091-1002 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 2 pounds |
Overall Length | 24 1/4 " |
Blade Length | 15" |
Highlight Features | Full-tang design Blade features a unique curve No assembly needed |
If you are looking for a great machete for medium brush or dense growth, this is it.
Best For A Smaller Brush: Fiskars Brush Axe
- Compact, easy to store, carry, and transport – feature a 10-inch blade and 19.5 inches of overall length
- Non-stick, smooth to cut through the small brush, & don’t get loose – the blade is made of high-grade drop-forged steel and treated with a non-stick finish
- Offer a strong, durable and lightweight handle - the handle is made from a unique Nyglass
- A bit pricey
- The holder is made of plastic
By combining the attributes of a traditional machete and a hatchet, the Fiskars Brush Axe turns out to be a unique multifunctional tool here that can handle most cutting tasks.
It is also the smallest, with a 10-inch blade and 19.5 inches of overall length, so the unit is very lightweight, easy to carry, and doesn’t tire you during cuts.
Made of high-grade drop-forged steel and treated with a non-stick finish, the blade is satisfyingly sharp with a durable feel. It cuts through small brush smoothly and shows no wear, rust, nor getting loose over time.
| Fiskars Brush Axe Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 1.30 pounds |
Overall Length | 19.5-Inch |
Blade Length | 10 inch |
Thickness | 1/8 inch |
Highlight Features | Feature a 10-inch blade and 19.5 inches of overall length The blade is made of high-grade drop-forged steel and treated with a non-stick finish the handle is made from a unique Nyglass |
For outdoor enthusiasts who have much clearing to do, especially small brush, the Fiskars Brush Axe is a potential contender.
How To Choose The Best Machetes For Clearing Brush?
Types
Might you know it or not, machetes come in 6 common types:
- Havy
- Parang
- Bolo
- Panga
- Billhook
- Latin
Each type obviously features a specific blade and handle shape, even with different origination, to deliver some certain purposes of use. Knowing the purposes of each will help you easily find out the right one for your need:
Types | Origination | Highlight features | Strengths | Best for |
Havy | - | -feature a large blade with the weight towards the front | -deliver powerful chopping force | -used in some agricultural tasks -clear heavy brush |
Parang | Indonesia | -feature super-elongated blade length with curves -the blade is thicker | -deliver efficient slicing -the more weighted the machete, the greater the momentum during strokes | -Cut through thick brush or veggies -ideal to chop woody vegetation |
Bolo | Philippines | -Have a large, ultra-long blade that widens and curves -Full-tang design -Feature a spear point | -Maximum strength & durability -Versatile – can handle different cutting and chopping tasks -provide more momentum for chopping & cutting | -Cut or chop thick brush, dense growth, and trees -break coconuts -cut down a whole tree |
Panga | Africa | -have a thicker and straighter blade than the parang machetes -have an extreme point at the front -weigh towards the front | -incisions -strong | -chop through moderately wooded, thick vegetation |
Billhook | Asia and Europe | -blade is made of high-carbon steel -the handle could be made of plastic, metal, or wood -feature a hooked blade and a sharpened inner curve for chopping, gripping, cutting | -long-lasting sharpness, durability, maximum strength -high grips | -shredding, cut around objects and trees, clear brush -the process of removing side buds and shoots from branches |
Latin | Latin America | -have a thick, straight, elongated blade with length ranging within 12”-24” | -easy to use, highly portable, lightweight -easily sheathed and well-balanced | -cut green vegetation -clear brush |
Blade
Blade materials:
- There are three common types of blade materials:
- High-carbon stainless-steel – considered as the best in terms of strength, rust-resistance, ease of sharpening, and sharpness retention, which is ideal for clearing wood or thick brush. The biggest flaw of this type is the high cost.
- Stainless steel – feature excellent rust and corrosion resistance but they don’t keep sharpness as good as the high-carbon stainless steel because of the soft texture, which means you need to regularly sharpen it. However, the price is cheaper.
- Carbon steel – which is also the cheapest type out of the three. It retains sharpness well and is strong, which is great for clearing woody or thick brush. In turn, it is prone to rust as well as hard to sharpen.
Thickness
- Two common thickness options of machete blades are the ½ inch and the 1/8 inch.
- The thinner the blade, the lighter the weight, which results in more control.
- That means the 1/8” blade is perfect for cutting through the grassy or thin brush while the ¼” is heavy-duty enough for thicker and harder brush. But take note that thinner blades would be easier to break when cutting woody, tough vines and brush.
- Meanwhile, the thicker blades are heavier to hence control more difficultly.
Length
- Averagely, the blade length of a machete for clearing brush is between 12” and 24”. And this feature depends on your needs.
- The longer the blade, the larger the cutting surface, which means the cuts are cleaner and more effortless.
- It is also safer and fewer risks to cut your hands. However, if you usually carry it from here to there, consider a shorter blade is essential.
Which Brands Make The Best Machetes For Clearing Brush?
Fiskars
- Established in 1649 and grown to become one of the biggest global suppliers of products for the outdoors, garden, and home, Fiskars has now been available in over 60 countries. The quality of their products has been endorsed by a million of customers worldwide.
Gerber
- Founded in 1939, this American brand has spread its products globally. Gerber is very well-known in tradesmen, soldiers, hunters, and even gardeners’ communities for quality, affordability, and innovations.
SOG
- This brand was set up in 1986, known for the full line of innovative tools, honored as the Navy SEAL knife of choice and field-proven by US Special Forces.
FAQs
Should a machete be sharp?
Yes, it should.
20-25 degrees of angle works best for cutting non-woody vegetation or grass.
Is owning a machete illegal?
In United States law, machetes are classified as agricultural tools, which is legal to own.
Is a machete considered a weapon?
No, it isn’t.
It has the distinction of being sharpened only on one side of the blade and is classified as agricultural tools by the US law
What size machete is best?
12”-24”
What can a machete be used for?
A machete can act as an ax or a knife, mainly used for chopping, cutting, and slicing through vegetation, grass, and trees.
Conclusion
Choosing the best machete for clearing brush isn’t difficult. There are just two things to consider – the blade and the type of machete. Beforehand, knowing the kind of vegetation you’re about to clear as well as your budget will make the buying process even easier.
That’s all for this article. Thanks for reading!
