The top 3 recommendations and buying guides

Our recommendations

The best machete in our comparative test is the model from Kershaw, which is characterized by its relatively long blade. With this feature, the all-round machete guarantees a long range. Most of the reviewers at Amazon describe it as an extremely robust and functional cutting tool that should be "super handy and very efficient to use".

The Kukri from Cold Steel is considered to be solidly processed. In nature, it should then even become a "brutal monster". Chop, Scythes and carving seems to proceed with "sometimes terrifying uncompromising". If you want an extremely powerful machete for your gardening work, you should opt for this model.

The machete from Gerber is our price-performance winner. It costs less than the other two versions in our comparison, although the pure quality should largely correspond to that of the runner-up. The reviewers at Amazon are enthusiastic about the Parang, which is said to be “just great”.

Purchase criteria

Type

Latin: The Latin machete is also known as the bush macete. She is something like the classic. Characteristic for this type are the strong shape and the straight back of the blade. In addition, the Latin is well balanced, which supports fatigue-free work during longer activities. It has a large radius of action when cutting green vegetation and is an excellent all-purpose tool.

Gator: Like the Latin, the Gator machete is a versatile garden tool. It has a double-sided straight blade. While the smoothly sanded side cleanly cuts off trunks as thick as an arm, it cuts Saw teeth Fibrous or springy branches on the back effortlessly.

Kukri: The kukri, also called khukuri, is characterized by its inwardly curved blade. This ensures that you can use every area of ​​the machete very well: prick with the tip, chop with the middle part and carry out finer carving work with the lower section. Incidentally, the Kukri has gained fame primarily through the Gurkha (Nepalese soldiers). They used this machete as an effective melee weapon.

Panga: The panga or tapanga originally comes from South Africa. Its most important properties are the blade that is extended towards the top and its considerable length, which is normally 40 to 45 centimeters. Most of the time, the upward part of a panga machete is also sharpened. Since the full power of the blade is concentrated on a small area, this area cuts a very good figure when stabbing. In addition, the panga generally has a broad, relatively heavy head that optimizes chopping.

Parang: The Parang is similar to the Panga, but its blade is shorter, thicker and only sharpened on one side. Due to its design, this machete hardly gets stuck in the branches, which is why it is particularly recommended for use in wooded areas.

Bolo: At first glance, the bolo is also very reminiscent of the panga. If you take a closer look, however, you can see that the blade of the Bolo machete only thickens just before the point. It is a compact, rather heavy variant that, among other things, enables smaller trees to be felled.

Billhook: The Billhook can be recognized by its hook-shaped blade. It is a powerful machete when it comes to looking after hedges - for example, thinning out bushes or catching stray vines.

Blade material

The blade of a machete is basically made of steel. But there are serious qualitative differences - depending on the specific type of steel. We generally advise against using literally cheap machetes made of rust-prone tubular steel.

Otherwise, you essentially have a choice between

• Carbon steel,
• stainless steel and
• Tool steel.

Carbon steel: It is an alloy of carbon and iron. Machetes made from this material are very stable and easy to move sharpen. The disadvantage: the high susceptibility to rust, which is associated with a corresponding need for care.

Stainless steel: It combines iron with plenty of carbon and chromium. The latter metal protects the blade from rust. Unfortunately, depending on the exact alloy, the machetes are sometimes difficult to sharpen. In terms of stability, they can sometimes not quite keep up with versions made of carbon or tool steel.

Tool steel: It is made up of iron, a high proportion of carbon and some chromium. This is how he combines the best of carbon and stainless steel: A machete made from this material is rust-resistant, can be sharpened well and can withstand even tougher loads.

Coating

A coating is almost mandatory, especially with rust-prone steel, in order to ensure higher corrosion resistance. Furthermore, the coating has the advantage that the blade is less dirty, which in turn makes cleaning easier for you.

Blade length

The average blade length of a machete is 45 centimeters. However, there are also much shorter and much longer versions. Think about what is more important to you: range or handling? If you want more reach, you should prefer a longer blade; if you place more value on good handling, you will make the better choice with a shorter blade.

Blade shape

The correct shape of the blade for your needs will depend on what you want to do with the machete in the first place. A version with a broad head is ideal for chopping, while a tapered one is perfect for pricking.

Handle pin

The handle is the part of the machete where the blade merges into the handle. It should tend to be large to prevent the blade from breaking off.

Handle material

The machete's handle is usually made of either wood or plastic.

• A wooden handle lies comfortably in the hand and looks good, but can easily splinter if there are major fluctuations in temperature.
• A plastic handle is less prone to splintering, but offers less grip in damp weather. A rubber insert can counteract this.

weight

Machetes are generally relatively heavy. They have to be in order to be able to perform their tasks in the best possible way - that is, to withstand the toughest loads and produce very clean cuts. Your chosen machete should of course not be too heavy so that it remains easy to handle. Use practical tests to find out for yourself what weight you can still manage without any problems.

frequently asked Questions

What is a machete?

The machete is a fixed knife - a device for cutting that consists of a handle and a blade. The special thing about this type of knife is the immense length of the blade. This feature makes them versatile, because the machete is not only suitable for cutting, but also for chopping and Hoes, for example from weeds.

What brands offer good machetes?

The best-known brands for high-quality machetes include Fiskars and the “adoptive subsidiary” Gerber and Walther. At Amazon, you can also choose from versions from Condor, Kershaw and G8DS.

Is the use of a machete prohibited?

First of all, the short answer: No. You are allowed to own and use a machete.

Here is the more detailed version: Users often wonder whether the machete is a weapon. Yes and no. While it is actually used as a weapon in some places, it is considered a tool in itself. That is why the machete is legal.

But: According to the Weapons Act (WaffG) §42a Paragraph 1, it is forbidden to “use fixed knives with a blade length of over 12 cm”. The blade of the machete clearly exceeds this specification.

'Leading' means that you are not allowed to have your machete openly with you in public. On your private property or in your garden, however, you can use the machete as a gardening tool.

There are regulations that allow the machete to be used in public. These mainly relate to the existence of a “legitimate interest” (gardeners, forest workers, etc.).

When you are out and about, you must always transport the tool tightly locked - whether as a professional or hobby gardener. A simple blade protection is not enough. It needs some kind of safe with a key.