September 15, 2025 • 10 mins
We'll be discussing which is better for survival, the machete or the hatchet!
This podcast is for Self Defense, Survival, and Prepping for the Streets & Beyond.
I'll help prepare you for disasters, predators, and whatever else is out there.
Here you'll learn martial arts survival philosophies and tatics, how to survive the worse man made and natural diasters, get survival tech recommendations, learn how to live without the matrix, learn how to survive supernatural situations and you'll learn survival psychology.
So Subscribe and join the community on Discord (to hear and see exclusive stuff they don't want you to see), Twitch, Kik and Tiktok (where I live stream), Youtube.
And I would love to make this content full-time so I appreciate your support on patreon and merchanise store (no pressure to buy, but do me a favor and at least check out my patreon and merchanise and give me any suggestions to help me improve). Everything is linked below.
Free Ebook: Free Ebook
Linktree: Linktree
Patreon: Patreon
Gear Reccommendations: Gear Recommendations
Discord: Discord
Twitch: Twitch
Youtube: Youtube
Instagram: Instagram
Audio Only Download of This Episode: https://spoti.fi/4dchkfz
🎙️ Urban Warrior Survival — teaching you how to survive the system, master yourself, and live free in the modern jungle.
⚔️ Follow, rate, and share the show if you’re building your freedom tribe.
💀 Remember: comfort is the cage — survival is the way out.
🌐 Connect with me at UrbanWarriorSurvival.com for coaching, gear, and digital downloads.
This podcast is for Self Defense, Survival, and Prepping for the Streets & Beyond.
I'll help prepare you for disasters, predators, and whatever else is out there.
Here you'll learn martial arts survival philosophies and tatics, how to survive the worse man made and natural diasters, get survival tech recommendations, learn how to live without the matrix, learn how to survive supernatural situations and you'll learn survival psychology.
So Subscribe and join the community on Discord (to hear and see exclusive stuff they don't want you to see), Twitch, Kik and Tiktok (where I live stream), Youtube.
And I would love to make this content full-time so I appreciate your support on patreon and merchanise store (no pressure to buy, but do me a favor and at least check out my patreon and merchanise and give me any suggestions to help me improve). Everything is linked below.
Free Ebook: Free Ebook
Linktree: Linktree
Patreon: Patreon
Gear Reccommendations: Gear Recommendations
Discord: Discord
Twitch: Twitch
Youtube: Youtube
Instagram: Instagram
Audio Only Download of This Episode: https://spoti.fi/4dchkfz
🎙️ Urban Warrior Survival — teaching you how to survive the system, master yourself, and live free in the modern jungle.
⚔️ Follow, rate, and share the show if you’re building your freedom tribe.
💀 Remember: comfort is the cage — survival is the way out.
🌐 Connect with me at UrbanWarriorSurvival.com for coaching, gear, and digital downloads.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
You know, everybody's got an option on blades, and most
of the time it's people who's never had to swing
one outside of a backyard fire pit. Survival isn't about
what looks cool on your hip. It's about what keeps
you alive when the world's falling apart. The machete and
the hatchet both got reputations, but if reputation won't chop
(00:22):
your wood, build your fire, or defend you in the dark,
this is about choosing the tool that earns its key
when your life is on the line. No excuses before
we begin, I just want to say thanks for tuning
into the Urban Warrior podcast, which is your number one
source for survival, self defense and prepping. I'm your host
(00:43):
Shatter x Storm, and today we're gonna be talking about
machetes versus hatchets, which is better for survival. If you
like this content and you want more, make sure to subscribe,
turn on notifications, and give me a follow. Also join
me for some of my live gaming on Twitch as
well as my Survi trivia games on your favorite streaming platform,
(01:05):
and pick up your free copy of my ebook, How
to Escape The Matrix. Link is going to be in
the description it's over on my website without further ado.
Let's get it first. Let's compare portability and weight. So
carrying dead weight is the fastest way to break yourself
down in a survival situation. Every ounce matters when you're
(01:26):
running or hiking. So let's keep it real about which
of these is the lighter piece of equipment. So the
pros for the machete is, it's slim, it's long, it's light.
You can strap it to your side, throw it across
your back and not feel like you're dragging an anchor.
The cons of the machete now is that extra length
(01:46):
can snag on bushes or bang into your leg when
moving through tight spaces. The pros of the hatchet is
it's compact, it's easy to stow in a pack or
loop on your belt, and you barely notice it until
you need it. But the cons of the hatchet it's
heavier per inch of the blade, and when you carry it,
you know it's there. So the bottom line for that
(02:07):
is the machete is gonna win the weight game. The
hatchet wins in the packability department, but it's gonna depend
if you're running, leaning, or hunkering down next is chopping power.
When it comes to breaking wood, bone of barriers, pure
chopping strength matters. Both bring heat, but one is clearly
(02:27):
built for brute force. The pros of the machete is
it can handle light chopping like branches and saplings, and
clears brushes like nothing else. The cons of the machete
is it's thin blade, struggles with thick wood, and you'll
end up wrecking your edge if you push it too far.
Now with the hatchet, the pros are it's built like
(02:49):
a mini axe, designed to split, chop, and smash through
hardwood and heavy stuff. The cons of the hatchet swings slower,
requires more effort, and if you miss, you're risking your
leg or your foot in a bad way. So my
analysis is the hatchet dominates chopping period. Machetes can fake it,
(03:12):
but it's not its game. Next to cutting and slicing,
not everything you need to cut is a tree. Sometimes
you're breaking down food, carving traps, or even defending yourself,
so let's talk about finesse. The pros of the machete
is the long blade makes slicing clean, fast and efficient.
From carving meat to cutting vines, it flows like a
(03:35):
big knife. Now, the cons are overkill for small delicate cuts.
You'll feel clumsy trying to whittle or fine carve. Now
for the hatchet, the pros are the sharp edge, can
handle detail work when us like a knife, and you
can choke up on the handle for control. The cons
of the hatchet the blade angle isn't made for slicing
(03:58):
more wedge than Try skinning an animal with it and
you'll see what I'm talking about. So the winner of
this one is the machete. The machete owns slicing and
food prep. The hatchet's too blunt for finesse. Next to
self defense, when the fight comes to you, what you
got in your hands decides if you make at home,
(04:19):
don't kid yourself. Both can be weapons. The pros of
the machete is it has reach, intimidation, and speed. It's
basically a sword in your right hand, and people respect
that blade when it swings. The cons are it's gonna
take space to use it right. Tight hallways, trees or
clutter can ruin your swing. Now, the pros of the
(04:40):
machete is it's compact. It's heavy and devastating in close quarters.
Think hammer with teeth. If you connect it will end
the fight. The cons it has short reach, which puts
you in danger. You gotta get close to land the shot.
The winner of this one is gonna be the machete.
Is gonna win reach. The hatchet wins raw knockout for us,
(05:02):
So go ahead and pick your poison depending on the
fight you think that you're gonna have to face. Number
five versatility in the field. A good survival tool isn't
just for one job. The more it can do, the
less gear you're gonna need to carry. The prose of
the machete is brush clearing, food prep, light chopping, self defense.
(05:22):
It's the Swiss Army blade of survival. The cons jack
of all trades, master of none, sometimes okay at everything
just isn't gonna be good enough. The pros of the
hatchet firewood, shelter, building, hammering stakes. It pulls triple duty
in camp life. The cons limited outside of woodwork, good
(05:43):
luck clearing vines and cooking with it. The winner of
this one is gonna be the machete. The all around
her hatchets the specialists versatility points lean to the machete.
A broken blade in survival is a death sentence, So
which of these hold up when you're grinding them day
after day. The pros of the machete is it's flexible,
(06:05):
less likely to snap, and easier to sharpen with simple tools.
The cons the thin blade chips and dolls quicker if
you abuse it on hard material. Now the pros of
the hatchet. The thick steel head can take brutal punishment
and still swings hard. You can pound it on wood
all day. The cons if the handle cracks, you're screwed
(06:26):
unless you can reshaft it, and that ain't fun under pressure.
So the winner the hatchet is going to have to
take this. The hatchet head out last the machete steel,
but the machete is easier to keep sharp and running
in the field. Number seven Fire and shelter building. No
survival is possible without fire and cover. These two tools
(06:48):
change the game for how fast you can set it up.
The pros of the machete is cut small branches, clears
a campsite fast, and can bat in light wood. The
cons splitting law or cutting thick beams. Forget it, you'll
just burn yourself out. Now, the pros of the hatchet
is it'll split logs, shop beams, make steaks, notches and all.
(07:11):
The heavy lifting is basically a shelter machine. The cons
are it's slow at clearing, so you need to open
space or you're gonna be cursing at it. The winner,
we're gonna go with the hatchet on this one. The
hatchet rules for fire and shelter. The machete just supports.
And finally, last but not least, we're gonna go to
a psychological edge. Survival isn't just tools, it's mental, so
(07:36):
how a weapon feels in your hand can change how
you move through the chaos. The pros of the machete
is if you feel powerful, sleek, almost primal, having one
boost your confidence like holding a sword for survival. The
cons that confidence can turn into over reliance. You start
swinging it at every and everything, and you will wear
(07:57):
it down fast. The pros of the hatchet solid, it's heavy,
it's dependable, the no nonsense tool. You feel like you're
carrying a piece of old world toughness. The cons it
can feel clunky and slow. Compared to the machete. Confidence
boost is quieter, less flashy. So I would say, realistically,
the machete amps your spirit and the hatchet grounds you
(08:19):
both will give you a mental age. It's just a
matter of what type of style you prefer. So here's
a conclusion, which one is the real survival king. The
raw truth is, if you're moving fast, covering ground, cutting brush,
and need a do it all blade, the machete is
gonna be your partner. But if you're hunkered down, chopping wood,
(08:41):
building camp, and prepping for the long haul, the hatchet
is your work. No one weapon kills all arguments, sorry
to the fanboys, but if I had to pick one
for survival, I'm rolling with a machete. It keeps me lighter,
faster and deadlier and more situations and survival is about
adapting and not dragon deadweight. So in conclusion, I just
(09:02):
want to say again thank you for tuning into the
Urban Warrior podcasts. Your number one source for survival, self defense,
and prepping. The game that I'm playing is Sons of
the Forest too. You can catch me live streaming over
on Twitch. Also, feel free to join my discord where
you can hang out with like minded people. And I
also have a Patreon where you can give me versus
(09:24):
battles that you will like me to break down, and
I have about seven different tiers that have a lot
of really cool things. So if you feel like giving
me a little bit of support, if you like the content,
I'm not saying that you have to buy, but do
me a favor. Go check out my Patreon, tell me
what you think as well as check out my merch
and give me a little bit of constructive criticism and
maybe you'll like something, maybe you won't, but at least
(09:46):
do me one solid and go check it out. Until
next time, This is the main man shatter x Storm.
Until next time, Thanks again, Peace,
You know, everybody's got an option on blades, and most
of the time it's people who's never had to swing
one outside of a backyard fire pit. Survival isn't about
what looks cool on your hip. It's about what keeps
you alive when the world's falling apart. The machete and
the hatchet both got reputations, but if reputation won't chop
(00:22):
your wood, build your fire, or defend you in the dark,
this is about choosing the tool that earns its key
when your life is on the line. No excuses before
we begin, I just want to say thanks for tuning
into the Urban Warrior podcast, which is your number one
source for survival, self defense and prepping. I'm your host
(00:43):
Shatter x Storm, and today we're gonna be talking about
machetes versus hatchets, which is better for survival. If you
like this content and you want more, make sure to subscribe,
turn on notifications, and give me a follow. Also join
me for some of my live gaming on Twitch as
well as my Survi trivia games on your favorite streaming platform,
(01:05):
and pick up your free copy of my ebook, How
to Escape The Matrix. Link is going to be in
the description it's over on my website without further ado.
Let's get it first. Let's compare portability and weight. So
carrying dead weight is the fastest way to break yourself
down in a survival situation. Every ounce matters when you're
(01:26):
running or hiking. So let's keep it real about which
of these is the lighter piece of equipment. So the
pros for the machete is, it's slim, it's long, it's light.
You can strap it to your side, throw it across
your back and not feel like you're dragging an anchor.
The cons of the machete now is that extra length
(01:46):
can snag on bushes or bang into your leg when
moving through tight spaces. The pros of the hatchet is
it's compact, it's easy to stow in a pack or
loop on your belt, and you barely notice it until
you need it. But the cons of the hatchet it's
heavier per inch of the blade, and when you carry it,
you know it's there. So the bottom line for that
(02:07):
is the machete is gonna win the weight game. The
hatchet wins in the packability department, but it's gonna depend
if you're running, leaning, or hunkering down next is chopping power.
When it comes to breaking wood, bone of barriers, pure
chopping strength matters. Both bring heat, but one is clearly
(02:27):
built for brute force. The pros of the machete is
it can handle light chopping like branches and saplings, and
clears brushes like nothing else. The cons of the machete
is it's thin blade, struggles with thick wood, and you'll
end up wrecking your edge if you push it too far.
Now with the hatchet, the pros are it's built like
(02:49):
a mini axe, designed to split, chop, and smash through
hardwood and heavy stuff. The cons of the hatchet swings slower,
requires more effort, and if you miss, you're risking your
leg or your foot in a bad way. So my
analysis is the hatchet dominates chopping period. Machetes can fake it,
(03:12):
but it's not its game. Next to cutting and slicing,
not everything you need to cut is a tree. Sometimes
you're breaking down food, carving traps, or even defending yourself,
so let's talk about finesse. The pros of the machete
is the long blade makes slicing clean, fast and efficient.
From carving meat to cutting vines, it flows like a
(03:35):
big knife. Now, the cons are overkill for small delicate cuts.
You'll feel clumsy trying to whittle or fine carve. Now
for the hatchet, the pros are the sharp edge, can
handle detail work when us like a knife, and you
can choke up on the handle for control. The cons
of the hatchet the blade angle isn't made for slicing
(03:58):
more wedge than Try skinning an animal with it and
you'll see what I'm talking about. So the winner of
this one is the machete. The machete owns slicing and
food prep. The hatchet's too blunt for finesse. Next to
self defense, when the fight comes to you, what you
got in your hands decides if you make at home,
(04:19):
don't kid yourself. Both can be weapons. The pros of
the machete is it has reach, intimidation, and speed. It's
basically a sword in your right hand, and people respect
that blade when it swings. The cons are it's gonna
take space to use it right. Tight hallways, trees or
clutter can ruin your swing. Now, the pros of the
(04:40):
machete is it's compact. It's heavy and devastating in close quarters.
Think hammer with teeth. If you connect it will end
the fight. The cons it has short reach, which puts
you in danger. You gotta get close to land the shot.
The winner of this one is gonna be the machete.
Is gonna win reach. The hatchet wins raw knockout for us,
(05:02):
So go ahead and pick your poison depending on the
fight you think that you're gonna have to face. Number
five versatility in the field. A good survival tool isn't
just for one job. The more it can do, the
less gear you're gonna need to carry. The prose of
the machete is brush clearing, food prep, light chopping, self defense.
(05:22):
It's the Swiss Army blade of survival. The cons jack
of all trades, master of none, sometimes okay at everything
just isn't gonna be good enough. The pros of the
hatchet firewood, shelter, building, hammering stakes. It pulls triple duty
in camp life. The cons limited outside of woodwork, good
(05:43):
luck clearing vines and cooking with it. The winner of
this one is gonna be the machete. The all around
her hatchets the specialists versatility points lean to the machete.
A broken blade in survival is a death sentence, So
which of these hold up when you're grinding them day
after day. The pros of the machete is it's flexible,
(06:05):
less likely to snap, and easier to sharpen with simple tools.
The cons the thin blade chips and dolls quicker if
you abuse it on hard material. Now the pros of
the hatchet. The thick steel head can take brutal punishment
and still swings hard. You can pound it on wood
all day. The cons if the handle cracks, you're screwed
(06:26):
unless you can reshaft it, and that ain't fun under pressure.
So the winner the hatchet is going to have to
take this. The hatchet head out last the machete steel,
but the machete is easier to keep sharp and running
in the field. Number seven Fire and shelter building. No
survival is possible without fire and cover. These two tools
(06:48):
change the game for how fast you can set it up.
The pros of the machete is cut small branches, clears
a campsite fast, and can bat in light wood. The
cons splitting law or cutting thick beams. Forget it, you'll
just burn yourself out. Now, the pros of the hatchet
is it'll split logs, shop beams, make steaks, notches and all.
(07:11):
The heavy lifting is basically a shelter machine. The cons
are it's slow at clearing, so you need to open
space or you're gonna be cursing at it. The winner,
we're gonna go with the hatchet on this one. The
hatchet rules for fire and shelter. The machete just supports.
And finally, last but not least, we're gonna go to
a psychological edge. Survival isn't just tools, it's mental, so
(07:36):
how a weapon feels in your hand can change how
you move through the chaos. The pros of the machete
is if you feel powerful, sleek, almost primal, having one
boost your confidence like holding a sword for survival. The
cons that confidence can turn into over reliance. You start
swinging it at every and everything, and you will wear
(07:57):
it down fast. The pros of the hatchet solid, it's heavy,
it's dependable, the no nonsense tool. You feel like you're
carrying a piece of old world toughness. The cons it
can feel clunky and slow. Compared to the machete. Confidence
boost is quieter, less flashy. So I would say, realistically,
the machete amps your spirit and the hatchet grounds you
(08:19):
both will give you a mental age. It's just a
matter of what type of style you prefer. So here's
a conclusion, which one is the real survival king. The
raw truth is, if you're moving fast, covering ground, cutting brush,
and need a do it all blade, the machete is
gonna be your partner. But if you're hunkered down, chopping wood,
(08:41):
building camp, and prepping for the long haul, the hatchet
is your work. No one weapon kills all arguments, sorry
to the fanboys, but if I had to pick one
for survival, I'm rolling with a machete. It keeps me lighter,
faster and deadlier and more situations and survival is about
adapting and not dragon deadweight. So in conclusion, I just
(09:02):
want to say again thank you for tuning into the
Urban Warrior podcasts. Your number one source for survival, self defense,
and prepping. The game that I'm playing is Sons of
the Forest too. You can catch me live streaming over
on Twitch. Also, feel free to join my discord where
you can hang out with like minded people. And I
also have a Patreon where you can give me versus
(09:24):
battles that you will like me to break down, and
I have about seven different tiers that have a lot
of really cool things. So if you feel like giving
me a little bit of support, if you like the content,
I'm not saying that you have to buy, but do
me a favor. Go check out my Patreon, tell me
what you think as well as check out my merch
and give me a little bit of constructive criticism and
maybe you'll like something, maybe you won't, but at least
(09:46):
do me one solid and go check it out. Until
next time, This is the main man shatter x Storm.
Until next time, Thanks again, Peace,
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