Machete or gardening shears?

[Clunegapyears]

Just occasionally we want to chop back at branch or two so that we can access a wild parking (not damaging the countryside, honest) or chop a bit of wood for the fire. Thinking about either getting gardening shears or a machete. Appreciate both will need sharpening.
Which do you recommend? And have any of you ever had any problems carrying a machete given it is potentially a dangerous weapon? And we promise not to use it on any generator users!

 

[Tookey]

tbh neither tool mentioned are suitable for job description. Secerteres and a Bahco folding saw are my recommendation. As well as not being suitable for our British flora a machete will not leave a clean cut so you will be damaging the countryside as a messy cut in a branch will not heal well. If the branches diameter warrants the use of the Bahco please do a under cut before you start the down cut to prevent the bark tearing when you are 90% through it

 

[mariesnowgoose]

Ditto Tookey.

Get good secateurs though. A lot of them are crap and don't do the job properly. You will end up swearing at them, promise!
I use Felco. Love them. Got two pairs, I've had them decades. Bought replacement blades for them last year, so good as new.
They will definitely outlast me!

 

[harrow]

I would not use anything when your out in the van as it could be misconstrued, at home secateurs, loppers, tree loppers, shears, mattock and pickaxe

 

[QFour]

Getting caught with a machete in a public place could land you in serious trouble. You only need a member of the public to phone the Police about a guy with a machete in a layby and you could be in really serious trouble.

 

[colinm]

I would ask why you are needing to cut back trees to access a wild camping spot.

 

[Tezza33]

When I saw the title I thought she was just trimming her bikini line because the beauty parlours are closed

 

[GreggBear]

Agree with Colinmd. If you need to cut anything back at all you shouldn't park there. We already get enough negative press, last thing we need is a reputation for hacking down anything in our way....

 

[Deleted member 77519]

Personally I wouldn't be doing any cutting back of vegetation. I follow the "leave no trace" bit of wild camping. Definitely don't get A Machete. It could be deflected back at you if you hit some dead wood.

 

[mickymost]

I would ask why you are needing to cut back trees to access a wild camping spot.

I agree "Leave no trace" simples

 

[n brown]

machetes are rubbish for chopping wood ,blades too thin and gets stuck . good for lopping off zombie heads and limbs tho

 

[mark61]

Another vote for a quality folding saw or even a small bow saw.

 

[mickymost]

machetes are rubbish for chopping wood ,blades too thin and gets stuck . good for lopping off zombie heads and limbs tho

Well if this "Pandemic" develops into something worse (joking)and Zombies arrive maybe a Machete could be put to good use

 

[Nabsim]

A Silky folding saw is good to have and you can get hand held chain saws (the chain in a chainsaw with handles) but not tried those. A hatchet for chopping wood for fires but you want fallen/dead wood for burning.
I know you are often abroad in out of the way countries though so not sure what you are coming across. I am still carrying an old paint of garden shears I used on my lockdown park up to keep the area tidy. A lot harder work and more time consuming than my lithium strimmer though and I will swap over when I get to storage locker

 

[vindiboy]

We carry secateurs when out walking on Public Footpaths and often cut back a few Brambles as we go, keeps the Footpaths clear for others following on ,I believe that the Ramblers Folk do this all the time ?

 

[Debroos]

tbh neither tool mentioned are suitable for job description. Secerteres and a Bahco folding saw are my recommendation. As well as not being suitable for our British flora a machete will not leave a clean cut so you will be damaging the countryside as a messy cut in a branch will not heal well. If the branches diameter warrants the use of the Bahco please do a under cut before you start the down cut to prevent the bark tearing when you are 90% through it

You definitely should not ever be cutting down anything that is big enough to need an undercut when out wildcamping.
I presume you are talking about cutting dead lying wood for the fire....
I think the odd few brambles with secateurs is ok but not anything else.

 

[mark61]

You definitely should not ever be cutting down anything that is big enough to need an undercut when out wildcamping.
I presume you are talking about cutting dead lying wood for the fire....
I think the odd few brambles with secateurs is ok but not anything else.

The wild camping bit has nothing to do with it.
There are many legal rights of way where you may need to do the odd bit of pruning.

 

[trevskoda]

Petrol chain saw for me,remember the film .

 

[izwozral]

Build a fire around the offending tree. It's all the rage in Scotland.

 

[Tookey]

You definitely should not ever be cutting down anything that is big enough to need an undercut when out wildcamping.
I presume you are talking about cutting dead lying wood for the fire....
I think the odd few brambles with secateurs is ok but not anything else.

I meant inch diameter plus and no, my response was to live wood. I do not know the scenario in question (might be commercial plantations where small diameter branches are a waste product) and I have no control over whether the OP does or doesn't cut live branches but suspect comments on here will not change his/her practice. I offered advice on how to do it in way that will cause minimal damage.