Machete off the waist carry

[BSA1]

The Ontario 18" machete is current U.S. Army issue. How do soldiers carry it in the field? I have a sheath that attaches to a waist belt but the sheath is for storage of the machete as I don't like the idea of it slapping against my leg when walking.

I have thought that carrying in a outside pocket of a backpack would be ideal. With my kids in the Army I have a couple of their castoff backpacks but the deepest vertical outside pocket on one of them is only 12" deep.

I like the rugged camo pattern of the Army's backpack and would be my choice if they have one with a 18" vertical pocket for the machete to fit in.
Barring that I am looking for suggestions on where to pack the machete when hiking/camping.

 

[AStone]

BSA, I carry a fairly large (at least 18" tall, usually more) pack when I'm day hiking or backpacking, something like this. Even when I'm on a day hike, I carry enough gear for overnight (yes, I hike in some very rugged country, and there's always a danger of an injury that would force an overnight).

All my packs have compression straps on the sides to compress the loads, plus water bottle holders on the bottom end. It's easy for me to slip something like a machete under those straps with the bottom end stuck into a water bottle holder (with room still for water bottles) . For me, that's an Ontario SP53 (9.5" blade), but the packs I carry would accommodate a much longer blade.

With a more military style pack, look for something with molle on the side to which you can strap the sheath. Most of the Maxpedition packs and gear slingers (like the Sitka) have molle on one side at least.

Nem

 

[hso]

Yep

 

[Unistat]

I slide it in the space between the middle bag and the main bag of my surplus alice pack.

 

[JShirley]

Some of the time I was infantry at Fort Lewis, I carried a kuk on my Alice pack to cut sight lanes to our stakes. I put it where the other troops carried their E-tools.

On my much shorter Camp Defender, I carry it horizontally, edge down, on my left hip. That way, I can crossdraw, or do an inverted draw.

 

[EnglishmanInArizona]

Side of a backpack is great for long things you want easy access to but need to stow some/most of the time - like machetes, ice axes or walking poles. Even if your pack doesn't have compression straps, you can get inventive with cord or web sling and make it work on just about anything.

If you find yourself wanting to carry the machete without a pack, keep playing around with wearing it on your waist, or try a crossbelt and wear it quite high under the arm. There are sweet spots that depend on your build, way of walking, activity and whatever the thing you are carrying is, that may get rid of the leg slapping issue. A movement of just an inch forward or backward on the belt can make a huge difference. Height of the belt makes a difference.

Edited to add: I don't know what sort of country you are in, but there are probably a lot of options that would work as well or better for you than an 18" machete and would be shorter and easier to carry.

Horizontally (or diagonally) just in front of the left hip as I believe JShirley is talking about is a great way to carry a large knife. It doesn't flap around, you can access it with both hands for whatever reason, and it is in a region you are always aware of.

 

[JShirley]

Yup, you understood my intent. I averaged about 7 miles a day on that camping trip, so it obviously didn't impede my motion.

John

 

[BSA1]

Right now I am using it to clear heavy brush and saplings on my rural property. When I get a full swing it easily slices through 1" saplings

After I get the brush cleared I plan on using it for cutting firewood, etc, when camping.

There is a Air force base near me I'll have to pay a visit to.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[leadcounsel]

Another thought, although I've never tried it, is to secure it along your lower leg, between ankle and knee.

 

[kBob]

When I was a kid I carried my military machete on a WWII GI pistol belt let out to its full length and the belt over my head and one shoulder with the machette hanging under the other arm or rather just in front of my armpit with the handle about that high. Think bandoleer. It was easy to get to and out of the way. I carried it edge forward so when grasped with my right hand thumb down it was facing the right way upon drawing.

For me these days that would take two GI pistol belts......

The summer I worked around Lake Seminole spiffying up camp and picnic sites I carried the sheath on the floor board of the pick up under the pasenger seat..... just saying...

-kBob