Now a machete is one of the few things I actually could really use well when I was young. I still have a bunch but haven’t used one in a couple of years.
The best ones I have used and that includes some very expensive makes, is the ordinary U.S. Military surplus ones made by Ontario. The only thing I do to them is tape the handles with athletic tape so they don’t get slippery when sweaty.
I have to replace the tape occasionally. Even some of the cheap ones made in South America are pretty decent. I have a couple of Collins brand, I think made in Brazil and they are nearly as good as the Ontario.
A machete is the most useful of just about any edged tool. I also prefer a carpenters hatchet to a woodsmans hatchet for use in the woods. They have a much thinner, easier to sharpen blade and cut far easier.
Cold Steel makes a variety of Machetes.
I prefer the “Kukri” style machete myself.
http://www.coldsteel.com/search.aspx?keyword=machete&startpage=0%22