Cross Country Touring With Machete
03-12-08, 02:21 AM
#1
Hi. I'm in Delaware.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Newark, Delaware
Posts: 521
Bikes: 2017 All City Space Horse, 2015 Jamis Dragonslayer, 2016 Velo Orange Pass Hunter Disc, 1991 Tommasini Competizione, 2018 Soma Wolverine fixed gear, 1996 Diamondback Outlook w/Crust Clydesdale, 1999 Torelli Corsa Strada (Coaster Brake Conversion ;] )
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Cross Country Touring With Machete
Seriously.
I'm going to do this because I'm going to be stealth camping a lot and want to use it to clear brush but also I figure it is a good way to deter any one who might try to mess with me (Don't worry, I'm not going to hack and slash and ask questions later) but I'm a little worried as I've been hassled plenty of times biking around here. I don't expect to ever have to use it but I'll feel safe knowing it's there just in case. Plus I figure a good thwack of it in its sheath and from the side on the nose will be enough to deter most dogs.
So what's the legality of this? I figure its from a local big box store and I'm obviously camping and "subjecting myself to the wilderness"
haha I just realized this looks great in tandem with my username.....
I'm going to do this because I'm going to be stealth camping a lot and want to use it to clear brush but also I figure it is a good way to deter any one who might try to mess with me (Don't worry, I'm not going to hack and slash and ask questions later) but I'm a little worried as I've been hassled plenty of times biking around here. I don't expect to ever have to use it but I'll feel safe knowing it's there just in case. Plus I figure a good thwack of it in its sheath and from the side on the nose will be enough to deter most dogs.
So what's the legality of this? I figure its from a local big box store and I'm obviously camping and "subjecting myself to the wilderness"
haha I just realized this looks great in tandem with my username.....
Last edited by Robbykills; 03-12-08 at 02:39 AM.
03-12-08, 04:42 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 988
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I don't stealth camp, but I thought the whole idea was to camp in a place where no one knows your there and you practice a leave no trace camping policy?
03-12-08, 04:59 AM
#3
Senior Member
I am guess this may be a troll, but on the chance that you are serious...
My take on this is:
1. If you are hacking brush you aren't stealth camping.
2. A machete is a rather large heavy object with little utility on the typical bike tour.
3. If you need a machete to "feel safe" you should stay home.
4. A machete is a large enough that it probably wouldn't be concealed. I would think that many would see it as a sign of hostility. I find that being open and friendly is absolutely key to being treated well by the local people. Anything that might be interpreted as hostility undermines that.
My take on this is:
1. If you are hacking brush you aren't stealth camping.
2. A machete is a rather large heavy object with little utility on the typical bike tour.
3. If you need a machete to "feel safe" you should stay home.
4. A machete is a large enough that it probably wouldn't be concealed. I would think that many would see it as a sign of hostility. I find that being open and friendly is absolutely key to being treated well by the local people. Anything that might be interpreted as hostility undermines that.
03-12-08, 05:10 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 988
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I am guess this may be a troll, but on the chance that you are serious...
My take on this is:
1. If you are hacking brush you aren't stealth camping.
2. A machete is a rather large heavy object with little utility on the typical bike tour.
3. If you need a machete to "feel safe" you should stay home.
4. A machete is a large enough that it probably wouldn't be concealed. I would think that many would see it as a sign of hostility. I find that being open and friendly is absolutely key to being treated well by the local people. Anything that might be interpreted as hostility undermines that.
My take on this is:
1. If you are hacking brush you aren't stealth camping.
2. A machete is a rather large heavy object with little utility on the typical bike tour.
3. If you need a machete to "feel safe" you should stay home.
4. A machete is a large enough that it probably wouldn't be concealed. I would think that many would see it as a sign of hostility. I find that being open and friendly is absolutely key to being treated well by the local people. Anything that might be interpreted as hostility undermines that.
I should not have replied. If by some odd chance it's not, you pretty much covered all the bases.
03-12-08, 06:36 AM
#6
Formerly Known as Newbie
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Posts: 6,249
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
3 Posts
__________________
To err is human. To moo is bovine.
Who is this General Failure anyway, and why is he reading my drive?
Become a Registered Member in Bike Forums
Community guidelines
To err is human. To moo is bovine.
Who is this General Failure anyway, and why is he reading my drive?
Become a Registered Member in Bike Forums
Community guidelines
03-12-08, 06:49 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 56
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
first, why is asking a question about a camping tool trolling? beats me
Second, thinking of using it as any kind of self defense is a problem, and likely to get you into more trouble then the situation initially warranted. If dogs are a threat Bear spray is probably better, again if you have dogs attaking and they are close enough to smack, you have much bigger problems then a 15 inch stick will solve.
Depending on what you want to spend there are lots of options. and if you spend more you can get a tool that will serve you well for years. A good bushcraft knife will help clear brush, split fire wood, build shelter, and slice food for dinner. Here is a link to a discussion forum for a brand of knife I highly trust, https://knifeforums.com/forums/showforum.php?fid/59/
Bark River will make a knife you can depend on as a tool. If you go back to the main knifeforums page they have other sub forums for ourdoor living and such, lots of good people and good info.
One medium knife or a small and a large camp kife are all you will ever need. I ride with them, but keep them packed as tools for when you need them. I can think of far too many ways that a blade ready to draw, mounted on a bike could become a problem all too fast.
Second, thinking of using it as any kind of self defense is a problem, and likely to get you into more trouble then the situation initially warranted. If dogs are a threat Bear spray is probably better, again if you have dogs attaking and they are close enough to smack, you have much bigger problems then a 15 inch stick will solve.
Depending on what you want to spend there are lots of options. and if you spend more you can get a tool that will serve you well for years. A good bushcraft knife will help clear brush, split fire wood, build shelter, and slice food for dinner. Here is a link to a discussion forum for a brand of knife I highly trust, https://knifeforums.com/forums/showforum.php?fid/59/
Bark River will make a knife you can depend on as a tool. If you go back to the main knifeforums page they have other sub forums for ourdoor living and such, lots of good people and good info.
One medium knife or a small and a large camp kife are all you will ever need. I ride with them, but keep them packed as tools for when you need them. I can think of far too many ways that a blade ready to draw, mounted on a bike could become a problem all too fast.
03-12-08, 07:13 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: The Land of Pleasant Living
Posts: 772
Bikes: Trek 630 • Jamis Quest • Bilenky Tourlite and various others
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
03-12-08, 08:38 AM
#9
Professional Fuss-Budget
- As others have mentioned, "clearing brush" is not stealth camping. It's destruction of property.
- I don't see how a machete would be much of a deterrent. If someone is going to raid your camp, by the time they see you with the machete, it's already a confrontation.
- While there are legal methods for you to defend yourself, if you're stealth camping you are, at that particular time, trespassing and therefore breaking the law. You may be in for a world of trouble if you trespass and wave a machete at the person who owns the property.
- Some jurisdictions (e.g. Texas, Colorado) have very strict laws about trespassing. I'd at least be aware of the laws in the states you plan to SC.
I do not recommend carrying weapons on tour. But if you insist on having one, and if the local laws allow, I recommend non-lethal devices like pepper spray or a stun gun.
03-12-08, 08:51 AM
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
Mentioned: Post(s)
Tagged: Thread(s)
Quoted: Post(s)
I never cycle-toured with a machete, but I did hitchhike through the USA with one. It did come in handy when setting up camp on a couple of occasions. It was hard to conceal and I had one guy tell me that I would get more rides if I hid my machete better and even the police that stopped me didn’t think it was odd to have it! The reason I had it in the first place was I was doing some hiking in Central America. When I go canoeing or camping I carry it with me and use it for a number of things. For protection I would say no because most American bad guys carry guns so using a machete against them would be futile. Pepper spray or a handgun would be better protection.
03-12-08, 10:05 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,114
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
- While there are legal methods for you to defend yourself, if you're stealth camping you are, at that particular time, trespassing and therefore breaking the law. You may be in for a world of trouble if you trespass and wave a machete at the person who owns the property.
Bacciagalupe, why do you think stealth camping is trespassing and illegal? There are many locations where one can stealth camp legally. A lot of parks allow you to camp where you want. You can camp on private land that is unimproved and unused unless the owner tells you that you can't or is posted .
These are general laws, you might want to check with each state and park you are going to camp on the legality of stealth camping.
An example, New York's law is:
Originally Posted by New York State Law
"Enter or remain unlawfully." A person "enters or remains
unlawfully" in or upon premises when he is not licensed or privileged to
do so. A person who, regardless of his intent, enters or remains in or
upon premises which are at the time open to the public does so with
license and privilege unless he defies a lawful order not to enter or
remain, personally communicated to him by the owner of such premises or
other authorized person. A license or privilege to enter or remain in a
building which is only partly open to the public is not a license or
privilege to enter or remain in that part of the building which is not
open to the public. A person who enters or remains upon unimproved and
apparently unused land, which is neither fenced nor otherwise enclosed
in a manner designed to exclude intruders, does so with license and
privilege unless notice against trespass is personally communicated to
him by the owner of such land or other authorized person, or unless such
notice is given by posting in a conspicuous manner. A person who enters
or remains in or about a school building without written permission from
someone authorized to issue such permission or without a legitimate
reason which includes a relationship involving custody of or
responsibility for a pupil or student enrolled in the school or without
legitimate business or a purpose relating to the operation of the school
does so without license and privilege.
unlawfully" in or upon premises when he is not licensed or privileged to
do so. A person who, regardless of his intent, enters or remains in or
upon premises which are at the time open to the public does so with
license and privilege unless he defies a lawful order not to enter or
remain, personally communicated to him by the owner of such premises or
other authorized person. A license or privilege to enter or remain in a
building which is only partly open to the public is not a license or
privilege to enter or remain in that part of the building which is not
open to the public. A person who enters or remains upon unimproved and
apparently unused land, which is neither fenced nor otherwise enclosed
in a manner designed to exclude intruders, does so with license and
privilege unless notice against trespass is personally communicated to
him by the owner of such land or other authorized person, or unless such
notice is given by posting in a conspicuous manner. A person who enters
or remains in or about a school building without written permission from
someone authorized to issue such permission or without a legitimate
reason which includes a relationship involving custody of or
responsibility for a pupil or student enrolled in the school or without
legitimate business or a purpose relating to the operation of the school
does so without license and privilege.
03-12-08, 10:29 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Hollister, CA
Posts: 455
Bikes: Bianchi San Jose, Mercian King of Mercia
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Do yourself a favor. Pack a flamethrower for the brush clearing and an Uzi for the dogs. Sheesh! Troll.
03-12-08, 10:40 AM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Leesburg, VA
Posts: 252
Bikes: Cannondale Killer-V 900 (Mountain), Jamis Aurora (Touring)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
A camp saw (https://www.rei.com/product/752890) will be much more useful and wouldn't be considered a weapon by the polizei. It's light weight and can be used to clear a branch in the way or saw a log for firewood. It could be used for self-defense in a pinch but I think you'd be better off with pepper spray (https://www.rei.com/product/623173) if that is your concern.
03-12-08, 11:55 AM
#15
aka: Mike J.
Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but photographs. Works for backpacking in wilderness areas, should work well for cycling and stealth camping. Hacking out a campsite with a machete is a bit extreme to my way of thinking. Stealth implies in and out without a trace and without being noticed. YMMV.
03-12-08, 12:22 PM
#17
`
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 303
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Have you though about taking a hatchet instead. You can still chop down trees and some brush, and it is a lot smaller and easier to conceal, and takes less effort to sharpen. You can also use the back of it as a hammer to put in tent pegs and to bang things into trees, and if you keep it sharp it can do many chores that a knife can.
If you want self defense that is nice and easy look onto getting a handgun and a concealed carry permit.
If you want self defense that is nice and easy look onto getting a handgun and a concealed carry permit.
03-12-08, 02:35 PM
#19
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
329 Posts
My ex-husband had a machete ... the thing was huge and weighed a TON! Definitely NOT something I'd want to carry on a bicycle.
Are you planning a trip to the jungles of South America or something?
Are you planning a trip to the jungles of South America or something?
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
03-12-08, 03:33 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
Posts: 603
Bikes: Thorn Nomad S+S, Trek 520 - 2007 (out on loan), and a crap Repco MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I don't mean to be a jerk, but a machete helped the walker Karl Busby on many occasions, be it hostile or as a tool.
__________________
Sparsely updated blog
Sparsely updated blog
03-12-08, 09:06 PM
#23
Dirt Bomb
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2,865
Mentioned: 64 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5465 Post(s)
Liked 288 Times
in
239 Posts
It's a free country. If he wants to carry a machete I think he should be able to. My dad had one. I think they're cool.
It's the kind of thing that if you had it you would know if it was useful or just dead weight. Only one way to find out.
It's the kind of thing that if you had it you would know if it was useful or just dead weight. Only one way to find out.
03-12-08, 09:16 PM
#25
Just ride it.
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 336
Bikes: S&M Black Bike, FIT 3.5s, KHS Solo One (destroyed in roof rack incident), Bianchi Pista (sold), Trek 6000 SS(temporarily dismantled), Trek 850 1x8 , Generic SS 20" folder, Kona Shonky, Sunday Wave-C, Surly Cross Check
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Seriously.
I'm going to do this because I'm going to be stealth camping a lot and want to use it to clear brush but also I figure it is a good way to deter any one who might try to mess with me (Don't worry, I'm not going to hack and slash and ask questions later) but I'm a little worried as I've been hassled plenty of times biking around here. I don't expect to ever have to use it but I'll feel safe knowing it's there just in case. Plus I figure a good thwack of it in its sheath and from the side on the nose will be enough to deter most dogs.
So what's the legality of this? I figure its from a local big box store and I'm obviously camping and "subjecting myself to the wilderness"
haha I just realized this looks great in tandem with my username.....
I'm going to do this because I'm going to be stealth camping a lot and want to use it to clear brush but also I figure it is a good way to deter any one who might try to mess with me (Don't worry, I'm not going to hack and slash and ask questions later) but I'm a little worried as I've been hassled plenty of times biking around here. I don't expect to ever have to use it but I'll feel safe knowing it's there just in case. Plus I figure a good thwack of it in its sheath and from the side on the nose will be enough to deter most dogs.
So what's the legality of this? I figure its from a local big box store and I'm obviously camping and "subjecting myself to the wilderness"
haha I just realized this looks great in tandem with my username.....
A keltec P3AT weighs only 8.3 oz. and it would be a lot more effective against threats. Although I'm not sure I buy your story about how you're being constantly hassled as you hack through dense vegitation.