Went out today with a colleague who is coming on the exped to Venezuela with us. I decided to field test the XL before finalising it's place in my kit. Glad I did too.
Apologies for the lack of pics, I took loads but somehow they didn't save. And before people moan about the wanton distruction of the area, it is being cleared anyway to allow the heathland to come back.
The Parang XL designed by our own Alfredo is a light and very maneuverable parang, and despite using it for nearly four hours of gorse, sapling and bramble clearance, my chopping arm didn't get sluggish after a while as usually happens when I use heavier machetes. So all the good there.
It cleared away small sapling and brambles with ease, and the larger 2inch plus saplings that needed clearing where chopped down easily with one swipe... straight through. The high grind on this parang lets you do many jobs with one swing that usually require two or more with the goloks and machetes of a similar weight I've used in the past.
For tidying larger branches, making feathersticks and points, the XL really excels due to being so light and easily controlled. It could and will be further improved by me when I put a convex edge on it. That should be a massive improvement on teh factory edge.
Now to the one downside, and it is a biggun... the handle. After five minutes of light chopping, the heel of my hand and thumb were starting to get warm. After about half an hour, both were bleeding. Now the handle is a great shape that allows many positions, but the one thing that let it down were the bolt and lanyard holes. Whatever amount of sanding and smoothing I did, just didn't work. Typing this I'm in a world of pain. Before I'm 100% happy with it, It's going to have to go away for a re-handle in something a little more skin friendly. This is essential as it will be used alot, and I can't afford to have blisters on my hand in the jungle, especially as I'll be handling venomous snakes quite alot.
All in all though, this is a cracking parang for the money and I'm definately glad I bought it. I originally bought two, but I'm selling one to fund the re-handle. No doubt I'll send it to Stu Mitchell as he already has a very good idea of my like in terms of knife handles. Also going to have to buy the little version too now.
Apologies for the lack of pics, I took loads but somehow they didn't save. And before people moan about the wanton distruction of the area, it is being cleared anyway to allow the heathland to come back.
The Parang XL designed by our own Alfredo is a light and very maneuverable parang, and despite using it for nearly four hours of gorse, sapling and bramble clearance, my chopping arm didn't get sluggish after a while as usually happens when I use heavier machetes. So all the good there.
It cleared away small sapling and brambles with ease, and the larger 2inch plus saplings that needed clearing where chopped down easily with one swipe... straight through. The high grind on this parang lets you do many jobs with one swing that usually require two or more with the goloks and machetes of a similar weight I've used in the past.
For tidying larger branches, making feathersticks and points, the XL really excels due to being so light and easily controlled. It could and will be further improved by me when I put a convex edge on it. That should be a massive improvement on teh factory edge.
Now to the one downside, and it is a biggun... the handle. After five minutes of light chopping, the heel of my hand and thumb were starting to get warm. After about half an hour, both were bleeding. Now the handle is a great shape that allows many positions, but the one thing that let it down were the bolt and lanyard holes. Whatever amount of sanding and smoothing I did, just didn't work. Typing this I'm in a world of pain. Before I'm 100% happy with it, It's going to have to go away for a re-handle in something a little more skin friendly. This is essential as it will be used alot, and I can't afford to have blisters on my hand in the jungle, especially as I'll be handling venomous snakes quite alot.
All in all though, this is a cracking parang for the money and I'm definately glad I bought it. I originally bought two, but I'm selling one to fund the re-handle. No doubt I'll send it to Stu Mitchell as he already has a very good idea of my like in terms of knife handles. Also going to have to buy the little version too now.
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. I have a 12" machete coming from Andy, the man who made the little "Bushfinger" I carry now so I think I'll see how it does before I buy anything else. I'm planning a 3 day camping trip this Autumn, should be a good time to try things out.
