eatingmuchface,

RTAK, as it was intended to be a machete beats the FBM hands down in clearing. It's much quicker and the thinner profile easily levels down vegetation. It quite a good chopper too.

The FBM, is far better at chopping and splitting. It can cut vegetation, but not as well due to the thickness. In fact, if it does go through small branches and stuff what's gonna stop it? The heft is a little too much for machete work. But as a wood gather of branches 3" to 4" it works extremely well. This is were the heft comes in play. Plus, it's made from INFI.

Honestly, though, the FBM and RTAK are more of general tasks fix blades. They cover a wider variety of camp chores adequately. Unfortunately, they ain't no hatchet or axe. I would rather have decent hatchet for chopping wood than the FBM or RTAK. However, the FBM is fun as hell to use on wood and the RTAK is just a good machete.