I know I'm new to the forum but I thought I'd throw my 2cents in. I have a 9" kukri and in northern Canada it will never replace my hatchet. I agree the Kukri has its merits as a great cutting tool to a degree but I personally find a hatchet much better in the thick woods. If you do a search for "old jimbo" you will see him split a 3' thick log using a pocket hatchet and some wedges. On branchs and smaller trees a kukri will do the same job as a hatchet but not on the thicker stuff. Now that being said I also carry a 7" bowie style knife with me on extended trips for heavy cutting jobs. But I think it comes down to personal choice, last weekend I was out with Blast and a few others and on a thicker piece of wood for the fire I offered Blast my hatchet to try and he turned me down due to a feeling of not enough experience to handle it safely where I have been using a hatchet since I was about 10 years old. What it comes down to is what are you most secure using and most familiar with.