Imacasa is a Central American standard brand, made in El Salvador and the only machete I carry. There are a few other true brands that arent made for "gringos" but are the equivalent of snap on and craftsman to the working people of Central and South America, Imacasa is the leader of those in my opinion. Truper is OK as well. I am in the process of working out a deal with them, up until now I have simply been buying a few each time I go down south to teach a class (Survival, Remote Medicine, etc). They are very affordable, very durable, and nearly every person in Central America that doesnt live in a city (and probably half of them) have used that brand. The blades come in various profiles and lengths, for true jungle I prefer a traditional or narrow profile in a 22 or 24" blade, for general purpose I prefer a 16-18" blade in traditional or narrow profile.