So i feel like i can weigh in on this topic. I started shopping for a machete a couple months ago, looked at several, and ended up purchasing two of them. A cold steel kukri machete, and a sog, Sogfari with the 18 inch blade. Sog makes it with a 13 inch blade also but i went with the longer model. It has the saw on the back of the blade.
I ordered them off of amazon.com, and got them in, and was really unimpressed with the cold steel. To call the edge an edge on the cold steel is a dramatization. It is really dull. I am probably going to sharpen it before i even try it out. So i got an itchy mouse finger, and ordered the Ka-Bar kukri machete as well. It costs as much as the other two combined, 48 dollars, but i got it in and i'm really impressed with it. I took it out to clear some low hanging limbs in my yard that are a hassle to mow under. It actually cuts the thicker stuff better actually, a limb one inch in diameter cut through with one swing. With the smaller branches and vines, I had to pull them tight to get them to cut easier. It is a hefty blade, a lot of weight to it, and it feels good in the hand.
I also tried out the Sogfari machete on some plants and grass that i am cutting out of my garden. It cut up that stuff really well, but it certainly wasn't tough work. I will have to give this thing more of a workout when i get out to our land.
The cold steel may be a fine cutter once i take a bench grinder to it, but i have to say i was less than impressed with it right out of the box, it just feels cheap, and yes i know that it only costs ~20 bucks, but still. I have one other cold steel knife and I was fairly happy with it.
Overall, if I had to make the choice again, I would purchase the Ka-Bar kukri and the sog. Those two are real nice and would both take some hair off my arm right out of the box.