7 Best Loppers For Pruning And Buying Guide

Loppers are the largest manual cutting tools for gardens. They function as scissors to prune small branches, bushes, or twigs.

Among the best loppers for pruning, Tabor Tools GG12A Anvil Loppers are an all-in-one tool for gardeners to cut, trim their trees. These loppers belong to an anvil type which can handle thick branches with ease.

Besides, these pruning loppers possess the rubber grip to comfort elderly gardeners and people with arthritic wrists. The ergonomic design creates extra leverage to cut branches easily and a compound action mechanism to increase the blade force.

In-depth Reviews Of Top 7 Loppers

Tabor Tools GG12A Anvil Loppers – Best Overall

Tabor Tools GG12A Anvil Loppers come with a design that is perfect for cut-to-length work and preparatory cuts. They also allow users to remove dry wood rapidly.

The lopper design suits best for professional use to create cuts easily thanks to extra leverage and the compound action mechanism. This system includes moving parts and multiple pivot points, which increase the force to the blades.

The sharp carbon steel blades produce excellent cuts and stay sharp after a heavy-duty job. You will experience every single cut thanks to the non-stick coated blades with the low-friction feature.

Even elderly gardeners or people with arthritic wrists can find this tool easy to use. There is also a pair of blades available to change for better cuts and saving replacement costs.

The rubber grip of Tabor Tools’ loppers brings excellent comfort for users while pruning trees. You can pick one of the models (22” or 32”) to match your needs, odd leverage, and strength.

Also, the handles come with an ergonomic design for optimal grip to create a joyful cutting experience with the tool.

The downside of these loppers is that they are too bulky to use. Some gardeners may find it hard to hold this big tool while pruning trees.

What we like

• Sharp blades made of carbon steel
• A long handle of 22” for easier cutThe compound action system to avoid hand fatigue
• A rust-free coating to make the loppers last longer

What can be improved

• Maybe too bulky for use

Corona SL 4364 DualLINK Bypass Loppers – Best For High Branches

They are one of the greatest pruning loppers to prune trees without too much effort. They can perform hours of work effectively.

The loopers’ handles can extend from 27.5′′ to 37.5′′. This add-on extension helps to lengthen the reach of these tree loppers and requires no need for ladders on medium-height shrubs or trees.

Long handles are beneficial to utilize the necessary amount of leverage while cutting a branch. So, they can decrease the amount of power source cutting action.

The Corona loppers also offer a larger cutting width, which is suitable for cutting large branches. It can chop branches up to 1.75′′ in diameter, eliminating the need for a saw.

Although the handles can be extendable to reach high branches, they tend to be less durable than other loppers.

What we like

• Extendable handles up to 37.5”
• Easy to cut wide branches
• A comfort GEL+ grip to control easily
• Bumper with shock guard to avoid fatigue

What can be improved?

• Short-lived handles

Tabor Tools GL18A Bypass Loppers – Best For Low Budget

Tabor Tools GL18A Bypass Loppers offer an affordable price for users; however, they are powerful enough to chop 1” diameter branches with ease. This tool can make precise cuts to preserve your plant health.

Their blades are strong and sharp, thanks to the material of hardened carbon steel. You can extend the lifespan of the loppers by resharpening coated gliding blades, thus saving the cost of frequent replacement.

The loppers offer comfortable rubber grips which fit perfectly for users. The 20” model allows you to hold it close to your body and navigate around limbs.

On the other hand, the ergonomic 15″ handles provide the best grip for cutting any branch. Overall, Tabor Tools GL18A Loppers are lightweight, balanced, medium-sized tools for senior gardeners to handle easily.

However, these tools are easily worn out when cutting thick branches.

What we like

• Reasonable price
• Lightweight construction
• Durable blade made of hardened carbon steel
• Convenient handle grip

What can be improved?

• Easy to break down

Spear & Jackson 8290RS Anvil Loppers – Best For Thick Branches

Spear & Jackson 8290RS Anvil Loppers are perfect for pruning thicker, more challenging branches with a diameter of 2”.

The easy-to-use ‘twist and lock’ telescopic handles stretch from 15.75″ to 31.5″. They are composed of tubular aluminum to keep the construction light while maintaining the strength of the tool. There is also a coating covering grips to bring safety and comfort for users.

These loppers tools operate based on a ratchet mechanism offering a mechanical advantage to push the spring-loaded blade to the anvil blade in small stages. This feature allows the cuts through thick branches to be completed with the least amount of effort.

The PTFE-coated cutting blade made of SK5 carbon steel delivers long-lasting sharpness, minimizes cutting friction, and resists corrosion.

The manufacturer uses a soft metal to produce the cutting blade of these heavy-duty loppers to protect them from being damaged.

These loppers from Spear & Jackson can be bulkier than others. People with small hands should consider excluding them when choosing the new garden tools.

What we like

• Comfortable grip handle
• Strong construction enough to cut thick branches
• Ratchet mechanism for cutting dry branches easily
• Extendable telescopic handle

What can be improved?

• Bulkier than other loppers

Felco 459067 Loppers – Best For Wrist Protection

The FELCO loppers are a little smaller than others, yet it operates just as well as any others on the market.

A shock absorption device additionally reduces the impact at the end of each stroke. It makes snipping considerably more comfortable for your hands and wrists.

These loppers come in various sizes: 16”, 20”, and 24”. These straight-cutting head loppers have a cutting capability of 1.4”.

The FELCO 200 loppers include a straight cutting head that enables ultra-precise cuts and a slide-resistant blade. Users can change these loppers to curved cutting head loppers by buying adequate blades.

The straight tapered blades allow you to reach between those odd outgrowths with more accuracy. The interchangeable handles may be extended to a maximum of 23.6” in length.

You can find Felco loppers’ handles short to pruning high branches. Hence, ladders are necessary things when you decide to use them to reach further.

What we like

• Excellent shock absorbers for wrist protection
• Extremely sharp blades
• Adjustable blades
• Durable handles made of solid cast aluminum

What can be improved?

• Short handle for reaching high branches

Wolf-Garten RR900T Bypass Loppers – Best For Live Wood Cuts

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Another tool creating the best cut for live wood is WOLF-Garten RR900T bypass loppers. Their typical bypass blade is designed to make clean and precise cuts, boosting the trees’ healing.

So, pruning live wood with these bypass loppers reduces the risk of diseases for your plants.

Their handles range in length from 25.5” to 35.5”. They are lightweight but robust as they are constructed of aluminum.

The cutting blades are made of carbon steel which is exceptionally sharp and durable. Their cutting blade may be replaceable as well.

The handle ends include ergonomically designed grips with a non-skid coating outside. They can accommodate a variety of hand postures.

WOLF-Garten loppers utilize a spring-loaded “switch” to lock the handles in place, unlike other telescopic loppers, which use a “twist and lock” system.

If you decide to buy these loppers, please note that Wolf-Garten blades are not long-lasting.

What we like

• Easy to cut live wood with a diameter up to 2”
• Changeable blades
• Lightweight construction
• Sharp blade made of carbon steel
• A unique spring-loaded switch mechanism

What can be improved?

• Not long-lasting cutting surfaces

ARS LPB-30M Orchard Loppers – Best For Durability

The ARS -30M Orchard Lopper can clip live branches and stems up to 1.5 inches thick. Trimming through bushes and branches is a breeze with the high-quality carbon steel blade and light grip.

Even after numerous usage, the high-quality carbon steel blades maintain their sharpness. This lopper is 24.5 inches long and weighs approximately 2 pounds, making it easy to maneuver through thick limbs.

The rubber covering on the ergonomically built handles makes it pleasant to grip during a lengthy cutting session. The bumper also absorbs the cutting force and decreases vibration, which reduces hand and arm strain.

The center bumper offers adequate space for both hands to remain separate when cutting. This feature reduces the risk of harm during cutting.

This bypass lopper has curved blades and a basic appearance. It can chop through very thick branches as well as average-sized shrubs with ease.

The handles can become fragile if you cut too thick branches.

What we like

• Ergonomic and lightweight grip
• Sharp curved blade made of durable carbon steel
• Shock-absorbing bumper
• Good cutting power

What can be improved?

• Flimsy handle for some situation

A Buying Guide For A Good Lopper

Types Of Loppers

Anvil

The anvil loppers always have a straight blade cutting close to a flat edge. They are the best option for cutting dead wood and trimming live wood before a clean cut with the bypass loppers.

The anvil loppers can handle large branches and don’t stick to steam after cutting branches. Yet, the construction of them looks bulkier to hold than the bypass loppers.

Bypass

Bypass loppers look like scissors, including 2 blades sliding past each other. These loppers are ideal for cutting live wood as they create the most delicate cut without a nub, helping the plant heal more rapidly.

However, bypass loppers can’t handle large branches like the anvil type. While using them, you need to adjust the cutting head to achieve the right angle. The blades can get bent when cutting the dead, dry branches.

You can feel the bypass loppers weigh more than other loppers because they have additional moving parts and more complex cutting mechanisms.

Blade Quality

The manufacturers usually make lopper blades out of steel or carbon steel for higher-quality products. The carbon steel blades are more durable and less likely to bend and need sharpening frequently.

Blades with the poorer quality material will not have a sharp edge that users need more effort to work. These loppers can easily damage the branches.

You can look for the blades protected with a non-stick coating to resist sap or other sticky materials. This feature is excellent for pruning pine which has a sticky pitch or sap.

Another thing to consider is how closely the blades open and close. The closer they are, the better the loppers are. The good loppers can allow you to change the tightness of the cutting system for each usage purpose.

When choosing the loppers, you should make sure the blades have no burrs, bends, or rough spots on the blade surface. The poor loppers may have slight bends after being cut on thick branches.

Handle Length

You can find various handle lengths ranging from 15” to 32” or even longer. The longer loppers are, the more leverage you have. Therefore, it is easier to handle thicker branches.

However, the loppers with longer lengths make it more difficult for you to perform well in the pruning process. It is recommended that you find a suitable length for your body size to work with the loppers.

Grip

There are various sizes, materials, and shapes of loppers’ grip. Some products have ergonomic designs to comfort your hand, while others come with soft material for cushion impact.

Users comment that the foam makes the most comfortable grips, yet it quickly gets damaged. On the other hand, handles coming with contoured grips are comfy to some people.

You should try to hold them before buying these loppers. Please make sure you check on the grip size to avoid the short one, making it hard to place your hand while pruning.

Bumper

A bumper is a cushioning mechanism near the blades to help the handles not smash together after each cut. The good loppers should contain this feature to protect the tool.

When choosing the pruning loppers, you can check the shock absorption of the bumper by closing the tool forcefully.

Weight

Weight is another aspect for you to pick up suitable loppers. The lightest loppers come with fiberglass and aluminum handles. They are durable enough for daily use.

Loppers with wooden handles hold the middle position, while steel loppers are the heaviest. The heavier the loppers are, the larger the cutting capacity they possess. However, their bulky construction can make them inconvenient to use.

Part Replacement

The loppers’ blades can get damaged because of poor technique, thick branches, etc. Thus, the possibility of replacing parts is an advantage to consider when buying the new loppers.

It’d better find garden loppers, including a removable bolt sticking the blades together. Loppers, which cost above $35, usually have replacement parts from the distributor or manufacturer.

Almost anything can be cut with these electric shears:

Summary

From our point of view, Tabor Tools GG12A Anvil Loppers hold a top rank of the best loppers for pruning regarding sharp blades, compound cutting system, and a rust-free coating.

You’d better follow the buying guide to pick the most suitable gear for your pruning process. Remember to consider the blade quality, handle length, grip, bumper, weight, and the part replacement for the loppers.

Last update on 2024-06-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API