If you love pruning trees then you need to have the best tools to do so. This will make your work a lot easier and quicker compared to pruning trees manually. For those of you who are looking for tools to use when you don’t need to look further.
In this article we will talk about the best loppers on the market today and why you need to own one. So if you have the budget and interest in buying the best deals, this article is for you!
Best Loppers On The Market – Buying Guide And Recommendations
A lopper is usually used by two hands. The handles are designed to be around 30 centimeters or 12 inches and are 36 inches long so it provides the user with good leverage while pruning. Some loppers have handles that can be extended to two meters in length.
This is designed to prune the top parts of a tree. Loppers are mainly used for pruning tree branches but newer designs are now designed with gear or compound lever system so that increased force is applied to the ratchet drive or blades when it is in use.
What is Lopper?
We may refer to them as “those pruning scissors” at times when we forget the name but they are actually called lopper. By definition, a lopper is a pair of cutting tool that is used for pruning trees.
They resemble scissors but they are designed to be used for pruning small branches and twigs. It is also designed with very long handles and is considered to be the largest type of cutting tool for a garden that is used manually.
Top 10 Best Loppers to Choose From
If you are looking up on loppers to buy today then here’s our top pick that you can choose from. See if you find anything that suits your needs:
1. Fiskars 32-Inch PowerGear Bypass Lopper
For our first pick, Fiskars offer you one of the best products that they have ever created yet. This 32inch lopper is designed with quality materials that you will love. It is a superior-grade tool that is made to be reliable, strong and lightweight to use.
It has a unique gearing mechanism that is designed to cut well compared to other brands. It also has razor-sharp, precision ground blades that you will love. The bypass blade is designed to cut easily at about 2 inches of incapacity.
This tool is also made to be corrosion-resistant with non-stick blades that will make your cutting and pruning easier. The handles are made of aluminum which makes it lightweight and durable so you know that these are reliable tools for pruning trees. It is also ergonomic so it can fit your hands well. The company provides its customers with a lifetime warranty so you can enjoy using it for a long time.
What We Like:
- These are very lightweight but powerful cutters.
- It does not rust easily.
- It can get the job done.
- It is sold at a reasonable price.
- It’s easy to use and anyone can use this with ease.
- It can cut even the toughest twig or branch.
- A lifetime warranty sounds sweet.
What We Don’t Like:
- Some customers complained that their orders have missing screws or bolts.
- Blades feel flimsy and thin.
This product gives you extreme leverage on the blades, which are impressively strong. I cut through 2 inch live branches and 1.5 inch dead branches on Mesquite trees. I was able to prune a tree from top to bottom without touching my chainsaw, and the sharpness of the blade seems have survived. This is not a cheap lopper, it looks like Fiskars really put some time into the design and used high-quality blades. Good purchase.
I have some bamboo growing out of control in my backyard & I’ve heard bamboo is very tough so I had some reservations about using these, but it was no challenge at all. In fact, any type of tree branch the jaws can get around is no problem. I also like the lightweight, especially when reaching high branches. The gear-driven design makes a huge difference in cutting ability. I discovered that when trying out my gardener’s loppers without the gears; it was very difficult to cut branches that were easy to cut with the Fiskars lopper.
2. Tabor Tools GL18 Medium-Sized Bypass Lopper
For those of you who are looking for a power lopper that does not only get the job done but is also worth investing, Tabor Tools GL18 is the product you need. This can cut branches as thick as 1 inch without any struggle.
The grips are rubberized so you can use it easily and is designed to be ergonomic so you can use it anytime without flinching. It is also lightweight and easy to carry around so it works for anyone especially for elderlies who love to keep their garden in top shape.
You will not have any problems with the blades as they are made from hardened carbon steel. So they stay as sharp as you want them to be without even re-sharpening it.
It is also easy to store as it comes with storage options that can simply fit the holes of the blades together in a hook or peg.
What We Like:
- It’s comfy to use especially for the elderly.
- It’s very sharp and stays that way for a long time.
- It’s lightweight so it’s not dragging to use.
- It can last a long time.
- It’s a good option to have if you want to save money.
What We Don’t Like:
- Handles are short compared to other brands.
This is the third Tabor garden tool I have purchased in the past 6 months. I am a 72 yr woman and love to work in my yard. Tabor tools are of very high, sturdy quality. This loper outshines any other I have bought in the past. I don’t have to fight the tool to open or cut, yet they have substance.
This is a high-quality tool that is excellent for gardeners and DIY homeowners. The blade is sharp and I was able to easily cut through tree branches and inch and half thick with not much effort. The arms of the pruner appear to be steel instead of aluminum, which adds a bit of weight but gives less flex over the length of the arms. I previously had a pruner with aluminum arms and it bowed noticeably when used.
3. Spear & Jackson 8290RS Razorsharp Loppers
If you are looking for something that looks durable and performs really well then Spear & Jackson has the right product for you.
Their 8290RS is designed to specifically meet your needs. For one, they are known for creating heavy duty telescopic ratchet anvil loppers that can cut through thick and hard branches.
The upper blades are coated with carbon steel so the sharpness can last a long time. It is also designed to resist rust so you don’t have to worry about rust-formation on these loppers.
The handles are pretty strong yet feel soft when used. It comes with a locking catch so you can store it safely and a 10 years’ worth of warranty.
What We Like:
- Its blade is sharp and stout enough to provide years of service.
- The handles are great.
- It’s rust-resistant.
- Can cut branches with ease.
- Heavy-duty tool and quality built.
- It’s affordable.
What We Don’t Like:
- Customers complained that the handles bend easily over time.
Good product would recommend.
Great value, sturdy and easy to use.
4. Corona SL 3264 ComfortGEL Bypass Lopper
This lopper is designed with ComfortGEL soft and ergonomically shaped handles so you don’t have to worry about using this while pruning trees.
They are designed to be soft for your maximum comfort even while gardening. It also has integrated Shock-Guard bumpers that are pretty helpful in reducing fatigue or strain while cutting twigs or small branches. The blades are made to be non-stick so you can have a precision cutting from these sharp blades.
This product also comes with a Dual Arc blade design that has a capacity of cutting 1 ½ inch. The steel handles are 25 inches which are pretty impressive, to begin with.
What We Like:
- The blades are very sharp and well-aligned.
- Handles are excellent and easy to grip.
- It’s cheaper compared to other brands of loppers.
- It’s designed to keep you from forming strains or fatigue.
- Great for pruning low hanging limbs of trees so you can mow under the trees in your yard.
- It has the right length and is very durable.
What We Don’t Like:
- The bolt needs to be tightened frequently.
- Bends over time of use.
- Warranty is limited.
I gave this to my next door neighbor as a Christmas gift since he always needed mine and didn’t have one of his own. Within a week he used it and said it cut like a knife through butter. I looked at several different brands for almost an hour to find this one that didn’t cost an arm or a leg but was good for the average homeowner. It’s very well made and the handles are just long enough to get the job done.
These loppers are of excellent quality. They are very easy to use because they are lightweight, but don’t let that fool you. Very clean cuts with these, I’d say up to about an inch diameter can be cut with ease.
5. Felco 200 Loppers with Aluminum Tubes
For our last pick, we give to you Felco 200. This wonderful lopper is perfect for those who are looking for something durable and handy. This product is designed to be lightweight yet can provide powerful cutting precision. The blades are clean and smooth and can stay sharp for a long period.
This lopper is made to be handy as it reduces the user’s fatigue when using this tool. The Micrometric head is excellent for optimal adjustments of the blades so you don’t have to worry about it being misaligned. The product itself is under a lifetime warranty so you can have the parts replaced easily.
What We Like:
- The blades are sharp and can cut with ease. It can cut through the thickest branch.
- It’s ideal for the elderly.
- It has the perfect weight for users.
- It works really well.
- Requires little maintenance.
- It’s under a lifetime warranty so you can use it for a long.
What We Don’t Like:
- It is a bit pricey
After 30 years of using junky mediocre gardening tools to maintain my Hawaii yard myself I treated myself to these and am elated!
Wonderful pruners compliment hand pruners for those little bigger branches. When they get too big for these loopers they are stiff and you need to use a saw. So it was a perfect choice for us and we did a lot of trimming of the yard this year. Good quality.
6. KSEIBI 252606 Anvil Lopper
The KSEIBI brand brings to the public a lopper that would be suitable for garden hedges and guess what, this is one of the effective, best and reliable pruning tools on the market.
This is such a powerful tool to settle for and one that isn’t just durable but also sharp to take down any task that is being thrown at it. It is designed to be responsive, reliable and also comfortable while in use.
We were certainly surprised at how effective this tool is until we watched it dice its way through a hedge and it didn’t just dice but also ensured that it stayed in check as it continued dicing.
This tool offers comforting grips which also make it easy to work with this tool in the right ways and it is also a very important tool that would be helpful in maintaining one’s garden.
What We Like:
- This is a quality heavy duty tool
- Makes cutting of branches easy without having to bend
- Its handles are built to be extendable and strong
- Lightweight design
- Simple to work with
What We Don’t Like:
- Tends to break easily
I bought these due to a bad back and I have a root system from some old vines that need to be cut out of the ground. It’s a very time consuming project and these are the perfect height, once telescoped, so that I don’t have to bend all day.
These are terrific. After several winter/spring Nor’Easters, and many trees down, these did the job, cutting through 2-inch diameter branches and small trees, especially soft wood, like pine. Oaktree branches were difficult, but maple branches were very doable. Clean cut and very easy to extend the handles. I would recommend a small saw for oak and other very hard wood, unless the diameter is under 1.5 inches, then these loppers are fine. The loppers are perfect for 2-inch softwood trees and branches.
7. Utopia Home Premium Garden Lopper
The Utopia company has designed an incredible lopper that is very versatile and in this case, being versatile refers to being able to work on small branches as well as being able to work on small plants.
What we love about the Utopia Home Premium Garden Lopper are its precise and carbon stainless steel blades that would cut through any obstacle in its way.
For durability, the metal blade is resistant to rust which in turn ensures low friction, therefore, making it quite easy to dice and cut through any plant or tree with ease.
Generally speaking, this lopper from Utopia is one with a fantastic design and some of its notable features include being responsive, offering comfortable grips, has a steel tubing and many more.
The simplicity of this product is something that would leave people amazed as people can make use of this tool without having to worry about it getting rust.
What We Like:
- Sharp as it cuts through like a knife
- Has a perfect length
- Works as talked about
- Makes work fast and easy
What We Don’t Like:
- Low-quality tool
- Breaks easily too
So worth the money. Lightweight easy to use and it’s not very expensive. I saw a similar product in a store for $50. You can’t beat this price especially since it performs so well. I have three small to medium size trees in my backyard that I want to get rid of I’ve literally cut all three of them all the way back today the only thing left is the tree trunk/stump in the middle. Effortlessly cut through small and large branches. As an industrial engineer, I could say it’s ergonomic and easy to use even my dad loved it.
Bought this for my mom because I broke her other pair trying to cut thick branches. Decided on a poly handle. I thought they would be lighter than wood. I was wrong. These things cut great but my mom complains that they are too heavy.
8. MLTOOLS | Easy Cut Ratcheting Lopper
This right here is another splendid tool for gardeners and it is arguably one of the best lopper tools that anyone would run into when considering the best lopper on the market to settle for.
This is also another extendable lopper tool and being extendable means being able to increase its arms-length to match the task that is being done.
There are people who think a lopper tool with an extendable hand is a flimsy tool but that is very wrong because that is exactly when this tool even becomes stronger. Looking at some of its features, I bet our readers would agree that this is indeed a powerful tool that would be useful in helping to maintain gardens.
The simple design of this product is what makes it in high demand by most gardeners and being extendable also makes this tool quite effective. All round, this is indeed a reliable and powerful gardening tool.
What We Like:
- Preferred pruning tool to using a power saw
- Features a ratcheting mechanism that works smoothly
- Designed to meet up with customer expectations
- Versatile and also easy to make use of
What We Don’t Like:
- Its handle has a plastic design that tends to fall off
Great product ever, it has everything I could want in a ratcheting extendable tool. First off, it cuts very thick brunches, i think up to 2″, and it cuts like butter, second it is such a breeze and ease of cutting with no any struggles, and thirdly which is the best part I that it is extendable for ease of storage and carrying. Additionally, the fact that it is extendable doesn’t reduce the power and quality of cutting in fact it might actually add to cutting by adding the torque. Simply put, it is just the best product ever, don’t look for anything else, this is it, you found it.
I bought these for my father to use and they are so good, he’s going to get himself another pair. The first ratchet brings the jaws of the very sharp blade to the sides of the branch, then the second cuts through whatever you’re cutting like butter. I tried them myself and was astonished by how easy it was. We cut branches up to 2.5″ easily. The telescoping arms also give you a good four-foot reach and lock nicely. Well designed, easy to use, relatively light-weight, these are great. I would definitely recommend these.
9. TABOR TOOLS Small Bypass Lopper
We are shifting our attention to the Tabor Tools Small Bypass Lopper and when talking about loppers that have value then this is just the right tool for you.
These loppers are designed to be smaller in size but being smaller doesn’t mean that they have lesser power or are not effective or even if they are not the best options for pruning tough and thick bushes and trees.
This tool right here is one that would provide precise cutting jobs which is why it is a preferred option for delicate jobs and even though this garden tool is built to be tough, it is also lightweight while having a rubberized grip means that there would be optimal comfort around the hands when used.
This tool has non-stick properties combined with a sharp blade which ensures that it stays sharp all through the day without losing its effectiveness.
What We Like:
- Has a construction
- Has a compact design
- Features a sharp blade
- Also comes with a non-stick coating
What We Don’t Like:
- Blades do not open wide enough
- Fails to deliver clean cuts sometimes
I have 7 fruit trees. Pruning time is not something I look forward to. My previous bypass pruners had difficulty going through larger branches and often did not make clean cuts. This lopper is an animal and cuts through very large branches relatively easy. It always makes clean cuts. I used it for all size branches, large and small, because it could handle everything and did a cleaner job. They seem to be of very good quality. I worked them really hard and no signs of damage or wear so far.
I have used various loppers over the years, but this one is my first anvil type lopper. I had no idea what I was missing. Cutting with this tool just seems easier and cleaner, especially for dry wood and thicker branches. I purchased a new bypass lopper at the same time I bought this anvil lopper, and although the bypass lopper works great, I found myself leaving the bypass lopper on the ground and using this anvil lopper 95% of the time. It’s sturdy, solid, and strikes me as very well made.
10. Fiskars 391461-1003 Bypass Lopper
We are closing up our best loppers on the market review with this high-quality tool from Fiskars and for both professional and amateur gardeners, this tool is one that they will find ideal to work with.
The Fiskars bypass lopper comes with a perfect length which makes it ideal for tackling tall branches and it also makes it manageable if you are working on branches that are close to your height.
Its precision and fully hardened blade are built to be durable, tough and also stays sharp no matter how it trims down branches especially during the summer season and this tool can also be trusted to cut through branches with less effort which is why they are the best option for tackling stubborn branches.
What We Like:
- Its blade is rust-resistant
- Offers a comfortable grip
- Would last long
- Ideal when working on overgrown branches or garden
What We Don’t Like:
- Not durable as it breaks after the first few uses
- Tends to lose its edge quickly
I am tough on loppers. I am always doing things with them that I shouldn’t. I also break them often. I decided to give these a try. So far, these have held up extremely well. I have cut lots of branches much thicker than what is recommended without any problems.
My cheap loppers had gone dull, and because I’m a senior citizen living in the woods, I have to have something that will do the job without lots of effort. I know Fiskars as a quality brand, so I read many reviews before choosing this model 9146 and I am thrilled with my choice. Many models apparently have a wide handle spread; this model is absolutely perfect. A lightweight unit with perfect handle spread so I can get underneath those pesky box elder growths with ease. These don’t have the fencing gearing, but they don’t need it. For anyone wanting a lightweight power cutter, this is the one!
Types of Loppers
Loppers come in different sizes and designs but there are two types of loppers that you need to know of so you know what kind you are going to purchase. Here’s what you need to know.
- Anvil – this type of lopper is usually used for cutting dead branches and shoots. The blade is able to chop against a soft plate and it is usually made of metal. It is ideal for thick branches up to 2 inches. It is not recommended for live branches as the anvil will only crush soft stems.
- Bypass – comes with a blade and bill slide that looks like scissors. They are best used for close, clean cuts on live branches but are not ideal for clearing out dead, dry branches as these can jam between the blades and can therefore bend them. This type of lopper is excellent for trimming overgrown shrubs or trees. They are usually designed with long handles so you can have more leverage when trimming bigger stems of up to 1 ½ inches thick with ease.
Cleaning Your Loppers
While some loppers require little or no maintenance, it is still important to keep them clean and in good condition at all times. You can take care of your lopper by wiping off the sawdust and sap with a clean rag. You can then spray some solution to keep it rust-free and sharp at all times.
In case your blade gets dull, do not re-sharpen it. Instead, you can remove the blades and replace them with a new one. This way you have brand new blades that don’t need to be sharpened.
Choosing the best lopper is easy so don’t be too hard on yourself. You always have the choices you need in case you plan on buying one. Of course researching before buying one can help but always consider the top brands in the market.
Not only are they popular but they are also highly recommended by its users. So go ahead and pick one, you might just find the right one for you!
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