Ranking the best pruning shears. What's the difference?

Loppers are used not only to remove tree branches but also to shape shrubs. Garden tool manufacturers offer a wide selection of products. To make the right choice, it's advisable to explore the best offers from manufacturers and pay attention to the ratings of the most popular models.

What is a pruning shear used for?

A lopper is a gardening tool useful in any home garden. The simplest mechanical models operate on a principle similar to a guillotine. The lopper grasps a branch or limb within its circle, compresses it, and cuts it off.

Electric tools don't grab anything, but rather use the rotation of the mini saw to carefully cut away any excess material. They differ from a standard electric saw only in the size of the bar and their lower power.

May be sold:

• with short handles, reminiscent of garden shears in shape;
• with a special rod for working at height;
• There is a telescopic model with extension;
• like a regular mini saw, which is useful not only for gardening;
• as a flat tool that provides a smooth cut.

A pruning shear can't be used for all kinds of tasks. It's only used for its intended purpose. It's primarily used by gardeners for tree pruning and by landscapers.

Types of tools

There are different types of pruning shears. The most popular models are electric or battery-powered. Hand-held tools with ratchet and power mechanisms are also quite popular.

Popular models:

• with straight and curved blades;
• contact products that squeeze and break a branch or limb;
• two- and four-lever tools with ratchet mechanism;
• combined options (with adjustable handles).

A ratchet mechanism refers to a toothed design that cuts the branch. Some models have a rotating cutting element or a straight cut. The idea is that the pruning lopper should grip the branch tightly and either break it or cut it off.

Electric tools are either corded or battery-powered. If the area is large, the latter option is preferable, as the included cord is often too short.

The table below shows the best models from different manufacturers:

Separation of goods by direction

Loppers come in general-purpose (for trimming branches and shrubs) and specialized types. The latter are used to create a neat hedge or to trim plants to a precise shape.

Loppers are used for:

• work in dense vegetation - thickets of bushes, hard-to-reach places;
• landscape design of great complexity.

In all other cases, more affordable gardening tools (pruning shears or scissors) are used. Loppers are used specifically for pruning. This is their primary use.

Garden tools vary in handle length. Long-handled pruning shears are ideal for reaching tall branches. They often require no ladder at all, and you can trim branches while standing on the ground.

Shorter models are more like pruning shears. They are typically used at arm's length, making it impossible to reach high tree canopies with such a tool.

The best corded pruner

Electric powered tools are low-power. Virtually all the effort is expended on instant cutting rather than time-consuming sawing. These tools are inexpensive and similar in design to hedge trimmers.

1BLACK + DECKER Alligator

Main characteristics:

• power 550 W;
• tire length 15 cm;
• branch cut diameter up to 10 cm;
• weight 3 kg.

Rating of the best cordless pruners

Electric pruners can also be powered by batteries. They are more expensive than corded models. They can be taken with you anywhere, allowing for unlimited work.

Conventional power tools have a cord length of up to 2.5–3 meters. The downside of cordless models is their reliance on a charger.

1KARCHER TLO 18-32 Battery

Main characteristics:

• voltage 18 V;
• maximum cutting thickness 3.2 cm;
• 911 x 96 x 212 mm;
• weight 2.4 kg.

2STIHL GTA 26 SET

Main characteristics:

• 10 cm tire;
• 1/4 inch pitch;
• weight 1 kg.

3GREENWORKS G24PS20

Main characteristics:

• cut diameter up to 6 cm;
• battery voltage 20 V;
• 2200 rpm;
• 120 cm long tire;
• weight 1 kg.

4AL-KO HS 2015 113625

Main characteristics:

• 2200 rpm;
• battery voltage 20 V;
• tire length 120 cm;
• cutting thickness 6 cm;
• weight 1 kg.

Rating of the best ratchet pruners

Loppers come in a variety of shapes, not just micro-saws, but also more similar to pruning shears or hedge trimmers. These are essentially scissors that deftly grasp a branch and cut it at the base.

Advantages of the ratchet mechanism:

• complete safety (no connection to the network, no rotation of the saw chain);
• In many areas they prove to be more productive than electric models (if you need to grasp a small branch, etc.).

However, using a mechanical pruner requires more physical effort. Women and older people may find this tool energy-intensive when trimming a garden or shrub area.

1Green Garden 3101 HA

Main characteristics:

• diameter 45 mm;
• working stroke of telescopic handles 330 mm;
• weight 2 kg.

2SKRAB 28000

Main characteristics:

• length 205 mm;
• maximum cutting diameter 20 mm;
• weight 150 grams.

3GARDENA 08773

Main characteristics:

• length 66.3 cm;
• cutting diameter 45 mm;
• weight 1.295 kg.

4PALISAD 60518

Main characteristics:

• length 75 cm;
• maximum cutting diameter 3.5 cm;
• weight 1.242 kg.

5Center tool 0207

Main characteristics:

• cutting diameter 4.5 cm;
• weight 1.2 kg.

6GRINDA 8-424431

Main characteristics:

• cutting diameter 3.2 cm;
• length 44.5 mm;
• weight 1.2 kg.

Rating of the best pruning shears with a power mechanism

To ensure pruning loppers can handle thick and young branches, they are reinforced. This increases the tool's effectiveness by 2-3 times. The power drive is often equipped with a gear mechanism.

Strengthening the instrument gives:

• easier cutting of branches without applying physical effort;
• fast work (pruning is more efficient, since each cut requires a minimum of time);
• the ability to remove harder branches that regular pruning shears can't handle.

If your garden is young and requires frequent pruning, heavy-duty loppers are the best choice. These tools are definitely worth the money.

1GARDENA 12008

Main characteristics:

• length 75 cm;
• maximum cutting diameter 42 mm;
• weight 1.2 kg.

2FISKARS PowerGear L31

Main characteristics:

• cutting diameter 3.5 cm;
• length 38.7 cm;
• weight 395 grams.

3RACO 4212-53/275

Main characteristics:

• total length 95 cm;
• cutting diameter 3.5 cm;
• weight 1.92 kg.

4SKRAB 28159

Main characteristics:

• diameter 3.8 cm;
• total length 240 cm;
• 10 pieces per package.

The best loppers for left-handed people

Left-handed gardeners don't need to buy special gardening tools. Simply choose universal models suitable for both left- and right-handed users.

1Storm! 3015-22-550

Main characteristics:

• total length 75 cm;
• cutting diameter 3.5 cm;
• 79 x 28.5 x 3 mm;
• weight 1.5 kg.

2PALISAD 60520

Main characteristics:

• maximum cutting diameter 3.5 cm;
• length 71 cm;
• weight 1.25 kg.

3GRINDA 8-424107

Main characteristics:

• cutting diameter 3 cm;
• length 71 cm;
• weight 0.920 kg.

4RACO 4214-53/220

Main characteristics:

• cutting diameter 2.6 cm;
• total length 47 mm;
• weight 250 grams.

5Contact center tool 0208

Main characteristics:

• maximum diameter 4.5 cm;
• length 68 cm;
• weight 1.8 kg.

Comparative characteristics of goods

The table below summarizes the key technical specifications of the above-mentioned pruning shear models. This makes it easier to evaluate the tools' performance and select the optimal product for a specific job.

How to choose a pruning shear?

Loppers are selected based on the expected load. If the work involves lifting heavy objects, it's best to choose models with extended or telescopic handles. GARDENA 12008, PALISAD 60518, and Centroinstrument 0207 are tools with these specifications.

For a precise cut, it's best to choose a micro saw. You can purchase the GREENWORKS G24PS20 or the AL-KO HS 2015 113625 with a long guide bar.

If you don't want to strain yourself, miniature electric saws are a good choice. With just one click, you can remove even the toughest branches. The KARCHER TLO 18-32 Battery, STIHL GTA 26 SET, and other models are suitable.

For routine garden pruning, ratcheting tools, which function like nippers, are often used. To make the job easier, choose heavy-duty models. These include the RACO 4212-53/275, GARDENA 12008, or FISKARS PowerGear L31.

Loppers are indispensable for small gardening tasks like tending shrubs and fruit trees. Their advantage over pruning shears and scissors is their greater range of functions. The downside is that they require some effort when handling large branches. However, this difficulty is offset by the affordable price of the gardening tool.

Frequently Asked Questions