If you own your own home and have shrubs and trees around to create a beautiful landscape, it stands to reason that you will need to trim some of those branches from time to time. Pruning shears work just fine for branches that are small and weak, but for larger branches, you may need something more. That’s where an excellent pair of loppers can come in handy.
You may have heard of loppers called branch cutters, tree pruners, or tree trimmers, all of which are the exact same device. Tree loppers are pruners that have a long set of handles. They are traditionally used to prune branches and twigs of one to two inches in diameter. The long handles make them ideal for reaching higher and farther to give you leverage when cutting strong branches.
Loppers are found in all sorts of sizes, styles, and price points, which can make it challenging to decide which to choose for your own lawn and garden needs. We are going to offer you insight into the best 11 loppers so you can narrow down the choices using your own preferences. We’ll also share some information about what features to look at when choosing the loppers that best fit your needs.
Table of Contents
- 1 The Best Lopper
- 2 Fiskars Quantum Lopper
- 3 Tabor Tools GG12 Anvil Lopper
- 4 Gonicc Professional SK-5 Anvil Lopper
- 5 Spear & Jackson 8290RS Razorsharp Heavy Duty Telescopic Ratchet Anvil Loppers
- 6 Corona AL 8462 High-Performance Orchard Lopper
- 7 Felco 459067 200 A Straight Cutting Head Expert Loppers
- 8 Craftsman V20 Cordless Lopper CMCCSL621D1
- 9 ARS LPB-30M Orchard Lopper
- 10 Troy-Bilt Comfort Classic Anvil Lopper
- 11 Wolf-Garten Power Cut Telescoping Bypass Lopper RR900T
- 12 Fiskars 394801-1002 PowerGear2 Bypass Lopper
- 13 Choosing the Best Possible Lopping Shears for Your Needs
- 14 Putting It Together
The Best Lopper
Name | Length | Max Cutting Diameter | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Fiskars Quantum Lopper | 32 Inches | 2 Inches | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON | |
Tabor Tools GG12 Anvil Lopper | 30 Inches | 2 Inches | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON | |
Gonicc Professional SK-5 Anvil Lopper | 30 Inches | 2 Inches | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON | |
Spear & Jackson 8290RS Razorsharp Heavy Duty Telescopic Ratchet Anvil Loppers | 28 Inches | 3 Inches | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON | |
Corona AL 8462 High-Performance Orchard Lopper | 32 Inches | 3 Inches | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON | |
Felco 459067 200 A Straight Cutting Head Expert Loppers | 24 Inches | 2 Inches | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON | |
Craftsman V20 Cordless Lopper CMCCSL621D1 | 23 Inches | 4 Inches | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON | |
ARS LPB-30M Orchard Lopper | 25 Inches | 2 Inches | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON | |
Troy-Bilt Comfort Classic Anvil Lopper | 30 Inches | 2 Inches | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON | |
Wolf-Garten Power Cut Telescoping Bypass Lopper RR900T | 35 Inches | 2 Inches | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON | |
Fiskars 394801-1002 PowerGear2 Bypass Lopper | 32 Inches | 2 Inches | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON |
Fiskars Quantum Lopper
The Quantum Lopper by Fiskars is 32 inches long and can prune branches that are up to two inches in diameter. They offer a non-circular gearing mechanism that is capable of multiplying leverage by over three times that of a single pivot tool. This tool comes with a lifetime warranty so you have peace of mind that your investment will last.
The blade on this lopper is precision-ground and fully hardened European steel and it features a low-friction coating that resists rust and prevents sap and debris from clogging up the blade. The handles are made of a lightweight aluminum alloy with handle pads for a comfortable grip.
Tabor Tools GG12 Anvil Lopper
Tabor Tools offers another excellent lopper that can easily smack through branches that are two inches in diameter. It’s made of professional grade materials with a hardened carbon steel blade. It also offers a non-stick coating, so you don’t have to worry about anything getting stuck on the blade while you work.
There are replacement blades available for the GG22 anvil lopper so you can swap it out if needed later on. The handles have a rubberized grip to keep your hands comfortable while in use. Care has been taken to make the handles ergonomic, so you won’t get tired or sore during or after use. The lopper also comes with a set of pruning tips and tricks to get you started.
Gonicc Professional SK-5 Anvil Lopper
Spear & Jackson 8290RS Razorsharp Heavy Duty Telescopic Ratchet Anvil Loppers
This lopper has a ratchet action to cut off branches and twigs easily. The name says it all in that it works well for heavy cutting tasks as the blade can sweep through thick branches. The blade is hardened and offers the performance many are looking for with a new lopper. It has a carbon steel blade that is created to resist rust and provide sharpness that lasts.
The long handles on the Spear & Jackson ensure you use less energy while cutting large twigs and branches while the handle is sturdy and durable but offers grips that are comfortable even during prolonged use.
Corona AL 8462 High-Performance Orchard Lopper
The Corona AL 8462 is a lightweight but high strength lopper that offers 32-inch aluminum handles. The blades are resharpenable and replaceable dual arc blades that are made of fully heat-treated forged steel. There is a slant-ground hook that offers a deep sap groove with self-cleaning properties.
This version is a new iteration that is improved with a locking nut that removes the need for a nut-retaining clip. The blade design is made to be comfortable to use with less force required for a clean cut. The lopper weights less than three pounds so you can easily use them without a lot of strain.
Felco 459067 200 A Straight Cutting Head Expert Loppers
The 459067 200 A by Felco may not be the least expensive pair of branch cutters on the market, but they also offer durability and strength that can be hard to find elsewhere. The loppers come in 16, 20, and 24 inches and are straight cutting head loppers equipped with aluminum fiber tubes for both strength and lack of weight.
While they may not offer extra mechanical strength, they are easy to use and quite durable. The hardened steel blades easily keep a keen cutting edge and can be sharpened as needed. The micrometric blade adjustment feature ensures your blades are kept well aligned.
Craftsman V20 Cordless Lopper CMCCSL621D1
If you want to bring in the big guns to your trees and shrubs, the Craftsman V20 Cordless Lopper is exactly what you are looking for. Powered by a V20 lithium-ion battery, you don’t need to put manual strength into cutting branches. This outstanding lopper can cut branches up to four inches in diameter, which makes them ideal for storm cleanup.
Designed to be used like scissors, they offer a quick cutting option that takes only one motion to break up large branches. They come with a compact design which can also be used for shrubs and bushes. The device comes with a battery and charger and for an additional cost, can come with a pole saw, blower, or even chainsaw.
ARS LPB-30M Orchard Lopper
The ARS LPB-30M is an orchard lopper made in Japan and one of the most lightweight loppers you will find on the market. For those who do a lot of tree and bush maintenance, these loppers are just over two pounds and can be used for long periods without getting tired or fatigued.
This lopper is 24.5 inches long and offers great cutting leverage due to the length. They have high durability and stay sharp longer than you might expect. The ergonomic design and top quality balance that they offer make them one of the best option for extended use.
Troy-Bilt Comfort Classic Anvil Lopper
Troy-Bilt offers these anvil loppers with a blade meant to strike through mature, tough wood without ever slowing down. They feature a high carbon German steel blade that has a coating to prevent sap adhesion and resist rust so you can use them long and hard without having to take a break.
These loppers are lightweight and ergonomic with an aluminum handles that lessens the impact when cutting and helps put the highest amount of power possible into the blade. It also features bolts that have flat heads to prevent damaging tree bark or snagging onto branches. This lopper features 2x power cut technology for the best results.
Wolf-Garten Power Cut Telescoping Bypass Lopper RR900T
One of the few loppers with a telescoping handle, the RR900T by Wolf-Garten does things a little differently. Rather than offering a cinching ring to tighten the handles, these loppers have a pin lock mechanism that ensures the handles don’t shift on you while working. The handles can move from 25.6 inches to 35.5 inches to offer you the length you need.
The blades are composed of German steel and weigh nearly four pounds. They can easily be maintained and sharpened but do not come apart, so replacement parts are not available. For the price, these will handle most anything you want from them in a lawn or garden situation.
Fiskars 394801-1002 PowerGear2 Bypass Lopper
Choosing the Best Possible Lopping Shears for Your Needs
There are a number of different things to keep in mind when shopping for the best loppers on the market. Below, we’ll look at some of the most crucial so you can ensure you make a purchase you are happy with.
Cutting Blade Type
In most cases, your loppers are going to either be anvil loppers or bypass loppers. These are best used for different things, so choosing the one that fits your needs is crucial. Bypass loppers are the most common type and have two blades which slide by each other like scissors. They offer a clean cut on live wood so the tree or shrub and heal more easily. However, they may become jammed when using dry or dead branches, which will bend the blade.
An anvil lopper, on the other hand, has a single straight blade that closes onto a flat edge called the anvil. The blade can crush things while cutting, so it is best used on dead wood or trimming live wood before making a cleaner cut with a bypass lopper. These loppers tend to be capable of cutting thicker branches.
Steel Blades of a High Quality
You are going to find that lopper blades are typically made of steel, the best being blades of a carbon, hardened, or high-quality steel. These are blades that will last and are less likely to bend, nick, or need sharpening on a regular basis. Blades made from steel of a lesser quality may not keep a sharp edge and will make it more difficult to prune branches.
Some blades are coated with a non-stick material that will resist sap and other sticky substances. This can be helpful if you need to prune pine trees or others that have sticky pitch or sap.
When you look at a pair of lopper blades, you want to consider how closely they pass when opening and closing. The closer they get, the better it is for you. Some loppers will let you adjust how tight they are to ensure you keep them at the best distance for your work.
Any blade should be flat without burrs or bends in the metal of the edge or surface. Some of the less expensive blades will bend slightly on larger branches, which can be damaging over time.
Types of Cutting Mechanisms
Your loppers will either be geared cutting loppers, compound action loppers, or ratcheting loppers. Ratcheting loppers are created where you squeeze them and they latch on so you can make another squeeze. This allows you to cut a branch in several easy steps instead of putting all your might into a single cut.
With a compound action lopper, there are several moving parts and multiple pivot points. In order to get around a branch, the loppers have to be opened further.
Geared loppers are exactly what you might expect. They offer a mechanism of gears at the fulcrum to offer more leverage while doing your cutting. These are often the heaviest loppers since there are additional parts and because of the additional parts, it’s more likely one part will give out.
Choosing Handle Length
There are many loppers on the market and they come in various sizes all the way from 15 inches to over 32 inches. The handle length of your tree loppers will affect how much leverage you have. That means longer loppers are going to offer additional leverage. However, longer handles can be harder to work with and are typically heavier. Choose a length you can easily handle; you don’t want a long lopper that is troublesome to use.
Telescoping Handles
Loppers that come with telescoping handles let you extend the handle when needed. This lets you use shorter loppers most of the time but gives the benefit of allowing you to cut higher branches when required. They work as a nice compromise for many, but they are often heavier than traditional loppers. The telescoping mechanism should also be considered as some do not keep locked in place at full length.
Type of Grip
As with handles, the grip of your loppers can vary. Some of them are designed to be ergonomic while others used a soft material to cushion any impact. Foam grips are considered the most comfortable but also tend to damage easily. Contoured grips are comfortable for some but not others. You should also look at the grip size as it can have an effect on how you place your hands on the handles.
Bumper Mechanisms
Some garden loppers come with a bumper or cushioning near the blade which helps prevent the handles smashing into each other than completing a cut. If you go with a lopper with a bumper, check that it keeps your hands from touching when in use. You should also try closing the loppers with force to determine how well it prevents shock.
Replacement Blades and Parts
Some loppers can easily be taken apart of sharpening and cleaning and others cannot. Many aren’t made to allow you to replace parts that are damaged or worn out. With loppers, it’s not uncommon for the blades to be damaged by poor pruning techniques. If you have a removable bold holding the blades together, it can likely be replaced. Most of the high-quality loppers can be and you will often find you can order replacement parts.
Weight of the Loppers
Garden lopper weight is another thing to consider and largely related to the handles. Fiberglass and aluminum tend to be lightest while wooden is in the middle and steel are the heaviest. Steel handles are typically on heavy-duty loppers made for larger branches, but the weight can make them hard to use for long periods of time. Aluminum is the common choice with light duty loppers, which are durable enough for use around the home.
Cutting Capacity
The last thing to consider is the cutting capacity of your pruning loppers. Some can handle branches of three or four inches in diameter, but you want to be sure they are comfortable to use, offer plenty of leverage, and will meet your needs. Most people don’t need more than two inches of cutting capacity. When considering cutting capacity, determine how heavy the loppers are in comparison to the power and consider your own fitness level and strength.
Putting It Together
You should have a pretty good idea of what size and kinds of loppers will best fit your need at this point. The 11 options listed here are some of the best and will easily help you get your branches cut without extra effort. Consider all the important features of the loppers and you can be in your yard in a few days with a pair of great loppers cleaning up your shrubs and trees!