If you’re one who has a lovely garden in your backyard that produces fruits on a seasonal basis, chances are, you probably have plenty of trees. Sometimes those trees’ branches can get very long, and in order to ensure your trees and your garden are looking great, you need to prune the branches on those trees. The most convenient way to do so is by using the best loppers around. The loppers are a perfect tool to help you trim or prune the excess length off your branches quickly and efficiently so that your trees look neat and tidy.
In this review, we’ll evaluate 10 of the very best loppers around. We chose them out of over 50 different products we’ve compared. Starting with our Editor’s Choice, the TABOR TOOLS GG12A Anvil Loppers with Compound Action screams of high-quality when it’s in your hands with its sturdy carbon steel blade and optimal weight being its main selling points. On top of this, we also review nine other amazing loppers in the hopes of giving you an idea of more options out there.
To help you learn more about the best loppers, we’ve identified a number of important features about each tool, including its type, cut capacity, length, handles, and its weight. After introducing to you our detailed reviews of those loppers, we’ll then take you through our buying guide, where we’ll give you more information about the features that make loppers a great tool to have. We’ll then wrap things up with our verdict, which will include our top three choices. Let’s get started!
More features: hardened carbon steel blade, perfect for dry and harder green wood, multiplies the force applied to the blades 3 times
Named as the King of Loppers, the TABOR TOOLS GG12A Anvil Loppers with Compound Action is our Editor’s Choice. This product is the overall best choice on our list for plenty of good reasons. These anvil loppers have a hardened carbon steel blade that sports a fantastic cut capacity of 2 inches, which means you’ll easily be able to cut through some of the thickest branches on your trees. It also has a very good length of 30 inches, which is generally longer than normal loppers and is able to give you that extra bit of leverage you’re seeking when cutting branches.
Because of its size, however, these loppers are on the heavier side of loppers coming in at 3.7 pounds. Still, if you put that into context, these loppers are still relatively very light. The handles are made of a solid and sturdy metal material, and you will get more comfort with the rubberized handles that offer a secure grip.
More features: hardened steel blade with rust-resistant, low-friction coating, ideal for cutting green, living growth, lifetime warranty
If you’re looking for one of the best loppers that won’t set you back a lot of money, you need to take a good look at our Best Value pick, the Fiskars 28 Inch Bypass Loppers. At an incredibly low price but without sacrificing any quality of an excellent tool, these 28-inch long loppers are truly one of the best on the market.
It is a bypass model that uses a rust-resistant, hardened steel blade to cut through branches as thick as 1.5 inches. The blade has a low-friction coating on it as well that allows cutting things that aren’t as solid as branches, including some greens. Using it for prolonged periods of time won’t be an issue either as it weighs less than three pounds. Your hands will also thank you for using this one since the handles are made of steel, but that also includes shock-absorbing bumpers.
For the loppers of this quality and this low of a price, it’s hard to find something wrong with it, but a few did notice that the edge of the blade can dull after a few uses.
More features: SK5 carbon steel upper blade, locking catch, PTFE coating, 10-year guarantee
One of the great features of the best loppers is that some of them are capable of extending their length so that you are able to reach better those branches that are taller or farther away. For us, the Best Loppers with Telescopic Handles are the Spear & Jackson 8290RS Telescopic Ratchet Anvil Loppers.
These loppers at their normal length are just under 16 inches, which is quite short already, but once extended, they can go all the way out to close to 32 inches! The telescopic handles are made of extremely durable aluminum and the handles themselves also have very soft, non-slip grips. Because it is made of such a dense aluminum material, these loppers are slightly heavier than normal ones weighing in at nearly 4.2 pounds. The blade is very good and sharp and has a great cut capacity of 2 inches. It uses SK5 carbon steel for its upper blade and features a PTFE coating that allows it to cut through anything cleanly and quickly.
More features: hardened carbon steel blades with non-stick coating, easy to store and sharpen
Another TABOR TOOLS loppers to make to our list is our top choice for Best Small Loppers. If the branches you’re trying to cut are relatively short or close to you, opting for shorter loppers might be ideal as it will allow you to cut for much longer periods of time because it will be lighter, and that’s the case with this tool.
These loppers weigh less than two pounds (half the weight of our Editor’s Choice) and measure out to 19 inches in length. Since it’s shorter and generally smaller, the cut capacity won’t be as generous as the other normal-sized loppers as this one has a 1.25-inch cut capacity, which is still very decent. The blades used on these loppers are made of hardened carbon steel and also have the all-important non-stick coating. The handles are made of metal, and people will be happy with the rubberized grips on the handles that reflect the shape for your hand.
The vast majority of owners are very happy with this TABOR TOOLS loppers, but a few did mention that the blades can chip and lose its sharpness and edge rather quickly.
More features: PTFE non-stick coated high-carbon steel blade, resharpenable, replaceable parts, triples your cutting power
On the opposite end of the spectrum, compared to the previous model, we have our top choice for Best Long Loppers, the Corona Compound Action Anvil Loppers. As you can probably guess, these loppers are good for trees with branches that may be a bit higher than normal and can be out of reach for some people. These loppers solve all your problems with its fantastic 32-inch reach.
These loppers do not come with telescopic handles and don’t have the added weight of using those types of handles either. At just over 2.5 pounds, these long loppers are still relatively light, and their length will definitely give you that added leverage for pruning your branches. This anvil type of loppers uses fiberglass handles that come with comfortable non-slip foam grips. As for the blade, it has a solid PTFE non-stick coating and is made of high-carbon steel.
A bonus item with this tool is that it comes with replaceable parts, which not many loppers do. Plenty of people who have this tool love its fantastic price and its great functionality, but a few people think the blade could be a tad bit sharper.
More features: ratcheting mechanism, durable construction, easy to use
When you buy a garden tool, you’re going to want one that is dependable and reliable for pruning your branches for a long time. For that, we have our most durable choice, the MLTOOLS L8230 Easy Cut Ratcheting Loppers. Made with solid and sturdy aluminum, this product is the epitome of durability for loppers.
These bypass loppers have a very good cut capacity of 1.75 inches and use the telescopic handles to help get those tough-to-reach branches. At its normal length, it measures out to 27 inches and can extend all the way out to 40 inches! Because it’s made of solid aluminum material, naturally, the weight of these loppers will be a bit higher, but if you’re looking for long-term usage, you most likely won’t feel the effects of this 3.6-pound model. The overwhelming majority of people who have these loppers love it, but a few did mention that the blade can dull rather quickly, especially after frequent usage.
More features: dual-pivot design, easy to adjust, makes the access to higher branches simpler
If you’re using your loppers for hours on end, it can definitely take a toll on your hands, especially if you’re pruning nothing but thick branches. That’s because many loppers don’t have a feature that can help to minimize the effects of shock from pruning. That’s why it’s important to have loppers that can prevent or minimize the shock, and that’s what you’ll get with our Most Comfortable Lopper, the Wolf-Garten Power Cut Telescoping Bypass Loppers. Not only are these bypass loppers incredibly comfortable to use, but they are also very efficient as well. They have a cut capacity of 2 inches and have a very sturdy aluminum build.
In terms of comfort, these loppers enable you to use them for much longer thanks to its shock-absorbing bumpers and the super comfortable grips on the handles. One downside that a few people noticed is that the grips kept slipping up. Luckily, this was not a common issue, and others were happy with their purchase.
More features: comfortable to use for extended periods, excellent durability
The most expensive tool on our list is the Felco 200 A Loppers. In terms of aesthetics, these loppers avoid all the bells and whistles that some other loppers may have and give you a very clean-looking and extremely durable design. This high-quality bypass model is constructed of aluminum fiber tubes that help to give it its extreme sturdiness and durability.
These loppers have a good cut capacity at just short of 1.5 inches, which should be able to deal with most of your branches. This tool is great to use for extended periods of time because, despite being made of dense material, it only weighs 1.75 pounds! As for the handles, they come with comfort grips to further add to the enjoyable experience of using these lightweight and easy-to-use loppers.
More features: non-stick blades, user-friendly and lightweight design
When pruning those long branches, you obviously want loppers that will be able to cut them easily and efficiently, and that’s exactly what you’ll get with the Best User-Friendly design of the Corona SL 3264 ComfortGEL Bypass Loppers. With these loppers, you’re getting a top-of-the-line cut thanks to its Dual Arc blade design that brings with it an enhanced cutting performance.
With this premium blade, you can easily cut through branches as thick as 1.5-inches. These loppers are a bypass type, and they have a length of 25 inches, which is quite standard among most loppers. The handles are extra durable as well as they are made of steel, and they also have shock-guard bumpers to help ease the numbing on your hands. Your hands will also be thankful for the comfort GEL soft grips on these loppers. The overwhelming majority of owners love these loppers, but a few have mentioned that the blade can dull rather quickly and easily, which means you’ll have to sharpen them more frequently.
More features: hardened steel blade with non-stick Teflon treatment, maintenance brochure included
If you have particularly thick branches to prune, you’re going to need loppers that can easily cut through those. With our choice for the best cut capacity, the KSEIBI 252606 Anvil Loppers, you’re getting just that. These loppers use a hardened steel blade that has a non-stick Teflon treatment to be able to cut through branches as thick as 2 inches with ease.
This model features telescopic handles that extend all the way out to 40 inches as well, which means you will be able to get those thick branches that are way up high and out of normal reach. The handles are very comfortable to use since they are sturdy and made of aluminum. They also have comfort grips that make it easier to hold. Unfortunately, a common complaint with these loppers is that it can break rather quickly if you are frequently pruning nothing but very thick branches only.
Now that you have an idea of the best loppers on the market, it’s time to turn your attention to the buying guide section of this article. Here, you’ll learn more in-depth knowledge about some of the individual features that go into making a fantastic pruning lopper. All of these features work together to make loppers ideal for your garden, and it’s important you have an understanding of why they are important. If you have questions, we’ll hopefully answer them in our frequently asked questions section right after, and then we’ll finish things off with our verdict, where we’ll give you our top three picks.
Just like any product on the market, there are a number of things to consider before purchasing it, and the garden loppers are no different. There are a few key features that stand out in loppers, and they include the tool’s type, the cut capacity, its overall length, the blades, the handles, its weight, and, of course, its price. Finding the right loppers really depends on your needs, and everyone’s needs are a bit different. We hope that you use the information here as a guide towards finding the right product for you.
There are two main types of loppers that you can use to prune your branches, and they are anvil and bypass.
The bypass loppers are much more common than an anvil one, and they utilize a single edge blade that is extremely sharp and is able to easily cut thick branches. It ensures a clear and smooth cut. This is generally the go-to lopper type if you have lots of branches that you need to cut quickly. The Fiskars 28 Inch Bypass Loppers are a great example of this type.
With an anvil loppers, while the resulting cut is not as clear and smooth as with a bypass one, they also use a thick and sharp blade to cut through the branch, except the branch is held against a flatter surface instead of directing going through the blade. If you are looking for anvil type, it’s hard to look past the Spear & Jackson 8290RS Telescopic Ratchet Anvil Loppers.
When we speak of cut capacity, what we’re referring to here is the level of thickness of a branch that loppers can cut through.
A good rule of thumb is that you’ll want to find a tool that can cut at least a minimum of a 1-inch thick branch. Anything below that is a waste of your time and really isn’t a good product, to begin with.
Thankfully, all of the loppers in our list can cut at least a 1-inch thick branch, and we can see that even the lowest cut capacity of 1.25 inches from the TABOR TOOLS GL18A Small Bypass Loppers, which should be fine for quick tasks. You can see the contrast to that with the cut capacity of 2 inches of the Editor’s Choice, the TABOR TOOLS GG12A Anvil Loppers with Compound Action.
The length of the best loppers all varies, and it really depends on if the handles have the telescopic feature. As we mentioned earlier, the telescopic handles mean that they can extend to help you get more length and reach branches that are too high or far away from you.
Among the products from our list, loppers have a length that ranges between 19 inches and 32 inches, and for some, they have the ability to stretch out to up to 40 inches to get those hard-to-reach branches. If you have branches in your yard that you think are hard to reach, it might be wise for you to explore loppers that have the telescopic handles feature, such as seen with the KSEIBI 252606 Anvil Loppers.
The blades used on the loppers are fairly similar across the board and usually involve some sort of steel. A few of the best loppers use high-carbon steel blades that are always a great option because they are very durable and can cut branches well. Other tools also make use of hardened steel, which is also another very good type of steel for the blade that does the job well.
Many of the loppers also include some sort of non-stick coating or Teflon treatment on the blade, and this is meant to prevent branches or any greens from sticking to the blade once you prune them.
Oftentimes, this can happen when you’re dealing with sticky substances that are on the branches, such as sap, and having this non-stick coating, can prevent it from sticking to your blade.
The handles on loppers are another important feature that can have an impact on your final choice. The handles give you leverage to better cut through more stiff branches and are a dynamic part of a really good tool. Some loppers have a telescopic feature as we’ve already mentioned before that allows you to extend the handles so that you’re able to reach those pesky branches that are outside of the reach of a normal lopper. Next, some handles come with a shock-absorption feature as well, and with this, your hands will really thank you as the blade will absorb most of the shock from cutting those thicker branches. Lastly, as another way to help absorb the shock of cutting branches, some loppers will come with rubberized grips, such as seen with the TABOR TOOLS GG12A Anvil Loppers with Compound Action. This can also help you to get a better grip of the loppers so that they don’t slip out of your hands while you’re chopping the branches away.
Generally speaking, most loppers on the market are fairly light and can weigh anywhere between 2 and 4.5 pounds. That being said, it’s always better to have a lighter model than a heavier one because it means you won’t get tired as quickly, and you’ll be able to work with them much faster and be able to maintain a good level of power for a much longer period of time.
While having a light tool is much better, you also don’t want to sacrifice the quality of the loppers for simply having a lighter model.
The efficiency of the blades is important, and if you can get a lightweight product with aluminum or steel blade, then that would be a good option.
There are lots of great brands out there, and the two most visible in our list are TABOR TOOLS and Corona. They make some of the best loppers around, and that is reflected in their great products that made it to our list.
In terms of pricing, relatively speaking, loppers are fairly inexpensive. However, like with most products, there can be a range in pricing, and that’s what exists here. You can find one as inexpensive as the TABOR TOOLS GL18A Small Bypass Loppers that cost for around $25, and you can find one as high as the Felco 200 A Loppers that run at a little over $110. In between these two products is where you’ll get the rest of the models, and you can easily purchase a high-quality one for less than $60.
In our final verdict, we present to you the three loppers that really stood out to us.
Starting with our Editor’s Choice, the TABOR TOOLS GG12A Anvil Loppers with Compound Action is the best choice for us because of its supreme quality. It has fantastic length and great cut capacity and just feels very natural in your hands, despite its somewhat heavier weight.
Next up is the Fiskars 28 Inch Bypass Loppers. These loppers are great because they provide a good balance between the weight and the 1.5-inch cut capacity. An extra bonus with this is the shock-absorbing bumpers that make cutting bigger branches a breeze!
Lastly, we really enjoyed the Spear & Jackson 8290RS Telescopic Ratchet Anvil Loppers. This is the perfect tool for those who need to reach difficult areas and higher branches. You can simply adjust their length, while the soft grips provide extra comfort.
Now, all you have to do is to pick one of the best loppers to get rid of the branches that spoil the appearance of your garden!
