Best pruning shears?

[evtubbergh]

I want to buy some pruners for my sister so of course I have to find the best brand and then the best model. I need something not too expensive but good quality, preferably available in South Africa. She will need an all-round pruner for larger woody stems and small green stuff too.

I have found the following information;

Felco: most expensive, considered the best but other brands might challenge that.
Corona: rip-off Felco
Bahco: seems to be very good, possibly better than Felco
Fiskars: very good, cheaper than others but still good quality

So I was buying Felco but in trying to figure out which model I kept coming across anvil in all the descriptions and I want bypass. Do they make all their pruners anvil?

Then I looked at Fiskars but their stuff is so confusingly fancy I don't know where to begin.

We can only get Felco and we must get Fiskars because we get the orange scissors. Unless they are rip-off orange scissors. I might be able to get Bahco on Amazon though.

Any other brands? Any model suggestions?

[DoubleDogFarm]

I really like my Felco #8 bypass hand pruners.
https://www.felcostore.com/item/f8



My brother prefers the Felco F7 swivel handle
https://www.felcostore.com/item/f7?gclid ... Qgod7DkATg

We also have the Fiskar Pruning Stik
https://www2.fiskars.com/Gardening-and-Y ... e-Pruner-5

[TZ -OH6]

I've not done a lot of woody orchard or shrub-rose type pruning, but I have done a lot of little green stuff pruning and root pruning for repotting, which takes a lot of hand action over an extended period of time and can get into some pretty tough stems.

I really like my light-weight Fiskars for doing that and leave the heavy pruners on the shelf. They have held up well to flame sterilization too.

I have an older model but they are equivalent to the stainless steel pruner $8.99

https://www2.fiskars.com/Gardening-and-Y ... eel-Pruner

[tomf]

For cutting sticks wife likes the kind that ratchet as her hands are weak.

[Cola82]

I just got this pair of Fiskars hand pruners. They seem solid, very well balanced.

Honestly, though, I only got them because the pruners I actually wanted went out of stock, with no indication any more ever would be, and I really needed some. So far so good.

[SOB]

These were my favorite pruners:

https://www2.fiskars.com/Gardening-and-Y ... gFIMJJqkqg

I say were because I tried cutting a limb WAY too big and it essentially broke them. It takes very little effort and the handle rotates in your hand (hard to explain) making for a very easy, comfortable pruning experience. I got a different pair for a gift and it just isn’t the same but I'm too cheap to buy a new pair when I have ones that get the job done.

[Susan W]

Get the pruners that stay away from foreheads! BTW, my wound (17 stitches) from early June, though loss of blood and a few brain cells, has healed up very nicely.

[evtubbergh]

Oh thanks everyone. That is very useful. I thought of getting swiveling ones but decided to just get normal pruners. Cola82 I think I'm getting those, from Amazon too. I like the fat Fiskars too but couldn't get them on Amazon. I can't find Fiskars here and the shop with Felco only have the teensy ones, I think because they're so expensive. So Amazon it is I think Amazon also has those ratcheting ones that TZ -OH6 posted but I think normal is better.

Thanks.

[tomf]

Susan stay away from chainsaws!

[imafan26]

Ratcheting pruners are good for arthritic hands and also people who don't have a lot of grip strength. Florian made the original ratcheting pruners but they are all anvil type. which means you have to keep the blade sharp.

It pays to get pruners that fit the hands and have a comfortable grip. You should ask her what she is using now and if she likes it. It is best to get what works best.

I actually prefer the classic corona pruner to the felco. I don't like the felco spring, it pops out way to much for me and the corona blade has been sharper for my use. The felco composit blade is lighther but is easier to bend. So, I would rather have a heavy metal blade. I also like the new pruner lopper, because I have small hands and my grip strength is getting worse so the option of longer handles really helps getting leverage and I often try to bite off my branch then the pruners can handle.

https://coronatoolsusa.com/catalog/pruni ... -4-in.html
https://coronatoolsusa.com/catalog/pruni ... n-cut.html

[cynthia_h]

You've probably already made your choice, but I thought I'd weigh in even at this late date.

I have the Felco 13 pruners. I can deal with branches a little larger than I otherwise could because of the extra-long single arm. Originally, I had the regular pruners, but I left them exposed (!) on a job and they disappeared... I had had them for over 15 years.

I've had the current set for 5 years, and they hold a sharp edge very well.

Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9

[evtubbergh]

Fiskars got quite a few replies so I bought this from Amazon. Seems sturdy and big enough to handle largish branches but not too big for her hands (although not petite they are not huge).


Fiskars 9124 Professional Bypass Pruning Shears

Thanks all