Our recommendations
Fiskars PowerGearX anvil gear shears for dry and hard wood, non-stick coating, hardened precision steel, length 80 cm, black / orange, LX99-L, 1020189
62.50 EURTo the product
| Type | Anvil with gear |
|---|---|
| Cutting thickness | 55 mm |
| Length of arms | 80 cm |
| Handle material | Aluminum, plastic |
| Blade material | stainless steel |
| Non-stick coating | Yes |
Most Amazon reviewers show themselves off by the anvilLoppers enthusiastic about Fiskars. Thanks to the transmission, the effort required to cut thick branches with a diameter of four to five centimeters should be very low. Furthermore, many customers have positive comments about the cutting result. This is supposedly - despite the anvil mechanism ‘- surprisingly clean. Some buyers even prove this with meaningful pictures. The handling is also described as pleasant. Some quotes about these Fiskars loppers: "Luxury for gardening", "Scissors cut excellently", "Every branch a match".
Gardena loppers TeleCut 650-900 B: Telescopic bypass pruning shears, ideal for cutting fresh wood, ErgoTec handles (12009-20)
55.90 EURTo the product
| Type | bypass |
|---|---|
| Cutting thickness | 42 mm |
| Length of arms | 65 - 90 cm |
| Handle material | Aluminum, plastic |
| Blade material | stainless steel |
| Non-stick coating | Yes |
The bypass pruning shears Telecut from Gardena is also extremely popular with the majority of Amazon reviewers. It is true that their cutting thickness is less than that of the two other loppers recommended by us; However, since it is only suitable for fresh branches and twigs anyway, this is hardly a problem. The execution is considered by many to be a top model that is better than some other variants. Thanks to the practical telescopic arms, the arm length can be varied. The locking mechanism should be surprisingly stable.
WOLF-Garten - Anvil loppers "Premium Plus" POWER CUT *** RS 900 T; 73AGA009650
84.00 EURTo the product
| Type | anvil |
|---|---|
| Cutting thickness | 50 mm |
| Length of arms | 65 - 90 cm |
| Handle material | Aluminum, plastic |
| Blade material | stainless steel |
| Non-stick coating | Yes |
Third place in our loppers comparison based on real Amazon reviews earned the anvil loppers Premium Plus from WOLF-Garten. Just like the Gardena model, it comes with telescopic scissor arms. In terms of materials and workmanship, there are also no significant differences to the first and second-placed loppers. In most cases, buyers at Amazon speak of a “top part” and “very high quality”. Some add that women can use the loppers without any problems, as they should require very little effort.
In short, all three loppers are unreservedly recommended.
Purchase criteria
Type
Anvil loppers: The anvil loppers are the classic among loppers and the most popular variant. This is probably due to the fact that this type of gardener requires comparatively little effort.
A pruning shears with an anvil mechanism has a sharp blade at the top and a wide (smooth or fluted) blade at the bottom. The latter is known as the anvil. When cutting, the sharp blade presses the branch in question against the anvil. Ideal for cutting hard wood and for more delicate hands.
But be careful: An anvil loppers cannot cut as cleanly as with bypass loppers. Therefore it should only be used for old, dead wood. Fresh shoots and other sensitive plants could be injured, which in turn is associated with an increased risk of fungal or pest infestation.
Bypass pruning shears: In principle, the bypass loppers work like normal household scissors. It is equipped with two sharp blades that pass close together when cutting and cut through the wood.
Loppers with a bypass mechanism ensure a clean, smooth cut. This protects the wood fibers - cuts heal relatively quickly. The only disadvantage: cutting with bypass pruning shears requires more effort from the gardener. Suitable for young shoots or basically fresh, living wood.
Gear loppers: The loppers with gear make it easier to cut branches and twigs. With this variant, the scissor arms open wide - this distributes the force required for the cut over a longer distance and the gardener does not have to strain himself with the work. Gear pruning shears are of course a little more expensive than models without this "translation".
Ratchet loppers: The ratchet loppers work in a similar way to the gear loppers. It too has scissor arms that open wide. The real highlight here is the built-in step mechanism, called a ratchet. Stronger branches can be broken up by pressing the pruning shears several times, which is gentle on the body.
Note: Both gear and ratchet loppers are quite bulky due to the generous opening angle of the shear arms. This means that the gardener always needs a certain amount of freedom of movement when cutting. However, this space is often not available - for example, when a shrub with dense branches is to be thinned out. So the most convenient solution at first glance is not always the best.
Cutting thickness
The cutting thickness tells you how thick the branches to be cut can be (diameter in millimeters or centimeters).
Length of the scissor arms
In principle, a distinction is made between loppers with fixed arms and those with telescopic arms. Versions with telescopic arms can be adjusted in length as required - within a certain range. This flexibility is an advantage, but practical tests show that the Locking mechanism is often unstable so that it can come loose during cutting - annoying and dangerous too. Accordingly, when comparing loppers with telescopic arms, you should definitely get customer reviews Read through the models to see if the locking mechanism is working properly functions.
Guide value: A fixed loppers should have arms with a length of at least 80 centimeters so that you can get through thick branches without too much effort. Telescopic arms are usually adjustable between 60 and 100 centimeters.
materials
Blade material: The blades are usually made of stainless steel or drop-forged aluminum. Both variants are considered to be particularly robust and resilient.
Tips
Usually at least the upper blade is non-stick coated (Teflon or ceramic), ideally the lower blade also has this feature. Thanks to the coating, the blades slide better. In addition, it increases the precision of the cut, which is gentle on the wood fiber texture. And no parts of the plant stick to the non-stick coated blades, which is the risk of a The transmission of infections from one plant to another is minimized, as well as cleaning relieved.
Handle material: The handles of a pruning shears are usually made of aluminum. The light metal greatly reduces the weight of the garden tool - without impairing its stability. Alternatively, manufacturers use polymers, some of which are glass fiber reinforced for greater robustness.
Tips
Models whose handles are covered with soft elements made of non-slip rubber or plastic are particularly easy to grip. These extras ensure a plus in ergonomics.
frequently asked Questions
What are loppers?
The pruning shears are a gardening tool with which you can also master thick branches and twigs up to a diameter of about five centimeters. With a normal Secateurs you would probably fail with such lumps of branch. Compared to secateurs, the loppers have particularly long arms of 40 to 100 centimeters. Thanks to the leverage effect, you can cut through thick branches very quickly and without too much effort.
Tips
From a branch thickness of 50 to 60 millimeters you should go to one Pruning saw to grab.
Which brands offer good loppers?
The best-known and most popular brands for loppers include Gardena, WOLF-Garten, Fiskars and Grüntek.
Where is the best place to buy loppers?
You can find pruning shears in every hardware store - whether OBI, Hagebaumarkt, toom or Hornbach. However, Amazon offers the largest selection. Depending on the season, loppers may even be available cheaply at discounters such as ALDI or Lidl.
How do I care for and sharpen my loppers?
The following video shows how to properly care for and sharpen your loppers:
Youtube
Is there a pruning shear test by Stiftung Warentest?
Yes, the last test and comparison of garden shears and pruning shears by Stiftung Warentest is from June 2015. The Fiskars PowerGear 94 took first place. The Gardena Classic 680-B came in second.