Best Garden Loppers for Easy Tree & Branch Pruning

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Updated:5/1/2023

When it comes to pruning bushes and trees, a good pair of garden loppers is a must. In this article, we’ve rounded up our top picks of the best garden loppers to buy.

Let’s take you through what to look for in a quality pair of branch loppers before you buy.

Our TOP Garden Lopper Picks

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Best Garden Loppers to Buy

We took a close look at the very best garden loppers. Based on our extensive research, here is our list of the best of the best.

  1. Spear and Jackson Telescopic Garden Loppers
  2. AIRAJ Bypass Garden Loppers
  3. Gartol Heavy Duty Garden Loppers
  4. REPEAK Extendable Garden Loppers
  5. Draper Lightweight Garden Loppers Set
  6. Jardineer Anvil Garden Loppers
  7. Gartol Long Handled Garden Loppers
  8. Spear and Jackson Ratchet Anvil Loppers

Garden loppers are a must for pruning and trimming trees and shrubs in your garden. Various loppers are available with their uses being specific to certain sized gardens and needs.

If your garden has larger trees, you may require a garden lopper with extendable arms to reach those taller branches. However, if your garden is primarily shrubs or smaller trees, shorter and lighter garden loppers are a better choice.

When it comes to finding the best tree loppers, there are various considerations to make. We have discussed what to look for in garden loppers further on in the article. For now, let us take a look at our top picks of the best garden loppers to buy.

Spear and Jackson Telescopic Garden Loppers

Best Garden Loppers for Tough Branches
Spear and Jackson Telescopic Garden Loppers
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Key Product Specs and Features

  • Cut length: 45mm
  • Blade Material: C50 carbon steel blades
  • Handle Material: lightweight aluminium
  • Weight: 1.58kg
  • Special feature: Extendable handles
  • Style: Telescopic, ratchet anvil lopper

If you are looking for a durable pair of garden loppers to deal with tough branches, Spear and Jackson’s telescopic option is a good choice. As a ratchet anvil lopper, the strain is taken off your hands while giving precise cuts.

These tree loppers are lightweight and can be used for prolonged periods of time. The blades are treated with PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) which leaves the surface of the blades smooth and rust-resistant.

The arms of the loppers can be extended by twisting the handles, allowing you to reach further without strain. This extension takes the height of the cut from 46cm to 72cm in front of you.

Finally, this pair of loppers come with a 10-year guarantee which is ideal when it comes to garden tools. If the loppers break or experience excessive damage, the manufacturers guarantee satisfaction and will repair or replace the faulty part.

Pros:

  • Durable: made from strong carbon steel, the blades are strong enough to stand up to frequent use on tough or thick branches
  • Comfortable: the handles are covered with a comfortable, non-stick casing to ensure a pain-free pruning experience
  • Long reach: 100cm from the end of each handle to the tip of the blade allows you to reach further to cut branches

Cons:

  • No locking mechanism: one downside to these loppers is that there is no locking mechanism to keep the jaws together while storing

AIRAJ Bypass Garden Loppers

Best Garden Loppers for Smaller Branches and Bushes
AIRAJ Bypass Garden Loppers
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Key Product Specs and Features

  • Cut length: 3cm
  • Blade Material: SK-5 high carbon steel
  • Handle Material: lightweight aluminium
  • Weight: 660g
  • Special feature: unique composite cutting effect
  • Style: Bypass lopper

If you have a smaller garden that lacks tall trees, these bypass loppers are a good option. While they cannot cut through tough branches, they are able to easily and smoothly trim smaller branches and bushes.

Made from durable, high carbon steel, these blades are strong enough to cut through branches up to 3cm wide. These loppers are therefore ideal for dealing with smaller branches or bushes while pruning.

These garden loppers are the lightest on this list, making them ideal for long periods of use while pruning your garden. The lightweight, ergonomically designed handles are covered in a non-slip material to ensure you have constant control over your loppers while pruning.

Additionally, these loppers can trim fresh branches and dry wood due to the lever and gear design. As a bypass model, these loppers cut through these materials quickly while reducing the resistance.

Pros:

  • Durable: the blades are made from high carbon steel, making them durable enough to last against frequent use over many years
  • Lightweight: while carbon steel is generally more expensive, the aluminium handles balance out the loppers for a lightweight finish
  • Ergonomic: the handles have been designed to fit comfortably in your hands while maintaining your garden

Cons:

  • Less power: these loppers are not strong enough to cut through branches that have a diameter of more than 3cm

Gartol Heavy Duty Garden Loppers

Best Garden Loppers for a Professional Gardener
Gartol Heavy Duty Garden Loppers
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Key Product Specs and Features

  • Cut length: 5.08cm
  • Blade Material: high carbon steel
  • Handle Material: unknown
  • Weight: 1.4kg
  • Special feature: ergonomically designed handles
  • Style: Bypass garden loppers

If you’re looking for a pair of garden loppers that are strong enough to cut through tough materials, then this Gartol anvil lopper is a good option. Made with high carbon steel, the blades are strong enough to slice up to 5cm in diameter.

A protective coating on the blades makes them waterproof, ensuring the steel remains rust-free over time. This is a good quality to look for in loppers as exposure to water can lead to wear and tear over several years. The coating, therefore, extends the lifetime of the loppers.

Finally, the tree loppers have been created for comfort while remaining powerful. The balanced design ensures that the force exerted on the handles does not cause the blades to bend. Additionally, non-slip padded handles allow a comfortable grip.

Pros:

  • Ergonomically designed: the handles of the loppers have been ergonomically designed to ensure they fit comfortably in your hands over longer pruning periods
  • Strong: the blades are strong enough to cut through tough materials, such as branches with a diameter of up to 5cm
  • Durable coating: the coating on the blades of the loppers ensures that they remain strong and rust-free when exposed to moisture while maintaining your garden

Cons:

  • Heavy: while the loppers do not seem heavy, some users have said holding them aloft for some time will result in fatigue or pain if needed

REPEAK Extendable Garden Loppers

Best Garden Loppers for High Reach
REPEAK Extendable Garden Loppers
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Key Product Specs and Features

  • Cut length: unknown
  • Blade Material: high-quality SK-5 carbon steel
  • Handle Material: lightweight aluminium steel
  • Weight: 1.57kg
  • Special feature: extendable, telescopic handles
  • Style: Telescopic anvil lopper

If you are looking for a quality extendable lopper, then REPEAK’s offering is a good option. Able to extend from 70cm to 95cm, these telescopic loppers will help you reach branches higher than you would usually be able to.

As a lightweight pair of loppers, these can be held aloft and used for extended periods without straining yourself. This is due to the aluminium steel handles which are light enough to balance out the weight of the carbon steel blades.

Finally, these anvil loppers come with a 1-year warranty. This is an important quality with gardening tools as any issues during that period can be dealt with by the manufacturers, either through replacement or repair.

Pros:

  • Durable: made from strong, SK-5 carbon steel, these blades are strong enough to withstand powerful force while cutting through thick branches
  • Lightweight: weighing only 1.57kg, these loppers are light enough to be held aloft for a longer duration without fatigue or pain
  • Warranty: this tool comes with a 1-year warranty, allowing you to return or replace your tool should there be issues within that time frame

Cons:

  • Difficult use: some users have found some difficulty with extending the arms, with most having an issue with 1 arm while the other extended fine

Draper Lightweight Garden Loppers Set

Best Garden Loppers for Full Garden Maintenance
Draper Lightweight Garden Loppers Set
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Key Product Specs and Features

  • Cut length: unknown
  • Blade Material: carbon steel
  • Handle Material: unknown
  • Weight: 1.98kg
  • Special feature: 3-piece set
  • Style: Bypass lopper

If you are looking for a lopper that comes with additional tools for full garden maintenance, then the Draper lopper set is a good choice. Included in this set is a lopper with a 61cm length, a 52.5cm garden shear, and secateurs with a length of 20.3cm.

These tools are all made with carbon steel blades to cut cleanly through tough materials. Although the cutting width is not known, users and Draper have stated that these blades are strong enough to slice through thick branches or shrubs.

One downside to this tool kit is that there is no warranty for broken or damaged tools. However, given user reports, the tools are strong enough to last over time, with the only issue being the weaker secateurs.

Pros:

  • 3-piece gardening kit: with a garden lopper, secateurs, and garden shears.
  • Lightweight: users have said that these tools are lightweight enough to be held aloft and used for prolonged pruning durations
  • Sharp: these loppers are sharp enough to cut through tough materials such as thick branches or while pruning bushes

Cons:

  • Weak Secateurs: users have said the smaller shears are weaker than the other 2 tools, with the lock sticking after each cut

Jardineer Anvil Garden Loppers

Best Garden Loppers for Tough Pruning
Jardineer Anvil Garden Loppers
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Key Product Specs and Features

  • Cut length: 6cm diameter
  • Blade Material: high carbon steel
  • Handle Material: lightweight aluminium
  • Weight: 2.3kg
  • Special feature: ratchet jaw
  • Style: Anvil loppers

If you are looking for strong and durable loppers to cut through thick branches, then the Jardineer anvil loppers are a good choice. Weighing 2.5kg, these loppers are somewhat heavy but more than capable of getting the job done efficiently.

Able to cut through branches up to 6cm in diameter, these loppers have been designed for tougher jobs. They are able to cut through various materials and are suitable for potted pruning and fruit tree pruning. Additionally, they can be used to prune rose bushes and are ideal for thick twigs or landscaping.

The blades have been coated in Teflon to make them more durable while being used. This coating creates a water-resistant surface that will leave your blades rust-free when exposed to moisture.

Pros:

  • Powerful: these loppers have been designed to cut through branches up to 6cm in diameter, making them ideal for larger gardens
  • Durable: made from high carbon steel, these tree loppers are durable enough to last a long time before any wear and tear becomes apparent
  • Spare blade: these loppers come with a spare blade to extend the tool’s service life.

Cons:

  • Heavy: users have found that holding these loppers aloft for some time causes them to become fatigued and stiff

Gartol Long Handled Garden Loppers

Best Garden Loppers for Reaching Taller Trees
Gartol Long Handled Garden Loppers
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Key Product Specs and Features

  • Cut width: 3cm
  • Blade Material: SK5 high carbon steel
  • Handle Material: unknown
  • Weight: 1.107kg
  • Special feature: shock-absorbing bumper
  • Style: Bypass

If you are looking for a pair of extendable garden loppers to reach further than you could normally, then Gartol’s option is a good choice. These loppers can extend by twisting the handles to reach branches further away without strain.

The blades have been treated with a protective coating to ensure ordinary wear and tear is minimised. This coating leaves the blades water-resistant, preventing them from rusting and making them easier to clean.

Shock-absorbing bumpers cover the handles of the loppers, eliminating the jarring effect that is caused at the end of a cut. This allows you to work with extra strength and force, knowing you will not be in pain afterwards.

Pros:

  • Sharp: made from high carbon steel, these blades are sharp enough to cut through branches with a diameter of 3cm, quick and easily
  • Shock-absorbing: the handles have been made with shock-absorbing bumpers to minimize any jarring effects on your hands
  • Powerful: some users have found that the time it takes to get the job done has been reduced as they do not have to fight to cut through a branch with these loppers

Cons:

  • Heavy: users have found that these loppers are quite heavy so you should consider whether you will be able to use them effectively given the weight

Spear and Jackson Ratchet Anvil Garden Loppers

Best Garden Loppers for Heavy Duty Use
Spear and Jackson Ratchet Anvil Garden Loppers
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Key Product Specs and Features

  • Cut width: 50mm
  • Blade Material: SK5 carbon steel
  • Handle Material: tubular aluminium
  • Weight: 1.9kg
  • Special feature: extendable arms
  • Style: heavy-duty, telescopic lopper

When it comes to cutting thick branches or anything requiring heavy-duty use, Spear and Jackson’s garden loppers are a good option. Made to resist rusting or corrosion, the blades on these loppers have been created to cut through tough materials without damage.

Each blade on the loppers has been coated with PTFE to ensure cutting remains smooth. Additionally, this coating helps avoid the risk of the blades rusting when exposed to water while pruning your garden.

The handles of the garden loppers extend from 40cm to 80cm to help reach higher branches on trees when needed. Additionally, the soft, non-slip grips on the handles have been designed to provide comfort when using them for longer times.

Finally, these loppers have been built to cut through tough branches up to 5cm in diameter, ensuring easy pruning and consistent results. The ratchet action and anvil blade combine to create a powerful tool for easy cuts with little effort.

Pros:

  • Telescopic handle: users have stated that the telescopic handles have made pruning tough trees easily without excessive strain
  • Ratchet feature: the ratchet feature allows smooth pruning, securing a good cut each time
  • Durable: some users have found that with proper maintenance, their Spear and Jackson loppers have remained sharp and durable over time

Cons:

  • Some discomfort: despite the non-slip handles, you may find more comfort wearing thick gardening gloves when cutting through tough materials

How to Buy the Best Garden Loppers

Extendable Arms

When it comes to loppers, extendable arms are a good quality to look for. They allow you to lengthen the blades to reach higher branches when pruning. If the job of pruning takes time, it is important to ensure you are comfortable and extendable arms will make this easier.

Durability

Although garden loppers are not the most expensive tool you can buy for garden maintenance, you want to ensure you buy a durable pair. Garden loppers, if they are made correctly and maintained by the user, can last a long time.

Maintenance

While there are no electronics or engines involved with loppers, these tools still need to be maintained. If your lopper has wooden handles, you should rub linseed oil into the wood each season. Then, wipe the blades with an oily rag or with WD40 to ensure they remain in good condition.

Warranty

Warranties are important when buying a commercial product. If there is a problem with the lopper, such as the ratchet system breaking, you need a warranty to return your product. This should then encourage the company to repair the lopper or send you a replacement.

Blade Quality

Given the purpose of the loppers is to be able to slice through small branches and twigs, the quality of the blades is important. Hardy blades that can last against thicker branches should be a priority, while the blade needs to be sharp enough to cut through the branches cleanly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Anvil vs Bypass loppers

While both anvil and bypass are types of garden loppers, there is a difference between them. Anvil loppers have a more powerful cut than bypass loppers and are better used for pruning thick materials like dead wood. Alternatively, bypass loppers are better for softer materials like delicate stems.

Are there electric loppers?

Electric loppers have a similar purpose to normal garden loppers; however, they are much more powerful. Designed for heavy-duty pruning, they have a similar structure to chainsaws with less of a safety risk. The chains are protected by the enclosed jaws of the lopper, protecting the user from injury.

Which options are considered professional tree loppers?

Professional gardeners will have a wide range of loppers as part of their tool collection. Among these will be loppers for various purposes, including pruning bushes and shrubs, as well as high branches on trees.

Best loppers for thick branches

Thick branches will require heavy-duty loppers to cut through thick branches cleanly. So, if you are looking for loppers for this purpose, choose a heavy-duty pair that are strong enough to cut through the branches smoothly and without strain.

Conclusion

When it comes to buying garden loppers, the variety of options available can cause some confusion. This is why we have taken such a close look at the best garden loppers to buy, to help you make the best decision.

Specifically, we have looked at 8 types of garden loppers to suit your needs. Among these options are a variety of handle lengths, lopper types including anvil and telescopic, as well as various weights. It is important to consider what is best for your garden and your needs.

We trust that you have found this article informative and enlightening. This should help you decide which garden loppers to try next. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to let us know.

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Article by Charl Jooste

Charl is a full-time writer with a range of passions and expertise in lawn mowers and other garden power tools. After many years in the corporate rat race, he decided to follow these passions. When not writing, Charl can be found in his garden, tending to or propagating plants, keeping the lawn near perfect, and enjoying the outdoors with his dogs. He is also fascinated by emerging technology and tries to squeeze in a round of golf as often as possible.

Charl is a full-time writer with a range of passions and expertise in lawn mowers and other garden power tools. After many years in the corporate rat race, he decided to follow these passions. When not writing, Charl can be found in his garden, tending to or propagating plants, keeping the lawn near perfect, and enjoying the outdoors with his dogs. He is also fascinated by emerging technology and tries to squeeze in a round of golf as often as possible.

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