The long handles also help you reach branches that are a little higher up on the tree. This is great if you’re looking to prune a tree that’s slowly invading the rest of your garden or if you’re trying to maintain a larger tree that is difficult to reach.
Since
Our Best loppers : GRÜNTEK Telescopic Anvil Loppers
- SMART-CUT drive SYSTEM thanks to the lever ratio and the gear, the gardener achieves a multiple increase in the cutting performance and provides easy cutting of fresh and dry wood and branches
- SHARP upper blade made of high quality TOOLSTEEL, special anti-stick coating and PRECISION cut. The round aluminum lever arms with convenient 2-component ANTI-SLIDING handles and rounded corners minimize stress during extended use
Let’s start with our winner; the GRÜNTEK Telescopic Anvil
Suitable for both left and right-handed people, the GRÜNTEK heavy-duty lopper doesn’t discriminate. The construction is clean and no-nonsense, built with a non-stick coating on the blade to offer smooth and clean cuts as long as you keep it clean. The handles are made from tubular aluminium, giving it a sturdy quality while also making it lightweight to handle. This makes it an excellent tool for cutting high branches without needing to strain your arms. Its weight and powerful cutting blade makes it perfect for seniors as well, or those with arm injuries and weakness.
What the manufacturer says
- Adjustable in 7 steps for cutting hard-to-reach branches (up to 101.5cm in length)
- Powerful lever-cutting system facilitates cutting by up to 75%
- Blade made of specially hardened tool steel
- Teflon non-stick coating for easier care and ideal sharpenability
- Sharp upper blade (78mm) made of high quality and hardened tool steel with improved cutting force through the lever system. Optimal balance in the construction allows less effort with a powerful and professional cut for left- and right-handers with power savings of up to 75%.
- Improved sharpenability
- Special non-stick coating
- Precision grinding

gruntek anvil lopper chopping branch
Runner Up: Spear & Jackson W213 Razorsharp Telescopic Ratchet Anvil Lopper
Our first runner up is the Spear & Jackson W213 Razorsharp Telescopic lopper. This is an intimidating pair of
The Spear & Jackson comes in at just 46cm and can be extended to reach 72cm. This is actually close to the length of the Fiskars PowerGear, meaning it won’t reach as long as many people think. However, it does have the advantage of being smaller, which some people prefer when looking for a lopper. Despite that, it’s still quite heavy compared to the Fiskars PowerGear, holding it back from receiving a solid recommendation.
While this lopper is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a long lopper, you have to keep in mind that all of that extra bulk and weight doesn’t come with no cost. The Spear & Jackson is heavy and it’s very noticeable when compared directly to our winner. This is probably because of the sturdy construction and materials used. While it does provide an excellent cutting experience and feels like it’ll last forever, it does suffer a bit in a long-term use scenario if your arms aren’t quite up the challenge.
As explained in the section about the Fiskars PowerGear Lopper, the telescopic design and heavy-duty materials used are both a blessing and a curse. Ultimately, they don’t really affect the cutting experience unless you’re pruning tree branches that are out of your reach. If it saves you having to get a step ladder then it’s probably a great idea to use a telescopic lopper. However, as you extend it, it ultimately makes it heavier due to the imbalanced weight. This makes it tough on your arms and you won’t be able to get a clean cut.
We also can’t vouch for the cutting power of the Spear & Jackson over the Fiskars PowerGear. The gear system really does make for some smooth and clean cuts whereas the design of the Spear & Jackson screams power over finesse. While it can initially sound like a good idea to aim for a powerful cut, it doesn’t mean that it’s going to be a clean one. However, its saving grace is that it’s simply cheaper than the alternatives. We can also praise the Spear & Jackson for its surprisingly comfortable handle grips.
And this leads us to the conclusion of the Spear & Jackson and also it hasn’t taken first place over the Fiskars PowerGear Lopper. It simply tries to do a little too much and falls flat by trying to take the crown for everything. Yes, the telescopic handle can be a good option if you’re cutting large trees, but you’re not going to cut just a branch or two. Instead, you’re going to cut a whole lot of them and if your arms get tired before you’ve finished even half of it, then the
Runner Up: Davaon Pro Ratchet Telescopic Anvil Loppers
Our second runner up is the Davaon Pro Ratchet Telescopic Anvil
Capable of reaching up to 100cm, this lopper is perfect for reaching high up into trees and pruning their branches. However, its long handle means it can also be used for tree hedges. This is a great option if you’re looking for a multi-purpose lopper that can do a lot of things in the garden.
However, we do need to talk about its cutting mechanism. We don’t believe that the Davaon Pro Ratchet is very “pro” at all. Cuts weren’t necessarily the cleanest we’ve seen and it’s hard to recommend such an unpleasant cutting experience. Sure, it can get the job done and you’ll be pruning trees before you know it, but the overall experience is every akin to cheaper tools.
We also need to talk about the weight of the lopper. Much like the Spear & Jackson, the heavier construction means that it’s harder to wield, especially when its in the extended telescopic mode. This is where the
We can give points for its comfortable handles and overall build quality. It’s heavy and bulky, but that only adds to the sturdiness of the lopper and how nice it feels in the hand. We can’t guarantee that it will be comfortable to use once you’ve extended the handle, but we can say that it’s going to be pleasant enough that you can get some good cutting and pruning in. However, use this for a long period of time and you’ll find your arms aching.
So in short, we can recommend the Davaon lopper if you’re looking for a very long telescopic lopper. However, if you care about the quality of your cuts, we would suggest looking for a different option such as the Fiskars PowerGear that is a little more expensive but ultimately offers a lot more power and usability thanks to its small size and lightweight nature.

gruntek anvil lopper in packaging
Best Loppers Buyers Guide
So what exactly should you be looking for when it comes to
The Cutting Blades
There are two different types of
On the other hand, anvil
Picking Blades
Most lopper blades are made from steel for the durability they provide. It’s also a lot easier to work with when sharpening the blade. The best-quality blades are typically made from hardened or carbon steel. This makes them last much longer than typical steel and are less likely to bend, scratch or generally become damaged with general use. These are the most common materials that blades are made from and anything less usually means that it won’t last a long time or might not offer a clean cut. It might also be harder to maintain and sharpening the blade could result in more damage than actually sharpening the blade.
It’s also important to look at the blade’s cutting mechanism itself. The closer the blades are when you close and open the
Cutting Mechanisms
There are three main types of
Geared
Ratcheting hoppers latch as you squeeze and release, meaning they cut in steps as opposed to one clean motion. This can be handy for thicker branches, but do remember that each looper is rated to cut only a certain diameter of the branch and it’s not recommended to go above it.
Lastly, compound action
Handle Styles
On the other hand, a long handle means that you have a lot more leverage and can reach branches that are further away. They tend to be a little more difficult to work with because of the extra weight, but if you’re comfortable handling it, it can actually be a very good option.
Alternatively, there are
Many manufacturers try to fit in as many features as possible to their
As a rule of thumb, avoid telescoping handles unless you’re buying a high-quality lopper. Many mid-to-high range
Grip Styles
Weight Considerations
It’s also very important to consider the weight of the lopper. We’ve alluded to this a few times in this article, but we’re going to dedicate an entire section to it.
For a lighter lopper, you’re typically going to get slightly worse build quality but it’s going to be easier to handle. You won’t strain your arms using it and they won’t feel uncomfortable after a while. These lightweight
For heavier
If possible, try and get a feel for the lopper in a store to see how heavy it is. Even if it doesn’t feel heavy at the start, do remember that continuous use for 30 minutes to an hour will greatly change the way you perceive its weight. It can easily start to feel heavy and you want to avoid that at any cost when working for long periods of time. It can also aggravate existing muscle or joint issues if you’re not careful.
Maintenance and Support
Lastly, consider the maintenance options available and the support offered by the company itself. If the manufacturer is known for offering warranty and excellent support, then it’s worth picking a product from that company just for the support alone. This is where buying from a well-known brand name can either backfire or be a fantastic option. It’s worth looking at the reviews of a product before purchasing it to see if the support is any good.
And you should also take a look at the replacement parts available, namely the blades. It’s completely possible to purchase a whetstone so you can sharpen the blades when needed and adjust the distance between them, but this can take a lot of work and some people would much prefer just replacing the blades. However, if you want to get a bit more use out of your
Wrapping Up
FAQ
Which lopper should I use?
It depends on what you’re using the lopper for. If you are pruning tree branches, then one with a sharp blade that offers clean cuts is preferred. In this case, look for a bypass lopper. If you’re only using a lopper to clean up deadwood and thick branches, use an anvil lopper for its cutting power.
How do I prune with loppers ?
There are a few tips to follow:
- Make sure the blades are sharp before use.
- Use bypass
loppers for a cleaner cut - Line up the blade with the cutting area and remember that the blades pass each other, meaning that the cutting area shifts a little
- Open the
loppers wide so you can get a deep cut instead of snipping at the branches - Use one fluid motion to make the cut so that it’s clean and promotes healthy growth
How do I hold loppers ?
Unless you’re cutting a branch far away, make sure your arms are at a comfortable handle and tightly grip each handle. If you extend your arms, you’ll get tired very easily. When using bypass
How do I maintain my loppers ?
Make sure they’re cleaned on a regular basis to remove any residue and dirt. Scrub them with a brush if there is dirt caked onto the blades. You can also sharpen the blades if they are getting dull by using a whetstone, but be careful not to shave off too much of the blade unless you have a mechanism to tighten the blades. After a gardening session, make sure you clean the blades.
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