Only the best secateurs can be used to make the gardens look good. But if you’ve ever used pruners on entire gardens, you know just how tiring they can be to your hands. Without an ergonomic design, secateurs are almost impossible to use for more than a few minutes without sharp hand pain.
You might have even looked for secateurs that would cut different branches unsuccessfully. It can be frustrating to use secateurs that aren’t sharp or that simply can’t cut a brand with one hand only. This is why you need to look at popular products, how they react in the hands of the most dedicated gardeners, and how they last in time. If you’re after a short guide on secateurs, you came to the right place.
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Best for Comfort
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Best Blade
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Best Simple Design
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3.5
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3.5
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3.5
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£9.99
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£10.26
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£9.99
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12/17/2022 01:01 am GMT
Ergonomic Garden Secateurs
Are you constantly dealing with tired hands after pruning and trimming your garden? The Pro Bypass Pruners are made to offer reliable results with a very high comfort level. A rotating lower handle has been added to the secateurs. This is one of the best design characteristics to prevent hand pain. You can rely on the rotating handle to cut branches and plants from various angles without too much hand pain.
But the entire grip surface is made with high-quality materials. Soft anti-slip non-stick materials have been added to the handlebars. Highly useful even when you’re trimming your harden with wet hands, the secateurs offer reliability and proper grip apart from offering an ergonomic grip.
We also like you can adjust the cut grip width. Efficient for branches of different diameters, this adjustability options of the pruners makes them highly efficient for both men and women. Even teenagers with smaller hands can find a custom handle position for higher cutting comfort.
The performance of the pruners isn’t bad either. Based on SK5 hardened carbon steel, they cut with precision. Most importantly, these high-quality materials help the pruners stay sharp for longer.
You can cut hours after hours so that your entire garden is clean and better-looking within a day. Even if you’re in a rush, you might still consider these pruners as they come with a finger guard protection. This is why it’s worth choosing the pruners when you have to deal with potentially dangerous plants that could hurt your hands such as roses.
- Made with carbon steel blades
- Designed with an adjustable grip
- Made with a secure safety lock
- Heavier than a simple pair of scissors
Spear & Jackson 6758GS Razorsharp Geared Anvil Secateurs
Useful for thick or dead woody stems, these secateurs are made for ambidextrous use. They have a lightweight construction which also recommends them for large gardens. But they can be the right tool to use when both you and your partner are out in the garden. The versatility of the lightweight tool is impressive. With a lightweight aluminium body, the secateurs can be used for hours at a time until your garden finally looks good.
Made for easier prune snipping, the secateurs come with SK5 steel blades which allow consistent cuts for longer. You don’t need to sharpen the blades as often as non-carbon steel which means you’ll simply have more time to enjoy your garden.
The materials used here are also rust-resistant. Designed to offer proper longevity, the pruners are made to be used in all weather conditions. You might even be specifically looking for garden tools that resist the moody UK weather and these can be the pruners for the job.
A comfortable ergonomic grip completes the secateurs. This means the grip isn’t fully straight as it follows the natural shape and the movements of your hands in its design. As a result, it’s a lot easier to hold and pressing the handlebars doesn’t come with the usual discomfort you may experience with non-ergonomic designs.
- Made with an SK5 carbon blade
- 15mm maximum cut
- Designed with am ambidextrous locking catch
- Only available in one colour
JEOutdoors Pruning Shears
Some of the best gardening tools are those made with simple designs. We know they offer the highest rewards for their low acquisition cost. But are simple trimmers even made anymore? As seen with the ZEM Pruning Shears, simple designs are still made and they enjoy impressive popularity.
Gardening fans talk about these secateurs frequently on gardening forums. But why could such a simple design attract so many praises? It’s the simplicity of the use that makes them friendly for the newbie gardener. It comes with a simple ergonomic design which allows proper grip. The grip area is made to imitate wood, but it’s a simple plastic-rubber combination material made to prevent slipping.
The steel blades are also highly efficient. Used on stems of up to ¾” in diameter, the blade cut with precision and you can always disassemble them easily to sharpen as often as needed. The blades have been reported to remain sharp for months and even a few years. You don’t need to worry about sharpening right in the first couple of gardening seasons.
A safety lock is also added on these simple secateurs. Made for those who want to use them in different locations and even travel with them, the locking system helps you stay safe. Sure, it’s not a mandatory feature. But the safety catch can be a good option if you have kids running around who’s always fascinated by tools.
- Made with a simple design
- Based on steel blades
- Included safety lock
- No rotary handle design
Victoper Secateurs
Made for thicker stems, these anvil secateurs are a leader in some of the most demanding gardening jobs. We’re not talking about soft plants you can cut with scissors but about thick stems. With blades of 6cm, these pruners even feel a bit longer when you see how quickly they cut.
With a length of 20cm, they offer longer handles which makes them perfect for continuous use. You can hold them in your hands for a few hours and you might even change hands if you feel you’re getting tired from all the pruning.
An automatic good quality spring cushioning is added to the secateurs, right between the handles. Its role is to open the blades again after your make the cut closing the blades, A simple spring is what you need when you want to save energy and avoid getting fatigued hands when you make hundreds and thousands of cuts per day.
At a weight of 283 grams, these pruners aren’t the lightest we’ve seen in this class. The outdoor pruners are lighter. But this extra weight is needed when it comes to dealing with the most demanding cuts of thick stems. You might not come back to lighter pruners in the future once you get used to the higher weight that triggers the improved cutting power.
FELCO Model 2 Secateurs (Large)
Made for medium to large hands, these secateurs are perfect for men. With durable materials, they are made for large gardens and they are easily used in smaller to medium gardens as well. The durable construction impresses from the start. It’s even backed by a lifetime warranty for all of the parts which makes the pruners hard to overlook in this affordable segment.
The anvil blade with sap groove cuts with precision. You’ll notice how even long periods the blade is still not dull and rust never appears even when you have to cut thicker branches after the rain when they aren’t completely dry.
The alloy has been used to create the handles. This lightweight material represents the best solution when it comes to durability and high precision. We appreciate these secateurs feel very lightweight in the hands. Sure, they come with minimum extras and a tiny spring shock absorbers. But these small parts are what makes the pruners so easy to hold for long hours.
Made by a company that produces secateurs for 100 years, these are the right options when it comes to long term use. We like their Model 2 the most as it cuts stems of up to 1 inch. Alternatively, you can choose Model 6 if you only need to cut thinner stems. But with micrometric adjustment and with shock absorption construction, these pruners are made for any type of garden.
- High finish manufacturing
- Made with multiple quality control checks
- Ideal up to 1-inch cutting capacity
- Not the most affordable pruners
Fiskars SmartFit Pruner Bypass P68
It’s so difficult to get into tree pruning with the wrong tools. You might even be an expert at this matter but with a pruner that doesn’t cut wooden stem, you will be facing fatigue sooner rather than later. This is where high-quality P68 comes in.
The secateurs are made for wooden dead stems of up to 2.5cm in diameter. You can use them for all types of situations where your trees simply need a bit of cleaning up. You won’t find the classic pair of secateurs here, but a design with materials that are of the highest quality.
For example, the handles are made from durable glass fibre. It uses quality steel blades to make precise cuts. Some of those new to the gardening world might also be interested in the company’s diamond file which has been used successfully to keep these blades sharp.
- Lightweight at 222 grams
- Made with glass fiber
- Suitable for thick branches
- Precise cuts only up to 2cm stems
Davaon Pro Geared Secateurs Set
Sold in sets of 2, these secateurs impress even those who don’t think they need as many gardening tools as others. You always get a backup pruner your partner can use and you can clear out your small garden within a day on a free Saturday.
We like the secateurs made by Davaon especially for the advanced gear system they feature. These gear are made to give you extra cutting power so that you don’t have to use as much force as with other pruners. The secateurs are made with rotating powergears that are actioned whenever you press the handles giving you the edge and that extra power that makes them so easy to use.
With ergonomic soft-grip handles, the secateurs impress on wooden stems. But it’s the little extras that make these pruners a wise investment even if they’re not the most affordable option on our list. Thing such as easily opening the lock switch with the thumb makes these very easy to use almost all day long.
- Made with cutting action gears
- Thumb-only blade lock and unlock
- Rust-resistant blades for precision cutting
- Not the most affordable option
Davaon Pro Premium 2-in-1 Ratchet Secateurs
With both ratchet action cutting and with single cut operation modes, these secateurs are ready to be used on all cuts of up to 22mm. There’s a simple switch you need to pull when you want to change the pruners from the ratchet anvil secateurs cutting mode to the single cut mode.
Otherwise, the secateurs are made with aluminium handles with no soft-grip surfaces. You will be directly pressing on the aluminium with your hands. If you have delicate hands, this might not be the product for you. But on the other hand, if you’re an professional gardener, these might be the only secateurs on your list that truly appeal to you.
- Made with ratchet mechanism
- Suitable for experienced gardeners
- Extra cutting power when needed
- No padding on the handles
Sensei Tools Secateurs
With pruner length of 8.5”, Sensei Tools made these secateurs for serious tasks such as cleaning apple trees or rose stems. They have been equipped with the right blades to make cuts on stems of up to 22mm with a large cutting diameter which makes them highly efficient for all types of gardening tasks as well.
The blades themselves are made from SK5 carbon steel. We’ve seen this material on other secateurs on our list which perform to a very high standard. You might as well consider these instead of regular steel pruner when you don’t want to upgrade your gardening tools too often.
In the hands, the secateurs feel durable. Sap-free and ready to cut thick stem, these have been known for providing excellent support for most gardeners. It’s just a shame they aren’t covered by a lifetime guarantee as other leading products in this class.
- Made with extra-strong carbon steel
- Suitable for 22mm cuts
- Coated anti-rust blades
- Short warranty
Spear and Jackson Secateurs
Made with long 6cm blades, these Spear & Jackson anvil pruners are mainly used for the heavy cutting jobs. If you don’t want to look for something more potent as a small saw, you might only choose such long pruners for your demanding gardening jobs.
With a length of 22cm, these are some of the longest secateurs on our list and they have to be. Given the cut thicker stem and woody stem or dead wood, these pruners need to be made with heavy-duty materials. You can use adjustable blade tension which makes some of your tasks a bit easier, even if we can’t say anything is easy with thick stems.
The ergonomic design has been added to the handles. Both handles are slightly bent forward at the ends which means it’s easier for you to press and bring them together. But we also like there’s a rare 2-step locking latch mechanism which locks them closed or open.
- Made for thick stem
- Designed with adjustable blade tension
- Long handles
- Too large for small hands
How to choose the best secateurs
When you’re trying to maintain a garden that looks impressive you need to look at what makes the blades as good as you need. There are all types of blades and secateurs you can choose today. Some of them are good while others are simply not up for the task. Here’s what you need to know.
Cutting blade materials
The replaceable sharp blades are the most important part of the secateurs. You need to choose products that are finished to a high standard with blades that don’t rust and that are capable of dealing with clean cuts. Some of these cuts might only be possible with stainless steel blades. We strongly recommend getting the secateurs that are further treated with carbon as this allows them to maintain a durable profile without needing as much sharpening.
You can always find cheaper materials in your secateurs. But most of them aren’t too reliable. If you can believe it, there are companies that even sell secateurs made with plastic blades. You need to realize which of these materials are made to last and which are made to be broken within a couple of days.
Bypassing vs anvil (loppers) secateurs
There are different types of secateurs you need to know about. Bypassing secateurs use blades which pass each other for clean cuts on soft texture plants. You can use them to cut leaves or soft stems. But loppers can be used for the most demanding cutting jobs. You can use Amazon Japanese blades on anvil secateurs on stems of up to 2.5cm in thickness which is where you’ll need to put in the strength to deal with all of these cuts constantly until your garden looks perfect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best secateurs?
The Davaon Pro Bypass Secateurs are some of the best in class when it comes to the overall cutting efficiency as well as to proper hands protection. Made with a unique rotary handle, the secateurs are made with proper ergonomics as we understand it today. They even come with a finger guard which helps you stay focused on your tasks. Ideally, you want to also look for secateurs that can be tightened with a regular screwdriver. Most blades tend to become a bit lose after intense use and they need small adjustments.
What are bypass secateurs used for?
Bypass secateurs use a system of blades that don’t stop when they meet each other when cutting. You can see the blade bypassing each other which results in very clean cuts. In normal conditions, these types of bypass blade secateurs are used for living plants or soft tissue stems.
You can use both regular and bypass secateurs in your garden. Simply put, you would look at wooden stems for your regular secateurs and at bypass designs for all of your soft plants such as flower and even vegetables. Both of these are going to offer different results, especially in the result of a clean cut. But you can find these secateurs are usable even on different stem thickness. You can simplify your work simply by choosing to go with the bypass secateurs on the thinnest stems. All of the other cutting tasks can be done with your regular secateurs.
Which Felco secateurs are the best?
Felco is a known Swiss brand that makes secateurs for around 100 years. This brand has been recognized as one of the leading options for those who want trustworthy products. There are nearly one hundred quality assurance tests that Felco secateurs need to pass when they get out of production.
What’s the difference between the anvil and bypass secateurs?
Anvil secateurs have a blade system that closes when one anvil meets another anvil. Bypass secateurs allow the blades to travel further towards the back passing each other for cleaner cuts that don’t need as much cutting power.