What To Look For in a Tree Loppers
First you’ll need to choose between anvil or bypass loppers. I recommend anvil loppers to cut thicker, tougher branches up to 5 cm in diameter. These are more powerful and great for pruning dead wood. On the other hand, bypass loppers are the best tree loppers for achieving a clean, healthy cut.
Look for ratchet loppers to make the job easier. Instead of relying on hand strength, they use a ratchet mechanism to cut gradually (much easier on the hands!). However, if you’re hoping to quickly prune smaller branches, a ratchet system may slow you down. Choose ratchet loppers if the branches are over 2 cm thick.
For pruning small trees, look for handles around 38 – 45 cm. You’ll need loppers with long handles (>50 cm) for reaching the tops of taller trees (over 200 cm).
Choose loppers with telescopic handles if you want maximum versatility. These are incredibly useful, but their maximum cutting diameter may reduce when fully extended. Look for aluminium handles for a balance of lightness and strength. Fibreglass handles will be the strongest but are unlikely to be telescopic.
After researching different loppers, I have chosen the Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Advance Heavy Duty Telescopic Ratchet Anvil Lopper as my top pick. Its ratchet system allows you to cut through branches over 4.5 cm thick and it also has telescopic handles. These extend from 40 – 80 cm, enabling you to reach branches over 2 m high without a ladder.
For more information on these loppers, as well as the other models I researched, take a look at the reviews below.