The Fiskars pruners are the best value pruners thanks to their performance, cut quality and affordable price tag.
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Fiskars Pruners Review: We Tried It and Got the Most Bang for Our Buck
Published on Nov. 19, 2024
When it comes to pruning your garden, one thing is certain:Â the best pruning shears will help keep everything neat and tidy. Most of these heavy-duty plant scissors are designed to snip and snap stems up to one-inch in diameter and are a must-have item for every gardening shed. In order to find the best shears for your tree trimming needs, we put 11 pairs to the test. We were especially impressed by these Fiskars pruners.
These universal pruners can be used on everything from harvesting fresh flowers and veggies to trimming rogue stems and dead wood. During testing, our team appreciated the fact that they were easy to grip and produced clean cuts. And the best part? They are super affordable. Here’s everything you need to know about the Fiskars pruners before adding them to your cart.
 What are Fiskars Pruners?
When it comes to scissors, Fiskars is a household name. The brand is known for its quality crafting tools and school supplies as well as its line of pruners and loppers. In other words, the maker of these Fiskars pruners knows a thing or two about powerful and precise blades.
The Fiskars pruners feature a cushioned grip for safety and comfort. They measure 8.75-inches long and have a 5.25-inch handle spread. They’re equipped with a curved bypass blade made from alloy steel and have a one-inch cutting capacity. They are suitable for right- or left-handed use and have replaceable blades.
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We Tried It
Fiskars Bypass Pruning Shears
These budget-friendly pruning shears feature a cushioned grip, replaceable blades and can be used either right- or left-handed.
Fiskars Pruners Features
Left-handed Compatibility
According to our testers, the locking mechanism on these Fiskars pruners is positioned to be used either left- or right-handed. This worked out well for our testers as one of them is right-handed while the other is left-handed.
Replaceable Blade
The manufacturer’s website states that the blade on this set can be sharpened for long-lasting value. Or you can simply replace the blade for continual cutting performance.
Softgrip Touch Points
The upper handle, where you rest your thumb, has a cushioned grip. The bottom handle is plastic.
How We Tested It
During testing, our team focused on cut quality, the amount of force required and the consistency of the pruners’ performance across all plant types. They were also be on the lookout for signs of hand fatigue as they evaluated the pruners’ ergonomics and overall comfort.
Backyard Testing
After noting the Fiskars pruners’ weight, measurements and callout features, associate product testers Sheri Kaz and Dylan Fischer took these Fiskars pruners into Sheri’s backyard for testing. They had gathered three sizes of wooden dowels, three sizes of deadwood branches and stems and three sizes of greenwood branches and stems, including cherry wood and an asparagus plant.Â
Before they began cutting, our team noticed that the handle spread didn’t fully open without a little help. “The spring is a little sticky and doesn’t spread entirely on its own,” notes Kaz. Although they noted that the Fiskars pruners were easy to grip, the sticky handle led to initial concerns about performance and hand fatigue.
Quarter-Inch Stems
The first test was with a series of 0.25-inch stems. Both Sheri and Dylan attempted to cut through a green tree branch and wood dowel. The Friskars pruners cut through the green tree branch with no issue whatsoever and left a nice, clean cut. Next up was the dowel. Sheri needed two hands to complete the cut while Dylan was able to do it with one hand. The wood was a bit squished at the end, but overall it was a neat cut.
Half-Inch Stems
Our testers moved onto 0.5-inch stems for the next test. The pruners easily cut through a piece of green cherrywood. However, Dylan had to use two hands to cut through the dowel and the deadwood, calling the task “pretty difficult.” Moreover, the ends of the dowel were squished rather than clean cut.
Three-Quarter-Inch Stems
For the final test, Dylan used the pruners to cut through a 0.75-inch dowel, deadwood branch and asparagus. He was unable to cut through the dowel or the deadwood, but had less trouble cutting through the asparagus. “It cut through easily, but we were struggling a bit to fully fit the stem in between the blades,” he explains. “The packaging claims it can fit 1-inch branches and stems, but we’re not entirely sure how true that is.”
After cutting a variety of stems, our team agreed that although the Fiskars pruners feel a bit stiff and tight compared to others they tested, they are a good value. “Because the spring action is so tight, it could cause fatigue after constant use, but for the price and performance, we recommend the Fiskars pruners as the best budget buy,” says Kaz.
Pros
- Produces clean cuts
- Affordable
- Replaceable blades
- Cushioned grip
- Can be used right- or left-handed
Cons
- Spring is stiff and uncomfortable to use
Why You Should Trust Us
At Family Handyman, our goal is to help you find quality products that will enhance your life and your space. In order to help you shop with confidence, we personally test the products we recommend. From electric pruning shears to pruning saws, our expert product testers have gotten up close and personal with hundreds of items.
For this article, our product testing team spent 45 hours examining and testing 11 pruners. They performed 14 tests on each pair and collected roughly 300 data points overall. Out of the 11 we tested, only 7 made our list of recommended pruners, including these Fiskars pruners. We will never recommend a product we don’t love regardless of a brand’s popularity or price point.
FAQ
Where are Fiskars pruners made?
Many Fiskars products are designed, manufactured and tested in Finland. Others are produced in the United States.
Can you sharpen Fiskars pruners?
Yes. The blade on these Fiskars pruners can be sharpened or replaced.
What Other Reviewers Had to Say
The Fiskars pruners are a beloved product with over 37,200 five-star ratings on Amazon. Overall, users are impressed by the pruners’ quality, value and performance.
Amazon user Lokiamus calls these pruners a good quality tool that will deliver on performance. “I’ve been using them for a few weeks now and have been cutting through a variety of woody, and non-woody stems measuring maybe an 1 inch or less diameter with ease: small/underdeveloped tree branches (elm, bougainvillea & crape myrtle), vines (smilax/greenbriar/wisteria/morning glory) and any other undesirable growths that have sprung up,” they write. “I have small hands and weak wrists so I appreciate the light weight and not having to apply a great amount of force when cutting.”
And while our testers found the spring on these pruners stiff and uncomfortable, Lokiamus insists that they “function smoothly like shock absorbers on a car.”
Gretty’s Gadgets Galore, another verified Amazon user, calls the Fiskars pruners the perfect pruning shears for any gardener. Gretty especially appreciates their cutting power, comfort, durability, precision and value. “In summary, the Fiskars Bypass Pruning Shears are an excellent choice for both amateur and experienced gardeners. They combine cutting efficiency, comfort, and durability in a way that makes gardening tasks more enjoyable and less of a chore,” writes Gretty. “I highly recommend these shears to anyone looking to upgrade their gardening tools. Five stars!”
And LaLa credits these pruners for their abundant tomato harvest. “I came across a YouTube video suggesting I aggressively prune tomato plants to make more fruit grow. Mine weren’t doing well this season, so it was the perfect time to experiment,” writes LaLa. “I bought these clippers and went to tomato town. I clipped all the leaves and branches that didn’t have any fruit. (That was a lot!) Within one week, I had more tomatoes growing than I did all summer. I found these shears easy to use with one hand (I have small-ish hands). The blades don’t seem to be dull after using these for a couple months. Very happy with these and with my yield.”
Fiskars Pruners vs. Felco 2 Pruners
In addition to the Fiskars pruners, Kaz and Fisher also tested the Swiss-made Felco 2 pruners. Both pruners are easy and comfortable to use and provided clean cuts. When tested on branches and stems 0.5-inches or thicker, both pruners required the use of two hands and a considerable amount of force. In fact, neither set of pruners were able to cut through our testers’ 0.75-inch dowel or deadwood branch.
While both pruners performed similarly, they are priced quite differently. The Fiskars pruners have an MSRP of $23.50, making them our tester’s top budget pick. The Felco 2 pruners retail for around $70.
Final Verdict
According to our testers, the Fiskars pruners are a great choice for gardeners on a budget. They offer a solid performance at an affordable price and you can’t beat that.
Where to Buy the Fiskars Pruners
The Fiskars pruners are available on Amazon and Lowe’s. They have an MSRP of $23.50 but we have seen the price range from about $15 to $30.
EMIKO FRANZEN FOR FAMILY HANDYMAN
We Tried It
Fiskars Bypass Pruning Shears
Because of the price and performance, our testers recommend the Fiskars bypass pruners as the best budget buy.
