We tested the Corona pruners and were left with tired hands and messy cuts. Here's why we can't recommend this pair.
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Corona Pruners Review: We Tried It and Were Not Impressed
Published on Nov. 14, 2024
Whether you’re a casual gardener or a full blown horticulturist, you need a good pair of pruning shears. Both manual shears and electric pruning shears allow you to trim, cut and shape your outdoor plants with ease. There are dozens of pruning shears on the market so we set out to find the best of the best. We tested 11 pairs of these essential trimming tools, including the Corona pruners.
Designed for larger hands, these Corona pruners are said to be capable of cutting everything from flower stems to dead branches. In order to determine whether or not these are worthy of pruning for your garden, our testers put them up against a variety of stems, birchwood dowels and dead wood ranging from 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 inches wide. Their findings may surprise you. Here’s everything you need to know before adding the Corona pruners to your cart.
What Are the Corona Pruners?
The Corona Classic Cut Pruners measure 8.5-inches long, have a 6.5-inch handle spread and are designed for larger hands. They’re equipped with a curved bypass blade made from high-carbon steel and have a cutting diameter of up to one inch. A non-slip textured grip and weight of just 12.5-ounces makes them easy to carry around the garden.
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We Tried It
Corona Classic Cut Pruners
These Corona pruners are supposed to cut branches and stems up to 1-inch in diameter. Our testers insist this is overstated.
Corona Pruners Features
Sharpenable Blade
You can sharpen the blades on these pruners, allowing you to use them year after year.
Wire-Cutting Capabilities
These pruners feature a tiny notch toward the base of the blade designed for wire-cutting.
Lifetime Warranty
Corona guarantees that these pruners will be free of material and workmanship defects for the life of the tool. Just be sure to save your receipt as you will need an original proof of purchase for any and all returns.
How We Tested the Corona Pruners
Associate product testers Sheri Kaz and Dylan Fischer began the testing process by noting the pruners’ weight, measurements and callout features. Right away, they noted how wide and heavy these pruners felt in their hands. They did point out that the brand’s website indicates that these pruners are made for larger hands. However, they worried that these pruners would quickly cause fatigue.
Once they concluded their observations, our testers took these Corona pruners into Sheri’s backyard for testing. They gathered three sizes of wooden dowels, deadwood branches and stems in various sizes, and greenwood branches and stems, including cherry wood and an asparagus plant, in various sizes.Â
Our testers ran the first test with a series of 0.25-inch stems. Unfortunately, the pruners did not meet our testers’ expectations. “It took a surprising amount of force just to cut through the smallest dowel,” says Kaz. “We thought that it would at least cut with good force considering how unwieldy it is.” Moreover, these pruners left jagged edges on the stems.
During the second test, these pruners could not cut the birch dowel without maximum force and several tries. “It took a lot of force and two hands to cut an actual dead branch,” explains Kaz. Once the dowel had been cut, our testers noted that the dowel had been split and the sides had been smooshed.
For the final test, Dylan attempted to cut through a 0.75-inch dowel, deadwood branch and asparagus. He noted good cut quality on the asparagus, but it did not cut through the dowel or deadwood. “It couldn’t cut through deadwood or dowel although the specs says it can cut up to 1 inch,” he explains. “The packaging emphasizes getting the branch into the blades are far as you can. But once you have the handles open all the way it’s near impossible to wrap your hand around it, let alone have enough strength to cut through.”
Pros
- Priced under $40
- Designed for large hands
- Packaging allows you to test it in the store
- Replacement parts offered on the brand’s website
- Lifetime warranty with proof of original purchase
Cons
- Poor cutting quality
- Handles are too wide
- Caused hand fatigue
- Overstated product specs
- Grip is not cushioned
Why You Should Trust Us
At Family Handyman, our goal is to help you shop with confidence. This is especially true for gardening tools, which help enhance your home’s curb appeal. Our editors and testers have years of experience testing hundreds of products from pruning saws to tree trimming tools, allowing us to bring you the most comprehensive guides on tree pruners and loppers.
For this series on pruners, our product testers spent a total of 45 hours closely examining 11 pairs, including these Corona pruners. They performed 14 tests on each pair and collected roughly 300 data points overall.
FAQ
How do you sharpen Corona hand pruners?
For best results, Corona recommends using their carbide sharpening tool.
What Other Reviewers Had to Say
Out of 50 reviews, these Corona pruners received 4.5 stars. Many purchasers are impressed by how sturdy they feel and their overall ease of use.
One verified buyer is especially appreciative of the high quality construction. “They are built to last with a replaceable blade that’s easy to sharpen…The older pair I have is still functional except that the spring and keeper wore out after 5 years of heavy use. No plastic parts in this model!”
“They are strong, sharp and a little heavier than I expected,” writes another verified buyer. “Very useful for small pruning.”
Corona Pruners vs. Felco 2 Pruners
Our team tested 11 pruners including the Corona Pruners and the Felco 2 pruners. Both pruners are almost identical in size and are rated for large hands. However, our testers found the Corona pruners to be unwieldy and cumbersome.
During testing, our team struggled with the Corona pruners. They required two hands and a lot of force to cut through all of the branches, stems and dead wood. And once cuts were made, they were jagged, smooshed or split the wood. Our team found no reason to recommend the Corona pruners, insisting they are going to cause fatigue more quickly than other pruners.
On the other hand, our testers loved the Swiss-made Felco 2. The Felco 2 features an ergonomic form and contoured finger grips for comfort and safety. Better yet, our team described the Felco 2’s cuts as clean, excellent and like butter. And while they cost around $20-$25 more than the Corona pruners, the Felco 2 is the better choice. Read our full Felco pruners review to learn more and see where to buy them.
Final Verdict
Unfortunately, not every product we test is a winner. Such is the case with these Corona pruners. “These are extremely unwieldy for even Dylan’s hands, and this doesn’t even pay off with any kind of heavy-duty performance,” says Kaz. “The only good thing we can say is that the packaging allows you to test it at the store, so you can at least tell right away if your hand is large enough to hold it.”
Where to Buy the Corona Pruners
These Corona pruners retail for $38.99 and are available at Ace Hardware, Walmart and Tractor Supply Co.
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We Tried It
Corona Classic Cut Pruners
An unwieldy grip and poor cut quality prevented our testers from recommending these pruners.
