Which are the Best Secateurs?

Secateurs are small garden pruning shears intended for use with one hand. Discover which are the best secateurs for you and you will have a vital garden tool you are likely to use almost every day.

The word secateurs is from the french – see video below for pronunciation guide.

In this post we are going to take a look at:

• The difference between garden pruners and secateurs
• Anvil versus Bypass Cut Models – and why you should care
• What to Look for in Secateurs
• Which are the best Secateurs

Which are the Best Secateurs – Garden Shredder Review’s Verdict

We know that many people do not want to read the full review – all you want to see is which Secateurs made it to the top of the list. For you, our pick of the best secateurs is:

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FELCO Model 8

They might be more expensive than the other secateurs in this review, but they will last you a lifetime.

What’s the Difference Between Pruner’s and Secateurs?

Garden pruners cover any tool used to prune your garden plants. That can include anything from hand pruners (Secateurs) to tree loppers to telescopic pruners. By using the name Secateur we are being specific about the sort of pruner to which we are referring.

What are Anvil Secateurs and Bypass Secateurs?

Over the years we have come to the conclusion that most garden equipment manufacturers are content to supply Anvil and Bypass Cutter models with little or no explanation on the differences between them.

It is actually fairly important to know the difference in purpose for each type of cutting mechanism. Take a look at our post on Anvil Vs ByPass Secateurs and Loppers – Why you Should Care for full details.

The short answer is that Anvil cutters are designed for cutting tough, dry and often dead wood. This takes much more force than cutting younger, green shoots so Anvil secateurs are built to be tough. As a single blade has to cut through the whole shoot or branch there is a degree of crushing inherent in the cutting action. While OK for old, dry wood, crushing can damage younger shoots.

Bypass cutters work much more like scissors. As the cut from both sides they provide a cleaner cut with less crushing. This is better for living branches and young shoots.

Over the years we have come to the conclusion that Anvil cutters are better on loppers – we are normally cutting pretty big, woody branches with them. Bypass cutters are better for secateurs. After all, secateurs are designed to by used with one hand. We are unlikely to want to cut too many tough, wood branches with our secateurs.

What to Look For in Secateurs

Secateurs are fairly simple tools. Here are a few things you should look for when selecting your secateurs.

• Anvil vs Bypass
• Cutting mechanism – direct or ratchet
• Maximum cut diameter – it is a measure of the manufacturers confidence in the tool. If you are cutting anything much bigger than 1cm in diameter you should probably be pulling out your loppers
• Left or right hand use – some secateurs have moulded grips to make them more comfortable to use. If so, you need to be sure to buy the correct hand for your usage
• Locking mechanism – you are going to be carrying secateurs in your pocket. They are designed to be locked in the closed position for safety.

Direct or Ratchet Cutting Mechanisms

Most secateurs have the blades directly attached to the handles. All the force applied to the blades comes from how strongly you can squeeze the handles.

We are not all equally strong so we cannot all cut the same thickness of materials. Manufacturers provide ratchet and gear mechanisms to allow us to cut with less force through the handles. As you squeeze the handles the blades close on the branch to be cut. You squeeze until the ratchet clicks. At this point you release the blades and they reset to allow you to take another squeeze on the handles.

When using ratchet secateurs you will have to reset the handles a few times. This makes them slower to use.

Most secateurs with a ratchet cut mechanism are anvil cut models.

Which are the Best Secateurs – The Candidates

Anvil Secateurs

WOLF-Garten RS4000 Anvil Secateurs

Wolf Garten is a very well known German Manufacturer of Garden Tools. While maybe best known for their multichange range of tools, Wolf Garten also produce Garden Shredders and pruning tools.

Feature	Wolf Garten RS4000	Comments
Cutter type	Anvil
Cutter mechanism	Simple – direct
Max cut size	25mm
Dimensions(cm)	29×3.8×2.8
Weight (g)	259
Locking	Top mounted slide
Additional Features	Internal return spring 10 year guarantee	Remember to keep your receipt in a safe place

These secateurs are easy and comfortable to use. They cut easily though we have not tried cutting anything up to 25mm in diameter.

Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Advantage

The Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Garden Cutting range includes our Pro, Advance, Advantage, Steel and Active variants. These encompass a wide range of loppers, secateurs, shears and more

Spear and Jackson

Feature	Spear and Jackson Razorsharp	Comments
Cutter type	Anvil
Cutter mechanism	Simple – direct
Maximum cutting size	15mm
Dimensions(cm)	20.5 x 6.8 x 1.5
Weight (g)	200
Locking	Top mounted slide
Additional Features	10 Year Guarantee

These are very much entry level secateurs. Reviews are generally positive but a number of niggles like the looking slide sticking and problems with the return spring.

You can’t really go wrong with a 10year guarantee.

Fiskars PowerGear X Pruner PX93

Feature	Fiskars PowerGear X Pruner PX93	Comments
Cutter type	Anvil
Cutter mechanism	Rack and pinion ratchet
Maximum cutting size	26mm	Cutting something over an inch in diameter with secateurs doesn’t feel sensible
Dimensions(cm)	22.5
Weight (g)	200
Locking	Top mounted slide
Additional Features	Rotating handles – right hand use Internal open spring	Note – these are for right handed users

We are getting to like the Fiskars range of pruning tools. We were highly impressed with their tree loppers and we are equally impressed with the range of features they pack into these secateurs.

Hidden inside the secateurs is a rack and pinion, ratchet system. Fiskars claim this trebles the force available at the blades. Remember, to get the extra force you are going to be moving the handles further. It does slow down the use of secateurs. Cutting up to 26mm seems excessive for hand held secateurs.

This model has rotating handles which are shaped for right hand use only.

Davaon Pro

Feature	Davaon Pro	Comments
Cutter type	Anvil
Cutter mechanism	Direct coupled	Danoan claim that the swiveling handle increases cutting efficiency by 30%
Maximum cutting size	20mm
Dimensions(cm)	22 x 5 x 9	Length
Weight (g)	331	About 50% heavier than other anvil secateurs
Locking	Side mounted swivel
Additional Features	Rotating handles – increasing operating efficiency Adjustable range of movement of handles to allow for smaller hands Customer satisfaction Guarantee

Danoan seem to be taking a careful look at what makes gardening tools really useful. These secateurs have some useful features such as finger protection, rotating handles and adjustable range of movement on handles.

Just about the only downsides are:

• the size – they are noticeably bigger than other secateurs
• the weight – they are about 50% heavier than other leading secateurs in this class.

ByPass Secateurs

FELCO Model 8

No review of secateurs would be complete without including something from Felco. Felco have around 20 different secateurs in their range – including models specifically for left and right handed people.

We have chosen to look at a mid-range model – the Felco Model 8

Feature	Felco Model 8	Comments
Cutter type	Bypass
Cutter mechanism	Direct coupled
Maximum cutting size	25mm
Dimensions(cm)	21	Length
Weight (g)	245	Heavier than many competitors
Locking	Side mounted swivel
Additional Features	Handle opening adjustment – make it more comfortable for smaller hands Blades are mounted on dowel pins for easy replacement Lifetime guarantee on manufacturing defects	We may be cynical, but we don’t think a lifetime guarantee on manufacturing defects is much use.

Felco are recognised as the top makers of secateurs. Most models are fairly basic in design but they are now including some of the innovations common from other manufacturers.

What Felco secateurs do is cleanly and effectively prune your plants. You only have to read the reviews – Felco do the job.

We just can’t get over the price. They are going to cost you 2-3 times other makes.

WOLF-Garten RR5000

Feature	Wolf Garten RR5000	Comments
Cutter type	Bypass
Cutter mechanism	Direct coupled
Maximum cutting size	25mm
Dimensions(cm)	20 x 10 x 5	Length
Weight (g)	298	Heavier than many competitors
Locking	Side mounted slide
Additional Features	10 year guarantee

There’s not a lot more to be said about these Wolf Garten Secateurs. Like the anvil model, these bypass secateurs are very highly rated.

The RR5000 model is considered the professional model. It cuts up to 25mm – we have said many times that this is overkill for one-handed pruning tools.

Like the Felco above, we like the Wolf Garten, but it does seem expensive.

Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Professional

Feature	Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Professional	Comments
Cutter type	Bypass
Cutter mechanism	Direct coupled
Maximum cutting size	n/k
Dimensions(cm)	22x6x3.5	Length
Weight (g)	227	Light
Locking	Side mounted flip/swivel	Some reports of this jamming or failing to work as the secateurs get a little older
Additional Features	Range of movement adjuster 10 year guarantee

Like all the secateurs in this review – these do a great job. There are a few too many reports of poor quality and early failure. Most of these relate to the locking mechamism which either fails or jams.

Fiskars PowerGear X Bypass

It would be unthinkable not to include the Fiskars Powergear Bypass secateurs in this review. As we have said, we really like Fiskar’s products.

Feature	Fiskars PowerGear X Bypass	Comments
Cutter type	Bypass
Cutter mechanism	Gear and pinion	Fiskars patented rear, pinion and ratchet system
Maximum cutting size	20mm
Dimensions(cm)	21x8x4.3	This seems quite chunky.  There is an overall feeling of a fairly big unit
Weight (g)	272
Locking	Side mounted – turn to lock
Additional Features	Roll handle for comfort and ergonomics Replaceable blades

The Powergear L secateurs are Fiskar’s professional offering. You can also get the Fiskars P92 for a bit less money. We have chosen to look at the pro offering as it is a better comparison to the other shredders in this review.

One of the things we like about the Fiskars is that they offer maintenance packs such as replacement blades and blade sharpening kits. They may be a bit expensive but it does show a commitment to customer service.

Overall customer usage experience is excellent. There are a few complaints about these secateurs breaking in use. We think this is likely to be when trying to engage the powergear system to cut larger branches. We are not sure why Fiskars are using Powergear on bypass cutters.

Davoan Pro

Feature	Davoan Pro	Comments
Cutter type	Bypass
Cutter mechanism	Direct
Maximum cutting size	n/k
Dimensions(cm)	21.5x9x54	Like the Fiskars, this seems quite chunky.  There is an overall feeling of a fairly big unit
Weight (g)	331	Heavy
Locking	Side mounted – turn to lock
Additional Features	Roll handle for comfort and ergonomics Adjustable cut width Finger protection

Davoan is a make we are only just getting to know and like. In fact, we made the Davaon Pro Ratchet Telescopic Anvil Lopper our pick of the tree loppers.

There is not much wrong with their secateurs either. For my tastes, the Davoan Pros are just a bit too big and heavy for everyday use.

Which is the Best Secateur – Conclusion

From out earlier comments, you are not going to be surprised that our choice of best Secateur for 2020 will be a bypass model.

Given that the aim of bypass cutters is to provide the neatest, cleanest, most plant friendly cut, you are probably not going to be too surprised that we are not going to be looking at a powergear model or ones with a very wide cut.

With all that taken into account:

The Garden Shredder Review Secateur of the year 2020 is:

FELCO Model 8

They might be more expensive than the other secateurs in this review, but they will last you a lifetime.

Last update on 2024-07-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API