My knockoff pruning shears finally broke so I bought a Felco pair and dang what a difference

I used to think all pruning shears were basically the same, just some are cheaper than others. I had this $15 pair from a hardware store in Tucson that I used for about a year and a half, and they got dull fast, plus they kept jamming on thicker branches. Last month I finally shelled out $55 for a Felco 2 after a guy at the nursery told me they last decades. First cut on a half inch rose cane felt like going through butter compared to those old ones. I also love that you can replace every part on them instead of tossing the whole thing. I've already pruned my whole backyard in half the time it used to take. Has anyone else had a similar experience moving from cheap tools to a good brand that made a big difference in your garden work?

2 comments

2 Comments

mason_knight1mo ago

The Felco 2 is a solid choice, I've had mine for about 4 years now and it still feels like new after I sharpen it once a year. That first cut you described, going through a branch like butter, that's the moment you realize you've been fighting your tools instead of working with them. So what made you finally pull the trigger on the Felco, was it that guy at the nursery being convincing or just getting fed up with the jamming?

faithb781mo ago

That line about "fighting your tools instead of working with them" really hit home for me. I used to think spending more than $20 on shears was just snobby nonsense, but after using those Felcos for the first time I felt pretty dumb for putting up with the old ones for so long. Makes you wonder what other cheap tools out there are secretly making your life harder than it needs to be, doesn't it?