Loppers vs Pruning Saw?
By Nate Sawyer, Editor · Updated July 2026
DIYPicks is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate and affiliate of home-improvement retailers, we may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site — at no extra cost to you. This never affects our recommendations.
Fiskars PowerGear2 32 in Bypass Lopper
A geared bypass lopper that turns 2-inch live branches into an easy squeeze, its PowerGear2 mechanism giving up to 3x easier cutting with 32-inch shafts for reach. Trade-offs: at about 3.9 lb it is heavy overhead, it can jam on dry deadwood, and pushing past 2 inches springs the blade out of alignment, so switch to a saw.
| Type | Bypass lopper with PowerGear2 compound gear mechanism |
|---|---|
| Max cut | 2 in (50 mm) |
| Blade | Fully hardened steel, bypass style, low-friction/UltraBlade coating |
| Cutting | Bypass (clean cut for live branches) |
| Handle | 32 in shafts with SoftGrip handles |
| Weight | Approx. 3.9 lb (1.8 kg) |
| Best for | Live branches up to 2 in thick |
Silky Gomboy 240 Folding Pruning Saw
A premium folding pull-saw that starts where loppers stop, cutting branches and deadwood roughly 4-5 inches thick; its impulse-hardened Japanese blade cuts fast and locks open or closed to pocket safely. Catches: it costs far more than a big-box saw, isn't home-resharpenable, cuts only on the pull and can grab, and big trunks still need a chainsaw.
| Type | Folding pruning saw |
|---|---|
| Max cut | Branches roughly 4-5 in (limited by blade depth) |
| Blade | 9.5 in (240 mm) hardened Japanese steel, medium teeth (~8.5 TPI) |
| Cutting | Pull-stroke saw (cuts on the pull) |
| Handle | Rubber-clad steel, non-slip, locks open and closed |
| Weight | Approx. 8.5 oz (240 g) |
| Best for | Branches too thick for loppers |
Our verdict
These tools hand off at about 2 in. A geared bypass lopper like the Fiskars PowerGear2 makes fast, clean cuts on live branches up to roughly 2 in and gives you reach and leverage in one squeeze - ideal for routine trimming and shaping. Past 2 in, on multiple cuts, or on hard dry deadwood that jams a bypass, a folding saw like the Silky Gomboy 240 takes over, cutting limbs several inches thick with pull strokes. Loppers are faster for many small live cuts; the saw is the answer for anything thick or woody. Most gardeners carry both and let branch size decide.