Taking care of your garden while having arthritis hands can be a tough problem to deal with. Even the most basic tasks like using a pruner can become extremely challenging to do.
A nice way to deal with such a problem is by investing in some good quality tools that are soft to handle but can still do the job properly. We did our market research and came up with a list for the best pruners for people with arthritic hands.
Our Top Picks:
- Gonicc GPPS-1003 Professional Pruner.
- Mockins Heavy Duty Garden Anvil Pruner.
- Gardener’s Friend Pruner For Weak Hands.
- Fiskars 1001 Micro-Tip Pruner.
- WilFiks Garden Pruning & Trimming Hand Tool.
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Product Name
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Gonicc GPPS-1003 Professional Pruner | Mockins Heavy Duty Garden Anvil Pruner | Gardener's Friend Pruner For Weak Hands | Fiskars 1001 Micro-Tip Pruner, Hard plastic lock | WilFiks Garden Pruning & Trimming Hand Tool |
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Features
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Titanium steel blade, Sap groove design, Drop forged body | Shock absorbing rubber, Non-slip ergonomic handle | Coated slides, Carbon steel blade, Anvil channel coating | Anti-slip grips, Stainless Steel build, Thermo plastic rubber handle | Safety block, Rubberized grips, Safety lock |
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Ratings
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4.4 out of 5 | 4.5 out of 5 | 4.3 out of 5 | 4.5 out of 5 | 4.7 out of 5 |
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Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
Gonicc GPPS-1003 Professional Pruner
Starting with amazon’s best seller, Gonicc’s titanium pruning shears. Since they were already getting so much attention, We decided to put them to the test and see if they really are what they seem to be.
The design looks professional, It has “titanium steel” blades which helps against rusting & corrosion and the ultra fine polishing will help with the durability. However, It will still require some level of maintenance if you decide to use it regularly.
The handles are quite lightweight and comfortable and have an ergonomic designed with non-slip mechanism.
Even though we noticed a lot of bad press regarding the product’s durability, We didn’t experience such a problem when doing our research.
Pros:
- Extremely Comfortable Handles.
- Ideal For Arthritis Patients.
- Very Sharp Blades.
Cons:
- Not the most durable.
Mockins Heavy Duty Garden Anvil Pruner
Inexpensive doesn’t always mean bad quality, And the mockings heavy duty garden pruner is a proof of that.
Starting with a foolproof design, Works extremely well even for people with small hands. The handles locks perfectly into the palms, comes with a rubberized finger side for a better grip and has a very comfortable feel to it.
The blades are made of durable stainless steel, It has shown no signs of wear or rust and were quite easy to clean after some extensive garden work.
It features a pretty decent locking mechanism and was able to hold up pretty well, A pretty interesting spring that didn’t seem too hard to press but was still able to bounce back perfectly after every cut.
All in all, This is definitely one of the top three for best pruners out there, especially after looking at how low it costs compared to others in the market.
Pros:
- Amazing Spring Action.
- Extremely Affordable.
- Great For Small Hands.
Cons:
- Doesn’t perform well with softer plants.
Gardener's Friend Pruner For Weak Hands
A perfect fit for people searching for something that can handle larger branches and twigs. The gardener’s friend pruner is a highly recommended product and fairly so.
It has a lightweight & durable aluminum build with soft rubber ergonomic handles.The blades are made with hardened carbon steel with channel coating which helps tremendously with keeping it sharp and intact.
It was able to cut fairly thick branches with extreme ease, Which is an amazing feature to have if you have weak hands and/or suffer from arthritis. This is mainly due to its 3 stage ratchet action.
This pruner can be used with both the left or the right hand thanks to its symmetric shape. Comes with a detachable oiled sponge for cleaning after use, And a replaceable blade in case anything goes wrong and something breaks.
Overall, If you want something that can perform amazingly and don’t care about the cost too much, This product should be on the top of your list.
Pros:
- Astonishing Performance.
- Very Durable Build Quality.
- Simple To Clean & Easy To Maintain.
Cons:
- Very difficult to lock & unlock.
Fiskars 1001 Micro-Tip Pruner
Easily one of the best in this list for trimming & cutting smaller pants, The fiskars 1001 pruner has over 2957 orders in amazon and was still able to maintain a rating above 4 stars which says a lot about the product itself.
The build quality seems pretty decent and hold up very well even with regular use. The handles have an amazing grip and tend to stay in place even if your hand gets a little bit sweaty.
The blades are made with stainless steel and have an Non-stick coating to reduce jamming cause by plant residue. The cutting tips are extremely narrow & sharp which is ideal for quick snapping when trimming small plants.
Both the spring and the locking mechanism are above average at best, But they still aren’t bad enough to cause any major issues when pruning.
As a whole, If you can overlook the spring & the lock, It is quite an amazing product to have. Especially if you tend to work on smaller plants & vegetations.
Pros:
- Extremely Sharp Blades.
- Lightweight & Narrow Edges.
- Great For Small/Weak Hands.
Cons:
- Spring quality is above average.
- Lock could be better.
WilFiks Garden Pruning & Trimming Hand Tool
Finishing with a funky looking product, The last one in our list is the wilfiks garden pruning & trimming hand tool and is more directed toward people with larger hands.
The design is funny to look at in my opinion but the build quality is pretty good, The blades are made of hardened carbon steel which makes them fairly resistant to wear and rust.
The handles are soft on the hands with the top one having an anti-slip grip to make it easier to hold.
The embedded spring definitely has a minimalistic vibe to it but still does its job as required. The lock also is fairly simple and straightforward to use.
Overall, It was able to cut large branches pretty efficiently, Has a nice and sturdy feel to it and is comfortable to the touch making it a good product to consider for people with larger hands.
Pros:
- Very Sturdy Build.
- Simple & Easy Locking Mechanism.
- Comfortable For Arthritic Hands.
Cons:
- Not for people with smaller hands.
What to look for in a pruner
The purpose of a pruner is to make straight & clean cuts without causing pain and uncomfort to your hands. Uneven cuts tend to make it harder for a plant to heal and expose more area to insects and disease.
The goal here is to get a good pair of pruners that could do the job properly and be able cut all the way through every last bit of a branch without damaging the plant or hurting your hand.
Type
Every pruner is different, Therefor, you want to get something that is designed for your specific need. You also need to consider how often you’ll be using your pruners to determine what characteristic is more important in your pruner and whether having an extra pair is necessary or not.
There are three kinds of pruners to choose from: bypass, anvil, and ratchet. Each one of these is suited for a particular kind of pruning.
This is why it is important to know what kinds of work you will be doing and what kind of plants you will work on before buy a pruner.
Bypass Pruners
The most popular & the best choice for most people. They are known for their curved blades that slide over each other just like scissors, with the first one being a sharp blade and the second being less sharp & slightly thicker.
Bypass pruners can do a great job on live branches and stems, making clean & precise cuts without too much hassle. However, dry and dead plants are a big warning sign since they tend to leave small chunks of the branch between the blades and jamme it, causing damage to the blade of the pruner.
In general, most pruners will comfortably cut through a plant of up to 3/4 inch in diameter. When cutting thicker branches you will need to switch to a lopper. Same as a pruner but requires two hands to use.
Anvil Pruners
Having one sharp blade which closes against a flat edge. Most of the time, This pruner’s blade will be made using metal, But some manufacturers will once in a while use a different material.
Anvil pruners are great for old, dead growth. the way they were designed make it very tricky to have a straight and clean cut, Therefor, It is advised to only use it with plants that are already dead.
Ratchet Pruners
Similar to both the bypass and the anvil, but instead of someone relying on their own strength to make the cut, they use a mechanism which performs the cutting action in stages reducing the effort required to cut through tough branches. This is a big advantage for those with arthritic hands that tend to have a hard time doing everything manually.
In other words, If you wanted to see what each pruner is made for, It would look like this:
- Bypass for clear & precise cuts on live plants.
- Anvil pruners for dry stems and dead plant.
- Ratchet pruners for both tasks, but with less pain and fatigue.
Price
Prices vary widely from less than $10 to well over $75. As with any other tool, buying the best you can afford will save you effort and money in the long run.
Conclusion: Best Pruners For Arthritic Hands
Whether you are a seasoned gardeners, a hobbyists or just your average joe. Suffering from arthritis can become a huge burden when trying to prune your local branches & plants.
We hope this article on the best pruners for arthritic hands helps you enjoy a more comfortable gardening experience, If you have anything you would like to see added in this article make sure to leave a comment down below about it.
