Comparing mid-range hand pruners

My thoughts on two mid-priced hand pruners after using them both for several months. I'm comparing the ARS HP-VS8Z and the Bahco Ergo Bypass Pruner PX-M2.
Available on Amazon here. (These are affiliate links, which help support my plant habit if you purchase through these links. Thank you!)
ARS HP-VS8Z: amzn.to/2yy0Vlv $37.50 on 11/6/17
Bahco Ergo PX-M2: amzn.to/2y44tHG $34.15 on 11/6/17
Neither of these pruners were provided to me for testing purchases. I bought them myself!
For more on some of my favorite gardening tools, check out these posts:
www.theimpatientgardener.com/2...
www.theimpatientgardener.com/2...
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[@nickkatz8126]

I've owned my current ARS pruners for 10+ years. I use them almost every day in the garden. They cut as well today as they did when I first bought them. My favorite garden tool.

[@overgrowthplanet7531]

I love my ars pruners

[@Barbarabach1]

I had Felco's for about 10 years, but bought ARS after a review that Helen Youst (Gardening with Confidence), did a year and a half ago. Love the ARS. All the points you brought up, including how you unlock them.

[@Engineerboy100]

Good job, lots of good information. Thanks for posting. I just bought the red one with the clean blade PXM2, can't wait for it to get here.

[@patriciaheflin4518]

Thanks for your terrific description of the pruners! I am using a Corona but am having problems with arthritis in my hands (far more noticeable during summer) for the past couple of years. I’m not planning to give up gardening so I was hoping to find suggestions for new pruners. This is BY FAR the best video I’ve seen. Going to get the ARS. Thanks so much!

[@TheImpatientGardener]

Patricia Heflin Thank you! I’ve recommended them to a lot of people’s who have arthritis and they have good reports!

[@234dilligaf]

I'm a fan of the Felco 2. . I have a pair that was made in the late 70s. They're still going strong. And believe me when I say I used them hard.

[@kenwood9382]

ARS hands down! Ive been using their products for 20 years, and some thief decided to break into my truck and steal my gear bag with my original ARS bypass pruners. Felco and corona fall short in comparison to ARS. Proper review. Cheers

[@OlegShevtsov512]

ARS is brilliant. Only Japanese can make a very hard blade with geometry that allows to cut without much stress.

[@jtp9805]

Bahco offers a less stiff spring for the PX series, if you prefer a lighter feel. I put one on a Bahco PXM2 that I gave to one of my daughters.

[@peterl.104]

Pleasant surprise that this came up since I was looking for Felco vs. Bahco because I am curious about ARS but it would be nice to have the brand on the title.

[@aaron6841]

If got two pairs of felco and two pairs of ARS pruners and ARS are buy far my favourite

[@siamesepleaseme7468]

Agree the ARS is a superior pruner based on loads of research that I have done & my personal preference in 40+ years of using pruners, heavily in recent years. Japanese steel for maintaining sharp edge whether it be knives or pruners reigns. My opinion is Felco users just haven’t been exposed to ARS. LOL!

[@free_gold4467]

I'm a Felco user and I've never heard of 'ARS'.

[@siamesepleaseme7468]

@@free_gold4467 I have used Felco but ARS holds edge better as Japanese steel is harder. I have two ARS in different sizes, one lightweight and another regular with rotating handle for avoiding hand fatigue and supposedly better when have arthritis.

[@free_gold4467]

@@siamesepleaseme7468 I've never seen them in the UK, maybe just retailed in US? Love my Felcos but if I ever see these I'll take a serious look.

[@siamesepleaseme7468]

@@free_gold4467 I ordered from Amazon and they are shipped from Japan as mine had Japanese writing on package, not English.

[@free_gold4467]

@@siamesepleaseme7468 Thanks for the info!

[@yonokzeller5402]

Thanks for the info. I’m going to get ars one.

[@marekjedrusik8954]

Try LÖWE 5.104, LÖWE 5.107, LÖWE 5.124 or other LÖWE 5 series. They are most easiest hand pruners to use but working only until 16-18mm.

[@free_gold4467]

Who thinks ARS is better than Felco?

[@peony70]

Thank you, great review!

[@SeahorseWorkshop]

Good job. Just bought an ARS because of you. Do you have any videos on marigolds or chrysanthemums?

[@free_gold4467]

Felco are fantastic, I use Felco6 which suits my smaller hands. In Europe, pretty much all professionals use Felco you really see nothing else, last a lifetime with replacement blades and springs.

[@Sam-ch4hg]

As gardener my go to prunes are okatsune hands down :)

[@jerryjordan6231]

I also have Okatsune pruners and hedge shears; they are light and perfect balance, and great for small jobs. And they come with a sheath.

[@JeanTOM-qb5dm]

I love my Felco pruners.. Have multiple pairs. What are your favorite snips? I have a hard time finding a really good pair of snips. And what is your favorite sharpening tool?

[@JoaoSantos-ez9yc]

Jean T. O’M buy Felco F8 you going to love it.

[@free_gold4467]

Felco6, I use a pen file.

[@taitheguy85]

Omg! I know things are sold out/scalped/price gouged during quarantine. But I thought the ARS Hp-vs8z went from like 60 to 106. But your affiliate link is only 3 yrs old... They were only *$37.50!!!*. Up almost 300%! Thankfully most ppl are too dumb to realize the $55 VS-8XZ are the exact same thing, but newer model. Otherwise they'd be reselling for 100+ as well (my g-ma's Xmas present)

[@234dilligaf]

Beware of the counterfeit Felcos being sold on Amazon. I recently made that mistake. Order directly from Felco or an authorized dealer. Do your homework before you order.

[@SaucyMauve27]

How do you know if there fake

[@234dilligaf]

@@SaucyMauve27 . . There's videos on how to tell the difference. Do a search on it and you'll pull it right up. The best thing to do is order from an authorized dealer and you should be good. Definitely NOT Amazon.

[@sarahmarti141]

Can you tell us what holster you use? I have one that continually falls off when I bend down.

[@user-dw2wc8pe9j]

nice girl. thank you!

[@werktelefoon7283]

You have to try a okasune scissor

[@siamesepleaseme7468]

It seems Erin @Impatientgardener may have recommended this pruner in last year. Before that she recommended ARS. I would be willing to give any Japanese blade a try. What are some of the special advantages of this, anyone who has used could answer.

[@carmenbailey8209]

I think all pruners should come with a holsters

[@foksauyee7696]

Which bahco pruner for mid size hand

[@aceofspades1002]

Μπραβο!!!!

[@roccoconte2960]

Felco the best

[@annacai9733]

good,friend

[@annacai9733]

good

[@tt-of4xv]

Back in the days KZbinrs weren't using stupid zoom in / out / cut effects every 5s. I don't know who started this stupid trend.

[@Jack-er6wi]

Corona shears.

[@marekjedrusik8954]

Bahco is Swedish company not French.

[@theopeterbroers819]

Pruners made in France by Devillé SA, distributed by BAHCO of Sweden. www.devillesa.fr/?page_id=5

[@FrankEdavidson]

Acquisitive shifter company who bought loads of tool brands.

[@are8231]

Too much talking - I myself am impatient, too.