ARS HP-VS8XR Rotating Handle Hand Pruner, 8", Red/Black

This gardening geek is in love with these shears. The brand was recommended to me by a seasoned professional and multiple online articles, and although I was hesitant to spend the money initially on a brand I hadn’t used before, I’m so glad I did. They’re very sharp and haven’t dulled in the 2 months I’ve been using them regularly. The rotating handle makes a HUGE difference and I’ve had zero wrist and elbow pain after using them for hours on end, unlike standard shears. That alone is priceless. The Auto Unlock feature is very cool, makes me feel like a pruning ninja. They are on the larger size but that’s perfect for me and my big hands. I like them more than the Felcos I’ve used in the past, they have more strength and sturdiness in my opinion.Be very careful to keep your fingers out of their way and/or wear gloves though, I cut the heck out of my pinky due to my own carelessness. It didn’t hurt really which I attribute to their strength and sharpness, although I needed stitches after. I’ve cut my finger with Fiskars before (yes, I’m accident prone) and that hurt more and was more of a jagged cut. I still love these but am just way more attentive and am sure to wear thick gloves when using them just in case.Overall I highly recommend these shears and will be purchasing more tools from this brand as needed.

I love these Corona Pruners. The rotating handle keeps me from getting blisters. The bargain was great! I will be using them again soon this harvest as I have every year since I bought them. You can sharpen them so they last forever. I would definitely purchase these again if I need them.

I am a gardening professional, working at a public garden as well as in a community garden and caring for my own gardens. My main pruners have been Corona BP4250 which have served me very well over the years. I have been experiencing some carpal tunnel symptoms in the height of pruning season for the past two years. This year I experimented with some Fiskars Power Gear hand pruners borrowed from a friend. They seemed to help and I liked them, although they are distinctly for righties only and I do occasionally switch it up. I wasn't as into the Power Gear 2, though, which is what is available now. I really enjoyed using my ARS telescoping pole pruners, being especially impressed with how well the blade holds its edge and the cleanness of the cuts, so I decided to make the investment and get these.Some people had mentioned in reviews that the handle spun too freely, and I do like how the Power Gear is geared to turn with the cut. But these are not floppy or anything like that, and within a short time of actual pruning they felt totally natural. And because they aren't geared I can use them in either hand. The blade is super sharp, as I expected. The lock mechanism works really well and is now instinctual. Best part is that I have experienced almost no hand fatigue and no numbness even after full days of pruning work. They have been well worth the investment.I do keep the Coronas on hand as a back-up, especially if I need to prune roots or trim vines with wire running through them - I don't want to damage that edge!

I LOVE these secateurs/pruners! Work in a Vineyard and this is a serious improvement to my original Corona pruners. They are comparable to the felco but I love the locking and unlocking mechanism on these ARS massively above those. It's just so convenient to squeeze the handle to unlock them and just thumb flick to lock them. Working in a Vineyard for hours upon hours, week after week, year after year, makes you treasure the little things that make life easier especially in your hands. They are very comfortable to use and while yes they open very widely at full release, you'll never really have them open like that while using so it's really not an issue. I don't have petite hands though and I have long fingers (piano player) so that may have something to do with the comfort level as well.My only complaint is trying to source replacement blades other than ordering directly through the company itself.The seller was prompt in sending of the item and I received it in the estimated time frame. I absolutely recommend them and the pruners!

ARS hand pruners are very good quality tools. They are very sharp, cutting thru branches with greater ease than my Coronas and Okasasune pruners. Notice less hand fatigue than my other brands. Only issue was the poor packaging by Amazon not to mention combining this tool with baking loaf pans and vitamin supplements without any insulation of items. The ARS pruner which is connected to a hard plastic safety shield had broken off during shipment. Surprised items arrived without visible damage.

I purchased a smaller ARS pruning shear for my wife more than 10 years ago. She has been so impressed with it for so long I decided to buy one for myself when my last shear gave up the ghost. The HP-VS8XR was everything I expected from an ARS product. The design is excellent and the materials used to produce this shear are first rate. I have arthritis in my hands and was very impressed with the rotating handle and how it reduced the amount of pressure I needed to use in order to make a clean cut. This is a first rate shear and if you are the type of person who has an appreciation for real quality, this is the one to buy.

The rotary handle takes a little getting use to but once you are familiar with it, these are great pruners! Great for smaller branches, about 1/2" diameter, more difficulty with larger branches. Nice and sharp. The locking mechanism is rough at first but gets better with use. Quality made.