Gonicc GPPS-1002 Bypass Pruning Shears

1. What I Consider When Choosing Shears

Pruning shears (a.k.a., hand pruners, garden shears, or secateurs) are essential tools for garden maintenance. You’ll use them to handle regular pruning and trimming work so you could encourage more uniform plant growth. As opposed to loppers, though, hand pruners don’t handle cutting work on branches that are more than an inch thick. If you have those kinds of thick branches to clear in your yard, look for heavy-duty loppers instead. Meanwhile, for most vegetables, flowers, and bushes, pruning shears will suffice. So, if the best bypass pruning shears are what you’re looking for, consider the following criteria.

Blade Type (Cutting Mechanism)

Hand pruners, like loppers, come in two blade types: bypass and anvil. If it’s your first time to invest in a hand pruner or garden shear, you may find it beneficial to start with bypass pruners. With bypass blades that work like scissors, a bypass pruner cleanly cuts green and live stems without having to crush them. Eventually, though, you will find the need for anvil shears to serve other purposes. Anvil pruners are meant for chopping off dead or dried-out stems. Its knife-to-a-chopping-board-like mechanism tends to cause the brittle stem to explode and then separate from the live part.

Blade Material

Blades used in pruners are typically made of steel. One in two types of steel blades is used in garden shears: stainless steel and high carbon steel blades.

• Stainless steel blades generally have a minimum 12% chromium content. This provides better protection from rusting and corrosion compared to high carbon steel blades.
• High carbon steel blades are generally harder than those made of stainless steel.

Cutting Capacity

Garden shears have a maximum cutting capacity. Ideally, it should be about an inch to allow you some allowance for harder stems, although you might already prefer to use loppers for such thick branches. Entry-level hand pruners can have a maximum cutting capacity of about 8 mm. You might think about that as quite a conservative allowance. Well, yes, it’s a conservative estimate fit for secateurs that are priced way lower than those with a cutting power of up to an inch. A rather moderately performing pruner would have a maximum cutting capacity of ¾”. That doesn’t mean you should not consider a pruner model just because it couldn’t cut a branch thicker than that. Sometimes, ratings just do not give the fullest capacity to ensure the product won’t break if the user chooses to max out. Anyway, for most moderate pruning work, e.g., trimming flowers and some perennials and bushes, maximum cutting capacities of ½” to  ¾” would already suffice.

2. The Gonicc GPPS-1002 Bypass Pruning Shears

Gonicc 8” Professional Pruning Shears is a bypass hand pruner with curved steel blades. It actually comes in various models with corresponding color variations. The GPPS-1002 (the one we’re reviewing here) has red-colored, ergonomically-designed handles The GPPS-1002 claims to cut stems of up to 3/4″ in diameter. It also promises minimal to no sticking with its sap groove design. Its ergonomically designed handles guarantee comfort and no slipping while cutting. Unlike the GPPS-1010, this model does not offer a double gear lever. Also, unlike the 1010 and 1004 which have wire springs, the GPPS-1002 has a coiled metal spring to ease the cutting work.

3. Features & Benefits of the GPPS-1002 Professional Pruning Shears

The Gonicc 8” Professional Pruning Shears has several helpful features for the gardening lover. Aside from the fact that it’s a bypass pruner, the GPPS-1002 has polished blades that further help you achieve clean cuts when trimming or pruning.

SK-5 Steel Blades with Ultra-fine Polishing Technology

Gonicc pruning shears boast of very sharp blades made through an ultra-fine polishing technology. I like that it’s been implemented in the GPPS-1002 shears model. It has SK-5 high carbon steel blades that have the potential to resist abrasion and practically cut through anything. When you use the Gonicc 8” Professional Pruning Shears with rose bushes, for instance, you may notice how pruning work becomes faster and easier with quick cuts.

Teflon Coating

The GPPS-1002 hand pruner also has Teflon-coated blades. This feature can easily help eliminate sticking from the sap of the plants you prune. To compare, stainless steel blades without the coating often suffer from ugly traces of sap. Of course, I can oil them and make them appear shiny again as a result. What I like about Teflon-coated blades is that they are easier to clean because they are basically non-stick. With SK-5 high carbon steel, ultra-fine polishing, and Teflon coating, Gonicc’s GPPS-1002 Professional Pruning Shears have blades that you might find dependable for moderate pruning and trimming tasks.

PVC-Coated Aluminum Handles

PVC stands for Polyvinyl chloride and provides an alternative to rubber coating in pruner handles. The GPPS-1002 has PVC-coated aluminum handles, making it lighter compared to rubber-coated and steel ones. With such slim and light handles, you may find additional comfort in using Gonicc’s GPPS-1002 pruner. The PVC coating further adds a layer of abrasion resistance, making your pruner handles appear shiny even after long-term use. I personally like the shiny PVC coating. It makes the hand shears look classy despite the moderate price. Moreover, the red color makes the pruning shears clearly visible against the green grass and leaves you see all over your garden.

Drop-Forged Body and Handles

Compared with molten metal casting or machining, drop-forging results in stronger metal-made tools. The Gonicc GPPS-1002 hand pruner has drop-forged body and handles. This  means they were formed by hammering hot metals into dies. The process aligns and stretches the metal’s grain structure, thereby improving its strength. To me, that implies I can expect the GPPS-1002 to withstand wear and tear better than pruners formed by metal casting. It’s a sign of longevity and durability that you may want to invest in.

Ergonomic, Non-Slip Handles

While the PVC coating already aids in providing the non-slipping feature of the GPPS-1002, the curves in the lower handle make them even easier to hold. These ergonomic curves can fit your four fingers well, preventing you from losing your grip while pruning.

Squeeze and Release Lock

Gonicc 8” Professional Pruning Shears has a unique locking mechanism. In a locked GPPS-1002, you just squeeze the handles with one hand and then release to unlock. I personally like this unique locking mechanism for its intuitive design. Although you have to exert some effort in squeezing the handles at first use, it can loosen a bit after some time. By then, it’s going to be easier to unlock. What I appreciate most about this feature is that once I pick up the locked shears, I only have to squeeze it open to start using it. That means I didn’t have to mind clicking on a switch, and for someone who likes heading straight to the task, it saves time.

Moderate Cutting Capacity at 3/4″

Some pruners have a very conservative maximum cutting capacity at only 8 mm or about a third of an inch. Meanwhile, the Gonicc GPPS-1002 can cut tree branches of up to 0.75-inch thick. Despite the limitation, the GPPS-1002 feels comfortable when held. It does make clean cuts. The sap groove works as promised, and you only have to do basic maintenance to keep the tool in its best condition.

4. Social Proof of Satisfaction for The GPPS-1002

A lot of users praise the GPPS-1002, often naming it as the “best shears” they’ve had. Although naming a tool as the “best hand pruners” is quite subjective, the number of users testifying the same way can tell if the judgment is legit or not. So, here are some of the most helpful user reviews that I’ve found while looking into the product.

Excellent For Those With Arthritis

This user found the GPPS-1002 rather comfortable to use, especially with the pain she would otherwise feel in her hands when using other garden shears.

Dependable Blades For Faster Pruning

If you’re wondering whether the blades would hold up after some heavy use, this user gives an affirmative answer.

Easy To Use With Pruning Instructions Included

Here’s another satisfied user who found the GPPS-1002 easier to use than her loppers (reach isn’t an issue here, too).

Compact, Sharp, and Affordable

If you consider buying the Gonicc 8” Professional (GPPS-1002), you may find this user review inspiring. He found the garden shears to be of high quality, despite the affordable price.

5. Alternatives to Gonicc GPPS-1002

At this point, you may already want it a try. If, however, you’re still looking around for other great finds, you may find the following suggested alternatives useful.

• Gonicc 8” Professional Premium Titanium (GPPS-1003)
• ClassicPRO Titanium Pruning Shears
• Tabor Tools S821 

Gonicc 8” Professional Premium Titanium (GPPS-1003)

This pruning shears from Gonicc only has a few differences from its brother, the GPPS-1002. Usually set a bit pricier, the GPPS-1003 has titanium steel blades and foam-covered handles. Other than that, this pruner has all the commendable features of the GPPS-1002. Here’s a table to contain the summary of the essential similarities and differences between the two.

Interested? Check out the Gonicc GPPS-1003 Bypass Pruning Shears here and Mockins Professional Garden Pruning Shears.

ClassicPRO Titanium Pruning Shears

ClassicPRO’s pruner can also be more pricey. Instead of Teflon-coated high carbon steel, you get titanium-coated, hardened stainless steel. Meanwhile, the designs of both pruners are very similar. One advantage of ClassicPRO’s Titanium Pruning Shears is its maximum cutting capacity, which is at 1”. Also, it has a mechanism that allows for manual adjustment and alignment of the blades for more precise cuts.

Interested? Check out the ClassicPRO Titanium Pruning Shears here.

Tabor Tools S821 Bypass Pruning Shears

The Tabor Tools S821 somehow shares a sweet spot with the Gonicc 8″ GPPS-1002 in terms of affordability and being the best bypass pruning shears category. The two also share the same maximum cutting capacity, but they do differ in terms of the blade material used. Tabor Tools only offers a 12-month warranty (as opposed to a lifetime guarantee) for its S821 hand pruner model.

Interested? Check out the Tabor Tools S821 Bypass Pruning Shears here and Or, see our full review of the product.

Conclusion: The GPPS-1002 Is Sharp And Dependable

There’s a reason—or a couple of them—why the Gonicc 8” Professional  (GPPS-1002) is selling a lot as best bypass pruning shears among scissors and shears in Amazon. It’s very sharp, can hold out for heavy-duty tasks, and is just easy on the budget. If you want the GPPS-1002 to handle your next garden maintenance tasks, you may want to check it out on Amazon now.