Garden & Outdoor Living · Head-to-head
FELCO 2 vs Hoss Pruning Shears
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Pruning Shears: 6 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The FELCO 2 pairs a 25 mm stated cut with a fully repairable design and a lifetime warranty, which is why it has been the reference pruner for decades. The Hoss shears match its 1-inch stated capacity in an ambidextrous layout for much less money, but list no replacement blade.
FELCO 2
Buy itThe classic Swiss bypass pruner: forged aluminum handles, a 25 mm stated cut, a fully repairable design and a lifetime warranty.
- Felco publishes the numbers that matter: 25 mm cutting diameter, 215 mm length and 251 g weight.
- The design is fully repairable, and Felco sells genuine replacement parts for the FELCO 2.
- A micro-metric adjustment system lets you fine-tune the cutting head as parts wear, and cushioned shock absorbers soften the end of each cut.
- It is right-hand only and sized for large hands, so small-handed and left-handed gardeners should look at other Felco models or the picks below.
- It costs the most here by a clear margin.
- At 251 g it is no lightweight next to the Hoss shears' stated 7.9 oz.
Hoss Pruning Shears
Buy itA forged aluminum bypass pruner with a stated 1-inch cut, a PTFE-coated blade and a layout Hoss says works in either hand.
- Hoss states a 1-inch cutting capacity, 8.5-inch length and 7.9 oz weight, matching the FELCO 2's capacity for a fraction of the cost.
- It is designed for left- and right-handed users, and the thumb catch has 3 opening positions to adjust the handle spread.
- The PTFE-coated blade and sap groove are meant to keep sticky cuts from jamming.
- The product page states no warranty term, and the Hoss store does not list a replacement blade for it.
- Hoss calls it a Swiss-made design but does not name the manufacturer.
- There is no clean studio photo; the product images show it in hand or with the optional sheath.
Side by side
The 8 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| FELCO 2 Our pick | Hoss Pruning Shears | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Right-handed gardeners with medium to large hands who want one pruner to sharpen and repair for decades. | Budget-minded vegetable and fruit growers, and left-handed gardeners who want a full 1-inch cut. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $ · budget |
| Cutting action | Bypass | Bypass |
| Max cut (maker stated) | 25 mm | 1 in |
| Length | 215 mm | 8.5 in |
| Weight | 251 g | 7.9 oz |
| Hand fit | Right hand, large | Left or right hand |
| Blade | Hardened steel | PTFE-coated, sap groove |
| Repairability | Fully repairable, parts sold | No parts listed |
| Warranty | Lifetime | Not stated on page |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the FELCO 2 if
right-handed gardeners with medium to large hands who want one pruner to sharpen and repair for decades.
Know before buying: it is right-hand only and sized for large hands, so small-handed and left-handed gardeners should look at other Felco models or the picks below.
Pick the Hoss Pruning Shears if
budget-minded vegetable and fruit growers, and left-handed gardeners who want a full 1-inch cut.
Know before buying: the product page states no warranty term, and the Hoss store does not list a replacement blade for it.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the FELCO 2 - The classic Swiss bypass pruner: forged aluminum handles, a 25 mm stated cut, a fully repairable design and a lifetime warranty. Choose the Hoss Pruning Shears instead if budget-minded vegetable and fruit growers, and left-handed gardeners who want a full 1-inch cut.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Pruning Shears: 6 Compared (and One to Skip).