Felco

Why r/BuyItForLife recommends Felco

27 mentions from real owners

• #1Dec 30, 2025

  A few brands I'll probably stick with for life

  For me patagonia is hit or miss. Bought a sweather last month and it's already pilling. The same sweather but a different colour and full zip is still going strong after 3 years. A couple of brands I do like are Carhart, Meindl ( German brand for hiking- and work boots), Fjall raven which i know is also hit or miss for some, Felco pruning shears and the Dutch brand/store Hema for basic shirts and such.

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• #2Dec 5, 2025

  Best thing to buy for $100

  Could get a nice hori hori knife or a pair of felco hand pruners if she's got fruit trees.

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• #3Dec 2, 2025

  What was the BIFL upgrade that instantly exposed all your cheap versions?

  I bought kitchen shears from Felco (Felco 1893), and I got rid of all my scissors + use them to cut through chicken bones, pizza, herbs...

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• #4Dec 1, 2025

  Fooled by Fiskars "Limited Lifetime Guarantee"

  Felco is one of the best but you can get a pair of Doyle ones from harbor freight for $25 that have a lifetime warranty. From my experience with harbor freight, if they break you just go into the store and they take the broken thing and give you a new one right there.

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• #5Oct 6, 2025

  Shovel Recommendations? So sick of breaking shovels.

  I haven't had fiscars tools break but I don't like them at all. Professional gardener here. You can get much highe- quality tools at specialist stores usually arborist stores. Maybe you don't have one in your neighborhoood. For instance Felco makes excellent pruners and loppers. Like night and day. You can buy them online, the extra money is worth it. Makes pruning like slicing through butter.

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• #6Sep 2, 2025

  [Request] Lopper?

  I kept only Fiskars powergear loppers at my camp for a few years, and I was quite content with absolutely everything about them except that I had to replace them every year. I am a 50-something petite, out of shape woman with an IT desk job, located close to Canada (very short gardening season) and I would destroy them over the course of the season. I love Finnish cutting tools and knives, and have always loved Fiskars. I have been to Finland, and am very fond of the brand. But they don't hold a candle to Felco. **Fiskars:** The BEST of the local hardware store brands for hand pruners and loppers. Great for beater jobs and loaning out. Generally $20-$60 depending on the model, sale, and supply chain antics. Easy to find locally. Not long lasting, but far more lasting than the other commonplace brands. Replacement blades are extremely hard to find, and the part numbers make no sense at all. **Felco:** One pair is worth 20 pairs of Fiskars. Hide them if your spouse is daft and prone to ruining tools or doesn't appreciate the care of blades. Plan a few hundred dollars for a pair, spare blades, spare springs, sharpeners, a pouch to keep parts in, etc. Only found at posh garden centers where they are often out of stock, and online. Cheaper in the long run than Fiskars. Replacing and sharpening blades is easy. If you want a saw to go with your Felcos, A Silky is a great bet, but Japanese steel rusts FAST, so you will have to take extra, extra care to not let it rust inside the scabbard. Japanese knives and swords are infamous since the Samauri, and their saws are as well. Do not loan them unless you have a meticulous friend/neighbor.

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• #7Sep 2, 2025

  [Request] Lopper?

  OMG. I LOVE your dad. I have my Felco #12 (small, right-handed model), in the map pocket of my car door. In order to go anywhere, I need my phone, wallet, keys, Felcos, and a tape measure. 😂

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• #8Aug 6, 2025

  These were built to be rebuilt. On the Felco website you can order almost any part of any model individually or as a kit. What other products could be given the ship of theseus treatment like this?

  Wow, I have my Grandma's Felco pruners as well! I sharpened the blade on a whetstone some years back, but it's still scary sharp! some light cleaning and occasional oiling is all the maintenance you need, and the repairability is a big win

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• #9Aug 6, 2025

  These were built to be rebuilt. On the Felco website you can order almost any part of any model individually or as a kit. What other products could be given the ship of theseus treatment like this?

  I bought a pair on a whim for gardening and they've started doubling as kitchen shears. I've even cut bamboo with them... Nothing phases them at all and if it does POOF change the part out.

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• #10Aug 6, 2025

  What are some of the best products/brands you love splurging on?

  Felco garden tools like hand pruners.

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• #11Aug 5, 2025

  These were built to be rebuilt. On the Felco website you can order almost any part of any model individually or as a kit. What other products could be given the ship of theseus treatment like this?

  I love mine! I even upgraded the burrs to the next model up (they're cross compatible!!!)

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• #12Aug 5, 2025

  These were built to be rebuilt. On the Felco website you can order almost any part of any model individually or as a kit. What other products could be given the ship of theseus treatment like this?

  Wow even the power board is on there. That might be my next coffee grinder

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• #13Aug 5, 2025

  These were built to be rebuilt. On the Felco website you can order almost any part of any model individually or as a kit. What other products could be given the ship of theseus treatment like this?

  I've still got my first pair. Purchased in 1987, and going strong!

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• #14Jul 2, 2025

  Name your top 5 BIFL items

  Lodge cast iron, Colt Series 70 in G-ds caliber, Buck 112, Pendleton ( preferred brand) wool blanket, Felco pruning tools

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• #15Jun 4, 2025

  Best BIFL gardening tools?

  I am a big fan of Korean and Japanese gardening tools in general. As a person who does not have massive meathook hands and is not six feet tall, I find they fit me better and have been very high quality. Felco pruners are my favourites. They have replaceable blades, springs, etc and come in different sizes (and I have yet to need to replace a blade). I have small hands and have used Felco 5 for years, which is their economy model. I recently upgraded to 15s and oh, those are even nicer. Even the number 5 were a dramatic upgrade from Fiskars. The 5s cost about twice as much as the Fiskars, but have already lasted more than five times as long. For loppers, I use Corona. Much lighter than Fiskars for the same power, which makes them much less tiring. Make sure you get a pocket sharpener too. Someday I shall try Felco loppers too, someday... As a farmer and market gardener, most of my tools come from https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca (they are Canadian, but ship internationally - or you can just use their catalogue for ideas of what to look for). Their house brand garden tools are excellent for the price. More expensive that the cheapest thing at the Home Depot, yes, but pretty competitive with the more expensive shit they sell there that is mega-heavy and breaks anyhow. One tool in particular from the house line I recommend if you have any pavers and cement driveway with gaps is the crack hoe. It works stunningly better than a butter knife. Seriously. It's a shitty task and a good tool makes it a ton faster and reaches better so you don't need to do it as often. (I still want a flame weeder someday though) Another brand I like is Radius. The shovels are the best I have ever used. Nice big foot platform, great handle height, the round handle really is terrific even in the rain. Caveat, my husband did manage to break one of the fibreglass handled ones after a decade of heavy use. They have a lifetime warranty, so I sent it back to Lee Valley (if you are outside the US, they direct you to return it through the vendor) with no hassle at all. I have upgraded to the Pro version which has a stainless steel handle. The fibreglass was lighter and I miss that a bit, but the heavier one is still very well balanced. If you aren't digging trenches with it, the lighter one was just fine before I started farming! The other product of theirs I really, really love are the weeders. The long handle one is the best thing ever for long-tap roots like dock and thistles. The shorter handtool version is like the super upgrade to the cheap dandelion weeders or a butterknife that you never knew you needed. Both of them come out top in many tool tests and surveys as well. Wilcox is another company for hand tools. The All-pro trowel is fantastic and a farm staple. I will second the ho-mi suggestion. They are basically a small hand plow. My husband reaches for this over the trowels. It's extremely versatile and can be used for digging, planting, weeding. If you don't have a lot of space or budget, I would pick this one or getting a shitty set! I don't need it all the time, but when I do, I really like my Hori-hori. Really love it for doing root divisions and such. You can also use it as a trowel, but I prefer the Wilcox if I am using it that way. My favourite weeder is a San Kaku, or triangle hoe. I love it so much that I have two of them in different lengths. I wasn't a fan of normal garden hoes, but this. This my friends! Fucking love it. Slices through weeds like butter, especially if you keep it sharpened and makes perfect furrows for planting neat rows of carrots and whatnot. So good. Also you feel like a peasant warrior farmer wielding it. Speaking of bladed tools. I always must put in a scythe shout-out. I hate weedwhackers and string trimmers and they send me into a blind rage. Not a fan of lawnmowers either really, and the scythe can replace both. It is not any more dangerous than a lawnmower I promise and doesn't require a ton of strength to use. In fact, if you are having to work hard to cut the grass with a scythe, that means you need to sharpen it sooner.

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• #16Jun 4, 2025

  Best BIFL gardening tools?

  Felco pruners are much nicer than fiskar in my experience.

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• #17Jun 4, 2025

  Best BIFL gardening tools?

  Someone mentioned Fiskars. Value for sure, but quality can be pretty low. I avoid Tonma hori hori A pair of Felco hand pruners with replacable blade (like the F2) Radius garden spade (so far)

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• #18Jun 3, 2025

  What are your favorite niche BIFL items that are currently available?

  My Felco nippers. Belonged to my grandmother. The plastic dip on the handles of worn out, but I just covered them with duct tape. And I replaced one blade. I use them every day in the garden.

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• #19Jun 3, 2025

  What are your favorite niche BIFL items that are currently available?

  Felco garden clippers, Joyce Chen scissors

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• #20May 10, 2025

  Brands you swear by that have Buy It For Life quality products

  Felcos for the win!

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• #21May 10, 2025

  Brands you swear by that have Buy It For Life quality products

  Felco for pruning shears; Fiskars for axes!

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• #22May 10, 2025

  Brands you swear by that have Buy It For Life quality products

  I used my Felco hand pruners for years professionally and now have them stashed away for around the house landscaping trimming.

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• #23May 10, 2025

  Top BIFL Household Items for Starting Over

  I am a sustainability educator and finding things that last are a bit part of that. I’ve done quite a bit of research on possible options. Some of these I have (*) while others have been HIGHLY recommended to me. I would still check out the brand as some people who have had their (insert brand name item that they got 15 years ago here) have said that quality has diminished in recent years and won’t last as long. Also if anyone has had bad experiences with any of these, please let me know! Kitchen: *Dualit kettle *Vitamix Stainless steel blender-this is so expensive we got it as a group wedding present but dang it’s nice for smoothies, sauces, even hot soup *OXO stainless steel bottle brush with replaceable heads *Metal cup for hot/cold liquids-Thermos, Kleen Kanteen, HydroFlask, Stanley, etc. *Metal tea strainer spoon for loose leaf *Silicone baking mat *Stainless steel, copper, or ceramic cookware - I have a baking sheet from 360 cookware and one pan from Caraway *Stainless steel mixing bowls *Metal or ceramic measuring spoons and cups -My spoons are shaped like geese and I got them for $10 at a thrift store *Wooden toaster tongs- CHANGED MY LIFE and my slightly burnt fingers *Stasher bags *Fiskar scissors *OXO metal strainer for pasta •Metal coffee makers -French press, percolator, Bialetti Moka Pot, Breville espresso machine, •Silicone or metal ice cube tray •Duralax glasses •Crockpot •Older PYREX glass food containers •Villeroy and boch plates, bowls, etc. •Dualit toaster •Pizza stone •Cast iron pan •Le creuset •Self sharpening knife block-“A dull knife is a dangerous knife” or learn how/where to sharpen -Victorinox, Cutco, Wustoff because warranties •Hardwood cutting board •Zojirushi rice maker •Kitchen aid stand Bathroom: *Wild deodorant case and refills (discount code: SUSTAINABLESIRENIAN) *Leaf safety razor *Sisal soap saver bag •Turkish or waffle weave towels- dry quicker take up less space, wears slower Office/School *Cross refillable pen *Rocket planner (they also have reusable sticky notes which is cool but I haven’t tried them) Laundry: *Dryer balls *Bags for more delicate stuff *Tip-unless it is nasty, cold water is fine, saves money, saves water, and doesn’t wear out your clothes as much *Basic Sewing kit and learn how to do basic patching or visible mending •Miele machines Clothes: *Darn tough socks •Older Levi jeans •Doc martens •Chacos •Rainbow sandals •Birkenstocks •Blundstone Outside things/wear: *Blunt umbrella *Xtra Tuff boots •Duluth Trading Co •Older things from LLBean •Older Carhartt •Gear from Osprey - “All mighty warranty” •Gear from Patagonia -“Ironclad guarantee” also they have “Worn wear” which is used gear that were great or they refurbished it •Canada goose coats and parkas •CamelBak •Maglite •Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags •Red wing boots •White duck canvas tarp •Yeti coolers •SmartWool Misc. *Lupine Pet Collars and leashes •Goughnuts dog toys •Zippo lighters •Briggs and Riley luggage •Swiss army knife •Leatherman tool •Otterbox phone cases •Big Green Egg Grill •GoRuck •Henry the vacuum •Coop’s, Casper, Purple, or Buckwheat pillows •BOTE paddle board •Le Cord •Williams and Sonoma •Tweezerman •Craftsman tools •Saddleback leather co •fjallraven backpacks •Eley garden hose •Felco shears •Vermont Glove •Hori Hori garden knife I hope this helps

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• #24May 10, 2025

  Brands you swear by that have Buy It For Life quality products

  I love my little Felco folding saw.

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• #25May 10, 2025

  Brands you swear by that have Buy It For Life quality products

  I use Felco. So worth it.

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• #26Apr 9, 2025

  What is your current BIFL item you recommend to everyone?

  Felco pruning shears

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• #27Feb 8, 2025

  Secateur ID: Are these the Felco Model 2?

  Looks like they are. I've had my pair for 25 years during which I've replaced the blade 3 times, and the spring once. I use them almost daily.

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