i think i need smaller pruning shear. my lopper works fine, but it's not very handy when i need to cut things with one hand while holding the cutting with other. 

looking all over, felco f2 seems to be the choice of everyone. then found out that f11 is just like f2 but it has easier way to replace the blade? price is same, so i'm trying to figure out which is the better pruner. 

i'm sure with amount of pruning i do, blade will last forever, but still want to have an option. just not sure if f11 is better in any way. i only prune my figs trees, few japanese maple and roses. 

Pete, I'm a landscape designer/landscaper. I have both in my truck RIGHT NOW. #2 is the standard and you can't go wrong. #11 is exactly the same except for thd Anvil. The Anvil is slightly tapered at the tip for fine pruning of roses and Japanese Maples and is replaceable unlike the #2. I have been using felco for 20 years. I've never even thought about replacing an anvil, and have only replaced 2 blades. I'ts money well spent. IMO go with the #11 but either is the best there is.

I just got a pair of #2's for christmas and I love them. I was using an old cheap pair that I bought a few years back and the new ones are a great upgrade. 

Not to try and change your mind, I have had the #7 for over 30 years and it works just like new. Never replaced the anvil, just the blade and spring two times.

I also have the #8 which is only two years old.

What ever your choice, Felco is the way to go.

Mike,

I never liked the rotating handle on my #7. My #2 just felt better.

Phil, I didn't like it either in the beginning but after using for a while I love it. I must, over 30 years with it.

I don't like Felco.  The locking mechanism is a pain (I know at least some workers that prune grapes all day just remove it altogether) and I prefer a cutting blade with more curve like the Bhaco.  I also purchased a pair of ARS shears recently mostly because I like their clip & hold extension pruner and because I like to give everything a try.  I sometimes use my Felco when I can't find one of my others.  When I had access to all four brands I own today I picked the ARS and used them for about four hours almost continuously (was collecting chestnut scions).  They are pretty nice but I'm not sure they're worth the $73 I paid for them.

I like my Bhaco as well, more comfortable for me.  Either make sure you get a bypass pruner not an anvil, the anvil will pinch the branch whereas the bypass will make a clean cut.

i don't think f2 and f11 are "anvil". i have anvil lopper that i have been using with my trees. it has anvil that blade comes down to "hit" unlike bypass. i like the idea of anvil, it cuts rather clean. only problem is, occasionally, it will "pinch" and it won't cut close to the trunk, main reason i'm looking for pruners. i do have one that my wife uses for her roses, but can't find it and that thing is so old and rusty, i'll get tetanus just looking at it. 

Late to discussion..... You would be very pleased with F2. Out of the three Felco prunners that I use, F2, F8 and F13, the F2 is the most comfortable one for me.

Navid.

Never without my Coronas.

Pete,

Yesterday, I received a pair of  ARS HP-VS8Z Signature Heavy Duty Pruner
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005Q4LU1I/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I can tell you that the quality is superb! Made in Japan. 
I also have a pair of Felco F-5. Although the Felco is a very fine pruners, I like ARS much better. They cut better, better sit in my hand.

Just my 2 cents.

I should have made a point in my previous post.  I had some concern after purchasing the ARS when noticing that it didn't have a bumper.  I thought I might have some fatigue because of this after extensive use but that was not the case the other day.  I am not any sort of expert in allows but the steel does appear to be high quality in the ARS tools.

I have Felco 2, 6, 8, and 13. 

2 is the standard. 6 has a shorter blade and is supposed to be for smaller hands but it cuts just as well as the others and is a bit more manueverable. 8 is my favorite - in part because it was my first really good pair and fits the hand better. 13 is longer and works very well for intermediate sized pruning, but it is somewhat heavier and requires more hand strength. I've never needed replacement parts for any of them.

I've not tried any of the good but lesser known brands mentioned - but since good ones can last for many years, I'd frankly hesitate buying them since it might be more difficult to find replacement parts if needed in the future. My guess is Felco will still be around and replacement parts readily available years from now, the others? who knows.

If I could keep just one, it would be my 8.

Coronas? Maybe they've improved.

Gina, ARS has been around since 1876 and will probably outlive any of us.  Bhaco has been around for 150 years and is part of Snap-On so that's probably the same there.  Valley Vineyard & Orchard Supply in Lodi, a commercial supply house that accepts walk-in customers, sells both brands as well as Felco.  I don't believe there is any justification for any concern over replacement parts for any of these three brands.

My fourth brand of hand pruning shears are the Italian brand Taia but appear to be the same as the ones sold by A.M. Leonard with their own name on them at http://www.amleo.com/product.aspx?p=ART17 which are quite a different design with two sharp edges coming together.  These are by far the best for pruning off side branches and thorns from pomegranate cuttings when preparing for rooting (bark shreds some with every other design I've tried).  However, the ergonomics of this design is the absolute worse of any I've used.  While the ARS do not have any bumper, they remained comfortable after several hours of usage.  A couple of years ago it felt like my entire arm wanted to fall after after using the Taia for several hours.  The grip is terrible and the impact of the two blades coming together is quite harsh.  I will sometimes also use these for pruning fruit stems from fruit completely flat with the fruit (mostly pomegranates again).

i need to find some place where i can try those pruners. it seems lot goes into how it feels in the hand. 

I use coronas for picking tomatoes or cutting thin branches and soft tissue plants such as tomatoes or cucumbers.  These are shears but they are meant for harvesting, with these if you try to cut something too big it ends up putting an offset on the blades and will not close properly and nick the blades.  I haven't tried coronas other products though, if you get the harvesting scissors, get the hardened steel not the stainless (they are pure black blades for the hardened ones) they will last years and the stainless do not, usually 2-3 pairs per 8 month season of tomatoe harvesting.  

Pete, Amazon sells all 3 brands I suggest trying and you can order all 3 at once and return the 2 you decide not to keep.  You'll just be out the return shipping.  A.M. Leonard might have a similar return policy.

Corona comfort fit. Half the price, will work for the amount of use I need, and they don't dig into hand.