An Adjustable Pruning Shear Was New to Me, but the Versatile Corona FlexDIAL Bypass Pruner Handled All My Everyday Pruning

I have used a lot of different pruning shears over the years, from budget to premium ones. I have never used adjustable ones, though, which is what most intrigued me about the Corona FlexDIAL ComfortGEL bypass pruner.

These innovative bypass pruning shears feature a dial that allows you to adjust how much the tool opens. It means you can alter the opening size depending on the size of the stem you are pruning, or the size of your hands. It is a unique touch that sets it apart from other pruning tools on the market.

I tested the Corona FlexDIAL ComfortGEL bypass pruner on everything from shrubs to ferns, pruning stems of different sizes. I found it to be an effective, functional branch-and-stem pruner suitable for gardeners seeking a versatile tool for a myriad of trimming tasks.

First Impressions

Straight away, it looks and feels like a sturdy, reliable tool. The tool has a solid, balanced weight, and the red ComfortGEL handles not only feel pleasant in the hand, but won’t get lost easily when out in the garden, thanks to their bright red appearance.

(As a gardener who has searched in vain for dropped gardening tools more often than I’d like to remember, I do appreciate a bright tool that will stand out.)

The adjustable dial and the locking mechanism are both in bright red against the black matte color of the central tool. It did take me a minute to realize which side of the adjustable dial to use, as one side has small white markers indicating the chosen number – but I do fear that those markers may rub off and get hard to see over time.

The packaging says that the tool ‘adjusts to every hand size and task’ and states the maximum cutting size of three-quarters of an inch.

However, there is no guidance on what stem size each of the eight different positions is suitable for. I found it to be a bit of trial-and-error, but overall, it wasn’t too difficult to get the right settings for each of the pruning jobs I tested the Corona FlexDIAL ComfortGEL bypass pruner on.

Design and Features

The two standout features of the Corona FlexDIAL ComfortGEL bypass pruner are summed up in the name: the FlexDIAL adjustable control and the ComfortGEL handles.

The FlexDIAL is an 8-position dial you can adjust, depending on the size of your hands and the pruning task you have planned.

The lowest setting is for gardeners with smaller hands, or for faster cuts on thin stems, such as if you want to do some quick summer deadheading. The highest setting is for those with larger hands and offers a more powerful cut for pruning shrubs or small tree branches, within the tool’s maximum capacity of three-quarters of an inch.

Any pruning is made easier thanks to a coated, non-stick, high-carbon steel blade that is sharpenable and a spring that resists clogging and dirt buildup.

The tool handles have a steel core and ComfortGEL grips designed to offer comfort and reduce fatigue when using the tools for extended periods. ComfortGEL ergonomic grips are common on many Corona tools to make using them as pain-free as possible, such as this ComfortGEL garden trowel at Amazon.

Finally, the pruning shears come with a 10-year warranty. You can get a replacement free of charge if there are any defects, provided you have the original proof of purchase.

Cutting Performance

I tested the pruning shears on various stem sizes in my garden to see the potential of the adjustable dial. Ranging from thin stems of ivy and old fern fronds to mid-sized dead stems on a gooseberry bush, to a large laurel, where I could test out the top-end of the tool’s cutting range.

The tool cut cleanly on practically all of the stems and branches I tested it on. It was precise and cut cleanly without needing lots of force when dealing with soft and semi-woody stems across all eight dial positions.

It was only at the maximum capacity and on old woody stems that I found I needed to put in extra effort, and the cut wasn’t quite as clean. It did tear the bark a bit rather than make a fully precise, clean cut. However, when cutting softer stems at the top end of the capacity, there were no such issues.

I found that when the dial was at the lower settings (1 or 2), it was ideal for making quick, repeated cuts. As you didn’t need to wait for the tool to open to full size after every cut. I can imagine this being great for deadheading in the summer, cutting back stems on perennials, or doing some gentle shaping of topiary.

Admittedly, I didn’t find many differences between the settings. For example, the tool opens only around a third of an inch more or less as you switch between settings. The gap between the inside edges of the hands is 2.7 inches at setting 1, 3.9 inches at setting 4, and 4.7 inches at setting 8.

Will you be switching regularly between? Probably not. But the fact that you can change remains a real bonus for the tool.

Comfort and Handling

I found the pruners comfortable to use for 20 or 30 minutes at a time, undoubtedly helped by the ergonomic design and ComfortGEL grips. The cushioning meant each cut was comfortable, and there was no reverberation through the pruners when cutting stems of any size.

For transparency, I admit I have larger hands and was able to use the tools even at their top setting. Gardeners with smaller hands may struggle at the upper levels, but I hope there will still be enough options for anyone to take advantage of the flexible pruning the tool offers.

The bypass pruning shears felt sturdy and balanced throughout testing, and the bypass action was smooth throughout my time with them. The cutting mechanism felt effortless, and the spring had a smooth action, but the locking mechanism does require a bit of force.

To lock the tool, there is a sliding mechanism on the left-hand side of the handle, with a large red button to slide the lock into place. I found it needed extra force to lock and unlock the tool – this may get easier over time, but there is a noticeable difference between the force needed to cut and the force needed to lock the tool.

However, when it is locked, it stays locked, and there is little chance of the tool accidentally unlocking.

An Essential Piece of Kit?

A durable, sharp, and reliable set of pruning shears is always a key part of any pruning kit. As the Corona FlexDIAL ComfortGEL bypass pruner can be adjusted for different pruning tasks, it can be a versatile tool for anyone with a small or large garden.

Whether you will use all the different settings is up for debate (it depends on the size of your hands and the plants you have), but it is adaptable enough for quick, painless summer trimming through to more strenuous winter shrub pruning.

If you grow a lot of annual and perennial flowers, have a collection of smaller shrubs, and do lots of light to moderate trimming throughout the season, it will handle all your needs, and you will probably appreciate the flexible dial.

For $31.25 at Amazon, they offer a sound investment. They sit in the mid-range pricing of pruning shears, but their quality and flexibility ensure that they offer far more than budget-priced pruners. They are suitable for gardeners of all levels, and the 10-year warranty means they can last you for many years.

H&G Verdict

The Corona FlexDIAL ComfortGEL bypass pruner is a very effective general-purpose pruning tool. It offers versatility and comfort, making everyday trimming simple and enjoyable.

It is best at cutting live, green growth rather than woodier stems and branches, and is more than capable of excelling in a wide variety of pruning tasks.

The ability to adjust and personalize them is novel and offers benefits. But many gardeners will more than likely find a couple of settings they like for certain tasks rather than regularly move between the entire dial.

When you buy pruners, there are a lot of different types to choose from, including choosing between bypass and anvil pruners. If you do need a pruning tool for cutting dead wood, anvil pruners are the most suitable.

It is helpful to know the different options when it comes to pruning tools, and our guide to how to buy pruners covers what you need to know to make the best purchasing decisions.

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