The 4 Best Tools to Cut Bamboo – Reviews 2023

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The best tool to cut bamboo is always the tool that lets bamboo thrive afterward. That’s because cutting bamboo isn’t just about cutting the plant itself — it’s about cutting bamboo at the perfect angle to let it grow back stronger and healthier than ever!

In that respect, cutting bamboo is equal parts art and science. Just like any art or science, it requires the right tool. Many amateurs use regular scissors, pen knives, or even razors to cut bamboo. But these common tools can cut uneven, serrated, or “chewed up” slices in otherwise healthy bamboo. That means you may prune your bamboo back to make it healthier, but it could wind up wilting in a matter of days!

So whether you want to prune your bamboo’s leaf (or leaves, depending on the species) or angle-cut the stalk at the knuckle, these tools below will make sure your bamboo is off to a strong and healthy start when you prune it back!

These are our recommendations for the 4 best tools to cut bamboo on the market:

Fiskars Softouch Micro-Tip Pruning Snip Cutting Tool

The Fiskars Softouch pruning snip is the small, precise, and sturdy way to cut your bamboo.

The blades on these snips are 6” long for a comfortable cutting range, and the handles are so comfortable and easy to use that they actually won an award from the Arthritis Foundation on the behalf of individuals with limited hand strength. These snips also have a spring-loaded action that automatically separates the blades after every use, which makes it easy to make small, careful cuts.

These affordable snips are great for deadheading, trimming, and shaping your bamboo whether you’re a professional gardener or an amateur bamboo enthusiast.

FISKARS Softouch Micro Tip Pruning Snip Review

Barbones Living Garden Cutting Tool – Scissors, Small

The Barbones Living Garden scissors are strong, capable, and comfortable shears to use with any kind of bamboo — including lucky bamboo!

These scissors are made with an ambidextrous grip to fit comfortably into your left or right hand, depending on your dominant hand. The handle itself is actually made of bamboo, which adds strength and comfort to the scissors themselves. The metal portions of the scissors are treated to resist rust, and the blades are a short 2” for maximum strength exertion. The blades are also heat treated and sharpenable so you can keep them to a sharp, crisp cut no matter how often you use them.

These scissors may cost a little more, but they’re excellent for short, sharp cuts. They work on more than just bamboo, too. They’re designed for gardening in general, which makes them great addition to your gardening tools as all-arounders. Plus, with sharpenable blades, you’ll get the same great value out of these scissors day after day, year after year!

EverSaw Folding Hand Saw All-Purpose Cutting PVC. 8” Blade

The EverSaw 8” folding hand saw is an excellent utility blade for any busy gardener who keeps his tools on his belt. This saw blade measures a full 8”, which is one of the longest foldable blades you can find in the gardening market.

The fine serrations on the blade let this saw cut through wood — including live bamboo — in a few quick strokes. And while it’s serrated, it leaves a surprisingly clean cut with every use. Naturally, you’ll have some pulp leftover from a cut through live bamboo, but it’s easy to clean that up when you cut straight and true. In fact, the blade is designed after a Japanese tradition to ensure it creates as little friction as possible between itself and the bamboo!

This blade is coupled with a slip-resistant, sure-grip handle that’s designed for ergonomic comfort. Whenever you’re not using this saw, the blade slips safely into the handle, allowing you to carry the whole unit in your pocket without the risk of cutting yourself (or anyone else).

Overall, this blade also costs a pretty penny compared to other gardening saws, but it’s a great unit for anyone’s shed. Plus, it’s strong enough to cut through bone, meaning it’ll take years to saw wear and tear on this blade, making this one of the best tools to cut bamboo for the money.

Bushcraft Gear - Eversaw 8.0 folding saw

Saboten 1210 Thinning Cutting Shear Tool

The Saboten 1210 thinning shear is a traditional gardening scissor that can work in just about any application from pruning to trimming.

This shear is designed to be small — almost pocket-sized — so you can carry it with you easily. The grips are contoured to naturally absorb shock as well, which really helps your hands when you’re cutting through bamboo stalks up to a 1/4” in diameter! Best of all, Saboten makes these shears small without sacrificing any of the strength and power you’ve come to expect from a quality pair of gardening shears.

The blades themselves are heat-treated for maximum durability, and they’re sharp enough to cleanly cleave through bamboo and other thick woods. Plus, the blades are virtually frictionless since they’re coated in Teflon! That gives you a safe, clean, and crisp cut every time. For safety, the blades are also lockable with a simple latch.

These are pricier than most bamboo cutting tools, but they’re also no-brainers when it comes to gardening. If you don’t have a good pair of gardening shears, spend the money on Saboten so you have a reliable pair of scissors for any plant — including bamboo!

Which Bamboo Cutting Tool Is Best?

The best bamboo cutting tool comes down to your needs as a gardener.

If you need something simple, small, and comfortable, then Fiskars is the brand for you. Also, if you have arthritis or osteoporosis, then these are probably the best shears for your hands in general. After all, it’s not every day that you find a pair of gardening shears that are so comfortable and easy to use that they won an award for it!

The Barbones shears are good for you if you want a pair of scissors just for bamboo that also look right in a small garden. As the brand name implies, they’re the simple, standard solution to cutting without any bells or whistles. You still get some strong and sturdy shears for the price point, but if you’re only going to prune bamboo every once in a while, these are the cutters you need!

Next, the EverSaw blade (see full specs) is an unconventional bamboo cutter that can work for thicker or more well-grown breeds of bamboo. This is especially important for gardeners who want to put their back into their work, as the saw blade can only work as hard as the power you put into it! This also provides a more visceral and rewarding experience for the user. It’s about the same price point as the Barbones shears, so using the EverSaw blade is really a matter of preference and filling out your tool shed with strong, versatile items.

Finally, the Saboten snippers (see full specs) are a common sight in tool sheds of any gardener. They cost a little more than the other items on this list, but for good reason. They’re versatile, reliable, strong, and long-lasting, all packed into one small hand tool! When it comes to cutting bamboo, it doesn’t get much easier than a pair of Saboten shears.

So which bamboo cutting tool is the right choice for you? Find it in our list above!

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  • Founder of Mechanical Caveman, Beau is an unrepentant tool enthusiast and, sporting deadlift-callused hands and an incongruous beer belly, all-around macho guy. When he doesn’t know re tools, he consults with his handyman and car-repairman buds to give you well-reasoned and cutting-edge info.

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2 responses

  1. I use a combination of hand ax, folding saw and shears. It’s just a tough nugget to cut through no matter how you swing it. Living bamboo is much easier of course. The more dead it is, the harder it is and the more it looks like regular sticks.

  2. Going to try the eversaw looks like it would be fast and easy I’m cutting a grove of bamboo out of our backyard using a chainsaw but the chain keeps popping off Thanks for the advice

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