Lopping shear handles are typically made from either carbon-fiber or aluminum so that they are light weight and strong. Both types work equally well; however, aluminum handled garden loppers are typically cheaper than those with carbon-fiber handles. Handles are usually covered by plastic shock absorbing grips to help protect the gardener from joint injuries while gardening.

Anvil loppers have the disadvantage of tending to crush rather than cut, sometimes leaving an untidy wound, more vulnerable to infection. Their main advantages are of relative strength and of being less likely to jam with fibrous material. Very hard or resilient branches can sometimes deflect a bypass lopper so that material either binds between the blades or even levers them apart, which can be dangerous both to the tool and the operator.