The long handles let you reach far and exert high leverage with minimal exertion, letting you comfortably cut anything that can fit entirely between the blades when they are open. Loppers are the second most useful tool in your pruning arsenal. What are loppers used for? They are tough pruners used to clip thicker woody stems as well as thinner stems that are hard to reach. Gardening is easier when you choose the right tool for a particular task, and it’s hard to get by without loppers.