I am trying to grow figs but mine are still quite small. I thought they were more bush like but I could be wrong. Pole pruners generally have limits of ~1". If you need to cut something thicker consider getting a pole saw.

I would think the Fiskars and ARS units are decent but that is based on quality of their other products not on having used them. Although the Fiskars will have some plastic in its construction.

In any case, whichever tool you get, keep it sharp. Both the pruner and saw are excellent tools when maintained but are require alot more work when dull.

My mother uses the Corona bypass loppers with 26 inch handles for most of the pruning she does (including fig trees). The longer handles are sometimes a little hard to work with but they give you more power than the shorter ones. Corona is not a top line product like the fiskars, but I think they give good service for the price.

This is a UK site, but if someone sells something like this in your area, you can't beat them. Never knew what the english word for them were until I saw this thread and googled it. Can't believe the prices though (really proud of them there I guess). Next to zero effort (we have the bypass blades)and can reach easy 4 meters high. We've got a bunch of hand sized ones and a couple of long handled ones that have both anvil and bypass blades but like the bypass better. I took one of the long ones and shortened the handle, and rope so my wife would be able to take advantage of the lever to cut easier. I've cut stuff well over an inch thick like butter. Good Luck. You might try amazon.

Dave

http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=8737

I got the biggest ones I could find. 29.95 ACE looping shears Compound Bypass. 32" in length, big strong jaws, cuts up to 1 1/2, but I cut bigger with no problems. Came in real handy during the recent ICE storm. Easy enough for my wife to cut all the brush off the limbs. I don't know who makes them. Got tired of using the cheaper shorter models that the jaws twist on.

We got our last loppers at Wal-Mart, i think they were $29.95. Made by Fiskars. They have a ratchiting action that gives you more cutting leverage with less effort. My wife loves them. She is small and can't use the longer ones. The handles are around 30 inches if i remember right. Fiskars.com

I have the Fiskers and with the open gear or ratchet they are probably the type you need....That being said...

The plastic ends for the metal sleeve handles should have rivets or bolts to keep them from sliding apart. I used small flat head machine screws with nuts, then I added Loctite.