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Fiskars telescopic hedge shears

Updated: October 2026

The top of the hedge, or the far side, is just out of reach, and the ladder is the thing you would rather not fetch. Fiskars telescopic hedge shears in this amazon.co.uk set are three listings: the SmartFit HS86, the HS13, and model 91696935J. Each buys a bit of reach from the ground. None of them makes a tall hedge safe, and only the SmartFit has a full United Kingdom review sample. Prices for the whole category, including the short fixed shears, are on the [Fiskars hedge trimmer comparison](/hub/lawn-and-garden-equipment/fiskars-hedge-trimmer). Peter F. read these three listings on 22 October 2026. A qualifying purchase can earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.

The top of the hedge, or the far side, is just out of reach, and the ladder is the thing you would rather not fetch.

Our top picks

Fiskars Fiskars telescoping 91696935J

Best overall

Fiskars Fiskars telescoping 91696935J
6.4/10about £56.10
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Fiskars Fiskars SmartFit HS86

Rank 2

Fiskars Fiskars SmartFit HS86
7.8/10about £59.65
View offer
Fiskars Fiskars telescopic HS13

Rank 3

Fiskars Fiskars telescopic HS13
7.1/10about £25.09
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On this page
  1. 1.What an extending handle can and cannot do
  2. 2.SmartFit, HS13, and the listing with almost no UK text
  3. 3.Weight, locks, and blades
  4. 4.When to stop and hire

What an extending handle can and cannot do

An extending handle lets you cut the top or the back of a hedge while both feet stay on the ground, if the extra length is enough. The HS13 bullet says 63–83 cm. The SmartFit bullet says 68–93 cm. Model 91696935J does not state a travel at all. That is tens of centimetres, not a pole. The RHS says keep a hedge at a height you can maintain. Soft growth is still the limit. A woody stem at the end of a long handle is a good way to notch a blade you can barely see.

SmartFit, HS13, and the listing with almost no UK text

The SmartFit HS86 is the telescopic row to open if you want UK-written reviews and a stated length. It is about £59.65, 4.5 from 516, 1.25 kg, and all 50 sampled reviews are from the United Kingdom. The bullet says 68–93 cm. The included-components line says 925 mm, which is not the same as 93 cm. The warranty cell says two years. Fiskars’ UK FAQ says there is no lifetime guarantee in Europe, so ignore a 25-year line you may see on another UK page. The UK row is about £59.65 and 1.25 kg. The HS13 is the budget reach: about £25.09, a stated 63–83 cm, 1.55 kg, 4.4 from 302. Only 13 of the first 50 reviews are from the United Kingdom. The dimensions cell says 20.8 x 20.8 cm, which does not match a 63–83 cm shear. Use the length bullet. The warranty cell is empty. Model 91696935J at about £56.10 is not a UK-evidence buy in this sample. The star line is 4.5 from 3,217, and only one of the first 50 review blocks is marked United Kingdom. The manufacturer cell says BFF while the title says Fiskars. You are paying close to the SmartFit for a listing whose UK text is almost absent.
Fiskars Fiskars telescoping 91696935J

Testsieger

Fiskars Fiskars telescoping 91696935J
6.4/10about £56.10
View offer

Weight, locks, and blades

The HS13 at 1.55 kg is the heaviest stated figure here. One buyer returned it because it was heavy. If you already tire with a 780 g HS21, 1.55 kg at arm’s length will be worse. The SmartFit at 1.25 kg is lighter on the page and still heavier than a short shear once the handles are out. UK reviews praise the reach and also describe a handle that slipped down the tang, a blade notched on hawthorn, and a chipped edge. If the handle slides, you have lost the length you paid about £59.65 for. The 454 g cell on 91696935J conflicts with reviews that call the same tool heavy. Do not plan a long session on 454 g. Stated travel is missing. High-carbon on the HS13 rusts if you leave it wet: a UK review says oil it. A non-stick claim on the SmartFit is a coating, not a permanent edge.

When to stop and hire

Stop when the stated range does not reach the top with your feet flat. If the top is over your head even at 93 cm, hire someone. You cannot renovate brown Leylandii wood from a longer handle. The SmartFit clears the UK-sample test and still carries a slipping handle and a hawthorn notch. The HS13 clears a budget and fails a lightness test. 91696935J clears neither a UK sample nor a credible weight. A short hedge does not need any of them.

Common questions

Will telescopic shears let me skip the ladder?
Only if the extra centimetres are enough with both feet on the ground. The SmartFit is stated at 68–93 cm and the HS13 at 63–83 cm. That is not a way up a two-metre face. If you would still need steps, hire, or lower the hedge with someone who can work at that height.
How long is the SmartFit?
The amazon.co.uk bullet says 68–93 cm, at 1.25 kg and about £59.65. The included-components line says 925 mm, which is not identical to 93 cm, so check the handles you receive before a tall face. The warranty cell says two years, not 25.
Is the HS13 too heavy?
It is the heaviest stated telescopic weight here, 1.55 kg, at about £25.09 and a stated 63–83 cm. UK reviews call it heavy, and one buyer returned it. If your limit is a short shear around 780 g, this is too heavy for a long session. The SmartFit at 1.25 kg is lighter and much dearer.
Why is one telescopic listing 454 g and still described as heavy?
The cells and the reviews disagree. Model 91696935J prints 454 g and costs about £56.10, with 4.5 from 3,217. Reviews, mostly written outside the United Kingdom, call it heavy. Only one of the first 50 blocks is a UK review. The manufacturer cell says BFF.
Do the handles stay locked?
Not always on the SmartFit. UK reviews include a handle that slipped down the tang. Check the catch before you trust the top setting, and do not lean on the handle. Model 91696935J does not state how far the handles travel.
Can I cut the top of a tall Leylandii this way?
Only the green fringe you can reach from the ground, and only as a light trim. The RHS says Leylandii should not be cut into bare wood, and a tall conifer is often beyond 93 cm. If the crown is above a comfortable reach, stop.
Is the SmartFit worth about £60 when a fixed shear is about £18?
Only when the extra reach is the job. The SmartFit is about £59.65 against fixed shears at about £17.51, with a full UK sample, a stated 68–93 cm, and 1.25 kg. It is a poor buy at chest height. The HS13 is the cheaper reach, and it is heavier.

Related pages

Best Fiskars hedge shears

How to trim a hedge with shears

Fiskars hedge shears buying guide

Fiskars hedge trimmer

Fiskars PowerGear vs SingleStep for a short UK hedge

Sources

Public UK sources for the legal and horticultural points. Prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk listings in this category. Last checked 22 October 2026.

  1. Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, section 1 (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  2. Management of Hedgerows (England) Regulations 2024 (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  3. RSPB, Wildlife and Countryside Act (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  4. RHS, pruning hedges (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  5. Fiskars UK FAQ (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  6. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9 (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  7. Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, section 66 (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  8. HSE INDG480, powered trimmer vibration (retrieved 22.10.2026)