	Name	Purchased for ($)	Link	Made In
	Typhon East	$13.00	Search on Amazon	China
The least expensive pair here at 365 g, with machined jaws, horizontal wire-twisting indentations and induction hardened cutting edges. It arrived with a small amount of handle wobble, needed 71 lb to cut 14-gauge copper wire and 161 lb on a 16-penny nail, and its handles bent on the deck screw before it could make the cut.
	Irwin	$15.00	Search on Amazon	China
Carbon alloy steel with induction hardened cutting edges, and the heaviest pair of the group at 524 g. Grip was the weak spot at 6 in-lb on a socket extension, but it cut the nail at 100 lb and the deck screw at 151 lb, then held to 845 lb on the socket adapter — the second-highest breaking force in the test.
	Doyle	$18.00	Search on Amazon	Taiwan
Harbor Freight's high-leverage design with laser hardened cutting edges and an aggressive crosshatch grip zone, 472 g. Tied for the best grip on a socket extension at 10 in-lb, cut copper wire at 30 lb, the nail at 84 lb and the deck screw at 120 lb, and its cutting knives took less wear than most.
	Southwire	$21.00	Search on Amazon	China
Fire-induction hardened blades rated for ACSR wire, 495 g, with no handle wobble. Middle of the field on cutting force at 31 lb on copper wire and 86 lb on the nail, but very tough: one jaw finally broke at 812 lb, and its cutting knives held up far better than the Doyle's.
	Gearwrench	$22.00	Search on Amazon	China
Pit Bull pliers with laser hardened edges, a claimed 35% easier cut and 5 gauge cut capacity, 468 g. The rivet sits just 5.7 mm from the cutter opening, and it shows: 26 lb on copper wire, 77 lb on the nail and 116 lb on the deck screw. Spat out part of a cutting knife before breaking at 827 lb.
	DeWalt	$24.00	Search on Amazon	China
Chrome vanadium steel with induction hardened blades and a crosshatch tooth design, 463 g. Best of the crosshatch pliers on the roofing screw at 15 in-lb, and third on the nail at 73 lb, though a 7.2 mm leverage profile cost it on copper wire at 31 lb. A jaw broke at 558 lb with very little edge damage.
	Channellock	$27.00	Search on Amazon	USA
Forged US steel with XLT technology, laser heat treated edges and a knife-and-anvil cutting geometry, 469 g. The smoothest action of the group and the lowest cutting force in every round: 25 lb on copper wire, 66 lb on the nail and 104 lb on the deck screw. The rivet sits close to the cutters at 5.7 mm, which also made it the first to let go under extreme load at 395 lb.
	Milwaukee	$34.00	Search on Amazon	China
Forged with a maximum-leverage profile and a lifetime warranty, right at 500 g. Cut copper wire at 27 lb and the deck screw at 109 lb, third best in that round, and its rivet held until 613 lb on the socket adapter, though the cutting knives took quite a bit of damage.
	Ideal	$36.00	Search on Amazon	USA
USA-made from custom alloyed tool steel and rated for hardened wire, bolts and stainless wire, 486 g. Solid on grip at 13 in-lb on a roofing screw and fourth on the nail at 79 lb, but the leverage profile is not as aggressive as the leaders and copper wire took 35 lb.
	Knipex	$42.00	Search on Amazon	Germany
German-made forged construction claiming 50% less effort than conventional combination pliers, and light for its class at 455 g. Second on the nail at 69 lb and second on the deck screw at 108 lb, with a 6.2 mm leverage profile. The rivet gave way at 522 lb.
	Klein Tools	$44.00	Search on Amazon	USA
USA-made with heavy duty knives rated for ACSR, screws, nails and hardened wire, and a claimed 46% more cutting power, 510 g. Tied for the best socket extension grip at 10 in-lb and fourth on the nail at 75 lb, and the body held to 660 lb before breaking near the rivet joint.
	Vampliers	$45.00	Search on Amazon	Japan
Japanese-made and the lightest pair here at 349 g, using vertical serrations instead of a crosshatch. Far and away the best grip on a metal roofing screw at 20 in-lb and second on the socket extension at 24 in-lb, and the toughest tool in the test at 851 lb. Short handles cost it on cutting force: 109 lb on the nail, 167 lb on the deck screw.
	Wiha	$54.00	Search on Amazon	Vietnam
Crosshatch jaw teeth with no handle wobble, and the second heaviest pair at 521 g. Grip on a socket extension was the weakest of the group at 4 in-lb, and it needed 37 lb on copper wire and 90 lb on the nail. The jaw bent and broke at 752 lb.
	Fujiya Tools	$74.00	Search on Amazon	Japan
The most expensive pair here, Japanese-made with a high leverage design and light at 353 g. Its horizontal jaw pattern dominated the socket extension grip test at 29 in-lb, and it cut copper wire at 27 lb on short handles. Not built for abuse: a jaw broke at 368 lb, though the cutting knives still looked new.

Rank	Product	Result
1	Gearwrench	5.70
2	Channellock	5.70
3	Knipex	6.20
4	Southwire	6.90
5	Milwaukee	7
6	DeWalt	7.20

Best Lineman Pliers: 14 Brands Tested for Grip, Cutting Force, and Durability

Top Picks

Price

Weight

Grip on a Socket Extension

Grip on a Metal Roofing Screw

14-Gauge Copper Wire Cutting Force

Leverage Profile

16-Penny Nail Cutting Force

Number 10 Deck Screw Cutting Force

Socket Adapter Breaking Force

The Verdict

Related Tests

Top Picks

Price

Weight

Grip on a Socket Extension

Grip on a Metal Roofing Screw

14-Gauge Copper Wire Cutting Force

Leverage Profile

16-Penny Nail Cutting Force

Number 10 Deck Screw Cutting Force

Socket Adapter Breaking Force

The Verdict