Best Fly Fishing Nippers in 2022
Nippers are an inexpensive but very important tool when you are by the water. You always need them close by to change a leader of a fly and you want them to work for a long time. Some fly fishing nippers go blunt or rust and although they are not expensive you still do not want to have to keep buying them. Here are our thoughts on the best fly fishing nippers out there.
OUR TOP PICKS
 | Loon Outdoors ROGUE NIPPERS
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 | GERBER Freehander Freshwater Line Nipper
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 | Orvis Nippers
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 | Dr. Slick Nipper
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 | Milepetus Fishing Line Nipper
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 | Dr. Slick Offset Nippers
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 | Wright & McGill Nipper
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 | SAMSFX FISHING Line Nippers
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Best Fly Fishing Nippers
Loon Outdoors ROGUE NIPPERS
Loon is known to make quality fishing accessories and are one of the most environmentally conscious manufacturers out there.
These fly fishing nippers are super simple. They are made with a rust-resistant finish and the cutting edges are sharp and made from stainless steel. They come with a comfy grip so you can use them easily with wet hands, and an eye cleaning tool too.
Pros
- Good material
- Sharp
- Comes with a grip
- Great value
Cons
- No nail knot tool
GERBER Freehander Freshwater Line Nipper
These fly fishing nippers from Gerber are more of a multi-tool than just a pair of line cutters. The body is made from aluminum and the cutters are stainless steel, a great anti-corrosion combo. The specs say they are made for freshwater but I would be tempted to take them into the salt.
They are sharp and you can replace the cutters as well as the eye tool. One of the best things about these fly fishing nippers is the line holder. It allows you to clip in your line instead of having to hold it or put it in your mouth while you are changing flies. The line holder is known to pop out quite easily.
Overall a great piece of kit for a good price.
Pros
- More of a multi-tool
- Quality material
- Well made
- Very useful
- Replaceable parts
Cons
- The line manager can pop out
- A little expensive
Orvis Nippers
These Orvis fly fishing nippers are designed to deal with any situation. They are made from military-spec anodized aluminum and are not going to rust. The cutters are super sharp and stay sharp. The lever handle makes it easy to cut anything from 80lb line to 8x. If you fish a lot in saltwater, these are a good choice for you.
Spares are available for the cutting edges and the anvil so you can replace them over time if there wear out. They come with a lanyard and an eye cleaner.
They are a bit expensive but you do get what you pay for. These are more of a guide tool than a pair of fly fishing nippers for the occasional fisherman.
Pros
- Cuts thick line
- High Quality
- Top-end material
- Sharp
- Spares available
Cons
- Expensive
- No nail knot tool
Dr. Slick Nipper
These fly fishing nippers are well made from high grade Japanese stainless steel, they will not corrode. The cutting edge is sharp and they are easy to use.
The nippers come with an eye cleaning tool, a nail knot tool and a file so you can keep your hooks sharp. The nail knot tool is known to be a tad small for some anglers and get in the way.
Outside of this, these fly fishing nippers are a great piece of kit and are excellent value too.
Pros
- Good material
- Sharp
- Comes with extra tools
- Great value
Cons
- Nail knot tool is a bit small and gets in the way
Milepetus Fishing Line Nipper
These are the most affordable fly fishing nippers in the line-up. They are simple and made of stainless steel. The cutting edges are sharp but in some cases, they have been a bit blunt and fishermen have complained about the amount of pressure they have had to use to cut line.
They come with an eye cleaning tool but are also a little stiff to use which is not ideal, I think you get what you pay for with these fly fishing nippers
Pros
- Good material
- Sharp
- Mega value
Cons
- A little stiff
- No nail knot tool
Dr. Slick Offset Nippers
These fly fishing nippers are exactly the same in quality as the other pair of Dr. Slick nippers in the line-up. They are sharp and well made from high grade Japanese stainless steel so that they will not corrode, and they are easy to use.
The nippers come with an eye cleaning tool and the only difference compared to the others is that they are offset and do not come with a nail knot tool.
They are offset so that you can get into tight corners when you want to trip down a tag end to the minimum for an excellent presentation. If you fish very small flies this will be extremely useful.
Pros
- Good material
- Sharp
- Great value
- Offset for getting into tight corners
Cons
- No nail knot tool
Wright & McGill Nipper
A simple pair of nippers that come with an eye cleaning tool. The cutting edges are sharp but in some cases, they have been offset which can make a mess of a tag end.
The material they are made out of is not specified but there are no reports of them rusting or going blunt. I would not, however, take these into saltwater just in case.
A handy pair of inexpensive fly fishing nippers to have around as a backup so that you are never short on the river.
Pros
- Sharp
- Easy to use
- Good value
Cons
- Cutting edges can arrive offset
- The material they are made of is not specified
SAMSFX FISHING Line Nippers
A pair of very simple fly fishing nippers that come with a zinger for a very low price. The cutters are stainless steel and are sharp in most cases. They can be a bit blunt on arrival sometimes and it is recommended that you sharpen and polish the blades when you get them.
They come with an eye cleaning tool and a zinger for easy access. They are not the best quality nippers but you are getting what you pay for.
Pros
- Sharp
- Easy to use
- Good value
- Comes with a zinger
Cons
- Can be little blunt
A Buyers Guide – What To Look For
There are a few things to consider when buying a pair of nippers and these factors revolve mainly around the materials they are made of, the tools the can come with and where and what you are going to use them for.
Where Are You Going To Use Them
This comes down to whether you are going to be fishing in salt or freshwater or both. If you are planning on taking them out into the salt, make sure you buy a pair made of quality material like aluminum or high-grade stainless steel. This will ease your worries about corrosion and ensure the nippers last a long time.
What Are You Going To Use Them For
This is about what you want to cut with your nippers. If it just thin line like 4x then you can go for a basic pair that cuts well. If you want your nippers to cut 80lb mono and more, then make sure you invest in a pair that can manage it.
Tools
Nippers can come with various tools. Work out which ones are valuable to you, which ones you can do without and go from there. They are all useful in one way or another but this choice comes down to personal preference.
Replaceable Parts
Most high-quality and higher-priced nippers come with parts you can replace. This is a great feature as you can now have a pair of nippers for life instead of having to buy a new pair once they get worn out.
Our Favorites
In terms of value for money the best fly fishing nippers are the ones from Loon Outdoors. They are simple, sharp and very well made from good materials. They do not have all the tools but they will get the job done and last a long time.
- Loon Rogue Nippers with Comfy Grip
- International products have separate terms, are sold from abroad and may differ from local products, including fit, age ratings, and language of product, labeling or instructions
The prize for the all-rounder goes to Gerber. These nippers have all the tools you could imagine, are made from aluminum and the parts are replaceable. These are fly fishing nippers for life for a mid-range price.
- Easy-to-Use Fishing Gear: The Freehander fishing tool nips and manages fishing line or fishing lure exchange in real-time
- SuperVise Tech: This fishing tool features a pivoting retention clip that cinches fishing line during lure exchange
The best of the best are the Orvis nippers. Yes, they are expensive but you can cut anything with these, take them in saltwater and replace the parts when you need to. If you are a guide or spend all day fishing in the sea, these are your best bet.
- Orvis Nippers Cobalt