Which Pliers?

[tex68w]

I am looking to pick up some new pliers. I know the usual suspects are Hatch, Abel, Simms, and Van Staal, but how do the cheaper options stack up to the usual "high dollar" suspects?

I've seen the Dr. Slick's and Cuda's before but I haven't yet laid eyes on the new Gerber's or the 3-Tand and I am just not sure how much better the top tier pairs are in comparison and if they deserve the extra cash?!

Let me know what you guys use and what you would buy and why if you had to pick up a new pair tomorrow.

 

[zjory]

I have Hatch.
Are they worth the price? No.
Was I happy to pay it? Yes.
It’s all subjective.

 

[Hirdy]

Donnmar Checkpoint 880

 

[Rip Tide]

I've been using these in saltwater since the '90s
They're carbon steel. Not stainless
Obviously they require care. A squirt of 3in1 oil into the holster keeps them and my hook file from corroding, but they stay sharp,
sharper than any stainless pliers would.
As I remember, I found them, so they cost nothing

 

[dennyk]

I've got a couple pair of Loon Rogue forceps pliers with line cutters on them. Not super heavy duty, but work well for the fishing I do. I don't think I have $50 invested for both of them. Lifetime warranty.

Denny

 

[mikew1959]

Habor Freight...$1
When they wear out or get dull go spend another $1.

 

[Ard]

Funny that this came up...…….

I bought a pair of Dr. Slick Pisces design pliers about 5 or 6 years ago. I've finally taken to leaving them on my wader belt constantly and yesterday used them often to pluck hooks from the very toothy jaws of salmon while I desperately searched for some trout.

I can't say how they would hold up to salt water use but they have been fine for me here. I believe I paid a Princely sum of $20.00 for them and they appear to be worth 20 bucks. I avoid cutting anything that could damage the (removeable / replaceable) cutting edges like hook shanks and so forth so mine remain sharp enough to cut mono if I want to.

I could no doubt buy whatever I chose in the high end fishing pliers market place but seriously? My nippers are as far into the realm of super high priced accessories as I will venture. And by the way, I like the Simms better than the Abel nipper I did however use the Abel cutters yesterday after leaving the Simms on my tying bench at home.

I can appreciate the fancy high end pliers, they do look cool and I'm sure they work just fine but me? I'm the kind of guy who may be able to own the Dr. Slicks until I can't wade anymore but would probably find an ingenious way to lose a $200.00 pair in no time at all

BTW. Gotta love those trout, I'd say that about 75% of those I catch somehow unhook themselves as soon as I get them into my net. I don't have an explanation for how it happens other than maybe the net bag. I use one of those Fishpond / Nomad boat nets with the clear rubber bag. A bunch of the trout shed the hook in the net, weird huh?

But what about the 25% that don't shed the hook in the net bag you wonder? I have to physically remove about 3/4's of them but the truly big ones seem to find a way to lose the hook while they are still 30 feet away

 

[tex68w]

I am leaning towards buying one of the cheaper pair simply due to the fact that I don't need them all that often. Thanks for all of the replies so far.