Making the Cut, the Boomerang Snip (continued)

With the Snip there is no fumbling around to put your fingers in position when cutting, simply press inwards and the tool cuts through line cleanly. The design allows anglers to make cuts with wet hands or even wearing thick gloves during winter. For safety if anglers press the levers all the way down and inwards the blades will lock in a closed position so there are no sharp edges to worry about when retracted.

A look at the back which is sandwiched with five screws

The LED on the lighted version provides enough light to cut through line in total darkness, and if held in the right position can help anglers tie knots as well. The only thing that I didn’t like about the lighted version was the switch itself. It was a little too easy to activate and I often left it on after use or accidently activated it simply by pulling the Snip forward on the retractor, this resulted in a lot of unnecessary battery usage. The Snip uses Maxwell LR1130 batteries and fortunately they are replaceable at a cost of $2.95 each. It would be great if the LED switch had some sort of safety mechanism to prevent unintentional activation. 

The switch for the LED is easy to turn on, too easy really and a lock or safety would help prevent unintentional activation

Durability: Looking at the Snip I wasn’t sure how a tool with so much plastic would hold up over time, but throughout our tests we experienced no failures whatsoever. The housing remained intact even with intentional stress testing like dropping the tool on concrete from a 6 foot height. The retractor spring has held up well throughout an entire season and most importantly the Snip has stayed sharp and continues to cut even saltwater class braided lines quite well. The only maintenance we had to do was changing out those LED batteries on the lighted version. After using the tool in saltwater environments we simply rinsed it under a sink briefly and let it air dry, and after a season of use the stainless steel cutters and handle levers show no sign of rust whatsoever, not bad for such an affordable little gadget. 

The new Boomerang logo adorns our basic test unit

Price and Applications: The fully featured Snip with LED retails for $14.99 while the basic model costs only $11.99. While I liked the option of having the lighted version I found that I rarely used the light, and that a traditional headlamp was still more convenient when cutting and tying lines before dawn. I also didn’t like how easily it was to accidently burn through batteries in the daytime when inadvertently leaving it on.

The best thing about the Snip? It is there when you need it and you won't drop it in the water

For this reason I actually prefer the simpler “basic” version. This tool is priced to fit any budget and while it may not be the smallest cutting tool it is able to address both fresh and most saltwater cutting applications. The only thing the Snip will not cut through are metal leaders, for that you will still need the extra leverage of a good pair of pliers. Boomerang warrantees the Snip for a year, during which the company will repair or replace the tool with a $5 shipping fee, and even provides a 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee.

A closer look at those stainless serrated cutting jaws

Ratings: (We've re-calibrated our ratings standard for 2008 and have included a key at the bottom of the following matrix as a guide):

Pluses and Minuses: