Love the foldable arm design. Compact and sharp. Unlikely you're going to get through a lock without pulling a muscle/ ruining the blade on these, but I was after something compact for lighter duty things like cutting barbed-wire, etc.

I have used many bolt cutters in the past and knew I would have to manage my expectations with this one. I specifically purchased it to cut those standard white wire closet storage shelves and it performed flawlessly for that purpose. I would hesitate to use these on anything that was more robust than 1/4" mild steel. I suppose it would be possible to cut thicker material but it would require significant force and several attempts.

Solution to two common problems (handle red latch can't engage and/or handles are hard to fold/unfold):

Like several other reviewers, I initially had trouble getting one of the handles to latch in the open position (the red latch was unable to capture the other part of the handle). I DID NOT NEED TO FILE OR GRIND OR LUBRICATE ANYTHING to fix this. The problem, was yellow paint buildup in the pivot of the handle, and yellow paint buildup on the two flat surfaces which mate up when you unfold the handle. Solution - snap the handle open really hard several times (avoid crushing any fingers), and pivot the handle all the way open and closed several times ensuring you press hard at both ends of the travel. Check for any paint flakes which come loose during this process, and brush them away so they don't interfere with the handle pivot action of the handle. Now my cutter handles flip open and latch with hardly any effort.

This bolt cutter is terrific. I needed to cut a broken cable lock from a bike. The cable was almost an inch in diameter including the
cover. I was able to cut through in 2 snips. The tool is very heavy and a useful addition to my tools.

No need to spend a $100.00 or more on one of these, when you can buy this one for $35.00 and you'll be more than pleased with it's performance. It cut's through everything like butter, from a padlock to the heaviest gauge wire . You'll be a happy camper if you make a good choice and get this one. There are many other brands out there that are in this price range, and are totally worthless because the metal is too soft and the cutting teeth get damaged fast. You won't be disappointed with a Olympia Tools Bolt Cutter. Highly recommend!