They required very little effort and did not hurt or strain my hand at all. I used them to cut the flaps off of a cardboard box, and they cut through the cardboard like butter!
I didn't have to get on the floor. I marked the padding and just cut all the paddings in less than 5 minutes!! Nice, clean cuts. Worth every penny! The angle of this handle is perfect to just stand and cut a perfectly straight line.
Wish I had these in my life a long time ago. They are great for cutting just about anything but metal.
I used these to cut old carpet to remove the carpet in rolls. They made a tough job much easier. They still required some effort, but not what one would expect. I do recommend wearing gloves if you are going to use it a lot, for blisters are still possible, even with great scissors. I highly recommend these for heavy-duty cutting, like carpet.