Blue Diamond vs Berlon Grapples: Which One to Buy in Canada?
If you're buying a skid steer grapple in Canada and your shortlist includes Blue Diamond and Berlon, this is for you. Both brands make a wide range of root grapples, skeleton grapples, and grapple buckets. They're priced similarly. The differences matter more than you'd expect.
The Basics
Blue Diamond Attachments is one of the most widely distributed attachment brands in North America. They cover every grapple type — root grapples, skeleton grapples, log grapples, grapple buckets, severe duty versions — and their catalog in Canada is extensive. Strong dealer presence, parts generally available.
Berlon Industries is a mid-western US manufacturer that ships into Canada through dealers. They make a focused, well-built lineup of grapples with a reputation for solid welds and straightforward construction. Not as many SKUs as Blue Diamond, but every model they make is well-regarded by people who actually use them.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | Blue Diamond | Berlon |
|---|---|---|
| Price tier (Canada) | Mid — slightly higher on severe duty models | Mid — competitive across the board |
| Canadian availability | Wide dealer network | Narrower, but present |
| Grapple types available | Root, skeleton, log, grapple bucket, hay, rock rake, severe duty | Root, skeleton rock, scrap bucket, HD root |
| Severe duty options | Yes — entire Severe Duty line | Yes — HD Root Grapple 84" |
| Cylinder count | 2-cylinder on larger root models | 2-cylinder on HD models |
| Build quality reputation | Good — consistent across line | Very good — fewer models, higher focus |
| Warranty | Standard manufacturer warranty | Standard manufacturer warranty |
| Parts availability (Canada) | Better — more dealers stocking parts | Adequate — dealer-dependent |
Choose Blue Diamond if…
- You want the widest size selection — 48" to 96" root grapples and everything in between
- You need a log grapple, hay accumulator, or hydraulic rock rake — Berlon doesn't make these
- You want a Severe Duty version for demolition or demo cleanup
- Parts availability matters and you're in a rural area where dealers are sparse
- You're buying multiple attachment types and want consistent brand coverage
Choose Berlon if…
- You're doing land clearing, brush clearing, or site cleanup — their root grapples are well-built for this
- You have a Berlon dealer near you with inventory in stock
- You want a scrap grapple bucket and Berlon's 72" version is available locally
- You prefer a smaller, more focused manufacturer over a large catalog company
Verdict: Blue Diamond Has the Edge in Canada
Berlon makes excellent grapples — this is not a knock on them. But in the Canadian market, Blue Diamond wins on sheer practicality. More dealers, more sizes, more specialty models, better parts access. When you're running a grapple hard on a Canadian job site and something breaks, you want a manufacturer with broad dealer coverage.
If Berlon is available locally at a competitive price and you're doing standard root or brush grapple work, buy it without hesitation. But if you're comparing catalogs side-by-side, Blue Diamond is the safer choice for Canadian operators.
Products to Compare
- Blue Diamond 72" Root Grapple — popular mid-size for land clearing
- Blue Diamond Severe Duty 72" Root Grapple — upgraded for heavy use
- Berlon 72" Root Grapple — solid build, competitive price
- Berlon HD Root Grapple 84" — Berlon's heavy-duty option
- Berlon 72" Skeleton Rock Grapple — for rock and debris work