There are two important lengths to consider when choosing a pole saw: the pole’s actual length and the “reach” or height you can actually achieve while using it. Remember that a pole saw is held in both hands up above your head, so your own arm length adds to the overall reach of the tool. Generally, the reach of a pole saw is 2 or 3 feet longer than the actual length of the pole, so for example, a pole saw with a 7-foot extension pole would have a reach of 9 to 10 feet. Gas-powered pole saws are by far the most powerful type, suited to professional use or heavy-duty tasks cutting large branches. Our Best Gas recommendation is the Echo PPT-2620 X-Series, which has a 12-inch cutting bar. Most homeowners won’t need these heavy-duty tools, but if you are a homesteader or have very large trees on your property, and you are well-trained in tree-trimming techniques, then you might find the higher cost and maintenance needs of a gas-powered pole saw to be worth your while. The engine of a gas pole saw is usually 20cc to 40cc, and these tools are useful for branches up to 10 or 12 inches in diameter, although for anyone not trained as an arborist, it’s best to leave such large branches to a professional. You also need to look out for safety features in a pole saw. While the pole saw is considerably safer than the chainsaw, features such as blade guide, anti-vibration, and ergonomic design will enhance operator safety. Most homeowners won't need this beast of a pole saw, but if you have a lot of large trees, can't be tied down to an extension cord or a battery runtime, and need enough power to clear away branches from hardwood trees, then we recommend this gas-powered, 1.35-horsepower professional-quality pole saw from Echo. With its 12-inch bar and chain, you can cleanly cut through branches up to 8 inches in diameter. The pole telescopes from a low of 9 feet to a maximum of 12 feet, giving you around 14 feet of reach; that's high. Of course, at 17.4 pounds, this is a heavy tool to hold over your head while at work, so you'll appreciate the included shoulder strap that helps to balance the weight. This pole saw has a long-reach handle that allows you to reach branches up to 2.4 m away. It’s equipped with a 20 cm long blade that runs at 8 m/s. It oils automatically, so you’ll always have enough oil for the job.

At first glance, the many different pole saws available on the market all appear pretty similar, but take a closer look and you’ll notice some key variations between them. Some are better suited to certain tasks than others, so it’s important to first identify exactly what you’re hoping to do with your pole saw before starting your search. Pole saws are great, but not for everybody or situation. And that is why you need to be clear about your expectations of the tool before buying one. Here are important factors to consider before buying a pole saw. If you are a homeowner with a small wooded lot, a battery-powered or corded-electric pole saw might be ideal for you. However, a professional whose work requires trimming overgrown trees all day needs the reliability and superior performance of a gas-powered pole saw. What I really appreciated about this pole saw was its weight. At 3.8kg, it was the lightest of the mains-powered pole saws that I tested – it was even almost as light as the cordless Bosch that I reviewed, which is ideal for those of you who want to avoid aching arms. Even better, Ryobi provides a shoulder harness with this pole saw. While you’re unlikely to need this for short pruning sessions, it’s extremely handy if you’re going to be using the machine for extended periods of time. The fact that the centre shaft is removable helps too, since you don’t need to carry all of that extra weight unless you’re pruning super-tall branches.

The pole saw makes the task of tree trimming and pruning easy and flexible. With this tool, you don’t need to move about on the tree, endangering yourself and people below. You can reach any tree branch within the working height of the saw with less stress. It only took a few cuts for me to realise just how impressive this pole saw really is. I tested it out on apple, sycamore, and spruce trees, and it sliced through each branch very neatly. At 4m/s , its cutting speed is a little slower than the other pole saws I tested, but this isn’t actually very noticeable when you’re using the machine. I’m a huge fan of tools with dual functionality. They tend to mark better value for money and they are great if you’ve not got a huge amount of storage. The Greenworks Cordless 2-in-1 Pole Saw and Pole Hedge Trimmer is ideal if you’re after both a hedge trimmer and a saw, but you don’t want to buy two separate tools. Considering all of the above, it’s genuinely surprising how inexpensive this pole saw is. In fact, it’s the cheapest of the five that I tested, yet you wouldn’t have guessed that judging by its features, its powerful motor, and its fantastic performance. With that in mind, I’d say that this pole saw offers brilliant value for money – it’s a steal! Not sure what you need from a quality pole saw? Here are some things to think about before you buy:

Whether you are pruning hard-to-reach branches, cutting overgrown flowers on the roof or making firewood out of logs, the RM1025P will always come in handy. A tool-less mechanism allows you to convert the pole saw into a chainsaw with less fuss. The chainsaw comes with a comfortable non-slip grip while an anti-rotation pole ensures stable and safe use of the saw. The machine is easy to use, sturdy and provides an improved reach. It weighs 12.4 pounds and comes with a 2-year limited warranty. One game-changing feature that many of the newer pole saw models now offer is a pivoting head. This means that you’re able to angle the cutting head in different directions, which makes it so much easier to accurately slice through a branch that’s growing in an awkward way.Some poles will have extension shafts that enable you to add on extra length when needed, and then remove them to shorten the pole when you’re trimming lower branches. If your branches are at varying heights, then a model like this would be ideal for you. Most models come with a strap for you to wear around your shoulders to bear the weight of the unit. Another way to offset the weight is to balance the pole (and attached saw) around its centre of gravity. Many models have ergonomically designed handles so you don’t have to clench your hands to hold on to them. And yet others have extra handles so your non-operating hand can help to hold the weight up. You are not restricted by cables – it can be used anywhere in the garden and there’s no danger that you’ll cut through the cable. Derek has real-world tested 61 products for DIY Garden, and is one of our most experienced testers. Any tree branches you cut will naturally fall onto the ground beneath them. Make sure your outdoor furniture or other possessions are out of the way. Don’t Cut Overhead

While all pole saws come with a relatively long pole, the exact length of that pole will vary quite significantly. This is obviously a very important feature to pay attention to, since you don’t want to invest in a new pole saw only to find that it’s too short to reach the branches that you need to prune. To find the best pole saws, I evaluated several pole saws, considering each model’s design, performance, power, ease of use, and safety, as well as how easy it was to assemble each and their value for money. Here’s an insight into how I tested them: This cordless electric pole saw includes a 2-Ah battery and a charger. It features an 8-inch long guide bar and a chain attached to a 3-piece aluminum pole that can be extended to 8 feet. The standard length of the pole is 6 feet so that you can adjust it between 6 and 8 feet according to your needs. This extended pole saw weighs 8.36 pounds and is designed for trimming and pruning trees.What’s more, you can convert the WG309 into a chainsaw by detaching the pole, making light work of branches on the ground. An automatic lubrication system allows the saw to work smoothly for longer while reducing wear and tear on the bar and chain. The lightweight design, ergonomic and comfortable grip lower operator fatigue, allowing you to deliver exceptional performance. This powerful tool is ideal for yard, home, and farm cutting tasks as a pole saw or chainsaw. It weighs only 10 pounds. It can often be tempting to want to go with a big-name company when buying new garden tools. However, sometimes, lesser-known brands produce products that are just as good, if not better, yet without the high price tag. If the trees you need to chainsaw are somewhat sizeable, the NETTA 2 in 1 Pole Long Reach Hedge Trimmer and Chainsaw can deal with them for you. More powerful, in general, than a cordless model, this multi-functional tool also lets you trim your hedges easily and neatly. The safety switch on this unit is a welcome precaution. However, you need to know what to have in a pole saw. While the saw on a pole looks and works effectively, you will have wasted money if you bought a model with the wrong power rating or weight. In this buying guide, we look at the essentials to look out for when buying a pole saw. Never cut tree limbs that are directly above your head. Using the extended pole saw, cut at an angle away from you. Plant Your Feet