Health benefits – in addition to saving yourself from the noise that a petrol chainsaw makes, a cordless chainsaw also won’t subject you to exhaust fumes

When it comes to safety, this chainsaw offers the standard features, with the most important being its chain brake that’ll stop the chain from hitting you if it ever derails or breaks. At 94 dB(A), it’s a pretty quiet machine too – more so than the other chainsaws that I tested. Needless to say, it wasn’t the best start, but things started to look up once I took in the full design of this machine. It has a 25cm Oregon bar and chain , which is a sign of top quality, along with a metal, rather than a plastic, claw stop – again, an indicator of quality. I also appreciated the tool free chain tension adjustment mechanism, as well as the large oil display window.The Greenworks GD24CS30 chainsaw offers total convenience, with no petrol or electric cables to deal with. Instead, simply insert the advanced 24V battery and you are ready to cut. As part of the Greenworks 24V family, the battery can be used in a range of different Greenworks tools, from lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, leaf blowers and even power tools. Benefits Thankfully, this is no longer the case. The cordless chainsaws of today are now more powerful and efficient than ever. In some cases, their performance even rivals that of the best petrol chainsaws. In terms of design features, there are a few that stand out. Firstly, the 30cm Oregon bar and chain . Anyone that’s familiar with chainsaws will know that this is a sign of great quality. Oregon chainsaw parts are very high-performance and are known for lasting the years, so it’s great that this machine is fitted with them. First and foremost, even if you don’t plan on using your cordless chainsaw for heavy-duty tasks, you’ll still need to invest in protective clothing and accessories, including chainsaw trousers, boots, gloves, and a hat/helmet, as well as safety goggles and ear defenders (these usually come attached to the helmet). This is something required by law, so don’t take it lightly. Ryobi’s power tools are usually very capable and reliable (I recently reviewed the brand’s cordless strimmer and leaf blower and thought exactly that), so I was excited to be testing out their ONE+ Cordless Brushless 30cm Chainsaw. Storm Arwen had toppled several large trees around my farm, so not only did I have their big trunks to slice up into logs, but I also had a huge blanket of branches that needed to be cut up for firewood. Incidentally, Ryobi states that this battery powered chainsaw has been designed for cutting logs and firewood, so this was the perfect chance to put this machine through its paces.

Cordless chainsaws have many benefits, but there’s some restrictions to bear in mind as well. For one, cordless models tend to be pricier than the conventional alternatives. Although they may be smaller and lighter than their petrol alternatives, cordless chainsaws still have the potential to cause just as much damage should an accident occur. As a result, you need to take safety very seriously. Assembly Ease: I assessed assembly ease on how long it took to put the chainsaw together and the clarity of the instructions provided. I deemed any chainsaws that took more than 20 minutes too long, as this may take significantly longer for someone who is unfamiliar with this tool. I also marked down chainsaws that didn’t provide clear instructions, those that took longer than specified, or models where the parts didn’t seamlessly fit together. Chainsaws that required no assembly were given top marks, as these designs made the tool more accessible for less experienced users. To get to the bottom of the best cordless chainsaw, I tested a variety of chainsaws, both from the most renowned and lesser-known manufacturers. I assessed each chainsaw on its assembly ease, design, performance, power, ease of use, safety, and value for money. Here is how I tested:

This chainsaw’s fantastic performance is partly due to how powerful it is. As mentioned, its 36V motor makes use of two 18V batteries , giving it double the power of its 18V competitors. I went with 5aH batteries and enjoyed a continuous run time of about 30 minutes . I was using it at full speed for pretty much all of this time, meaning 20 m/s, which, again, is significantly faster than many of the other battery powered chainsaws out there. If you use the machine at a slower speed and on smaller pieces of wood, you’ll enjoy a longer runtime. Design: A well-designed cordless chainsaw will have considered ergonomics, with a comfortable handle and grip. Models with cushioned or anti-vibration handles were given top marks as these made the chainsaws more comfortable to use for long periods. I also looked for chainsaws with balanced weight distributions, as this improves the user’s manoeuvrability and control. While the optimal bar length varies depending on the tasks, those with longer bars (of 25 cm +) could complete a wider range of tasks, so they were given higher marks. I also identified whether each chainsaw’s bar length matched up with its power – for example, an 18 V system for a 15 – 20 cm bar chainsaw or a 36 V system for chainsaws with 30 cm bars and above.

Even with a battery installed, this compact chainsaw won’t feel too cumbersome in your hands, weighing in at just 3 kilograms in total. The compact design isn’t just about reducing the bulk in your hands, either. With its low profile and sleek shape, it’s an altogether more ergonomic choice that allows for maximum manoeuvrability when carrying out pruning and less intensive cutting jobs. What’s more, there’s a stabilising tip protector as standard, with gripping teeth to ensure easy commencement of cutting tasks. This last feature is particularly handy if you intend to put this to use pruning greenery, with the gripping teeth ensuring a cleaner cut and minimising damage of surrounding branches and stems. Other key features of this cordless chainsaw include very low levels of vibration when working an overall lower operational volume. There’s also xTreme Protection Technology (XPT) as standard, keeping the essential components well protected against dust and water exposure. This makes it a solid choice for use in more intensive working conditions. Like any power tool running on battery power, a cordless chainsaw grants the user much greater levels of flexibility when it comes to working environment. Most jobs that call for a heavy-duty chainsaw will be carried out in exterior settings, which often don’t provide easy access to mains power. As such, the freedom a cordless chainsaw provides is very appealing. The Limitations of Going Cordless

This bit of chainsaw spec is easy enough to get your head around. Guide bar length simply refers to the length of the bar that the chainsaw utilises in its cutting action. The longer the bar you’re working with, the larger the piece of wood you can hope to cut. Still on the fence about whether to go with a cordless chainsaw over a petrol or electric model? Here are just a few of the benefits that a cordless chainsaw can offer: In addition to its performance and power, this chainsaw really excels when it comes to how easy it is to use. I don’t have a huge amount of chainsaw experience but I felt confident when using this machine. It’s lightweight enough ( 5kg ) to manoeuvre into awkward angles, yet has enough weight behind it to remain sturdy. Its automatic chain lubrication feature is another plus. The Greenworks GD24CS30 is a robust, lightweight 24V chainsaw designed for home and DIY tasks. Powered by an advanced 24V lithium-ion battery, the chainsaw offers high performance despite its compact size. Convenience is guaranteed with no fuel or electric cables to contend with, simply insert the battery and you are ready to cut.