Best Pole Saw - Cut Those Hard-to-Reach Branches

Best Pole Saw (Battery Operated)

If you need to cut something up in the air, your options are usually to use a ladder and a saw, or to use a pole-saw. Pole saws are much safer and easier to use than ladders, so we definitely recommend you go this route! After a thorough look at several pole saws, we’ve found that the Best Pole Saw is the BLACK+DECKER LPP120 20-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Pole Saw. The rechargeable, battery-powered pole saw is relatively light-weight and is nicely balanced (the saw blade and the battery pack are at opposite ends) and cuts really impressively. The pole has expandable sections and can be extended to 14’ long, or reduced to abou 6’, allowing it to be used for some types of brush or small trees. A second battery can be purchased to facilitate continuous use if needed. Because it is powered, it does not require as much muscle to use it.

For a full review of the Black + Decker LPP120, see the Product Reviews area below.

If you don’t want to deal with batteries, and prefer to just cut the traditional way, you won’t go wrong with the Fiskars 393951-1001 Extendable Pole Saw & Pruner, 1 Inch Cut Capacity. It’s cuts quite well, and its covered under a lifetime warranty. Sure, it requires some knowledge, skill, and muscle to use it efficiently. However, it offers two options for cutting: one for small limbs, the other for limber twigs that will not yield to a saw blade. The addition of the pruning lopper feature, which can easily cut small limbs and twigs at some distance, outweighs the unwieldiness of the permanently attached pole. For anyone who is familiar with an ordinary pruning saw, its use will offer few challenges since it cuts on the pull and does very well when cutting from the top of an attached limb.

For further details on the Fiskars Pole Saw, see the Product Reviews area below.

Portable Choice: Pole Saw

A great saw for those who need a portable option is the Hooyman 655227 10 Foot Extendable Tree Saw with Wrist Lanyard and Sling. It’s great for cutting, trimming, hunting, and camping. It is comparable in cost to the Fiskars pole saw, and is also a manual saw. It lacks the clipper that is part of the Fiskars assembly but can be disassembled to 28 inches, making it a hand saw and pole saw in one. If you are camping, hiking or backpacking, it is superior to both the other saws simply for its added portability. With that said, however, it does not have the battery power of the Black and Decker or the versatility of the Fiskars. Even so, it is an excellent saw may be an excellent choice depending on your circumstances.

For more information on the Hooyman, see the Product Reviews section below.

Pole Saw Buyer’s Tips

There are a few qualities and features of pole saws to consider when shopping. We’ll discuss the major ones here. We should note that if you’re considering a pruning saw as well, be sure to see our article on the best pruning saws here.

Power Source

The biggest differentiator between pole saws is the source of power. Some are plug-in electric; others are powered by rechargeable batteries. Many are manually-used, with ropes to enable the saw to cut at a distance. And of course, some are gas-powered for those who like raw power. Each has advantages and disadvantages, though we tend to lean toward either battery powered units or manually-powered saws.

Versatility

Most pole saws only will work as pole saws, but some can be shortened enough to be used for other pruning tasks. On some saws, the blade can be removed altogether, allowing the saw to be used as a pruning saw only. Depending on your needs, this sort of versatility may be important to you.

Ease of Use

Manual pruning saws are easy enough to use, though you actually have to do the cutting manually, so you’ll need to exert some effort! Battery powered saws are perhaps easier to use, as the mini-chainsaw designs are effective at cutting branches 2-4“ in size, with the power of an electric engine. Gas-powered saws are perhaps more powerful again, but usually, you don’t need that much power from a pole saw. And gas is dirty, environmentally-unfriendly, and way less user-friendly than rechargeable batteries. For this reason, we’re not in love with gas pole saws. And finally, plug-in saws can work well, though you have to deal with extension cords and all that, which is a pain. And a potentially significant hazard if you cut your electric cord with your saw!

Environmental Considerations

Saws, especially gas-powered saws, make a bunch of noise, which can be irritating to neighbors and people in general. And gasoline engines are not exactly environmentally friendly, especially small, inefficient engines. It’s not hard to spill gasoline when filling these small tanks, as well. In general, manual-powered saws will be the most environmentally friendly, followed by battery powered and electric models. Gas models are the least environmentally friendly.

Pole Saw Reviews

As with many products, “Best” depends upon how a product will be used and who will be using it. For that reason, there are 5 pole saws listed below, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Depending on your needs, any of these may be a great choice. But after our research and time spent with these pole saws, we have found some excellent options. In this section, we’ll start with a comparison table to get oriented, and then dig into the products individually. We’ll wrap up by identifying our favorites.

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1. Fiskars 393951-1001 Extendable Pole Saw & Pruner, 1 Inch Cut Capacity, Orange

Key Points at a Glance

• Hand Powered Manual Tool
• Pruning Saw Blade
• Extension Pole
• Includes Lopper utility
• Uses a rope to operate
• Bright yellow-orange color

Dimensions and Specs

Pole extends to 12 Feet

81 inches collapsed

Blade is 12-inch tree saw

Lopper for 1-inch or smaller limbs

The Fiskars pole saw is a hand operated tool. This means there is no battery to wear out, motor to stall, or problem with getting fuel for it. It is manually powered and cuts with the use of a rope to control the saw blade. The 12-inch saw blade cuts on the downward pull. The ideal way to use it is to cut limbs that are out of reach for a hand-held saw blade by using a pulling pressure on the blade as you create a cut on the top of the branch. This works well on limbs that are two to four inches thick. It is possible to cut larger limbs with it, but you should anticipate it taking a while. The lopper is set in a curled finger of plastic, which gives you a good idea of the size branch it is designed to cut. It is operated through the use of a nylon rope. To keep the rope out of the way while using the saw or while carrying it, you can wrap it around the main shaft. The Fiskars Pole Saw works very well for cutting those stray twigs at the top of a hedge – the ones that are always just out of reach. It is not especially robust, so it is best used on small, green twigs. Forcing the blade can cause it to twist or bend. The saw blade fastens to the haft using a wing nut. Check the wingnut periodically to make sure that it is not working loose.

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2. BLACK+DECKER LPP120 20-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Pole Saw

Key Points at a Glance

• Battery Powered
• Chainsaw
• Extension Pole
• Pole is sectional, and screws together
• Includes 1 lithium-Ion battery & Charger
• Moderate weight
• For limbs up to 6 inches in diameter
• Needs bar chain oil
• Blade safeguard for storage between uses

Dimensions and Specs

Pole ranges from 6 ½ basic lengths to 14 feet when all sections are used

8-inch cutting bar

About 100 cuts per battery charge

The Black and Decker LPP120 pole saw is a fantastic tool to have available, with an easy-to-use, multi-function system that can cut sizable branches, far away, with ease! The battery is reasonably light-weight and can be handled even by smaller sized gardeners, such as petite older ladies or gentlemen who find they are a little frailer than in their youth. It is intended to cut limbs, and therefore functions best in situations where it can be used to make a steady downward cut, but can be used to cut small brush if the blade is kept at an angle. At the basic length, it is easy to control and isn’t that much more unwieldy than a standard hedge trimmer. When extended to its full length, it is a little more difficult to handle, but the extensions make it possible for the user to stand well away from the limb that is being cut. Since it is battery powered, there is no problem with pull starting or adding fuel, and it does not require the muscle needed to use a hand saw. Like most Black and Decker tool products, the Black and Decker LPP20 pole saw features the colors black and orange – a combination that is easy to spot if you should lay it on the ground near leaf cover. It can be broken down into three sections and the blade cover employed for storage. Depending on your needs, you can add as many lengths of pole as you need, topping out at a total length of about 14’. Perfect for those hard-to-reach spots! Care should be taken not to drop the head because this can cause the blade to bend. You may want to pick up some chainsaw oil, and perhaps a spare chain to have on hand in order to ensure things run smoothly.

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3. Poulan Pro PR28PS, 28cc 2-Cycle Gas 8 in. Pole Saw

Key Points at a Glance

• Gas powered
• Black and gray in color
• 2 cycle motor
• Spring assisted Pull Start
• Comes with Weed Eater attachment
• Can have tiller attachment (not included) as well as other attachments
• Automatic blade oiler
• Comes with one pole extension

Dimensions and Specs

14 pounds

12-foot reach at full extension

For the serious backyard gardener who has trees, bedding plants, and lawn, the Poulan Pro PR28PS can be a game-changer. Unfortunately, at 14 pounds, not counting the weight of fuel, it can be a challenge for gardeners who are smaller in size, or who do not have extensive muscles. With that said, it can easily trim hard-to-reach limbs that would be a problem without a ladder. It can also take care of that heavy-duty weed eating, and it won’t be running out of battery just as you are getting started. But you have to deal with gas, oil, pull-starting, and all of the negatives connected with gas-powered trimmers. And given all this, for most non-professionals, an electric pole saw will be powerful enough for their needs, and way more convenient. However, this pole saw is quite powerful, and we love the fact the saw is a pole saw and weed eater, and that you can add a hedge-trimmer blade to it, as well! You’ve got a triple-duty machine here, which is pretty awesome.

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4. Hooyman 655227 10 Foot Extendable Tree Saw with Wrist Lanyard and Sling for Cutting Trimming Hunting and Camping

Key Points at a Glance

• Portable size
• Extendable to 10 Foot
• Wrist Lanyard and Sling
• Saw can Detach from Pole
• Pole extensions lock in place

Dimensions and Specs

Extends to 10 Feet

Collapses to 28 inches

Weighs 3.45

The Hooeyman 655227 is the perfect manually-operated pole saw for backpacking or camping. It can extend out to 10’, but when it is collapsed to 28 inches, it can easily be attached to a backpack or it can be slung from the waist using the wrist lanyard. It’s a super-flexible saw that can be used in a lot of different ways Detached, it is a pretty standard hand saw, but attached to the pole, it is a pole saw. The Hooeyman is an excellent choice for cutting away low-hanging limbs to allow headroom for tall campers, and for trimming dead limbs from trees in forest lots. Although it lacks the small limb clipper that is an option for the Fiskars hand pole saw, it makes up for that lack with portability.

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5. Remington RM1025SPS Ranger 8-Amp Electric 2-in-1 Pole Saw & Chainsaw with 10-Foot Telescoping Shaft and 10-Inch Bar for Tree Trimming and Pruning

Key Points at a Glance

• Corded Electric Pole Saw
• 8-amp electric
• Telescoping shaft
• Detachable chainsaw
• 2-year warranty

Dimensions and Specs

10-inch Bar

10 Foot Telescoping pole

Detachable pole/chainsaw

Weight 15 pounds

You sure don’t want to shave with the Remington Ranger RM1025SPS, despite the brand name. This powerful chainsaw requires an electric cord to operate, which means that it must be operated near a power source, and you’ll have to deal with extension cords. However, this corded pole saw has the advantage that it is a little more powerful than a battery-powered chainsaw, and you will be able to use it all day long without worrying about having to recharge a battery. Just be extra cautious to not cut the cord with the saw! With all that said, the Remington Ranger tends to collect debris in the chain housing, and needs to be cleaned frequently. It has a self-oiler, which probably explains why it weighs more than the Black and Decker battery powered chainsaw. This is a great feature, but oiling the saw isn’t thatmuch of a burden, in our opinion. Oil needs to be added before first use and kept topped up thereafter. This model also seems to tend to leak oil.

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Conclusion: Best Pole Saw for Trees

“Best” is always a matter of personal choice. The Black and Decker saw made our top of the list because it can be used by people who might not be sufficiently strong to saw through a three to six-inch limb. It is battery powered, so there are no trailing cords, no pull start, and no messy fueling up. You do still need to oil the chain to keep from ruining it. With a spare battery on the charger, it is possible to cut small limbs and brush for several hours by swapping out the batteries when the one in use becomes low on charge. The Fiskars is the runner-up because it is still relatively easy to use. The twig cutting tool enables gardeners to get those messy bits that are too small for the saw blade, but that are still a bit of an eyesore if they are not trimmed. Users love the portability and low cost of the Hooyman. For camping, backpacking, and hiking it just cannot be beat. However, it should be pointed out that it can do everything that the Fiskars can do except cutting those odd twiggy bits. Furthermore, it detaches completely from the handle for a close up saw work. As for the two that didn’t make the top three, the Poulan Pro is a good choice for someone who has experience with chainsaws, weed eaters and similar gas-powered tools. However, if you are an eighty pound, five-foot-tall grandmother, starting and then lugging one of those things can be a real challenge. Finally, if all you need is the means to quickly cut up fallen limbs that are less than six inches in diameter, and that has fallen in your backyard where power is readily accessible, the Remington is not a bad choice at all. “Best” has a lot to do with the old three Ws – Who, When and Where. We hope we’ve pointed you to the pole saw that’s best for your needs. Happy Gardening!

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