A convenient middle ground between a chainsaw and a stepladder, the best pole saws are the ideal tool you need to help trim and prune those overgrown branches and leaves that are just too annoyingly high reach. A garden must-have, these tools are also great for chopping down unwanted flora (read weeds) in hard-to-reach areas or getting rid of those thin trees from afar and far safer distance away.
Seeing there are a ton of pole saws in the market today, it suffices to say you may need a good guide to find the “one for you – we’ll help! Below, we have reviewed 5 of the best pole saws worth investing in today + a buying guide.
Interested? We know you are! Let’s get started;
Best Pole Saws In 2022 – Overgrown Branches? No Problem!
A pole saw is exactly what it sounds like a – essentially a chain saw attached to a long pole that’ll let you reach up to cut dead branches while still remaining safely on the ground. While a lot minimalistic than other saws, these are not short on power. Manual, gas, or battery-operated, these sharp tools can easily chop down a branch that’s 8 inches thick in a jiffy. Clearly, that’s a power a landscaper is sure to appreciate.
Granted, they have limited use. Pole saws are not good for trimming thin twigs, vines, dry foliage, etc. But hey, when there’s a need to cut branches that are 2-8 inches thick, there’s no better tool for the job than a pole saw.
Best Pole Saws Review For Easy Trimming & Cutting Your Garden
The best pole saws are lightweight, well balanced, and, most importantly, have a ton of serious safety measures built-in.
Just like the ones reviewed below;
#1 WEN 4019 6-Amp
8-Inch Electric Telescoping Pole Saw
Affordable yet high quality, these Wen branded best pole saws can adjust anywhere from 5.3 feet to 7.3 feet, delivering an overhead of over 12 feet, which should enough to cover most trimming/pruning needs in your garden. It’s fully telescopic, meaning you can adjust the height as you see fit with height lock. In the end, the angled power saw is powered by an electric 6 Amp motor, which is both noiseless & smoke-free. In our tests, it performed well, offering enough torque to cut without catching.
At just 6.5 pounds, you’d have no trouble using this saw with a single hand. The “grippy” handle with knuckle guard helps a lot too. Changing chains is very easy & it requires no tools. Finally, a 2-year warranty wraps it all together.
Pros
- Fully electric – no smoke, less sound & immediate torque
- The telescopic pole can be adjusted anywhere from 5.3 feet to 7.3 feet, with a total overhead of 12 feet
- Tool-less chain swap setup
- Super lightweight at just 6.5 pounds
- 2-year warranty..
Cons
- The construction feels rather cheap in some areas
- Extensive use of plastic
#2 BLACK+DECKER
20V MAX Pole Saw, 8-Inch (LPP120)
Featuring a segmented design for the reach, the Black+Decker pole saw comes with a high performance 20 V motor that drives an 8-inch chain saw can help you chop down even the thickest branches with absolute ease. The device itself is fully electric (no cord). And since it’s battery-powered, the portability too is very high on this one. With full extension, it can reach up to a good 14 feet with ease. Do note that with a weight of just over 10 pounds, this is surely a two-handed device – use it as such.
On a full charge of its 20V lithium-ion cell, you get 100 cuts on 1 ½ inch of branches before needing the fast charger again. With the tool, you get an oil bottle—the charger set and a wrench to allow easy chain swapping.
Pros
- Highly portable
- The sturdy segmented pole reaches easily up to a whopping 14 feet – no complaints here
- High-performance 20V motor + 8-inch chain saw combo
- 2-year warranty
- Comes with a ton of accessories
Cons
- The segmented design might not appeal to everyone’s tastes
- Battery life is just adequate
#3 Greenworks
8 Inch 40V Cordless Pole Saw
Powered by a capable 40V electric motor for portable action, the highlight of this top pole saws from GreenWorks is that it also doubles as a capable hedge trimmer – swap the chain saw with the included trimmer attachment & you are good to go. The pole alas can be extended only up to 8 feet, which might be a deal-breaker for many.
That said, the rugged construction does help to take the sting off this minor quibble. The cushioned grip makes the tool easier to handle, and it also has a self-oiling system for smoother operation.
Battery life has been good for us. The included 2Amp cell can easily get you 25 minutes while hedge cutting & 53 minutes while sawing. At just 10 pounds, this tool is quite easy to handle with excellent weight distribution.
Pros
- Can also be used as a hedge trimmer (with included attachment)
- 8 inch, high torque chain saw
- Self oil lubricating system with a clear tank
- 3-year warranty
- Fast charging battery
Cons
- The 8 feet pole length might be disappointing for many
- Slightly expensive
#4 Worx WG323
20V Power Share Cordless 10-inch Pole Saw
With a much larger 10-inch chain saw, the Worx WG323 cordless pole saw is built for chopping those annoyingly huge branches with ease. The telescopic tool-less expansion pole gives you an outstanding 12 feet reach. The fully electric design lets off no smoke, and its pretty noise-free. That said, it also has excellent torque, enough to cut even the hardest branch with ease.
The self-lubricating system ensures smooth operation and weighs only 10 pounds; you can easily use it with a single hand (though 2 are advised).
The tool is compatible with all of Worx 20V, 40V battery ranges, and also comes with fast charging set to improve productivity. By unclipping the pole, the tool is also usable as a regular chain saw if required – handy, indeed.
Pros
- Larger saw blade at 10 inches
- Can extend up to 12 feet – perfect for trimming/pruning branches high above
- Auto chain tension + lubrication – smoother operation
- Lightweight & easy controls
- Comes with a 3-year warranty protection
Cons
- While ok, The battery life could’ve been done even better for the price
- Slight bow when fully extended
#5 Sun Joe SWJ802E
9 FT 6.5 Amp Electric Pole Chain Saw
Made by Sun Joe, one of the biggest names in the gardening business, the popular SWJ802E superior pole saws come with an excellent reach of 15 feet and combined with the 6.5 amp high-performance motor & Oregon chain saw, it can chop through even thicker (up to 7.5 inches) branches with no problem. The self-lubrication system work excellent to keep the pole saw running very smoothly for longer.
The angle of the saw head is adjustable (up to 30 degrees). However, what’s really interesting is that it weighs on 7.9 ponds even though you get so many features and options with it. A 2-year long warranty protects it all.
Pros
- High powered 6 Amp motor + Oregon chain saw for class-leading chopping performance
- Extendable up to a whopping 15 feet
- Self-lubrication system for far smoother performance
- Lightweight
- Comes with a 2-year warranty.
Cons
- The guard screw needs to be tightened after every use
- Goes through oil quickly
Granted, they are all just chain saws on a stick. Still, to get the best results possible, certain qualities need to be considered when buying pole saws;
Key qualities like;
1) Power And Fuel Type (Gas or Electric?)
Gas-based pole saws typically offer more torque & are easier to use on big branches. They are, however, noisy & smoky. Therefore, the electric saws are the better choice as they emit no smoke, are noiseless & are also lightweight.
More torque equals better performance. A unit with 400 – 600 RPM should be enough to cover most trimming/pruning needs.
2) Blade/Pole Length And Build Quality
Blade lengthwise, 8 to 10 inches is advised for best performance. The pole should have an adequate length to fit your needs and make sure it has a mechanism to expand /contract the pole length to fit your needs better. At the very least, the working length needs to be 2 inches higher or more than your cutting target.
To avoid fatigue (branch trimming takes time), go for a light unit, ideally made from hard plastic with metal joints for strength.
3) Warranty And Brand Quality
Higher the warranty, the better the product. Typically pole saws have 2 to 3 years in warranty, which should be enough discover any faults & get it corrected. Reliable customer service is also very important in the long run.
More importantly, never buy from a generic brand, ever!
Is this your first time buying a pole saw? You might have a lot of queries! Here’s a brief FAQ session to help with the same;
1) Can I use pole saws for garden weeding too?
It depends. If the tool is powerful enough, you can use them for weeding. However, just don’t expect the results to be as good as the real ones.
2) What safety gears should I need to use when operating pole saws?
Since you are cutting high branches, a good garden helmet is key, as it will guard you against the falling dry waste. A goggle can keep the sawdust away from the eyes, and grippy pair of gloves will improve your saws control.
Above all, be aware of your surroundings; keep an eye on the floor to avoid injuring others from the falling branches.
3) Can I use them while on a step ladder?
Suppose it’s unavoidable, yes. But note that, if not careful, you might lose your balance & fall as the pole saws weight is unbalanced. Make sure you have a reliable, solid footing before attempting to cut whatever you need to.
Having a friend by your side is also recommended as they can catch give med-assistance if you do end up taking a tumble.
Best Pole Saw Review – Come; It’s Time To Conclude
Allowing you to reach & cut branches without putting any extra effort easily, the best pole saws are all about making our garden life simpler & safer. Say goodbye to ladders & juggling chainsaws forever with these handy snipers.
There’s more to choosing the best pole saws than just picking what you think looks nice or is the cheapest of the lot. The pole saws we have reviewed above are some of the best you can undoubtedly find today. They are durable, easy to control, and powerful enough to meet almost all cutting needs. Use the included best pole saw guide to better find the saw that is perfect for your needs.
As always, feel free to share with us all your ideas, opinions, and doubts below in the comments. Also, don’t forget to share the article!
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