What Real Reviews Say About DeWalt's Pole Saw Tree Trimmer And If It's Worth Buying

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A storm at any time of year can damage tree branches, so having a tool on hand to cut away dead or broken limbs is truly prepared adulthood. While a chainsaw comes in handy, it's also incredibly dangerous; doubly so if you're inexperienced and trying to climb up the tree, too. In these cases, a pole trimmer like DeWalt's 20V cordless pole saw tree trimmer comes in handy. But is it worth the $200 price tag? Home Depot customers say it could be, with 81% of reviewers recommending it.

A pole saw ranks high on the list of important landscaping tools. It's basically a saw fixed to the top of a pole to help cut high, hard-to-reach branches. DeWalt's cordless version offers a motorized 8-inch low kick-back, full complement bar and chain powered by a rechargeable battery. It helps you reach higher branches while staying on the ground, which is safer than climbing a ladder with a chainsaw.

The DeWalt's cordless adjustable saw telescopes out ten feet, giving you a 15-foot total reach. Home Depot customers, in general, were happy with their purchases and gave the tool a 4.5-star average review with more than 3,000 reviews recorded. The manufacturer says the battery will last through 96 cuts, and users generally agreed, giving high marks to its longevity. The light-weight and easy-to-handle feel of the tool impressed others. One user said the tool felt balanced, even when let out fully. Others said they felt the smaller cutting blade handled itself like a full-sized chainsaw.

One Home Depot customer raved about DeWalt's pole saw with a five-star review after using it on a pecan tree. He said he pruned for three days straight with no issues. Another user gave it five stars for helping him trim a neighbor's tree growing over their property line. Cutting through thick branches impressed another buyer. One in particular put it to use saving an oak tree from carpenter ants and said it easily sawed through a branch 10 inches thick. Some homeowners noted that the cutting angle is fixed on the tool, but most didn't consider it a real drawback.

One area where the tool got dinged was its auto-oiling feature. The major complaint of most one-star reviews centered on the tool leaking oil. Other tool buyers noted that since the auto-oiling mechanism is gravity-powered, you need to empty the reservoir after every use to avoid leaks. Otherwise, when you lay it down, you might find yourself with a puddle of oil on the floor. Those who emptied the reservoir before storing it away found they avoided this problem.

A handful of other customers said they returned the tool when it abruptly stopped working, typically right out of the package. Their experience wasn't the norm, however, since 2,375 people gave the tool 5 stars, and only 181 gave it one star. Overall, most users say DeWalt's pole tree trimmer is worth buying for its versatility, whether you're trimming a maple tree or trying to cut back a dead branch.