Husqvarna 450 Rancher 20 Inch Gas Chainsaw, 50.2-cc 3.2-HP, 2-Cycle X-Torq Engine, For Tree Pruning, Yard Cleanups and Firewood Cutting, 970613120

Why it's worth it

A 50.2cc, 3.2-horsepower saw that takes bars from 13 to 20 inches and drops trees up to 18 inches thick in a single pass. This is what to buy if you heat with wood or keep a few acres of trees in line.

Nothing battery-powered in this guide keeps up with it over a long day. The 50.2cc X-Torq engine puts this saw a class above everything else here, and Husqvarna rates the 20-inch bar for trunks up to 18 inches in one pass. If you're putting up a cord of firewood, you refuel in about ten seconds and keep going. There's no charging break, and no second pack to buy.

Starting a gas saw is where most people give up on them. Husqvarna's Smart Start takes much of the resistance out of the pull cord, and the combined choke/stop control makes flooding less likely while you're still learning the sequence. Owners routinely report first- or second-pull starts. It's not as simple as squeezing a trigger, but it's a long way from the saws you may remember fighting.

From our review of 6 chainsaws for homeowners, by David Sinclair, Managing Editor

What we like

• +Nothing battery-powered in this guide keeps up with it over a long day
• +Starting a gas saw is where most people give up on them
• +Ergonomics get real attention here
• +The dealer network is part of what you're paying for

What to know

• –It's loud, it's heavy, and it demands maintenance you can't skip: mixed fuel, a clean air filter, stabilizer before the saw sits…
• –Owner feedback isn't spotless