EGO Power+ Pole Saw for Tree Trimming, Cordless Electric Pole Saw with Telescopic LED Cut Line Indicator, Includes 56V 2.5Ah Battery and Charger - PS1001

Why it's worth it

The PS1001 pairs a 56-volt brushless motor with a telescoping carbon fiber shaft that reaches 13 feet. It's easier to hold overhead than the aluminum poles it competes with, and an LED shines down the cut line, which sounds like a gimmick until you're squinting up into a shaded canopy.

The carbon fiber shaft is the real reason to buy this one. Carbon fiber is stiffer for its weight than aluminum, so the tip wanders less when you're lining up a cut at full extension. That matters more than it sounds. Less flex means fewer glancing hits on bark and less vibration coming back down the pole into your wrists. EGO backs the shaft with a limited lifetime warranty, which tells you what they think of it.

The LED cut line indicator solves a problem you'll actually have. Most overhead pruning happens under the canopy, looking up into shade with bright sky behind the branch. That's the worst possible lighting. EGO says this is the first pole saw to build in a cut line light, and the point isn't brightness. It's that you can see where the chain will land before you commit, which is how you avoid a torn, angled cut on a limb you meant to finish clean.

From our review of 8 pole saws, by Genevieve Dubois, Home & Living Expert

What we like

• +The carbon fiber shaft is the real reason to buy this one
• +The LED cut line indicator solves a problem you'll actually have
• +The 56-volt platform keeps the chain moving
• +Tool-free tensioning and a shoulder strap hook make long sessions bearable

What to know

• –It's the most expensive cordless option here, and the long reach costs extra
• –The 10-inch bar and fine-pitch chain are built for pruning, not felling
• –You're buying into a battery system