Greenworks' Electric Pole Saws: Which Are Worth Buying And Which You Can Skip

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Greenworks has been producing corded and cordless electric tools since 2002 and has built a reputation for some of the best outdoor tools available. Innovative designs like their backpack blower are among the powerful tools that make cleaning up fallen leaves a breeze. They also produce cordless mowers, chainsaws, cultivators, weed eaters, and a number of electric pole saws. These tools are an indispensable part of your armory if you want to prune trees the right way without calling a pro. You can reach high branches while keeping your feet firmly on the ground, avoiding the potential dangers of climbing a ladder while carrying a chainsaw.

The key features of a pole saw are battery voltage (hence power), bar length (the blade size), and reach. Chain speed may be provided and is useful for comparison with other tools. However, remaining battery charge and type of tree (how hard the wood is) will both impact this figure in real-world use.

The Greenworks range consists of five cordless models: the 24V, 40V, 60V, 80V, and 80V Pro, plus a corded 7A model. According to ratings, none of them are bad tools, so it isn't easy to decide which Greenworks electric pole saws are worth buying and which you can skip. We'll talk about our reasons in a moment, but in a nutshell, we would keep the Greenworks 24V, 40V, and 60V cordless models and ditch the 7 amp corded and the two 80V cordless models.

The Greenworks 24V electric pole saw has an 8-inch bar and 11-foot reach. Blade speed is 23 feet per second (ft/s). It costs around $130.00, including a battery and charger. Most close rivals are 18V or 20V models, so the Greenworks delivers slightly more power while remaining competitively priced. One buyer summed up many when he said, "This pole saw is much better than I expected; lighter, longer, and easier to handle. Cuts very well."

For larger yards, the Greenworks 40V electric pole saw could be the answer. It has the same 8-inch bar and 11-foot reach as the 24V model, but extra voltage raises the blade speed to 31.2 ft/s and means it will cut more efficiently for longer. The price is around $180 with a battery and charger. The benefit of having the 40V battery was underlined by one buyer who said, "This thing really ripped through branches and limbs at a very fast rate."

Those accustomed to gas power will want to check out the Greenworks 60V electric pole saw. The manufacturer claims this tool produces similar results as a 21 cc gas motor. It has a 10-inch bar and 14-foot reach. Blade speed is 43 ft/s. It costs around $270 with a battery and charger. Typical comments praise the performance and balance, with one saying, "Plenty of power, I was afraid it might be too heavy for comfortable use but is well-balanced and easy to use."

The Greenworks corded electric pole saw is an interesting tool. It has a 10-inch bar and 12-foot reach. Blade speed isn't given, but it doesn't rely on a battery, so it could run all day. A bonus is that the head can be removed and used as a small chainsaw. So what's the problem? It's the cord. Even if it wasn't for the inconvenience and the trip hazard, safety standards limit the safe length of an extension cord, and therefore the range of the tool, to a maximum of 100 feet.

So what about the 80V models? On the face of it, they should offer a step up to heavy-duty performance. Although bar size and reach are the same as the 60V model, you would expect blade speed to be higher. However, on the 80V Gen 2 model it's 38 ft/s, and on the 80V Pro it's 39.37 ft/s. So, both are actually slower. Although the 80V batteries will deliver a longer run time, they also take longer to recharge. So it's hard to see much benefit in the 80V tools, which have a higher list price.

Whether you're pruning to increase yield from fruit trees, to help trees and shrubs recover from signs of winter injury, or to manage a woodland area, the Greenworks electric pole saw range offers competitive options for just about everyone. That said, while several are worth buying, there are also a few you can skip.