Fiskars Extending Pole Saw
We have sprawling acres of overgrown trees overhanging gardens, planting beds, and lawns at Grandview, so our pole saw gets pretty heavy use. This review comes about two-thirds into our first season of tool ownership.
The Fiskars Extendable Pole Saw has become a staple in the yard this fall. At Grandview, there are dozens upon dozens of trees that haven’t been pruned back for years, conifers, hardwood, birch, and more. Without an electric or gas pole saw, this is my go-to for all tree work too small for a chainsaw, and the extent of the deferred maintenance has given me an opportunity to really put this tool to the test. I’ve cleared extensive small growth with the integrated shears, and have sawn limbs 10”+ in diameter because they were too high to reach with my gas saw. This pole saw has its drawbacks, but overall has performed very well.
The tool doubles its reach when extended, which immediately doubles its utility and value. With the right technique, you can handle branches well overhead with accuracy and control. At its working end, it has both a coarsely serrated curved sawblade and a rope actuated clipper blade. While not industrial strength, the tools are built to handle normal homeowner abuse.
That said, it’s not without frustrations. The locking mechanism is an objectively bad design, and the rope system for the pruning blade can feel like trying to wrangle a jump rope in a windstorm. But those irritations fade when you see what this thing can actually do, especially for the price. For a lightweight, $40 manual saw, it cuts far above its class.
Field Notes
Build & Reach
Details & Specs
Name:
Model:
Length: ~7 ft collapsed / ~14 ft extended
Blade Length: 15 in
Materials: Fiberglass pole, steel blade, plastic locking collar
Weight: ~5 lbs
Price: ~$40
Use Case: Home and small-property pruning, light arbor work
Verdict
The saw extends to roughly twice its retracted length, offering enough reach for most residential projects. The blade geometry is genuinely impressive - sharp, aggressive teeth that chew through limbs surprisingly fast. Even large limbs don’t stand much of a chance. The pruning blade handles up to about two inches comfortably, though accuracy takes some practice when the pole is fully extended.
The locking system uses a push-button pin and compression collar, but the fiberglass extension tube around it is the weak point. The drilled holes aren’t reinforced, so under lateral load they wear out fast. A simple metal grommet or sleeve, or a larger pin, would make a world of difference. I rigged my own fix, and it’s holding, but it’s a real design flaw. It only took one full day of work for me to wear through three of the receiver holes to the point where they no longer hold the tool in place, even with the collar secured. The pull-cord system is another area that could use refinement—thirty feet of lightweight line with no guide is a recipe for tangles. Still, with a bit of ingenuity (and a few zip ties), it’s manageable. A guide or two, maybe only secured on one end so the rope can be held or not depending on application or user preference, would be a big improvement.
For the price, this is one of the most capable manual pole saws you can buy. It’s efficient, intuitive, and genuinely satisfying to use. The cutting performance rivals more expensive tools, and while the locking system design is a real problem, it can be worked around and is a small trade-off for what you get. Reinforce the weak points, add a couple of line guides, and this saw will serve faithfully for years.
Bottom line: if you’ve got a manageable canopy and a willingness to sweat a little, skip the motor. This is the right tool for the job—simple, reliable, and proof that sometimes muscle power still wins. Just one note to the engineers: reinforce your holes, Fiskars.
