Pole Saws for Beginners: Three 20V Kits That Include the Battery and Keep the Cuts Simple

Why a beginner wants a 20V kit

The first pole saw most people buy is for a few limbs a year: the branch rubbing the gutter, the low limb over the walk, the storm break hanging in the maple. That job does not need a 56V saw or a gas engine. It needs a 20V cordless kit that arrives with its battery and charger, an 8-inch bar that will not bind in limbs up to about 6 inches, a pole that reaches 14 feet or so, and chain upkeep simple enough that it actually gets done. The three saws here are the 20V kits that fit that description, from the plainest to the most capable.

This guide is built from the published specifications of each saw and from recurring owner feedback. We have not run these saws ourselves.

How the three compare

BLACK+DECKER LPP120: the plain complete kit

The LPP120 is the saw to buy when the question is which one just works: a 20V MAX battery, its charger, a bottle of bar oil, the wrench and a blade guard are all in the box. The 8-inch bar is rated for a 6-inch maximum cut, BLACK+DECKER rates a charge at up to 100 cuts of 1.5-inch pine, and the center extension sets the saw to 6.5 feet or 10 feet for up to 14 feet of overhead reach. The chain is tensioned with the included wrench rather than a dial, and the listing does not give the battery capacity or mention a pivoting head, so this is the kit for a few limbs a season rather than a long afternoon.

Skil PWR CORE 20: no wrench, no manual oiling

The two chores beginners skip are tightening the chain and oiling it, and the Skil removes both: chain tension is tool-less and the bar is auto-lubricating from a reservoir. The 8-inch head pivots through 135 degrees with 8 lock positions, which lets the bar sit flat on a limb that is not straight overhead, and the aluminum shaft snaps out 3.5 feet to take the saw from 6.5 feet to 10 feet. The kit ships with a 2.0Ah PWR CORE 20 pack and charger; Skil says its cell cooling gives 25 percent longer runtime, but 2.0Ah is still the smallest pack here, so plan on charging between sessions.

DeWalt DCPS620 bundle: brushless with a 4Ah pack

The DeWalt bundle is the kit for a beginner with a bigger yard. The DCPS620 is brushless, the 8-inch bar and chain is a low-kickback full-complement type with automatic oiling, and the extension pole takes the reach up to 15 feet. The head carries a metal bucking strip for steadier cuts and a tree hook for pulling a cut limb free of the canopy. The 4Ah battery and charger in the bundle give twice the capacity of the Skil pack, and the pack runs DeWalt 20V MAX drills and trimmers. It costs the most, and DeWalt does not publish the tensioning method or the weight in the listing.

Making the first cuts safely

Stand to one side of the limb, never under it, with both feet on the ground; a pole saw exists so the ladder stays in the garage. For any limb thicker than your wrist, make three cuts: a shallow undercut a foot out from the trunk, a top cut a little further out to drop the weight, then a final cut just outside the branch collar. Let the chain reach full speed before it touches wood and do not lever the bar. Keep the pole at least 10 feet from any power line, and stop when a limb starts to pinch the bar rather than pulling harder. Oil the chain before every session on a saw without an auto oiler, check tension when the chain starts to droop, and recharge the pack before storing it.

Which one should you buy

Buy the BLACK+DECKER LPP120 for the simplest complete kit for a few limbs a year. Buy the Skil PWR CORE 20 for tool-less tensioning, an auto oiler and a pivoting head. Buy the DeWalt DCPS620 bundle for a brushless saw with a 4Ah pack and 15 feet of reach.