Quick verdict
A stainless steel telescoping pole that extends to 13 feet with a 6 inch pronged basket and a soft cloth bag that rotates on the head, so apples, pears, peaches and cherries at the top of a tree are hooked off the stem and dropped into the bag without a ladder. The prongs twist the stem rather than tear the fruit and the cloth bag stops bruising. Thirteen feet plus an arm reaches most of a mature standard apple tree. It assembles without tools and collapses for the shed.
Strengths
- Reaches 13 feet with no ladder
- Rotatable soft cloth bag catches fruit without bruising
- Pronged basket twists fruit off the stem cleanly
- Stainless pole does not rust in the shed
- Collapses for storage; tool-free assembly
Weaknesses
- A 13 foot pole is heavy at full stretch; arms tire
- Bag holds a few fruit; frequent lowering
- Prongs can scar soft fruit if jabbed
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
The Best Fruit Is Always at the Top
The apples that get the most sun are the ones the ladder cannot safely reach. A long picker pole brings them down. Dreamtop’s is a stainless steel telescoping pole extending to 13 feet with a 6 inch pronged basket and a soft cloth bag that rotates on the head, so the fruit is twisted off its stem and drops into cloth rather than onto the ground.
This review is based on the listing specifications and on how long telescoping fruit pickers perform generally. We have not used this picker ourselves and the brand is a generic importer.
Using It
Extend the pole to the height needed and lock the sections. Raise the basket beneath the fruit so the stem passes between two prongs, then twist or pull gently; the stem parts and the fruit falls into the bag. Pick two or three, lower the pole and tip them into a basket. Rotate the bag head to reach fruit on the far side of a branch. With a bit of practice a tree’s top is picked in an hour.
The Bag
A soft cloth bag rather than a wire cage is what keeps apples unbruised and cherries unsplit. It holds a few fruit so the head stays light; a bigger bag on a 13 foot pole would be unmanageable.
Weight and Reach
Thirteen feet of pole with fruit in the bag is heavy at full stretch and the arms know it after twenty minutes. Extend only as far as needed, keep the pole close to vertical, and rest between trees. Reach with an arm is about 18 feet, which covers most home fruit trees.
Build
Stainless sections that do not rust from a damp shed, with twist locks that need to be tightened firmly or a section slides when the pole is raised. It assembles without tools and collapses to a length that fits behind a door.
Fruit It Suits
Apples, pears, peaches, plums, cherries, citrus and avocados. Soft figs and ripe apricots want a hand and a ladder.
Who Should Buy It
- Owners of tall fruit trees without a safe ladder.
- Anyone picking over a fence or a hedge.
- Older gardeners who have stopped climbing.
Common Owner Complaints
Arm fatigue and sliding sections. Extend only as far as needed; tighten the locks.
Alternatives to Consider
A shorter 8 foot picker for small trees. A picker head only, fitted to a painter’s pole already owned. A tripod orchard ladder for a tree picked by hand.
Verdict
For the fruit at the top, a 13 foot pole with a soft bag brings it down whole and keeps feet on the ground. Twist at the stem, empty often and extend no more than the branch needs.
Full specifications
Dreamtop Telescoping Fruit Picker Pole, 13 Feet, Stainless Steel with Rotatable Soft Cloth Bag FAQs
Extend the pole, raise the basket under the fruit so the stem sits between two prongs, twist or pull gently, and the fruit drops into the bag. Lower, empty, repeat.
A few apples or a handful of cherries. The bag is small to keep the head light; empty often.
The cloth bag is there to stop it. Jabbing the prongs into the fruit instead of the stem scars it; aim for the stem.
With an arm, about 18 feet. Most home fruit trees are within that; a very tall old standard still has fruit out of reach.
