Threw away $200 on a bad pole pruner last spring

Bought a cheap pole pruner off Amazon for about $200 thinking I was smart saving money. First week it worked fine trimming some small branches around Denver. By week three the rope started jamming and the cutting head got loose so the blade wouldn't line up right. Had to go buy a real fiberglass pole from the local supply shop anyway. Anyone else get burned by those budget aluminum poles?

3 comments

3 Comments

valgibson21d ago

Man, I used to think all pole pruners were basically the same and you were just paying for the name. That aluminum one I grabbed for cheap definitely changed my tune after it bent on me and left me stranded halfway up a tree. Now I get why people spend the extra money on fiberglass.

robinwalker20d ago

That aluminum bending story gives me the chills every time I hear it. Fiberglass is the way to go, no question about it. The weight difference is noticeable but that's a trade-off you make for something that won't fail on you. Lowes and Home Depot both carry decent fiberglass poles now so you don't even have to hunt around for them. Just grab a solid one from a known brand and you're set for years.

parkernelson20d ago

Yeah, isn't that the truth? I had a buddy, Mike, who swore by the cheap aluminum poles too. He bought one off some discount site and it seemed fine until he was trimming a big oak branch and the pole just snapped clean in half. He was lucky he didn't come crashing down with it. Now he's the one who always tells people, don't be like me, just get the fiberglass. I think @valgibson nailed it, that initial sticker shock fades fast when you're stuck up a tree with a broken pole. It's one of those things where you really do get what you pay for, especially if your safety depends on the tool holding together.