DeWalt 60V MAX* 10 in. 160 in. Brushless Cordless Telescoping Pole Saw (Tool Only)

First impressions and setup

A windy Saturday left a tangled crown of deadwood over my driveway—perfect timing to put DeWalt’s 60V pole saw to work. Out of the box, the kit is straightforward: bar and chain, scrench, sharpening file, shoulder strap and clip. Battery and charger are sold separately, so I paired it with a 60V Flexvolt 5.0Ah pack. Assembly is conventional: slip the low‑profile .325 chain onto the 10-inch bar, fit the bar to the magnesium gear case, set chain tension, and fill the oil tank. The lateral chain tensioner and captured bar nut make setup and later adjustments cleaner than the usual “drop a nut in the grass” routine.

The telescoping shaft runs long, extending to 160 inches. The locks feel secure, and the pole doesn’t creep under load. Even collapsed, this is still a substantial tool—more truck-bed than trunk territory. The shoulder strap clips on easily and is worth using; it spreads weight and helps control the saw head when you’re extended.

Build, balance, and ergonomics

The head is compact, and the magnesium gear case inspires confidence. A metal tree hook rides on top for grabbing and dislodging stubborn hangers. The overall balance favors the motor end, which is typical for a telescoping design: the saw head has enough heft to keep the bar planted in the cut without bouncing, but there’s no getting around the fact that long-reach saws amplify any small movement at the handle. Two hands and a steady pace are the order of the day.

The grip and trigger are familiar DeWalt territory, with a variable-speed trigger for feathering into cuts and backing off as needed. I ran the oiler at the mid setting to start and nudged it up for longer crown cuts; the chain stayed adequately lubricated without flinging excess oil. The LED information display is small but handy, providing basic status cues for battery and overload. It’s a quiet communicator—no gimmicks—just enough to keep you from guessing.

Reach and control in the canopy

Reach is the reason to buy a tool like this, and here the DeWalt delivers. With the pole out to full extension I could work branches I’d normally eye for a climber or a rental lift. The shaft locks are easy to use with gloves, and the pole tracks well without whipping around. On a light breeze day, cuts at full length were still precise enough to hinge small limbs away from a fence line. It’s not a magic wand—aim improves a lot at mid‑length—but the combination of extension and motor power makes a big difference in how you plan a pruning session.

One note: the head angle is fixed. I wouldn’t mind a small degree of articulation for awkward crotch angles or to keep the bar flatter when cutting directly overhead, but the fixed head is sturdy and predictable once you adjust your stance.

Cutting performance

This saw is legitimately quick. In fresh pine, it zipped through an 8-inch test log in under ten seconds. In harder woods, I kept the nose out of the cut and let the full bar work; the brushless motor held speed without bogging, provided I let the chain do its job. The low‑profile .325 chain feels efficient and produces a clean kerf with modest kickback tendencies. It encourages a controlled feed rate rather than mashing the bar—ideal for overhead safety and accuracy.

The variable-speed trigger is especially helpful when starting plunge cuts or nibbling a notch to prevent bark tear-out. With the bar fully buried, chip evacuation stayed consistent as long as I kept the RPMs up. I didn’t notice heat fade on the bar or chain during a long session, though I did touch up the cutters with the included file midway through the day. Expect to tension the chain a couple of times as it seats; the side-access adjuster makes that a 30-second task.

Battery life and noise

With a 5.0Ah Flexvolt pack, I worked through a typical suburban prune—mix of 3–6 inch hardwood limbs, a handful of 7–8 inch removals—and got what I’d call a full session on one pack, with some reserve for cleanup. The usual caveats apply: bigger wood and more continuous cutting will draw down faster, and cold weather will trim your runtime. I kept a second pack on the charger and never felt constrained.

Noise levels are much friendlier than gas. You can talk to a ground helper without shouting, and the absence of fumes makes it more pleasant to run under an eave or near open windows. Vibration is low for a pole saw, which has as much to do with the smooth motor as it does with the balanced head.

Maintenance and the .325 low-profile system

DeWalt spec’d a low-profile .325 chain and 10-inch bar, which contributes to the quick cutting and controlled kickback. The trade-off is making sure you source the correct replacement chain—don’t assume your local shop’s .325 loops are the same. Once you have the right chain, swaps are straightforward. The captured bar nut is smart, but the clutch cover has a small amount of float when loosened that can feel odd until you realize it’s by design. It doesn’t affect safety or alignment; it’s there to speed tensioning and keep the hardware attached.

The adjustable oiler is genuinely useful. Telescoping saws see a range of duty cycles—short topping cuts and long bar-deep bucks—and being able to tune oil output helps both the chain and your shirt. I refilled the oil a couple of times per battery charge on higher output settings, which is consistent with healthy lubrication.

What it’s great at—and what it isn’t

This is a purpose-built pole saw, not a convertible chainsaw with a stick attached. It excels at pruning and takedowns where your hands should not be anywhere near the cut. If you need to buck logs on the ground after a felling job, you’ll want a standard chainsaw. Yes, you can do some bucking from a distance in a pinch, but it’s awkward and fatiguing, and you lose the accuracy and body mechanics of a proper ground saw.

Speaking of fatigue, this tool has mass. The shoulder strap and smart body positioning make long sessions possible, but expect a workout if you’re running it at full extension for extended periods. That’s the physics of a long lever arm more than a knock on the tool, and in exchange, you get a stout, confidence-inspiring head that stays put in the cut.

Safety and workflow tips

• Use the variable-speed trigger to start slow and avoid bar walk when touching a limb.
• Undercut first to prevent bark tear-out, then finish the top cut.
• Let the metal hook do work—once a limb is cleanly severed, the hook helps steer or pull hangers free without overreaching.
• Keep the chain sharp and the oiler tuned; a dull chain overhead is a bad idea.
• Plan your stance so if a limb swings, it doesn’t sweep through your space.

Who it’s for

Arborists and property pros will appreciate the reach, power, and predictable behavior. If you’re already in DeWalt’s 60V ecosystem, it’s an easy fit. Serious homeowners tackling regular pruning or storm cleanup will also benefit, provided you accept the weight and the fact that this is a single-purpose tool. If you want one tool to prune and then buck firewood on the ground, this isn’t it—pair it with a compact chainsaw.

What I’d change

• An articulated head option would broaden its usefulness in tight angles.
• A toolless tensioner could speed chain adjustments, though the current side tensioner is reliable.
• Clearer on-tool guidance for replacement chain spec would help avoid mistakes when ordering loops.

The bottom line

The DeWalt 60V pole saw earns its keep with strong cutting performance, serious reach, and a professional build. The brushless motor, low-profile .325 setup, magnesium gear case, adjustable oiler, and practical touches like the tree hook and captured bar nut add up to a tool that’s efficient and trustworthy in the canopy. It’s not light, and it’s not a stand-in for a ground saw, but it does exactly what a pole saw should: put you in control of high cuts with power to spare and manners that keep you safe.

Recommendation: I recommend this pole saw to pros and committed DIYers who need real reach and gas-like performance without the upkeep, especially if you’re already running DeWalt 60V batteries. If you want a dual-purpose pruning-and-bucking tool or prefer a lighter, shorter reach saw for occasional trimming, look elsewhere. For its intended job, though, this is a well-executed, confidence-building option.