Supstable Cordless Pole Saw Review: 16-Foot Reach and Battery Claims

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If you are considering the Supstable electric pole saw, the first questions are how high it reaches, how long the batteries last on a job, and how much the kit weighs when it is held overhead. A pole saw is useful for branches out of arm’s reach, but its reach, weight and runtime decide whether it suits your trees. This review covers only what the listing states about reach, guide bars, batteries, runtime claims, oiling, tension, head angle, weight, included parts and warranty. It does not report any test of the saw on a branch, and it does not describe how to cut a tree or work near power lines. Use the listing to decide whether the reach and kit suit your trees, and read the safety notes before you start.

At a glance: Supstable S5 Sky Electric Pole Saw, listing specs

Specification	Listed value
Reach	Up to 16 feet (pole saw mode)
Item weight	10 lb
Item length	48 inches
Guide bars	8-inch and 6-inch (mini chainsaw mode)
Head adjustment	0 to 180 degrees
Max branch cut (claimed)	8 inches
Batteries	2 x 4.0Ah lithium-ion
Runtime (claimed)	Up to 100 minutes — maker’s figure, no test conditions given
Power	800W (field label)
Chain speed	30 feet per second
Oiling	Automatic, 30 mL tank with transparent window
Chain tension	Tool-free adjustment
Warranty	2 years, manufacturer

Quick answer

The Supstable S5 Sky is a battery-powered kit that works as a 6-inch and 8-inch mini chainsaw and as a telescopic pole saw with a reach of up to 16 feet. The kit includes two 4.0 amp-hour batteries, a charger, a spare chain, an oil bottle and a pole belt, along with a 2-year manufacturer warranty. The bullets claim up to 100 minutes of runtime, which is the maker’s figure. The specs give a 10-pound item weight, a chain speed of 30 feet per second, and a power field that reads 800 watts. The listing gives 180 degrees of head adjustment.

What to check in a cordless pole saw

Four details decide whether this saw fits. Each one can rule it in or out.

1. Reach and weight. The title and bullets give a reach of up to 16 feet. The specs give an item weight of 10 pounds and an item length of 48 inches. A pole saw held at full extension puts its weight further from your hands, so the listed 10 pounds matters more at 16 feet than at arm’s length. The kit includes a pole belt, and the listing does not describe a strap for spreading the load.

2. Guide bars and cutting. The title and bullets give an 8-inch guide bar and a 6-inch guide bar for the mini chainsaw. The specs give an 8-inch chain length. The bullets describe the head as adjustable from 0 to 180 degrees, and the bullets say the saw cuts branches up to 8 inches. Those are the maker’s cutting figures, so judge the work by the branch size you actually need to cut.

3. Batteries and runtime. The bullets say the kit includes two 4,000-milliamp-hour lithium batteries and claim up to 100 minutes of runtime. The runtime figure is the maker’s claim, and the listing gives no test condition. Real runtime depends on the wood, the cut, the chain and the load, so keep a spare battery for a longer job. The specs list the power source as battery, and the included components name the batteries and a charger.

4. Oiling, tension and warranty. The bullets describe an automatic oiling system with a 30-milliliter oil tank and a transparent window, and a tool-free chain tension adjustment. The specs give a 2-year manufacturer warranty. The listing does not describe the oil type, so use the oil the manual names.

Use these rules to choose:

• Choose this saw if you need to cut branches up to 8 inches within a 16-foot reach, and you will keep the batteries charged.
• Choose a different saw if you need a runtime you can rely on, because the listing gives the maker’s figure only.
• Choose a different saw if you need the reach to be a stated safe working height, because the listing says reach safely without a test or a standard.

For other pole saw options, the best cordless hedge trimmer with extension pole guide covers a combined design, and the GARCARE 2-in-1 pole hedge trimmer review covers a related tool.

The Supstable pole saw kit

The kit is a black and battery-powered pole saw with a telescopic pole, a 6-inch and 8-inch mini chainsaw head, and an upgraded extension pole. The listing gives the model as S5 Sky, the item dimensions as 48 inches long, 9 inches wide and 5 inches high, and the chain length as 8 inches. The included components are gloves, goggles, a chain protective sleeve, a spare chain, a pole belt, an oil bottle, the mini chainsaw, the extension pole, two batteries and a charger.

The kit fits a reader who wants to cut high branches from the ground, and who also needs a handheld saw for smaller limbs. The bullets describe lower noise for the brushless motor, which the listing does not measure with a decibel figure.

The listing has several things to check. The horsepower field reads 800 watts, which is a power rating and not a horsepower figure. The bullets say the brushless motor gives lower noise, with no decibel figure given. The bullets say the saw is for storm cleanup and camping as well as pruning, which is the maker’s list of uses. The listing gives a 2-year manufacturer warranty.

Who should skip it: a reader who needs a runtime figure confirmed by a test, a reader who needs a stated safe working height, and a reader who will work near power lines without a manual and training.

Working near trees and power lines

The Wikipedia overview of the polesaw says a polesaw cuts branches beyond arm’s reach without a ladder, and that the physical nature of the work can cause musculoskeletal injuries. Keep your footing firm, hold the pole with both hands, and stop when your arms tire. The listing does not describe clearance from power lines, so check the manual before you use any pole saw near a line, and call a qualified tree professional for work near power lines.

Worked example: how 40 minutes of cutting sits inside the 100-minute claim

Compare that time with the maker’s runtime claim, so you can see how much of the claim is left.

• Maker’s runtime claim: 100 minutes, from the bullets.
• Cutting time in this example: 40 minutes.
• Runtime left under the claim: 100 minus 40 = 60 minutes.

Check the arithmetic again. 100 minus 40 is 60. The example shows that 40 minutes of cutting leaves 60 minutes under the maker’s claim. The claim is not a promise for your branches, so keep the spare battery ready.

What makes up the chainsaw part

The Wikipedia overview of chainsaws says a chainsaw comprises an engine, a drive mechanism, a guide bar, a cutting chain, a tensioning mechanism and safety features. The Supstable kit uses a battery and a brushless motor in place of an engine, and the bullets describe a tool-free tensioning system and an automatic oiler. Check the chain tension before each use, using the tool-free system the listing describes.

Why cut size matters on a tree

The Wikipedia overview of pruning says the smaller the branch that is cut, the easier it is for a woody plant to seal the wound and limit decay. The same source says it is preferable to make pruning cuts on young plants rather than remove large, poorly placed branches from mature ones. Use the saw for limbs within the capacity the listing gives, and leave large cuts to a tree professional.

Five common mistakes

1. Trusting the runtime claim. The bullets give 100 minutes as the maker’s figure.
2. Ignoring the weight at full reach. The item weighs 10 pounds, and the weight is further out at 16 feet.
3. Reading the 800 watts as horsepower. The field is a power rating.
4. Working near power lines. The listing describes no clearance, so check the manual.
5. Skipping the chain check. Check the tension and oil before each use.

FAQ

How far does it reach?

The title and bullets give up to 16 feet.

How big a branch can it cut?

The bullets say up to 8 inches, with an 8-inch guide bar.

How long does a charge last?

The bullets claim up to 100 minutes, which is the maker’s figure.

How much does it weigh?

The specs give 10 pounds.

What batteries come with it?

The bullets say two 4,000-milliamp-hour lithium batteries, with a charger.

Does it come with a warranty?

Bottom line

The Supstable pole saw suits a reader who needs one cordless tool for branches up to 8 inches within a 16-foot reach, with two batteries, a charger and a 2-year warranty. The listing gives a 10-pound weight, a 100-minute runtime claim and an 800-watt field that is a power rating, and it describes no clearance from power lines. Check the manual before use, keep a spare battery ready, and treat the runtime as the maker’s claim.

Sources

• Polesaw, Wikipedia: a polesaw cuts branches beyond arm’s reach without a ladder; the work can cause musculoskeletal injuries.
• Chainsaw, Wikipedia: a chainsaw comprises an engine, drive, guide bar, cutting chain, tensioning mechanism and safety features.
• Pruning, Wikipedia: smaller cuts are easier for a woody plant to seal; large cuts on mature trees are less preferable.