BOOMZORG top-handle test: Stihl is always solid, but Husqvarna takes the win |
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| GARDEN AND PARK TECHNOLOGY |
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| 214 sec |
battery-powered top-handles are now the norm and the options are plenty
In 2013, trade magazine Boomzorg organized a test of all the top-handle chainsaws available on the market at the time. Back then, the advantages of battery-powered chainsaws were less obvious. The result of that 2013 test? Stihl is always solid, but Husqvarna takes the win. The outcome of the 2025 test is downright dull: the same holds true.
| The full test team in front of and behind the scenes with all participating machines, from left to right: Cees Klinkenberg, Thom Briggs, Christiaan Musch and Timo Groot |
Just like in 2013, we asked the Pius Floris Amsterdam team in 2025 to conduct a thorough practical test of all available top-handles. This time, not four but six machines were tested. Over three weeks, arborists took the saws to work and subjected them to real-world challenges. In the end, four machines emerged as serious contenders for the top spot.
Arborist Thom Briggs summed it up well: "My favorite is the Husqvarna, but honestly, there are four saws I could use for my work without any problems." The four top-performing chainsaws are Echo, Husqvarna, Stihl, and Makita.
In 2013, the test discussion took place in one of the most beautiful spots in Amsterdam. In 2025, the setting is a bit more macabre: the historic cemetery on Kleverlaan in Haarlem, designed in 1828 by landscape architect Zocher. It's an impressive location with a variety of veteran trees. A cemetery, yes—but also a paradise for arborists.
 | | Thom Briggs with the Husqvarna |
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Stihl msa 220t
Stihl receives the highest compliment a machine can get: "reliable, sturdy, and always solid." According to tester Cees Klinkenberg, the saw is built robustly, with the only curious feature being a hook whose function wasn't immediately clear. It turned out to be a so-called comfort hook, a feature that makes it easier to climb trees with the saw. The machine also includes a standard hook.
Thom Briggs is brief about the machine: "Everything you look for in a chainsaw is in the MSA 220T." A big plus is the interchangeability of parts with its fossil-fueled siblings. A downside? The saw is relatively heavy compared to competitors. Annoying, according to the test team, is the machine's tendency to shut off quickly after being switched on. That's not convenient. Otherwise, the Stihl MSA 220T is a machine more suited for dismantling trees from the inside.
husqvarna 535i xp
According to Thom Briggs, this is the ideal climbing saw. That's almost remarkable, considering that Pius Floris Amsterdam, part of Dolmans Landscaping, recently signed an exclusive multi-year collaboration with Stihl. Yet Briggs sees the Husqvarna 535i XP as a true pruning saw, not a machine for heavy takedowns. The machine is lighter than the Stihl and operates smoothly.
Husqvarna - bending the rules - also sent the 540i XP and 542i XP to Amsterdam for testing. However, these machines were excluded: each supplier was allowed to submit only one model.
This led to a discussion in the test team: should you have multiple top-handles—one for pruning and one for heavier tasks? Thom Briggs thinks that's practical; Cees Klinkenberg prefers "one saw, one purchase."
Husqvarna also earns bonus points for its accessories, such as a shoulder bag for extra batteries, oil, and chains. "Those are the kinds of details that make you happy." The team was also impressed with the case for storing, transporting, and charging block batteries. The C1000X4 can hold up to four 36V-BLi-X block batteries.
Echo dcs-2500t
Echo ranks among the top group. Thom Briggs calls this saw a "nice little saw": lightweight with good battery life. Downsides? The triple safety mechanism is seen as overkill by the test team, and the chain has a slight delay in response. Still, it's an excellent pruning saw.
Makita duc306z
This machine came as a surprise in the test. Makita still carries a hardware store image among arborists, but this saw proves that perception wrong. The machine is aggressive, well-balanced, and powerful. "Just a damn good saw," say Klinkenberg and Briggs.
Pellenc selion c21 hd
While Pellenc delivers a solid saw, it is not considered a climbing saw. It runs on a cable and backpack battery, lacks a traditional mechanical chain brake, and is relatively heavy. It's also incompatible with standard arborist harnesses. The test team's verdict? "Not suitable for arborists."
Hikoki cs3635da
Hikoki surprises with a saw that packs plenty of power and torque. It keeps going, but the controls leave something to be desired. The buttons are not logically placed. The test team concludes that this saw is more suited for construction workers than for arborists.
conclusion
The top four saws—Stihl, Husqvarna, Echo, and Makita—are all perfectly suitable for arborists. The choice depends on personal preference and work style. Stihl remains the reliable classic, Husqvarna scores as the climbing saw, Echo is lightweight and agile, and Makita is a strong challenger.
sip protection
For the Pius Floris test team, the motto was: safety above all. That's why it was great that Sip Protection was willing to sponsor the test with several chainsaw trousers. These trousers comply with standards EN ISO 11393 Class 2 Type A and EN ISO 20471 Class 2, indicating high levels of protection and visibility. The test team's verdict is downright complimentary. Klinkenberg: "These chainsaw trousers are a bit roomier around the legs than the ones we usually wear, making them more comfortable for climbing. We also subjected them to a destruction test—that is, two team members tried to tear the trousers apart. And they couldn't."
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pfanner chainsaw helmets
Poel Bosbouwartikelen also kindly sponsored the Boomzorg top-handle test, providing several Pfanner chainsaw helmets. These helmets meet the strictest safety standards, such as EN 397 and EN 352-3. That means they offer a complete solution: with hearing protection, ventilation, and an integrated visor—ideal for professionals who work daily with chainsaws in high-risk environments.
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ego
Unfortunately, Stierman De Leeuw was unable to participate in the test at the last minute. Very soon, EGO will launch a new top-handle chainsaw on the market: the CS1200E. At the time of testing, this machine was not yet available. The CS1200E is a professional top-handle model. The weight of the saw, including a 12", 1.1 mm, ¼"LP chain and a 30 cm guide bar, is 2.4 kg. Chain oil is automatically supplied. The machine also features both a mechanical and electronic chain brake, as well as a bumper spike to brace against the trunk. The CS1200E costs €299 including VAT, excluding battery and charger. This top-handle is only compatible with the 2.5Ah battery.
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This article was previously published on May 2, 2025, on the Boomzorg website.
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