Stihl Battery Pruner Review Summary

Lightweight, affordable, and with novice-friendly operation — the Stihl cordless pruning saw GTA 26 is a tool equally suited to gardeners and light-duty landscapers.

This compact powerhouse can tackle a plethora of outdoor projects — from lopping to pruning, chopping to clipping. Its 10 cm guide bar permits accurate cuts, with its small size permitting access to hard-to-reach areas. Furthermore, comfortable, rubberised grips minimise wrist strain for fatigue-free operation.

Tool-free chain replacement saves you costly downtime, while the low-kickback chain and flexible guard heighten safety. Low-vibration tech increases the tool’s accuracy, and with a running time of 25 minutes from a single charge — you can tackle many jobs without having to exchange batteries.

The GTA26 arrives with a charger and 10.8-volt cell — allowing you to use the unit immediately after unboxing. And, with its welcome carry case, this pruner permits safe storage and straightforward portability.

This pruner comes from the respected Stihl stable — a manufacturer with a history of nearly 100 years in tool design and retail. The GTA26 is the brand’s only handheld battery-powered pruner in its gardening machines line-up.

Pros

• Low-kickback.
• Affordable price point.
• Large trigger.
• Compact design.
• Numerous safety features.

Cons

• Small bar may make the tool unappealing to some users.
• Restricted running time when tackling dense materials.

Features and Benefits of the Stihl GTA26 Garden Pruner

The manufacturer claims not only is the GTA26 unique, but it’s also one of the best cordless pruning saw units currently on the market.

So, it’s time to dive into the performance and features of this machine, and discover whether it can live up to its impressive claims! 

I must thank the team at the amazing Think Water at Peats Ridge for the incredible demo of the Stihl GTA 26 battery pruning saw, and for revealing some of this machine’s capabilities.

10 cm Bar and ¼-Inch Chain

Let’s start off this investigation into this Stihl battery pruner by facing facts — this isn’t a straightforward bladed lopper, it’s a hardcore mini chainsaw!

Boasting a 10 cm bar with a 0.25-inch Picco Micro chain, this machine will deliver clean slices through your most stubborn branches and shrubs. Rotating at eight metres per second, it ensures rapid project completion — while offering reassuring protection with its retractable chain guard.

Tool-Free Chain Replacement

Incorporating toolless chain exchange — the Stihl GTA 26 cordless garden pruner prevents costly downtime on your garden and landscaping jobs.

Secured by a wingnut, you can effortlessly replace the chain without having to hunt for specialised Allen keys or spanners in your toolbox. And, with no requirement for manual chain tensioning — you can return immediately to your lopping!

Cordless Operation

Negating the need for a power cord, this Stihl battery pruning saw eliminates the hassle of using extension cables and prevents the accidental slicing of mains leads!

Driven by a reliable 10.8-volt battery (included, as is the charger), it delivers welcome cordless operation. Ideal for outdoor use away from power sockets, it promises around 25 minutes of operating time from a single charge. And, with a single button push, you can check the remaining cell power on the easy-to-read LED level indicator.

Low Vibration Technology

Expertly crafted by Stihl’s talented in-house designers, the Stihl battery garden pruner incorporates oscillation preventers and a low-vibration chain.

This helps to stave off hand and arm fatigue and discomfort, particularly on longer projects — a welcome feature if your outdoor jobs are time-heavy. Furthermore, by reducing machine vibration, it permits faster and more precise lopping.

User-Comfort

In addition to its low-vibration operation, the Stihl GTA26 cordless garden pruner also boasts further design enhancements to elevate user operational enjoyment.

At 1.2 kg, the machine is surprisingly lightweight for a battery-driven powerful pruner — increasing job stamina, particularly while completing overhead work that’s particularly hard on arm and hand muscles.

What’s more, its padded and rubberised handles deliver welcome stability, ensuring grip comfort, and promising to minimise wrist torsion issues.

Substantial Trigger

The GTA26 Stihl cordless pruner saw has a generously sized power trigger, permitting you to use either one or two digits to operate the machine.

And, due to its substantial proportions, it also allows straightforward operation while wearing the thickest of protective gloves.

Safety Features

Reassuringly, this Stihl battery limb saw incorporates some hefty safety features — particularly attractive if you’re new to the mini-chainsaw world!

Anti-kickback tech reduces the likelihood of unexpected guide-bar motion, a common effect in chainsaws that is both alarming and dangerous. Additionally, a flexible hand guard protects you from the rotating chain, while a trigger lockout shields against accidental activation.

Wide-Variety of Uses

One of the most appealing aspects of the mighty Stihl GTA 26 cordless chainsaw is its number of outdoor applications — both for the pro and novice user.

While not an exhaustive list, you can wield the Stihl battery powered garden pruner for:

• Pruning shrubs, trees, and bushes.
• Shredding green cuttings.
• Creating rustic home decorations.
• Precise timber cutting.
• Landscaping and gardening.
• Chopping firewood.
• Felling small trees.
• Preparing for a bonfire.
• Clearing brush and scrub.

Included Accessories

Arriving with the Stihl battery pruning saw GTA 26 are some crucial accessories, allowing you to drive on with your cutting jobs straight after unboxing!

Most welcome is the inclusion of a 10.8-volt, 28Wh AS2 battery and charger, meaning no additional purchases are necessary to use the tool — unusual in today’s popular skin-only formats. Furthermore, the Stihl GTA 26 battery powered hand pruner comes with a handy wall-mountable soft bag — for effortless storage and transportation.

Also included:

• Flexible guard.
• Rollomatic light guide bar for Stihl GTA 26 cordless pruner.
• 0.25-inch saw chain.
• Chain oil 50 ml.

Stihl GTA26 Cordless Pruner Specifications

What Do Users Say About the Stihl GTA 26 Lithium Cordless Garden Pruner?

While the insight provided by Think Water at Peats Ridge during their thorough demonstration was priceless — my experience of this Stihl battery powered pruner remains somewhat limited.

Personally, I’m convinced that this brawny tool is an excellent outdoor machine for gardeners, light-duty landscapers, and novice mini-chainsaw users.

However, in order to provide the most exhaustive Stihl GTA26 garden pruner review possible, I investigated the opinions of bonafide users of this tool — to understand perfectly how this cutting saw performs in everyday environments and applications.

Reassuringly, the views voiced by owners of the Stihl GTA 26 battery garden pruner kit were overwhelmingly positive — concurring with my own feelings. These guys championed the mighty cutting power despite its compact size, welcomed the effortless tool-free chain replacement, and applauded the user comfort.

Naturally, it wasn’t universally loved.

One owner of this Stihl battery powered pruning saw complained about its limited cutting capacity of 10-12 cm — although I’m not sure what he expected from a mini-chainsaw.

Additionally, another guy was displeased with the operational time — stating that despite the manufacturer’s claim of 25 minutes, in his experience 15-20 minutes was a more accurate figure.

However, regardless of these two naysayers’ issues, all the users believed that the 26GTA Stihl battery powered hand pruner was a reliable, robust, and grunty garden tool.

Alternatives to the Stihl Battery Operated Pruning Saw

If you’ve read this review and feel that the impressive GTA26 Stihl pruning saw battery driven machine isn’t exactly what you’re after — stick with me!

I’ve curated a few equally notable alternatives that may be more suitable to your outdoor jobs and personal preferences:

Milwaukee M18FHS8602B 18V Pruning Saw Kit

If you appreciate the cordless operation of the Stihl battery hand pruner, but are disappointed by its restricted bar length — consider this machine from tool giants Milwaukee.

Like the GTA26, the M18FHS8602B arrives complete with a lithium-ion cell and charger. However, it boasts a 20.3 cm bar, twice the length of the Stihl tool — allowing you to tackle thicker branches and trunks.

• Significantly harder on your wallet than the GTA26.
• More powerful — 18 volts compared to the 10.8 volts of the Stihl.
• At 2.2 kg (not including cell), it’s heavier than the GTA 26.

Makita DUC150SF 18V Cordless Brushless Pruning Saw Combo Kit

Should you need the rapid running advantage of the GTA26, but desire a tool that permits effortless manual chain tensioning — check out the DUC 150 SF.

As with the Stihl handheld battery pruner, this Makita machine knocks out a considerable eight metres per second for speedy cutting. However, the DUC150 SF boasts a substantial chain adjustment knob — not a feature of the Stihl — allowing experienced users to amend tension to suit their target material.

• More premium price point than the Stihl battery pruning chainsaw.
• Longer bar — 15 cm compared to the GTA26’s 10 cm.
• As with the Stihl, the Makita arrives with a case, cell, charger, and

Makita DUA301Z 36V Cordless Brushless Pole Saw

If you demand the brawn of a chainsaw pruner, but are concerned about wielding the battery pruning saw Stihl GTA26 on a ladder to cut high-level branches — consider the DUA301Z.

This pole saw offers the grunt of a 30cm-bar chain mounted on a telescoping rod. Offering a reach of over four metres, this Makita tool permits you to lop and chop tall bushes and plants without having to mount steps or climb a tree — increasing user safety.

• Tougher on your bank balance than the GTA26.
• Unlike the Stihl, it doesn’t include the required cell and charger.
• Faster operation — 20 m/s compared to the eight m/s of the GTA26.