Very handy to cut branches without going on a ladder, I just used it today in full extension. Be aware, if you plan to use the full extension (27 ft) you have to finish assembling it in vertical position to add the last 3-4 pieces on it, otherwise you can damage the pole. The saw is very flexible and handy, I was really impressed as it survived some awkward situations when trying to cut branches in difficult position. The hooks from the saw are handy also to grab cut branches to bring them down safely, it just needs a bit of practice for you to use it with its full potential. Even if the pole is lightweight, pruning at full height can become tiring and demand quite some strength for the job (I consider myself average strenght for a 40-year old male, for reference I can lift 60lb without any troubles). Specially at full length, plan to use some of the weight of the pole on the blade so it helps cutting better, also it helps cutting more on the upper side of branches, so you don't get the blade stuck when the branch starts to fold down. Hint: if you plan to use it in next day again, keep pairs of pole pieces connected, so your setup will take just half the time. Con: Some cuts can be messy at big heights, I had one cut that peeled off a bit of the remaining part of the branch as I was not able to do minor cut on the other side. In some situations you can get the blade stuck if you are not paying enough attention