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Can an artificial tree ever really rival the real deal? Not really, but Balsam Hill makes the closest I've seen.
The trees can cost well over $1,000 but come bursting with tons of branches, making for a very full and quite lifelike tree. Cheaper artificial trees use bristle-like branches and fewer of them. The result is often a lackluster appearance with gaping holes between branches.
As I was reviewing options for our guide to the best artificial Christmas trees, I wanted to see if Balsam Hill's expensive trees lived up to the high price tag. I tested the Fraser Fir, which is about in the middle, cost-wise. It was easily the most convincing fake tree I put together, and it truly looks gorgeous fully decorated and lit.
Fortunately, for those looking to get ahead of Black Friday deals, many of Balsam Hills' trees are up to 50% off with free shipping.
Gorgeously full and lush, this tree is one of the most realistic artificial trees you can buy and the top pick from our testing. Sale pricing varies by size and light choice, but we recommend opting for the Twinkly smart light option, which will allow you to fully customize the color and pattern of your tree lights.
- Very full, realistic branches
- Many sizes and light types available
- Comparatively easy set up
- Prickly
- Heavy
The Balsam Hill Fraser Fir is available in 7 heights with 6 light options.
I tested a 6.5-foot tall tree with clear incandescent lights. It also comes in sizes between 5.5 feet and 12 feet. In addition to incandescent lights, the tree can be ordered unlit or wrapped in candlelight, color LEDs, or Twinkly smart lights.
The Balsam Hill Fraser Fir has over 2,000 branch tips, some made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and some polyethylene (PE). It comes with a three-year warranty.
The Balsam Hill Fraser Fir is a mix of PVC and PE needles, making for a full, luxuriant tree with almost no gaps between branches.
Artificial tree branches are typically either made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyethylene (PE). The Fraser Fir has bristle-like PVC branches close to the pole, and the molded PE ones farther out. PVC is light and a decent filler, while PE branches add weight to the tree but look much more realistic.
Many artificial trees have PE branches, but I haven't seen many as full as Balsam Hill's.
Unboxing the Balsam Tree is almost like opening a present.
Inside, the first thing you notice is a set of instructions for assembling the tree. There are ribbons around the branches and little surprises like a couple of storage bags. It made the experience feel special and festive, even though it was the middle of the afternoon in early November.
Included in the box are a tree-storage bag, another bag for the stand, and two sets of gloves to wear when you're fluffing the tree (side note: you'll want to use them). The tree bag is made of nylon and seems built to last for years. The stand bag has thoughtful touches, like a clip for the bolts. There are several pockets in the stand bag to help with organization. A few extra light bulbs were included, too.
Each tree section is wrapped in ribbon and labeled, making assembly very straightforward.
My tree came with three sections, so the affixed tags were helpful in determining where to start. You start at the bottom with section 1 and move up.
The 6.5-foot tree weighs 39 pounds, so set it up close to where you'll be displaying it.
The individual sections are also a bit weighty, so it might be better to have a helper.
The individual sections slot easily into each other.
Each section has arrows on the pole so you know exactly where to slide it into the one below. It's almost deceptively easy, and I was wondering if I was missing a step to lock it in place.
It's helpful to fluff each section as you go.
With more than 2,000 branch tips, the tree took well over an hour to set up by myself. Balsam Hill has a really helpful video detailing the fluffing process. Essentially, you want to pull branches either up or to the side in a staggered pattern so there are as few gaps as possible. Don't connect the next section until the bottom one is fluffed because it's harder to reach toward the back with more branches on top.
Shaping a tree can be tough on your fingers. Balsam Hill's branches are a tad on the prickly side, so the included gloves were welcome.
With a pre-lit fir, there was very little work to do to light my tree.
Unlike some other artificial trees I tested, I didn't have to connect individual strings of lights. Instead, I just plugged one into the outlet. The clear lights are snuggly wrapped around branches in a thoughtfully spaced way that I couldn't duplicate if I tried.
The PE branches look realistic, but they cling to the strings I used to hang some ornaments.
The individual needles are great for lifelikeness, but it's very difficult to remove some ornaments once they're on.
Other trees seem to hold heavier ornaments better.
I use a dragon as my tree topper. It weighs 4 ounces and seemed to depress the Balsam Hill tree's branches more than other trees I tested, like the one from Puleo International. While it still held the toy, it's something to consider if you have weighty ornaments.
When the Balsam Hill Fraser Fir is lit and decorated, you may almost be fooled into thinking it's a real tree.
Close up and unlit, there's no doubt that this tree is artificial. But it's the most realistic artificial tree I've seen. It's also incredibly full so there aren't huge gaps between branches. When the lights are on and the tree is fully decorated, it looks beautiful, real or not.
The bottom line
Balsam Hill makes very expensive artificial trees. But they last for years, and they look incredible. They're heavy and have prickly branches, but the company includes thoughtful touches, like pairs of gloves and a stand bag that add to the value.
If you've always thought an artificial tree could never come close to the real deal, Balsam Hill's may change your mind.
More Balsam Hill trees to consider
Thanks to its more manicured frame, this slim-style tree is well-suited for smaller and narrow areas. There is no need to compromise on heights, with six heights ranging from 4.5 feet to 15 feet and prelit or unlit options.
The lush and full 7.5-foot Balsam Hill Classic Blue Spruce features 1000 LED clear lights and 2,960 branch tips with realistic needles. It's available in heights from 4.5 feet to 15 feet.
Slim and stately, the Balsam Hill Oakville Outdoor Artificial Christmas Tree is sturdy enough to display outside.
