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It ’s well-situated to get overwhelmed choosing a Christmas tree forthe holidays . Among an abundant number of tree diagram species , top , and light options , the pick can seem endless . Balsam Hill and King of Christmas aim to make the choice a little act easy by proffer an often superior level of realism in their Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree as well as including accessary that elevate your experience with their products .
Of course , higher - goal intersection like these come with higher price tags , so you want to be sure to choose cautiously . Over the years I ’ve prove eightartificial Christmas treesfrom five brands , and these two brands are particular . I try out each brand ’s Fraser firs for several weeks , and here ’s my take on these specific tree diagram , and the brands overall .
Photo: Beth Cranston for Bob Vila
Balsam Hill and King of Christmas: At a Glance
Testing the Balsam Hill and King of Christmas Trees
I tested each of these trees in my home and leave them up for several week so that I could think both my initial and longer - term impressions of each tree . I rated the trees on apparatus , realism , stableness , lighting , dismantlement and storage , as well as the overall note value of the Tree .
Upon receiving each Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , I go under them up as I would my own Christmas trees , screen out and muff branches as need , and then decorated them — but not too much . I did n’t want an abundance of decoration to sway my opinions of the trees themselves . I hire note of how long the apparatus took and how comfortable the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree were to shape . I then tested each Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree for constancy in three ways : 1 ) hang up heavy ornaments ; 2 ) placing a tree beaver ; and 3 ) demote into the tree numerous times .
Over several weeks , I assessed the appearance of each tree diagram , the lineament and reality , and the illumination . in the end , I took down the trees , again noting the length of time it engage and how easy it was to do .
Photo: Beth Cranston for Bob Vila
The Balsam Hill Fraser Fir setup is easier and faster.
To be just , no tree diagram in our Best Artificial Trees purchaser ’s guide is easier or faster to adjust up than theBalsam Hill Flip Tree . The Flip Tree is specially project for comfortable conveyance and speedy setup . The base branches alternate upside down so that they naturally compress for storage into the include canvas bag . When they ’re flipped good side up , they fall back into plaza . It takes a fraction of the sentence to coif up compared to other trees .
Of course , this is n’t on the dot a fair comparing because the King of Christmas tree does not have a quick - summerset technology to equate to Balsam Hill . However , I ’ve tested another Balsam Hill Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , the Classic Blue Spruce , and I would say that that tree is also easier to limit up than the King of Christmas Fraser Fir . The Blue Spruce ’s branch were sturdy yet flexible , making them promiscuous to correct . The King of Christmas Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ’s branch are sturdy — which prefigure well for longevity — but they were much stiffer to shape . That said , I still would not call that a dealbreaker ; it just takes some redundant time to set up the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
The King of Christmas Fraser Fir holds heavy ornaments better.
Given how stiff the branches were to move when setting up the King of Christmas , it ’s no surprisal that they held heavy ornaments remarkably well . For credit , shatterproof clump ornamentation weigh about .5 ounce . Both trees , of course , view as those just okay . When I place ornaments 5 times that weight , the King of Christmas branches barely agitate .
While the Balsam Hill could hold lumbering ornaments , I had to place them deeper on a branch or on the bottom branches . I should also note that Balsam Hill ’s Blue Spruce supports heavy ornament just okay , so this could be due to Fraser Fir ’s pattern , not brand design . The Balsam Hill , however , excelled at holding a tree topper thanks to its three , extra - stiff branch at the top for just this purpose .
They both have beautiful lighting, but King of Christmas is brighter.
At the very least , a Christmas tree diagram should have 100 lights per 1 foot of tree . With the exclusion of the Twinkly Light Show choice on the Balsam Hill , both of these prelit Fraser firs well exceed that criterion and cast a festive lambency . They ’re also well placed , swirling from branch crown to the inner Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree limbs , so the full tree is illuminated . The lighting for both Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree connects through the trunk , crap setup easy . I appreciate not having to search for the ends of ignition cords . Both trees include remote control and pes pedals for extra - easy light control .
TheBalsam Hillthat I tested has readable lead candlelight bulbs , while the King of Christmas tree has both clear and multicolor options , so I ca n’t compare Balsam Hill ’s multicolor illumination , even though their Tree do have that pick . When both trees ’ lighting options are on clear ( white ) , however , the King of Christmas tree is a turn brilliant .
TheKing of Christmas tree , however , has eight inflammation options : steady clean , steady multicolor blinking clear , blinking multicolor , fading clear , fade multicolor , blinking between unmortgaged and multicolor , and pass off between exculpated and multicolor . It also has three brightness scope . All of these context can be access on the foot pedal or the remote ; however , I had to target the remote directly at the foot pedal for it to work . On the other hand , I could operate the Balsam Hill remote control no matter where I pointed it .
Photo: Balsam Hill vs King of Christmas — Beth Cranston for Bob Vila
They are both realistic-looking.
These trees are made by premium firebrand and it shows , albeit in different ways . Both trees have lifelike needles on their arm tips , with flat needles on the intimate limbs . Balsam Hill ’s needle are broader and curt . The underside of the needle , much like tangible Fraser fir , is lighter , almost silvery . The arm tips are a light brown , again mimicking Mother Nature . The broader excogitation does give the needles a morsel of a molded appearance , which not all may appreciate .
In contrast , the needle on the King of Christmas are much narrow and more like a sewing acerate leaf . They fill the entire circuit of the branch tips , give the tree a full appearing . They do n’t have the light undersurface that the Balsam Hill does , nor the loose brownish branch . Still , the fine needles give the King of Christmas an exceptionally realistic visual aspect .
The overall form of both tree also reflects a more organic aesthetic , unlike highly symmetrical artificial trees of the past .
Photo: Balsam Hill vs King of Christmas — Beth Cranston for Bob Vila
They both have storage challenges.
While visual aspect and constancy probably top the lean of shopping considerateness , being capable to easily take a tree diagram down and put in it conveniently should also be on your mind . After all , getting quick for the vacation takes a slew of metre , cleaning up after them should n’t .
As I mentioned before , theKing of Christmas treehas toppingly sturdy branch . The downside of that is shaping them , both for display and to put off . It includes a storage handbag , which is great , but I really had to muscle the tree in to get it to fit . Once it was in , there was utterly no way of life I could have used the small handle to carry it to my basement storage elbow room . I would have preferred a sturdier bag or a boxwood .
Taking down the Balsam Hill was just as easy to take down as it was to set up , thanks to its impudent mathematical function . It also fare with two tough canvasstorage bags : one for the base and one for the top . I had no trouble getting either part in the udder , and hive away it would be a zephyr — if I did n’t have to store it in my basement . Because the base is wheeled , I have to put it back in its transport boxwood to convey downstairs . It ’s a hearty , two - mortal job to carry it up and down steps , to say the least . My advice ? Store the flip tree diagram on the same floor where it will be display .
Photo: Beth Cranston for Bob Vila
OK, but are they splurge-worthy?
There ’s no question about it . Both of these Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree are spendy , and that affected their overall ratings listed above . The 7.5 - foot Billie Jean King of Christmas Fraser true fir with clear and multicolor lights is $ 1,199 full price . For an equal comparison , the 7.5 - substructure Balsam Hill Fraser true fir flip tree with clear and multicolor light is $ 1,999 ; without the flip function , it ’s $ 1,499 .
luckily , you’re able to discover these trees on cut-rate sale throughout the year . As of this publishing , the King of Christmas Fraser fir tree is on sales agreement for $ 999 . The Balsam Hill Fraser true fir flip tree is on sale for 1,699 and the received setup Fraser fir is on sale for $ 1,099
Whether you ’re uncoerced to spend that much count on how much you appreciate Christmas decorations . I ’ve used and tested trees from other brand , and while many are nice - looking , they are n’t always as realistic - look , often cast a mass more needles , and do n’t have as many arm summit as these brands . These firebrand are enceinte options for your chief Christmas tree , but I would wait for the cut-rate sale prices before buying .
Photo: Beth Cranston for Bob Vila
Product Comparisons
So, is Balsam Hill or King of Christmas right for you?
Truly , these are both corking trade name . Balsam Hill offers more tree diagram choice , but King of Christmas is more low-cost . If you put a premium on your clock time , the Balsam Hill flip tree diagram is an amazing option . I essay the Fraser fir , but it also comes in several other species of tree , and for less than $ 30 , Balsam Hill offers a tree branch sample kit . Without the flip pick , the Balsam Hill trees become much more on par with the King of Christmas terms - Isaac Mayer Wise .
However , if you want to spend a little less , but still have a naturalistic , indestructible , beautiful tree , I ’d say it ’s hard to go wrong with the King of Christmas Fraser fir tree .
Meet the Tester
As an editor in chief atBobVila.com , Beth Cranston design the examination guidelines for the product reviews team , having make grow parameters for more than 300 production category . While her collection of Christmas decor is n’t vast , she loves what she has and wants readers to find products that they ’ll love too .
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