Balsam Hill is an artificial Christmas trees mainstay — and for good reason. The brand makes the most realistic fake trees on the market, with lifelike branches, full, no-gap coverage, and numerous lighting options. A Balsam Hill tree could cost you $1,000 or more — but it will last for years of Christmas mornings and holiday memories.
I tested the Balsam Tree Fraser Fir — the top pick in our best artificial Christmas tree guide — in my own home to see if the brand lives up to the hype. Read on for more about my experience — and why I'm convinced that these pricey trees are well-worth the cost.
Gorgeously full and lush, the Balsam Hill Fraser Fir Artificial Christmas Tree is one of the most realistic artificial trees you can buy.
What we like
What we don't like
Our review of the Balsam Hill Fraser Fir
The Fraser Fir is sold in six sizes and lighting 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 color LEDs, clear LEDs, or Twinkly smart lights.
This tree has over 3,000 branch tips, some made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and some polyethylene (PE). It comes with a three-year warranty.
Unboxing my new tree felt just like Christmas morning.
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.
Assembly is simple and intuitive — but keep in mind that this tree is heavy.
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. 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.
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 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.
I recommend fluffing 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.
The foliage is thick and realistic.
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.
The individual needles are great for lifelikeness, but it's very difficult to remove some ornaments once they're on. My ornaments strings got snagged in the tree as I was decorating.
Many artificial trees have PE branches, but I haven't seen many as full as Balsam Hill's.
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. While it still held the toy, it's something to consider if you have weighty ornaments.
When it's lit and decorated, it's nearly impossible to tell it's fake.
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.
Cons to consider
The branches are realistic but prickly, meaning that certain ornaments or hangers are easily caught on the foliage and fluffing it can hurt your hands. Thankfully, though, each tree comes with a pair of protective gloves for pain-free fluffing.
Otherwise, keep in mind that this is a hefty tree. I also found that it struggled to hold up heavy ornaments.
What are your alternatives?
The King of Christmas' take on a traditional fir is just as full and gorgeous as Balsam Hill's Fraser Fir. It's prelit, is easy to set up, and looks full after full fluffing. It also costs a couple hundred dollars less than the Balsam Hill tree. There aren't as many light options, though, and we found that the colors are difficult to switch through.
Read our best artificial Christmas tree guide for more recommendations.
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.
