I had the 24ft version of this and it has been really good for cutting branches 5m off the ground. I've cut 20cm diameter branches with it safely.Yes, it bends and flexes a lot at full extension - but that is way, way up and importantly *away* from the drop zone of any branches coming down with you on the ground able to run away.I've modified mine replacing the lower sections with old washing pole tubing after it got entangled in a falling branch and could no longer bend the top section back straight a 3rd time. I've spent literally days using it and the blade is sharp.There is a 'knack' to getting the best out of the shaped blade that isn't explained in the manual (there isn't one) - that I can't tell you because....AMZN policies and they rejected a previous review because it was too like a tutorial - and that isn't what customers want, apparently. But you'll eventually work out the two 'hook blades' are really useful for keeping the blade from sliding out of the saw cut.One 'feature' is that the blade cuts straight down - your ability to change the angle is basically zero with this design; you'll need to work around this. As I said: no tutorials allowed, so you are on your own with the selection as to where you start the cut on a branch.