5 Harbor Freight Outdoor Power Tools You'll Need This Fall

While fall is a great time to roam pumpkin patches, drink hot apple cider, and enjoy your outdoor space in comfortable temperatures, outdoor chores are starting to change, especially in preparation for the colder months ahead. Tree limbs need to be cleared and leaves need to be raked and disposed of so they don’t kill your lawn. Instead of doing it all by hand, why not opt for affordable power tools.

Harbor Freight sells a lot of power tools from house brands like Bauer and Portland. Among the store’s tool options are outdoor tools that can make fall yard work easier and, honestly, help you be more productive. Imagine using a log splitter instead of having to chop your own wood for the fireplace. It would be faster and potentially fun to use. Based on positive reviews and seasonal necessities, here are five Harbor Freight outdoor power tools that will come in handy this fall. Our methodology will be explained in more detail at the end of this article.

Portland 6.5 Amp 9.5-Inch Electric Pole Saw

There are many brands of pole saws on the market, but if you’re looking for a reliable and relatively inexpensive electric pole saw, the Portland 6.5-Amp 9.5-Inch Electric Pole Saw is one to consider. It’s rated 4.7 out of 5 stars by over 14,000 buyers. Most people liked how easy the saw was to use; however, some recommended emptying the oil tank before storing it due to possible leakage.

For $59.99, this pole saw is pretty simple to use. With the telescoping feature, it can extend from 6 feet to 8 feet 10 inches with a 9 ½-inch bar. It also has low kickback. Although this electric pole saw is corded, you’ll get consistent operating power.

The power cord is only 13 inches long, so you will need to purchase your own outdoor extension cord. For safety reasons and to ensure that you are using the correct extension cord for this tool’s 6.5 amp power level, the manual clearly states that you should use 18 gauge for a 25-foot extension cord or 16 gauge for a 50-foot extension cord. If you want to extend your cord, refer to the manual for the exact gauge.

14 Amp 1 ½ in. Capacity Portland Corded Electric Grinder

While customer reviews are important, sometimes a lower rating is the result of people having higher expectations for a tool than it was designed to handle. The Portland 14-Amp 1 ½-Inch Capacity Corded Electric Shredder only has 3.8 stars out of 5, but after further digging into the reviews section, the low rating is obscure. Many people have positive reviews for this tool. Overall, it’s suitable for those with small yards and are more concerned with shredding smaller debris like leaves and twigs. One reviewer makes it clear that you need to have the right expectations for this tool—it’s not designed to chew through entire branches.

This shredder features a 7-inch dual-blade design that will shred your leaves and twigs, and according to the product description, it can handle tree branches up to 1 ½ inches in diameter. The cutting process has a maximum speed of 4,300 RPM and runs at 14 amps—also, make sure to use the proper extension cord for this tool. It also comes with a high-impact push stick to keep your hands a safe distance from the blades. You can buy this electric shredder for $129.99.

Bauer 20V 96 MPH 338 CFM Cordless Jet Blower

Leaf blowers are one of the most popular power tools to use during the fall, and Harbor Freight sells a few different ones with varying power capacities from multiple brands. The Bauer 20V 96 MPH 338 CFM Cordless Jet Blower is a popular option because it’s part of Bauer’s battery line. This power tool weighs just 5.3 pounds and has an air speed of 96 mph to quickly pick up leaves and blow dirt off your driveways.

This blower has a 4.6 out of 5 star rating from over 2,000 buyers and has a 95% recommendation score. Many users have written about how satisfied they are with the blower. One user said he was able to blow 24 tarps of leaves out of his yard with ease.

Some say this blower may be a bit underpowered, but that opinion is probably based on the size of the job. A large task may require a more powerful blower. You can buy this blower for $49.99. At the time of writing, there was a discount for Inside Track club members, bringing the price down to $39.99.

Central Machinery 12A 5 Ton Electric Log Splitter

If one of your fall chores involves gathering firewood for the winter, a log splitter is probably a good tool to have on your list. Harbor Freight is selling its Central Machinery 12-Amp 5-Ton Electric Log Splitter for $299.99. It comes with a handle and 6-inch wheels to easily move it around the yard. It uses 5 tons of force to split pieces of wood up to 10 inches in diameter. However, be aware that with harder wood, the tool may need more than one revolution to completely split the log.

This log splitter has a 4.6 out of 5 star rating from over 1,800 buyers and is 94% recommended. One person said they tried it with 20-inch diameter logs and it cut through them like a champ. However, the manufacturer doesn’t recommend this, which could void your 90-day warranty if it breaks. Additionally, some consumers argue that given the capabilities of this tool, it’s more cost-effective to buy a log splitter than to rent one if you plan on using it every year.

Bauer 2000 PSI Max Performance Electric Pressure Washer

Decks, porches, and sidewalks can accumulate dirt during the summer months. So before the winter season rolls around and starts dumping snow, you may want to consider pressure washing the walkways around your home so they don’t get slippery. The Bauer 2000 PSI Max Performance Electric Pressure Washer is a popular choice among Harbor Freight consumers, as it has a 4.4 out of 5 star rating from over 2,100 users and a 91% recommendation score. Many reviewers are impressed with the quality of the pressure washer and how easy it is to install. Some even rave about how well the soap dispenser works.

This pressure washer can generate up to 2,000 psi of water pressure at a flow rate of 1.3 gallons per minute (GPM). It comes with a metal spray wand, a 25-foot hose, and four quick-connect nozzles. Plus, it has two 10-inch wheels to easily maneuver it while you get the job done. It also has a 35-foot power cord. You can buy this electric pressure washer for $199.99 — its Insider Track Club price was $169.99 at the time of writing.

Our methodology for selecting these Harbor Freight power tools

The research for this article to choose the power tools listed began with a thorough review of all of Harbor Freight’s outdoor power tools. From these tools, we selected the types that we thought would be most useful for yard tasks during the fall season. We also considered user reviews and pricing to ensure that each tool was highly rated and affordable enough for the job it does. All but one of the tools have at least a 4.4 out of 5 star rating—the one with a slightly lower rating still has plenty of positive reviews.

However, we encourage you to check out other Harbor Freight brands for some of these tools. For example, if you invest in a Bauer power tool, like the aforementioned blower, you might consider staying in the same battery line and also purchasing the brand’s pole saw. This will allow you to build a collection of batteries that can be used for multiple tools.