The best fake Christmas tree out there is the Downswept Douglas Fir from the National Tree Co., which sells for about $400, according to consumer website wirecutter.com.
The website's testers said they spent more than 40 hours figuring this out.
One researcher visited a factory where fake trees are made, shopped big box stores and examined hundreds of options online. Another spent hours talking with the American Christmas Tree Association − yes, it's a real thing − to learn about the industry. (The ACTA not to be confused with the National Christmas Tree Association, whose URL of realchristmastrees.org pretty much tells what it's all about.)
What won over the testers? The tree's
- 2,000 authentic-looking polyethylene branch tips surrounding a lightweight PVC core
- 7.5 feet height, good for most homes, which have 8-foot ceilings
- dual-color LED lights − at least 100 per foot
- ability to toggle the light display between all-white and multi-color
The Feel Real Downswept Douglas Fir has been featured by retailers such as Home Depot, Kohl's and Wayfair and was selling for $365 from Amazon as of this writing.
Note: The AJC receives commissions for purchases made through links in this article.
