This Douglas fir won our top spot because it’s realistic, easy to install, and inexpensive for what you get.

There are 650 pre-strung lights, which is more than most other models we tested, as well as hundreds of downward-facing branch tips, which help give the tree a more tapered appearance and natural.

The shaft also has two different types of tips, allowing you to get versatility similar to that of a real shaft. The inflation took a while, but at the end of the installation we had a complete Christmas tree that brought us some holiday cheer.

The only potential downside (not a problem in our opinion) is that the tree is rather bulky if you have limited storage space.