Looking for a new Christmas tree? We were. Our last pre-lit tree lasted about 6 years and I loved it. But the last 2 years I had to string extra lights to cover the sections that had gone out. Yes, I tried to find the one bulb that went out. I even had one of those handy-dandy light fixer tools. After hours of searching each year, I gave up and strung extra lights. I'm not sure who was more frustrated: me, or Micheal listening to me.
So around Thanksgiving we started searching for the perfect pre-lit tree. Micheal had seen one that needed no connecting of lights inside the tree. It's called "quick-set": you assemble the tree by stacking the poles and plugging it in at the bottom. We also wanted one where one dead bulb didn't take out a whole section.
We found it! Ours switched between white and colored lights, and if a bulb went out only the 5 or 6 bulbs around it went out, not the whole string. It's a miracle! We went with 12 ft because we have tall ceilings and I love how a big tree fills the room. I also splurged on the "cashmere" branches, which are easier on your hands when fluffing and look more realistic. It doesn't look plasticky. It took all of 10 minutes to put up and take down.
What to look for in a tree:
- Quick-set or "quick connect" poles that power the lights when you stack them.
- Lights that stay on when one bulb fails.
- A height that fits your ceiling (leave room for the topper).
