Between its ultra-strong branches, tangle-free lights and realistic look, the Fraser Fir Frontgate Christmas tree is well worthy of a splurge
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Next to Christmas cookies, Christmas trees are one of the most important harbingers of the holiday season. While many folks prefer to use a real tree for their festivities, modern artificial Christmas trees look just like the real deal. Besides keeping allergies at bay, they sometimes offer additional features, like built-in programmable lights and other merry surprises. Plus, no pesky pine needles work their way into the carpet.
The challenge, however, is finding the right one. When it comes to realistic Christmas trees, the Frontgate Classic Fraser Fir and the Frontgate Scotch Pine are officially two of our favorites. These Frontgate Christmas trees are full and fluffy, surpassing our existing faux tree presumptions. But are they worth the splurge? Our expert Product Testing Team tested these stunning trees and discovered everything there is to know about both popular picks.
The Frongate Christmas tree looks just like the real deal—and there are no pesky light cords lurking inside its fluffy branches.
Everything from the shape and fullness to the dazzling lights make this Frontgate Christmas tree even better than the real thing.
As someone who loves the holidays but can’t enjoy a real tree due to my partner’s allergies, I know the importance of realistic-looking Christmas trees. Plastic-y pine needles and wimpy branches simply won’t do, especially for those of us with heavy heirloom ornaments or a mountain of Christmas tree candles.
The Classic Fraser Fir Frontgate Christmas tree and the Scotch Pine Frontgate Christmas tree are faux Christmas trees that mimic the classic, home-cut feel of a real one. While the realistic trunks and fluffy branches offer a showstopping look, their gorgeous glowing lights are the real standout feature. They’re also surprisingly stronger than what you’d find in a forest. Each branch tip comes reinforced with heavy-gauge steel—no more broken bulbs!
The Frontgate Classic Fraser Fir tree comes in 6.5-, 7.5-, 9- and 10-foot sizes while the Scotch Pine tree comes in 7.5- and 9-foot sizes. A powder-coated steel tree stand securely holds the realistic trunks in place without wobbling. Both trees come with either white lights or multicolored lights, which look lovely coupled with prismatic Christmas decor. A handy controller sets a timer or offers a choice between a number of light modes: steady, fade, flash out (twinkle), flash warm white, flash opal and chase.
Unlike many other pre-lit Christmas trees, there are no complicated hookups or tangle-prone wires. Instead, just assemble each section by inserting the pole into the top of the previous section. This automatically connects the lights to one another. Then, plug in the end of the cord, and you’re ready to celebrate!
We tested this tree in our Product Testing Lab against 10 other options hailing from Balsam Hill, Grandin Road and other well-loved brands. The tree arrived in two slightly beat-up boxes, but we chalk that up to a rough shipping trip. Luckily, none of the contents came damaged or missing. Inside the boxes are the stand, five tree pieces, a storage bag with gloves, lights, fuses, a remote, arm protectors and instructions for setup.
Setup is a two-person job, especially for larger sizes like the 9-foot option. That said, it assembles rather quickly. Two of our Product Testing team members put together all five sections in roughly 13 minutes. The quick light setup really helps with speed since there’s no need to hunt down connectors hidden inside the branches.
Despite its height, the tree is surprisingly sturdy. The base juts out about 3 feet to ensure a wobble-free trunk, which means that some tree collars may be a bit too small to cover it. Those opting for the 9-foot version will also need a ladder for setup.
The tree has brown branch areas, adding to its realism. The trunk is also brown, which looks much more high-end than some of the others we tested. As mentioned above, each branch tip comes with reinforced steel for additional strength. Additionally, there’s no skimping on needles—the number of tips ranges from 3,000 for the 6.5-foot option to a whopping 8,488 tips for the largest tree. This gives the entire tree a fluffy, full look without any unsightly gaps.
Speaking of fluffing, it only took 16 minutes for it to look really nice. It’s one of the easier trees to set up since the branches are maneuverable. Given that the lights connect via the center pole, there aren’t any light cords in the way. We also noticed very few needles falling out as we fluffed. Despite its fullness, the tree still holds ornaments in a variety of sizes and shapes.
The light cords and push button feel a little cheap, and the white lights glow a bit cooler than the soft incandescent we’d prefer for a Christmas tree. However, we love the addition of remote-controlled light effects. The lights sit deeper in the branches than the other trees we tested, which gave the entire tree a nice, soft glow. The tree hosts up to 1,700 lights, depending on the size and light color chosen.
In addition to the Classic Fraser Fir, we also tested Frontgate’s 7.5-foot Scotch Pine Quick-Light tree with clear and color-changing lights. Staff writer Marisa Hillman’s tree arrived in one large box and included a metal stand, cloth Frontgate envelope with instructions and remote, two fabric sleeves and a set of cloth gloves for fluffing. Marisa did have to enlist the help of her husband to carry the 63 pound box into her home.
While the box was too long and heavy to manage by herself, Marisa didn’t require any assistance setting up the tree. After unboxing, she put together all four sections in under two minutes. Like the Classic Fraser Fir, the Scotch Pine also has quick-light technology which makes setup a breeze. Marisa notes that all of the pieces fit together nicely and the tree stood perfectly straight straight out of the box.
Once it was set up, it took Marisa about 20 minutes to fluff. The 7.5-foot tree has an impressive 2,793 tips. Branches consist of lifelike, medium green needles that have been molded from natural cuttings and reinforced with steel to hold heavy ornaments. Some branches also have very light flocking which adds to the realistic look.
After 20 minutes, Marisa was wowed by the Scotch Pine, but felt it could use more work. “I had a hard time moving the interior branches. If I try and spread them out they just bounce right back to where they were,” she explains. “I’m wondering if it has to settle after being boxed up or if that’s just the way the tree is designed. The outer branches, on the other hand, are very easy to position.”
In spite of not being able to perfectly fluff her tree the first time, Marisa was wowed by the tree. “Four years ago, I ordered a beautiful Balsam Hill Fraser Fir tree. And in spite of it being a beautiful tree, I was really underwhelmed the first time I put it up,” she says. “The Frontgate tree, on the other hand, made me step back and say ‘WOW’! And that was before I put any ornaments on it.”
According to Marisa, the lights on the Scotch Pine tree are better than advertised. Her 7.5-foot tree has 1,000 lights that can be set to warm white or color-changing LED. Light settings include steady, fade, twinkle, flash warm white, flash, opal and chase. “The remote has so many fun and festive options including one for Halloween and harvest, so you can leave this tree up all year long if you feel so inclined,” raves Marisa. “And in spite of thinking I was crazy for putting my Christmas tree up in August, I did receive a few text messages from my neighbors asking for the link because the lights were so impressive.”
Both Frontgate and Balsam Hill make high-quality Christmas trees and alternative Christmas trees. That said, their product catalogs vary wildly from one another. While we love the fullness and realistic look of the Frontgate Christmas trees we’ve tested, Balsam Hill offers a few smart tree options that appeal to speed decorators or those who prefer to customize their lights.
The Balsam Hill Flip Tree is especially enticing because it sets up in just a few minutes. Instead of manually adjusting the tree’s branches, you can just flip them down—easy!
Whether you choose a Balsam Hill tree or a Frontgate tree, expect stunning quality and realistic details abound.
Frontgate makes some of the most stunning trees around. Overall we found these trees to be sturdy, incredibly realistic and easy to assemble. While they are pricey, we expect these trees to last season after season, making them true holiday heirlooms you can break out every year.
The Frontgate Christmas trees are available for purchase on the Frontgate website. Snag the Classic Fraser Fir from $1,499 to $3,999, depending on the size and color. The Scotch Pine will run anywhere between $1,999 to $3,499.
The Frongate Christmas tree looks just like the real deal—and there are no pesky light cords lurking inside its fluffy branches.
This tree takes two minutes or less to set up and has minimal shedding.
According to our inquiries to Frontgate’s customer service, the Classic Fraser Fir is manufactured in China. That said, other trees on the website may be manufactured elsewhere.
While it’s hard to justify a $1,000 price tag, Frontgate Christmas trees are well worth the splurge. If you’re seeking a Christmas tree that lasts season after season and is strong enough to hold heavy heirloom ornaments, we highly recommend the Frontgate Fraser Fir. Despite its fluffiness, there’s still plenty of room underneath to hold gifts for him and her.
Some of our favorite retailers for realistic Christmas trees include Frontgate and Balsam Hill. You can also shop for more budget-friendly options at spots like Home Depot, Lowe’s and Walmart.
Shoppers obsessed over Home Depot’s collection of Grand Duchess Balsam Fir trees, but unfortunately, they’ve discontinued them. There are tons of other options to shop, though, especially as we test new models for the 2025 holiday season.
When it comes to storing a Frontgate Christmas tree, we recommend purchasing a storage bag, like this one. It’s large enough to fit disassembled trees of 9 to 12 feet high, and the heavy-duty handles, puncture-resistant fabric and commercial-grade zippers make storage a breeze.
At Taste of Home, we’re big fans of the holidays. That includes everything from baking Christmas cookies to shopping for the best Christmas gift baskets. Our expert Product Testing team has a combined decade of experience testing and recommending the best products to readers. All testing is done under controlled conditions in our Product Testing Lab.
Emily Way, the author of this article, is a shopping editor here at Taste of Home. She’s tested hundreds of products over the years, all across lifestyle, home, tech and DIY categories. She has been writing product reviews for over two years.
Additional reporting was contributed by Melissa Lee, Content Updates Editor, who has more than six years of experience in commerce journalism. Besides being an expert on all things home and DIY, she loves changing up her home décor for the fall and winter seasons.
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