Stihl MS 170 review: strong brand, but the price is hard to justify

Is the Stihl MS 170 Cylinder Chainsaw worth buying? Only if you specifically want Stihl branding and are happy paying a premium; at £308.00, it is expensive for what the listing describes. The model has a strong 4.6/5 rating from 1,672 reviews, which suggests most owners are satisfied, but the current price is a major concern: it sits 17% above the £263.38 average and far above the £155.00 lowest recorded price.

What do you actually get for £308?

The listing data points to a compact petrol chainsaw with a 30.2 cm3 engine and 1200 watts, with the product description also mentioning a 35 cm guide while the feature data says 30 cm. That inconsistency matters because guide bar length affects how useful the saw feels for different jobs. In practical terms, this looks aimed at lighter domestic cutting rather than heavy felling or constant firewood processing.

The package is modest at 5.82 kg, with dimensions of 25 x 29 x 40 cm, so it should be manageable for occasional garden use and easier storage in a UK shed or garage. For typical UK gardens — pruning storm damage, cutting smaller logs, and clearing branches after winter winds — that size is sensible. The key question is not size, though; it is value.

How does the Stihl MS 170 perform in real use?

On paper, 1200 W and 30.2 cm3 are respectable for a small homeowner saw, but they are not standout figures at this price. The 4.6-star average from 1,672 reviews suggests the saw does what buyers expect, and Stihl’s reputation usually translates into decent starting, reliable cutting, and predictable day-to-day use. That said, the listing only says “Good Quality”, so there is no detailed evidence here of standout features such as anti-vibration, tool-free chain tensioning, or low-emission tech.

For light garden maintenance, hedge-line cleanup, and cutting up branches after wet UK weather, this spec level is probably enough. For thicker hardwood, frequent cutting, or anything approaching regular firewood work, the power and bar length look more modest than the price suggests.

Is it good value for money?

No — not at £308.00. The price data is the clearest weakness in the whole listing. The current price is £44.62 above the average price of £263.38, and the all-time low was £155.00, which means today’s price is nearly double the historical low. The recorded range — £155.00 to £350.00 over about 180 weeks from 180 data points — shows this product moves around a lot, so patience could save a significant amount.

Against the alternatives provided, the Stihl sits in a very different bracket. The EGO Power+ LB6150 is £149.00 with a 4.6★ rating, the Bosch UniversalLeafBlower 18V-130 is £56.89 with 4.5★, and even the SEESII Mini Chainsaw is only £47.45 with 4.5★. Those are not direct substitutes for a petrol chainsaw, but they do highlight how expensive the Stihl is relative to other highly rated outdoor tools.

What should buyers watch out for?

The biggest warning is the price-to-spec mismatch. The product description says 30.2 cm3 - 1200 watts guide 35 cm, while the feature section says guide 30 cm. That inconsistency can create confusion about what you are actually buying. The second warning is timing: the data explicitly says “NOT THE BEST TIME” to buy at the current price.

If you want a small, reputable chainsaw for occasional domestic jobs and you value the Stihl badge, this may still be appealing. If you are shopping on performance-per-pound, the current pricing makes it difficult to recommend over waiting for a drop closer to the historical average.

How does it compare to alternatives?

Compared with the EGO Power+ LB6150 at £149.00, the Stihl is far more expensive, though the EGO is a leaf blower rather than a chainsaw. Compared with the SEESII Mini Chainsaw at £47.45, the Stihl is a much more serious tool, but also massively pricier. The Bosch UniversalLeafBlower 18V-130 at £56.89 again shows how premium the Stihl pricing is relative to other well-rated garden tools.

The real comparison is between this Stihl and other compact homeowner chainsaws: if you want a trusted petrol saw from a major brand, the MS 170 has the right reputation and review score. If you want the best value, the current asking price is too high.