You don’t have to wait until the 25th December to enjoy the magic of Christmas. A fibre optic Christmas tree will light up your home and add instant warmth.
With built in lights and LED technology, fibre optic trees offer a fuss-free alternative to the standard and pre-lit Christmas trees available in stores and online. But with so many to choose from how do you pick best fibre optic Christmas tree for you?
Our Picks For The Best Fibre Optic Christmas Tree:
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Well, we’ve done the research on your behalf and it’s time to get into the Christmas spirit. So, pour yourself a glass of mulled wine, help yourself to a mince pie and take a look at five of the best fibre optic Christmas trees on the market
#1: Green Artificial Fibre Optic Christmas Xmas Tree with Multi LED Source by The Christmas Centre
Check current stock levels, price, and reviews on Amazon
Features:
- Available in 4 sizes: 3ft, 4ft, 5ft, 6ft
- Plastic stand means it is overall very light
- Multicolour LEDs with shimmering fibre optics
- Easy to assemble with hinged construction and pre-attached PVC tips
- Flexible branches can be shaped as desired
- Premium tree made from quality materials
Things to consider
- The instructions are on the basic side so you might have to work out one or two things for yourself (although it does seem relatively straightforward)
#2: HOMCOM Pre-Lit Fibre Optic Artificial Christmas Tree Holiday Xmas Décor with Tree Topper Multi-Colour (5ft 150cm)
Check current stock levels, price, and reviews on Amazon
Features:
- A good size at 5ft (150cm)
- Looks much more expensive than it is
- Easy to assemble and pack away
- Metal stand increases stability
- Mixed colour lights with lit colour star on top
- Made of eco-friendly dense PVC needles
- 1.8 metre lead wire
Things to Consider:
- The tree lights do flash and that feature cannot be changed
- The base seems quite stable so you shouldn’t have to add any extra weight
#3: FB FunkyBuys Green Fibre Optic SLIM PENCIL Christmas Xmas Tree
Check current stock levels, price, and reviews on Amazon
Features:
- Traditional green tree
- Slim fitting – ideal for small spaces
- Multi-colour LED lights
- Includes star fitted at the top
- 8 lighting functions including flash, twinkle, chasing, fade, static and on/off
- Metal stand
- Premium tree made from high quality materials
- 220 PVC tips for a full and lush look
- UK low voltage transformer
- Hinged construction for easy assembly
Things to consider:
- Tree is measured from the tip of the highest branch to the base, but measurements are approximate
- Instructions are on the meagre side but operation is simple – change the light settings by pressing the black button
#4: Multicolour Changing Lights 4ft Fibre Optic Tree
Check current stock levels, price, and reviews on Amazon
Features:
- Evergreen pine tree
- 4ft
- Realistic green branches
- Fibre optic multi-coloured strands and warm LED lights
- Hinged branches for easy assembly
- Leg-style base
Things to consider:
- It automatically cycles through the different coloured lights and this cannot be changed
#5: SHATCHI 3ft Nova Pre-Lit Fibre Optic Christmas Tree
Check current stock levels, price, and reviews on Amazon
Features:
- Traditional green tree
- 3ft
- Multi-colour light effect
- Five different colours (red, yellow, green, blue and purple) that change constantly
- Changing lighting effects (including steady and flashing)
- Input: 230-240 v, 50 hz and Output: 12 v, dc, 500 ma
- Metal stand and robust base
- Two sections for easy assembly, take down and storage
- Variety of sizes available including 2ft, 3ft, 4ft, 5ft, 6ft, 7ft
- Fire retardant, flexible PVC tips
- Low power and low energy consumption
- Study plastic pot
Things to Consider
- The number of tips varies depending on the size of the tree: 2Ft = 66, 3Ft = 99, 4Ft = 152, 5Ft = 206, 6Ft = 282, 7Ft = 340
- Branches need to be stretched symmetrically for successful set up
- You cannot control the light sequence on this tree, the lighting effects run through a cycle
How Long Do Fibre Optic Christmas Trees Last?
The best fibre optic Christmas trees are robust and durable and can last for a number of years. This means that buying one not only makes sense economically, but also boosts your green credentials.
You won’t need to go out every year and purchase a new one – just make sure you pack and store your tree with care, and you will be able to use it time and time again.
Are Fibre Optic Christmas Trees Safe?
Real Christmas trees look very pretty, but they if they are overly dry, they can also be highly flammable. There have been cases of real trees spontaneously combusting, causing not only damage to homes, but also to the people inside. Not the best way to celebrate Christmas!
You won’t have that same sort of worry with Fibre optic Christmas trees. Being artificial, there’s no danger of the tree drying out whilst its inside. Fibre optic trees only emit light and not heat, so they are one of the safest types of Christmas tress around..
How Do Fibre Optic Trees Work?
In the past fibre optic trees were often fitted with halogen bulbs, however these were banned from UK retail general sale in September 2018. The ban came into force in line with EU Energy regulations, and consequently producers and vendors began replacing halogen lightbulbs with energy efficient substitutes.
Compact fluorescent lights and LEDs quickly gained popularity and soon new fibre optic Christmas trees were fitted with energy efficient LED lights.
The lights are actually built into the branches, rather than fitted externally. The concept is relatively simple, light particles (known as photons) make their way along a fibre optic cable, bounding off the walls and reflecting, causing the light to shimmer and shine.
Your tree should come complete with a set of instructions, so once you’ve unpacked it take a look and familiarise yourself with the set up and how the tree works.
Most are relatively straight forward to put together and consist of a base and a stand, along side PVC tipped branches. The tree itself will obviously need a source of power in order for it to work. This is usually in the form of a plug that will need to be plugged into a nearby socket.
Can You Decorate A Fibre Optic Christmas Tree?
Fibre optic Christmas trees are very attractive, and they really come into their own when you turn down the lights, draw the curtains and settle down for the evening.
However, you still might want to add you own sparkle, tinsel, decorations etc. Fortunately, fibre optic Christmas trees lend themselves well to be being dressed up.
There are plenty of great ideas on how you can decorate your tree, for instance adding shiny decorations works particularly well, as the fibre optic strands tend to reflect against polished surfaces.
Alternatively, you could go big and bold, adding oversize decoration such as huge ribbons and large, round baubles. Choosing a particular theme or colour can also work well.
Trees decorated in one colour only, such as white, have a contemporary look and can be very effective. Or perhaps you could go all out on a quirky and colourful tree and adorn yours with brightly wrapped sweets and chocolates.
What’s The Difference Between An Artificial, Pre-lit And Fibre Optic Xmas Tree?
If you don’t fancy the idea of a real tree you have a few other options. You can go for an artificial tree which will need to be decorated with fairly lights, tinsel, baubles etc These trees allow you to get really creative, but you will have to invest in your own string of Christmas lights.
If you are going to go for this option be prepared for a tussle with your tree. Winding your own lights around it can be a bit of a challenge, as can getting the positioning right.
If you’re not careful you can end up with lots of lights wound around the top or bottom and a very bare and dull looking middle section!
An easier option could be to go for a pre-lit Christmas tree. These have LED lights pre-strung on the branches, so you don’t have to buy and drape your own. There are numerous options available in terms of size and types of lighting, including trees with warm, white and blue lighting options.
Pre lit trees share some similarities with the fibre optic Christmas trees we’ve looked at today. However, instead of having external bulbs strung all over the tree, the fibre optic tree has small lights built into its branches. This produces a very effective light show, and will add Christmas spirit to any room.
Which Is The Best Fibre Optic Christmas Tree?
We’ve explored 5 of the popular fibre optic Christmas trees on the market, but which one will suit your particular needs?
Will you go for the SHATCHI 3ft/90cm Nova Pre-Lit Fibre Optic Christmas Tree with its attractive multi-coloured lighting sequence? With so many different sizes to choose from (from the petite 2ft option to the towering 7ft tree) you’re sure to find one that fits your space.
Or how about the Multicolour Changing Lights 4ft Fibre Optic Tree, we like the fact that this one has multicolour changing lights.
Perhaps the FB FunkyBuys® Green Fibre Optic SLIM PENCIL Christmas Xmas Tree is more your style? This one certainly has good looks, with its copious branches complete with PVC tips, it has a premium feel to it. The fact that this one is slim will appeal to those looking for a tree that will slot nicely into a small space.
There’s also the other FB tree, the Green Artificial Fibre Optic Christmas Xmas Tree with Multi LED Source by The Christmas Centre. This one also has plentiful lush branches and a choice of 4 different sizes making it perfect for any size room.
Finally there’s the HOMCOM Pre-Lit Fibre Optic Artificial Christmas Tree Holiday Xmas Décor with Tree Topper Multi-Colour (5ft 150cm), which has excellent reviews and is a tree of real quality. At 5ft high it’s not petite, but that means it will stand-out in any room. The fact that is low voltage and energy efficient also adds to its appeal.
With all of this in mind it’s difficult to select an outright winner. The best fibre optic Christmas tree for you will depend on a number of factors including your budget, the size of your room, your décor and the Christmas theme you are going to adopt.
The good news is that all five of those we have identified have plenty going for them and all would look lovely put up in your home or workplace for the festive period.
The Best Fibre Optic Christmas Trees In The UK
