I spent the last few weekends clearing out a mess of storm damage. It was the perfect chance to put the Husqvarna 120 Mark II and the Stihl MS 162 head-to-head.
I know the spec sheets by heart. But specs do not tell you how your back feels after three hours. They do not tell you how a saw acts when it is hot.
Here is the real story of using them, warts and all.
The Setup: Why These Two?
If you own a home, you likely looked at these two saws. They are the entry-level choices. You see them at every dealer.
I bought both to see which one earns its keep. My goal was simple. I had a mix of work to do. I had thick oak logs for firewood. I had messy pine branches for the burn pile.
I needed to know which tool could handle the variety. I did not want a tool that made me want to quit early.
My Time with the Husqvarna 120 Mark II
I started my Saturday morning with the orange saw. The Husqvarna 120 Mark II has a reputation. People say it is a small saw that acts big.
It feels solid. When you pick it up, you notice the weight. It weighs nearly 11 pounds with the bar. That adds up over time.
The plastic feels thick. It does not feel like a toy. It has a wide body. It feels like a farm tool, not just a garage toy.
The Cut: Bucking Logs I had some 12-inch oak rounds to cut. This is where the Husqvarna shines. The 38cc engine has torque. That is the twisting force that keeps the chain moving.
I buried the 16-inch bar into the oak. I leaned on it a little. The saw kept eating. It threw big, chunky chips of wood.
The anti-vibration springs are okay, but not great. I could feel the engine buzz in my hands. It wasn’t painful, but I knew it was there.
The Frustration: The Hot Start Here is where things got annoying. I ran the saw for 40 minutes. It was hot. I shut it off to move some branches.
When I came back, it would not start. I pulled the cord until I was sweating. The engine was flooded. This is a classic issue.
I had to let it sit in the shade. Later, I used a special tool to adjust the carburetor. That fixed it. But out of the box? It was a pain.
Husqvarna 120 Mark II: Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| High Torque: cuts thick hardwood well. | Hot Starts: Hard to restart after use. |
| Air Injection: Keeps the filter clean. | Weight: It is heavy for its size. |
| Bar Length: Handles a 16-inch bar. | Tuning: Carburetor needs special tools. |
| Build: Feels like a pro tool. | Vibration: You feel the buzz in your hands. |
My Time with the Stihl MS 162
Sunday was cleanup day. The big logs were done. Now I had a mountain of pine branches to limb. I grabbed the Stihl MS 162.
It is slim. It is sleek. It feels much lighter than the Husqvarna. The body is narrow. It sits closer to your body.
It feels a bit more plastic than the Husky. The top cover is thin. But the fit is tight. Nothing rattles. It looks precise.
The Cut: Speed Over Power I attacked a fallen pine top. The Stihl revs fast. It screams. Zip, zip, zip. For small branches, it is faster than the Husqvarna.
The chain is narrow. It takes a small bite, so it keeps the speed high. It slices through soft wood like butter.
The vibration dampening is excellent. Stihl uses a good spring system. My hands felt fine after an hour. It feels crisp and smooth.
The Limit: Hitting a Wall I got brave. I tried to cut a leftover oak log. It was about 10 inches thick. The Stihl did not like that.
As soon as I pushed down, the engine groaned. The chain stopped. I had to lift the saw out of the cut.
It lacks the low-end grunt. It is a 30cc engine. It does not have the lungs for heavy work. It works, but you must be patient.
Stihl MS 162: Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Lightweight: Very easy to carry all day. | Low Power: Bogs down in big wood. |
| Smooth: Almost no vibration. | Fixed Carb: You cannot tune it yourself. |
| Easy Start: Starts reliably every time. | Chain: The tensioner is fiddly to reach. |
| Fuel Sipper: Runs a long time on a tank. | Small Cuts: Only good for small limbs. |
Details Comparison Husqvarna 120 vs Stihl MS 162
I spent a long weekend clearing a messy backyard with both of these saws. The Husqvarna feels like a heavy farm tool made for digging into thick oak logs. It feels tough when you have a big job to do.
The Stihl is much lighter and quicker, which makes it perfect for trimming branches. You really feel the difference in your arms after an hour of work. Here is exactly how they stack up in the real world.
Cutting Speed: Husqvarna 120 vs Stihl MS 162
The Stihl is fast when you are cutting small branches. The chain spins up quickly and zips through soft wood like pine. It makes cleanup work feel fast and easy.
The Husqvarna is slower to rev up, but it keeps cutting when the wood gets hard. It does not stop or bog down easily in thick logs. It is built for a steady pace rather than a quick sprint.
| Feature | Husqvarna 120 Mark II | Stihl MS 162 |
| Small Branches | Good speed but feels heavy. | Very fast and snappy. |
| Thick Logs | Keeps cutting steadily. | Slows down a lot. |
| Throttle Response | Takes a moment to rev up. | Instant response. |
Rating: Husqvarna 120 – 8/10 | Stihl MS 162 – 9/10
Blade Quality: Husqvarna 120 vs Stihl MS 162
The bar on the Husqvarna is long and tough enough for real work. I buried it in some dirty wood, and it held up well without bending. The chain stays sharp for a decent amount of time.
The Stihl comes with a very thin bar and a narrow chain. This helps it cut fast, but it feels a bit fragile. I worried about pinching it when I was cutting through a twisted tree trunk.
| Feature | Husqvarna 120 Mark II | Stihl MS 162 |
| Bar Strength | Thick and rigid. | Thin and flexible. |
| Chain Type | Standard low profile. | Very narrow kerf. |
| Durability | Handles rough use well. | Best for clean wood. |
Rating: Husqvarna 120 – 9/10 | Stihl MS 162 – 7/10
Motor Strength: Husqvarna 120 vs Stihl MS 162
You can feel the extra power in the Husqvarna right away. It has a bigger engine that pulls hard even when the bar is deep in wood. It sounds deeper and angrier when it is running.
The Stihl has a smaller motor that is great for light tasks. It runs smooth and quiet, but it runs out of breath on big logs. If you push it too hard, it will stall out.
| Feature | Husqvarna 120 Mark II | Stihl MS 162 |
| Torque | Strong pulling power. | Low pulling power. |
| Engine Size | 38cc (Larger). | 30cc (Smaller). |
| Stalling | Rare in normal use. | Common in hard wood. |
Rating: Husqvarna 120 – 9/10 | Stihl MS 162 – 7/10
Weight Balance: Husqvarna 120 vs Stihl MS 162
The Stihl is a joy to carry around the yard all day. It is so light that you can reach high branches without hurting your back. The balance is perfect, so it does not tip forward or back.
The Husqvarna feels nose-heavy and bulky in your hands. After thirty minutes of limbing trees, my shoulders started to burn. It is better suited for cutting wood on the ground.
| Feature | Husqvarna 120 Mark II | Stihl MS 162 |
| Total Weight | Heavy (nearly 11 lbs). | Light (under 10 lbs). |
| Balance Point | Front-heavy. | Perfectly centered. |
| Fatigue | High after long use. | Very low fatigue. |
Rating: Husqvarna 120 – 7/10 | Stihl MS 162 – 10/10
Safety Features: Husqvarna 120 vs Stihl MS 162
The chain brake on the Husqvarna is stiff and snaps forward hard. It feels very secure, which is comforting when you are tired. The hand guard is wide and covers your knuckles well.
The Stihl brake is easier to engage and feels very smooth. It has a quick stop system that works well, but the lever feels a bit thin. Both saws are safe, but the Husqvarna feels slightly more robust.
| Feature | Husqvarna 120 Mark II | Stihl MS 162 |
| Chain Brake | Stiff and secure. | Smooth and easy. |
| Hand Guard | Wide and protective. | Slim and compact. |
| Chain Catch | Metal and plastic mix. | Plastic construction. |
Rating: Husqvarna 120 – 9/10 | Stihl MS 162 – 8/10Details Comparison Husqvarna 120 vs Stihl MS 162
FAQs – Husqvarna 120 vs Stihl MS 162
Which saw is better for cutting firewood?
The Husqvarna 120 is the best choice for firewood. It has the power to cut thick logs easily. The Stihl is too small for big wood.
Is the Stihl MS 162 easier to start?
Yes, the Stihl MS 162 starts very easily. It runs well even after it sits for a week. The Husqvarna can be hard to start hot.
Can I put a longer bar on the Stihl MS 162?
No, you should stick to the short bar. The engine is too small for a long chain. A long bar will make the saw stall.
Do I need special tools to tune the Husqvarna 120?
Yes, you need a special tool for the carb. The screws are not a standard shape. You need it to fix rough idle issues.
Which chainsaw vibrates less during use?
The Stihl MS 162 vibrates much less. It feels very smooth in your hands. The Husqvarna shakes a bit more when it cuts.