My father used to keep two step ladders in the basement. Both were aluminum A-frame ladders, one a 4-footer and the other I believe was a 6-footer. Although not too heavy, they were bulky and awkward to move around. Not only that, they weren’t very comfortable to use either.
The ladders had flip-down shelves to hold supplies and solid-feeling rungs to climb and stand on. But there’s a limit as to how high you could really go. The top rung is meant to hold tools and supplies, and for stability reasons the very next step isn’t ideal to stand on.
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Basic 4-foot and 6-foot step ladders can be found for about $20 around Christmas, but I can’t see myself ever buying one.
If I’m buying a step ladder for myself, or if my father ever requests a new one, it’s going to be this 6-foot Little Giant Flip-N-Lite.
Whereas traditional step ladders have small rungs, the Flip-N-Lite offers a large platform for you to stand on. While the design means you can’t climb up to the very top, it should offer particularly good bracing and support.
The ladder is priced at $80 to $100 (with free shipping), which might seem like a lot compared to 6-foot aluminum ladders, but what’s more important – safety and stability or saving a few bucks?
I can’t say whether this ladder is any easier to transport and maneuver than a typical step ladder, but at least it’s not heavy. 12-1/2 pounds seems reasonable.
Buy Now(via Amazon)
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The ladder has received excellent reviews on Amazon. Out of 100 users (as of 6/6/13), 90 gave it 5-stars and 8 gave it 4-stars.
rob
I purchased this ladder almost a year ago and have -0- complaints. It has been easy to use, so light to pack around, and actually very easy to store as well. I have used it for painting, and odd jobs around the house. The best part for me was when I was decorating for Christmas, it was so easy to reach over and decorate the tree and hang lights outside. I know it cost more than many of the other ladders you find in the market but as Stuart said you can’t go wrong with this ladder.
fred
I have used similar ladders from Werner (their P6200 series) made of fiberglass and having a 300 lb. rating. I also have a Little Giant 11580 – bought on Amazon that offers some unique features – but seems to be no longer available at Amazon.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Little-Giant-Ultra-Step-Aluminum-11580-FREE-Shipping-/120609821339
Jerry
As I get older, I appreciate more and more, wide steps, instead of those narrow little rungs found on cheap ladders. Sore feet after every extended use, doesn’t seem to me to be a good result from saving a few bucks.
fred
While it is always better to work from staging – if you need to stand on an extension ladder for an extended period – you might try a platform like the one made by Little Giant:
http://www.industrialladder.com/productDetails.do?productID=2062&gclid=CPji1b_O0rcCFcqh4AodDhoAUQ
Also – as ladders go up in rating (e.g. to 375lb class) they usually do get beefier – and the Werner 7400 series platform ladders are sturdier than the 6200 series that I’ve used. Also you might consider what’s called a twin-front ladder – that has steps on both sides