Arrow 6 Tread DIY Stepladder

Best all round step ladder.

A great general ladder that feels safe and secure with a hand support bar for extra stability.

It could be easily stored in a garage, shed cupboard under the stairs for quick and easy access.

Pros:

•  Perfect for DIY jobs at home, folds compact and quickly for easy storage.
• Maximum weight of 95kg /15st
• Super light weight at only 3.9kg
• Non slip grips on the steps

Cons:

• Feels a little flimsy and light.
• Plastic clips can be knocked off exposing metal edges, (this is a rare occurrence, taking good care of the ladder should ensure that this doesn’t happen.)
• Only suitable for domestic use.

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Abru 3 Way Combination Ladder

This is an amazing ladder if you are planning on decorating the stair way anytime soon.

We actually borrowed one of these ladders, and found it to be absolutely crucial in being able to reach the high ceiling parts above the stairways in our house.

You feel safe and secure on them. The only problem is that they are usually wide at the base of the ladder for stability.

(This can limit you in some ways if you have narrow or tight areas to work in.)

The second leg that juts out to enable you to work on a staircase is great for it intended purpose, but is otherwise a bit of a pain if you want to use the ladder as a standard ‘lean against the wall’ type.

Pros:

•  You get the benefits of owning a stepladder, a stairwell ladder and a regular extension ladder.
• Perfect for all round DIY and odd jobs.
• Wider feet than the rest of the frame for extra support.
• Maximum weight of 95kg / 15st
• Versatile and light, weighing only 6kg.
• Easy to fold and change position of ladder.
• Extra grip steps and feet.

Cons:

• Lower maximum weight than some other ladders.
• Only suitable for domestic use.
• Limited functionality and unusually shaped design.

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Charles Bentley 3.2M Telescopic Ladder

The best telescopic ladder for compact storage.

Telescopic ladders are the toy that every adult secretly wants for Christmas!

How can something so small become a huge, long ladder?

A telescopic ladder is a must have for small houses, flats and apartments. They take up little room and can cater to most home repair and decorating jobs around the house.

Each rung and section of the ladder folds away inside the previous, like a Russian doll effect.

This means the legs are effectively hollow when the ladder is extended.

So the overall weight that a telescopic ladder can hold is not as much as a regular ladder but is still sufficient for most people and their needs.

Pros:

•  Great solution for small storage areas, like sheds. The telescopic folding saves you the most space.
• Made of sturdy, but lightweight aluminium and PVC heavy duty sides.
• The ladder weighs 9kg so is very manageable, great for transporting in a regular car boot – without having to struggle or lower seats!
• A great height of 3.2m high and very affordable.
• Supports a maximum weight of 150kg.
• EN131-1, EN131-2, EN131-3 Certified.

Cons:

• Feet are not angled, so it has to be used fairly upright.
• Not as sturdy and robust as a traditional ladder.

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‘Lyte’ 3-Section Extension Ladder

Best Ladder For Height

This is a fantastic ladder for when you need to work at height, cleaning the gutters for example.

It is relatively light considering its size, and is therefore easy to manoeuvre.

A great buy for the price and its will last for a very long time!

Pros:

•  Very strong and durable.
• 5 metres when fully extended.
• Non slip rungs and feet.
• 11kg heavier than some ladders but very strong as a result.
• Folds down easily.
• 150kg maximum load.

Cons:

•  Quite narrow on the top section,
• Not as small or flat when folded as other ladders such as telescopic ones.
• Not suitable for trade or industrial use.

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Finether 15.4 FT Folding Ladder

Best multi function ladder.

This is a ‘ticks every box’ type of ladder.

Whether you need a platform to stand on to paint the ceiling or a large straight ladder for repair work, the multi functions of this ladder should do the trick.

The two ends of the ladder have extra wide feet, for extra stability in every position.

Two platform boards are included too – so you can create a safe walking platform (without having the scavenge around for a bit of wood to use!

Pros:

•  Multi function and position – for a wider range of uses than a standard ladder.
• Collapsible for easy transport.
• Wide stabilisers for extra stability.
• Strong click and lock system.
• Sturdy aluminium alloy weighs 17kg.
• Can be used as a platform, to make jobs easier that require two hands.
• Supports a maximum load of 150kg / 330lbs

Cons

•  Not suitable for trade and industrial uses.
• Doesn’t fold very small, not suitable for storing in small houses.
• Heavy and awkward to manoeuvre.
• The click and lock system requires some force to operate, its very heavy duty feeling!

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Home Discount 3 Step Ladder

“Best ladder for light duties around the house and occasional DIY.”

A great all rounder ladder, light and convenient.

Perfect for reaching those top cupboards or for putting folded sheets on the top shelf of your wardrobe.

Nice and sturdy, could also be used for general DIY in place of a full sized ladder.

(Ceiling height permitting!)

It’s nice to have three steps sooner than two.

(A two step variation is also available though.)

The third step really makes all the difference when reaching. Many step ladders are only two steps which never seem to be quite high enough!

Pros:

• Convenient folding three step ladder.
• Made of steel for extra strength.
• It is suitable for 150kg of weight and the steps are nice and wide and flat so you can stand comfortably and safely.
• The overall height is 140cm, width 45cm with the top step being 70cm high.
• It is also quite light at 6kg, so it is easy to move around, perfect for light jobs or kitchen use for high cupboards.
• Also available in 2 step and 4 step sizes.

Cons:

• A little awkward to fold until you get used to it.
• Metal frame is painted and the paint can get chipped if knocked or when doing manual work.

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Lyte 5 Way Platform Ladder

Best platform ladder.

This is an ideal ladder if you often need to work at height and it has a hand rail built in and a non slip platform.

It is ideal for outside use and in large stairways – note, the base supports are 95cm wide, which may be unsuitable for some staircases.

This has more limited functionality that a normal multi purpose ladder, but as a result, it much cheaper to buy.

Pros:

• Super versatile ladder, can be used as a regular straight ladder or as a single platform scaffold set up.
• The height of the platform can attach to different rungs on each vertical piece of the ladder, perfect for staged surfaces like stairs.
• Non slip platform and hand rail included for extra security.
• Maximum ladder height when used as a regular extension ladder 3.82m.
• Supports 150 kg

Cons:

•  The two stabiliser support bars are 95cm wide, this is too wide for some staircases.
• Heavy – 20kg

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TB Davies Double / Triple Extension Ladder

Best long ladder.

This is a great basic ladder that is very affordable, robust and suits a variety of needs.

This ladder can be ordered as a double or a triple, (which means the heigh of the ladder can be doubled or tripled.)

It also comes in sizes ranging from a 2.5m double (which extends to 4 metres), right up to a 5 metre double size or a 4 metre triple sized ladder.

Pros:

• Can be used as a 2.5m ladder or a 4m ladder.
• Can also be bought in several different sizes, right up to a 5m double, (which extends to 9m) – perfect for the really high jobs.
• D rungs for extra stability and comfort.
• Slip resistant rungs.
• Suitable for all home DIY and trade / business uses.
• 150kg work load.
• Extra grip rubber feet.
• Very high quality.

Cons:

•  Heavy – 21kg (This is because it is a large ladder.)
• Difficult to transport unless you have a large car or a van.
• Awkward to store in a small home.

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Youngman 3-Section Loft Ladder

Best loft ladder.

There a a whole range of loft ladders available nowadays, its crazy to thing that every home in Britain that has a loft doesn’t have a loft ladder installed yet!

They are much more inexpensive than you would image and can be installed within an hour (depending on your DIY confidence.)

A loft ladder, whilst is it may be something that you only really need once in a while, will save you all the hassle of carefully carrying your extendable ladder through the house whilst trying not to hit any of the walls on your way!

It also makes going up the loft a much easier process, it is safer, as the ladder is secured and it is much quicker than having to bring the ladder to the loft hatch and put it away afterward every time you need access.

Pros:

• High quality and robust.
• Very affordable.
• Extra grip steps and ladder feet.
• Is suitable for a loft hatch heigh of 2.3-3 metres.
• Maximum weight of 100kg.
• Comes with the necessary fittings, one handrail, a pole and a loft catch.

Cons:

• Takes up a fair amount of room in the loft.
• Installation instructions are difficult to understand and follow.

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