Collapsible ladders

[KAgantua]

Anyone got these? Im looking for a light, compact ladder for getting in the loft and occasional outside the house to 1st floor gutters level.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/xtend-climb-proseries-s...

[zarlak]

KAgantua said:

Anyone got these? Im looking for a light, compact ladder for getting in the loft and occasional outside the house to 1st floor gutters level.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/xtend-climb-proseries-s...

I bought one of them a few years ago to fit a new LNB on my satellite dish. It scared the life out of me - it was very wobbly. The 'bow' as you climb up is not at all reassuring.

Once i finished the job I gave them away as I never wanted to go up them again. They were also very heavy and difficult to get into position. Putting them away felt dangerous as I thought I was going to lose a finger each time I collapsed a rung.

[Carguy44]

I've got something similar and they are great for occasional use (once you get used to the flexing) and are very easy to store away when not needed.

[Mr Pointy]

For the loft it probably fine but 3.8m won't get you anywhere near the guttering: I don't like mine as it's bouncy & tricky to part extend if you don't want the whole height. They are dangerous enough to be banned by many companies & the combination ladder types seem rather safer.

[zarlak]

Just checked and this is the one I bought:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B00E5ZEME...

It was £160 back when I bought it (2016). The one linked above is shorter and may be lighter and easier to use.

Edit: Check out the 1 star reviews on the Amazon link for similar comments to mine.

Edited by zarlak on Monday 16th January 15:01

[Jo-say8k]

How about a folding ladder instead?
We have the silverline ones at work, very useful and light.

[benp1]

I use one for getting in the loft hatch we have. It's small enough that I tuck it away in our bedroom and I can carry it around without risk of banging the walls.

But as mentioned, it's pretty flexy so wouldn't want to get anywhere actually high with it

For what I use it for it's ace though

[Tye Green]

I've got some which were bought on eBay about 3-4 years ago for around £120. they don't 'bend' as some have said but each extension piece has a little bit of 'give' in it and this compounds into the overall bending feeling. the bending is in a plane which is parallel with the wall so there is not that much load on the 'bend'.

I think mine are 5 metres and I've certainly been over 3 metres in them and compared to normal ladders they don't install a lot of confidence but the most important part is to ensure that each interlock clicks into position as you extend the ladders.

on collapsing them you will realise why we humans have 10 fingers as you'll lose at least one each time you collapse them until you learn the trick of putting the feet facing into the wall so the ladder is horizontal and pushing from the top end whilst collapsing each section from the top first.

light and easy to store .

[smokey mow]

After reading this test report which highlights the variable quality of many of the cheeper telescopic ladders on the market

https://ladderassociation.org.uk/wp-content/upload...

I went for this from Zagres which I was able to identify as one that has passed all the relevant safety checks.

https://www.zarges.com/uk/products/telescopic-ladd...

Edited by smokey mow on Monday 16th January 15:41

[Blockbuster]

KAgantua said:

Anyone got these? Im looking for a light, compact ladder for getting in the loft and occasional outside the house to 1st floor gutters level.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/xtend-climb-proseries-s...

I borrowed some off a mate, and they don’t feel safe.

I bought this foldable one instead and it is really good. it’s got 4 sections and you can use it as in the picture, or fully extended. And it folds right down to take up hardly any space.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/mac-allister-4-section-...

[Wacky Racer]

Death traps (imo).

If you are going to use one make sure the top is leaning on a firm FLAT surface...I was cutting a branch off a tree in my back garden, the ladder was leaning on a substantial tree trunk, but with it being round, the ladder started to twist and wobble and I fell off backwards from about ten foot up.

Would have made a great you tube video.

[Aluminati]

We use them extensively for work, the only ones on our approved list are Youngmans.

[V8covin]

I have a similar set,not sure of the height offhand but I've used them regularly, always feel safe.... except when lowering the rungs,watch your fingers lol.
I paid less than £100 for mine off ebay a few years ago